Escorted Tours with the Experts

To give you the best value, each of the following is included in the price of your escorted tour:

• All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
• Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
• All guided tours and excursions
• Hand-picked hotels

To make sure you have the best experience possible, each of our tours is rated from 1 to 4 based on their level of physical activity.

Level 1 - Leisurely Tourist
Level 2 - Everyday Traveller
Level 3 - Comfortable Explorer
Level 4 - Active Adventurer

We understand that everyone has different abilities and concerns, so if you're not sure if a tour is right for you after doing your research, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. View the full Mobility Rating Scale.

Great Rail Journeys is a market leader when it comes to small group tours. We're proud of being pioneers in our approach to group sizes and have become the leading operator for escorted holidays. Our group sizes vary between tours, but are our ranges are usually a good indicator of what to expect.

For our Discoveries range, you'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. If opting for our Classic collection, you'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. Our Landmark holidays are where you'll find our smallest group sizes, starting from as low as 16 travellers and an average of 22, to a maximum of 30.

*Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Excursions are included in the price of your holiday. They are designed to give a balance of cultural, historical and social interest and to give you insight into the areas we visit. We try to use trains for excursions, however we sometimes utilise coaches or boats to get to places of interest. Where coaches are used, these are of high quality and aim to keep coach journeys to a maximum of two hours between stops. On most excursions, in addition to your Tour Manager, we are accompanied by a local guide to impact specialist knowledge of the sights being visited. Some excursions are to off-the-beaten-track destinations that simply would not be stumbled upon without this local knowledge.

Travelling on a Great Rail Journeys holiday, you will never feel "herded", and customers sometimes break away from the group to explore independently. There is plenty of flexibility within the itineraries and options to dine and explore independently. Many of our excursions will feature free time at a destination, to explore it at your own pace. There are also those who prefer to forego a particular excursion to relax at the hotel - it is your holiday after all.

Your Tour Manager is there to provide help when you need it or to discreetly 'disappear' when you don't. The programme of activity is comprehensive, but not compulsory - it is very easy to opt in or out as one pleases. There is time to yourself and freedom to indulge your own interests.

You will find that each of our escorted tours is part of a collection. Whatever type of holiday you're looking for, there is an option that will tick all your boxes.

The Discoveries collection offers great value.
The Classic collection showcases our signature holidays.
The Landmark collection is a choice of premium journeys.

Find out more about our collections.