australian train journeys ghan

The Ghan Train, Australia – Adelaide to Darwin

• Post author By railwaytraveller123
• Post date 18th June 2020
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The Ghan, Austraia

A trip on the Ghan is one of the world’s great train journeys. This legendary train travels for 1,850 miles, linking Adelaide in the south and Darwin in the north by rail (and vice versa). The Ghan Train is the best way to see Australia’s famous Red Centre, one of the most celebrated wildernesses in the world.

On the classic two-night, three-day journey you can travel from either Darwin or Adelaide, passing through Alice Springs on the way. On board you’ll find comfortable cabins, great Aussie food and some funny new friends. This all-inclusive journey takes you right to the centre of this incredible country. As well as the scheduled stops, you can also add on some great off-train experiences included a visit to world famous Uluru. The train is operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, the company behind  the India Pacific and  Great Southern.

Prices from: Aus $2,349 Passengers: 348 Carriages: up to 37 Departing from: Adelaide and Darwin stations  Journey length: 1 to 3 nights 

The Ghan journey

The classic two-night journey on The Ghan takes about 54 hours with a midday northbound departure arriving in Darwin late afternoon and a southbound departure at 10am, arriving in Adelaide at lunchtime. There are usually two trains a week in each direction and the journey can be broken in Alice Springs so passengers can disembark to visit nearby Uluru and Kings Canyon.

On the northbound journey, guests get to travel through Manguri (the stop for opal-rich Coober Pedy where the locals live in caves because of the searing heat) then stops in Alice Springs for a tour of the town including visits to the Flying Doctor Service Museum and the Telegraph Station. Heading on northwards the train pauses at Tennant Creek before heading to the tropical city of Darwin. 

As well as the two-night journey travellers can also enjoy a southbound-only trip – the Ghan Expedition. This adds another night on to your journey, taking 73 hours in all. On the trip you’ll enjoy off-train adventures in Katherine and Coober Pedy plus an unforgettable dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs. If time or money is tight, you can also experience the Ghan on a one-night journey too – on the ‘Top End Discovery’, travelling between Alice Springs and Darwin or the ‘Red Centre Explorer’ from Adelaide to Alice Springs.

The Ghan train

The size of the train depends on the season. In the summer season it consists of 44 carriages and two locomotives. For a 9-week period this makes the Ghan Australia’s longest passenger train at 1.1km in length. Its distinctive pillar box red livery makes it one of the most photographed trains in the world.

The Ghan Cabins

There are four levels of service on the Ghan: Gold Service Single, Gold Service Twin, Gold Superior and Platinum. 

Gold Service Single – this compact sleeper cabin features a bed that converts to a seat by day. Shared shower/WC facilities are located at the end of the carriage. Your luggage allowance is 60kg per guest.

Gold Service Twin – this has three seats which convert into sleeping berths; twin cabins have an ensuite WC and shower. Your luggage allowance is 60kg per guest.

Gold Superior – this gives you a 3/4-size double bed, ensuite bathroom and a TV. Your luggage allowance is 60k per guest

Platinum – these cabins are almost twice the size of Gold with a double bed or twin beds, lounge chairs, a table and full-size ensuite bathroom. In the carriage you’ll enjoy large window views from both sides of the carriage as well as Bollinger champagne, Australian Appelles Apothecary toiletries, Haigh’s chocolates and a complimentary nightcap at turndown.

Food and drink

The food on this train is of the same high standard you will find across Australia so expect great local steaks and salads and some tasty desserts. You’ll also get to taste some great Australian wines with your dinner. On board you will also find a lively lounge car – the perfect spot for an after-dinner nightcap. Vegetarian and special dietary meals are available when you make your booking. 

Ghan dress code

The Ghan has a smart casual dress code on board but it’s pretty laid back so you don’t really need to dress up. Because you’re travelling to the centre of Australia it is really important to take a SPF30 sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and a wide-brimmed hat. You should also pack plenty of mosquito repellent. 

Fellow passengers

As one of the wold’s most famous train journeys, the Ghan attracts visitors from around the world, both young and old. You’ll also find lots of friendly Aussies on board too – it’s surprising how many of them are visiting the centre of Australia for the first time.

What’s included

All accommodation, drinks and meals are included in the price as well as off-train excursions. Platinum guests are also given private transfers to the train at the start and beginning of their journeys, within a 60-kilometre radius of the terminal.

Pros and cons

You will be filling your travel bucket list with a trip on the Ghan where the food and accommodation are very good. The only disappointment is that a two-night journey can feel a bit too rushed. Book the three-night trip instead so you can get off and really explore the Outback.

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The Ghan Expedition

A unique and epic experience, explore the wonders of Australia’s vast interior with one of the world’s most renowned rail journeys – The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide.

Beginning in Darwin, this four day, three night, 2,979km all-inclusive journey will take you to some of the most remote and captivating parts of Australia in style and comfort. Operating April to October, your adventure through the country’s vast, varied, and captivating interior will leave you speechless. It’s the ultimate Australian outback experience.

Highlights and Inclusions

• 4 days / 3 nights aboard The Ghan
• All-inclusive meals, fine wines, and beverages
• A regionally-inspired menu paired with a selection of local wines
• Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy
• Evening Off Train Experience in Manguri
• A spectacular dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station, Alice Springs
• Explore Nitmiluk Gorge’s powerful natural wonders and rich Indigenous culture
• Venture into the underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy

Your journey begins with a morning departure from Darwin. Once you’re settled into your private cabin, mingle with fellow travellers or sample the exceptional food, wine, and service onboard.  When it’s time for lunch, savour the regionally-inspired menu accompanied by a selection of all-inclusive wines and beverages, before an early afternoon arrival at the Top End township of Katherine. Take a relaxing cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge’s ancient natural wonders and exploring the region’s rich Indigenous culture. Enjoy dinner as the sun sets over the outback, then back in your cabin you’ll find your bed turned down. Fall asleep as the train rolls soothingly onwards.

After your first night on The Ghan, you’ll be greeted by a morning view of the spectacular Red Centre. A full day of excursions awaits you in the outback town of Alice Springs. An optional upgrade is a scenic flight to Uluru, returning in time to meet the rest of your fellow guests at a spectacular barbeque dinner under a million stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

From your morning stop at the outback outpost of Manguri, you’ll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground. Here, you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations: underground. Dinner is served back on the train where you can enjoy a nightcap as your journey continues.

Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you prepare for your mid-morning arrival into Adelaide

Ready to book?

To see all available options for The Overland, please press the button below to be redirected to our online booking engine.

Great Southern Rail Journeys are only available in January and December

To book this package please call or email [email protected] .

How to do Australia’s greatest train journey

The epic rail odyssey from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs is as popular as ever. Our guide will help you plan the perfect trip

Australia’s Red Centre is one of the most charismatic wildernesses in the world, and The Ghan is unquestionably the most comfortable way to see it. 

The hotel on wheels runs through the heart of the country, covering the 2,979km between the south coast at Adelaide and the north coast at Darwin in two nights and three days. For those wanting a more immersive experience, The Ghan Expedition option adds an extra night on board with more off train experiences. The train operates between March and November (from February in 2024). The train’s operator, Journey Beyond, also offers a variety of seven- to 28-night packages to book-end the train experience.

The train’s name supposedly honours the Afghan camel drivers who arrived in Australia in the late 19th century with animals imported from India. The Ghan name is an old one, bestowed on the narrow-gauge trains that ran from the Adelaide–Perth line at Port Augusta to a series of railheads as construction crews slowly and intermittently worked their way north. It took 50 years from 1879 to 1929 to get as far as Alice Springs and there the line stopped. Frequent floods and washouts encouraged construction of a new standard-gauge railway further west, from Tarcoola to Alice, opened in 1980, before the original concept was fulfilled with opening of the line on to Darwin in 2004.

Added to the allure of the outback is Alice Springs, a town of only 32,000 people yet known the world over as a symbol of isolation so strong that even the philosopher Bertrand Russell had to go and see it for himself in 1950. Alice, as every local shortens it, is also the springboard for trips to the largest monolith in the world, Uluru (formerly Ayer’s Rock).

The journey begins at Adelaide station, a few kilometres from the city centre, and the train is soon bowling across the farming country of the Adelaide Plains, passing the 137 turbines of Snowtown Wind Farm along the Hummock and Barunga ranges.  To the north the 700km-long Flinders Ranges comes into view. By Crystal Brook, sheep have been added to wheat. Unlovely Port Pirie is the centre of South Australia’s heavy industry with colossal silver, lead and zinc smelters dominating the landscape. Within living memory Port Pirie was notorious as the meeting point of three different track gauges, necessitating much changing and transshipment.

The estuary-like Spencer Gulf is within view for much of the way to Port Augusta, gateway to the outback and its vital supply centre. This was the southern terminus of the original narrow-gauge Ghan train which began its slow and fitful service to Stuart – later renamed Alice Springs. Today the attractive town is lined with single-storey houses in brick and stone surrounded by generous verandas.

It will almost certainly be dark as the train winds through sand hills and scrub forest before calling at Tarcoola in the small hours. If you are awake, it is worth getting off the train to be astounded by the brilliance of the night sky, so different from the northern hemisphere. Manguri is the stop for opal-rich Coober Pedy where the searing temperatures have forced half the inhabitants to live underground. Passengers on The Ghan Expedition service (southbound only) spend a full day in the town, visiting the underground Serbian Orthodox Church, the grassless golf course and the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum which includes underground homes. Lunch is served beneath the earth’s surface.

Manguri is also the late-hour stop on the classic southbound Ghan to allow passengers to appreciate a wholly different night sky from the northern hemisphere. On the northbound train a stop is made at Marla to watch the sun rise over the Outback.

North of Kulgera is the Iron Man sculpture to commemorate the millionth track sleeper and the workers who laid them and built the line during the 1970s. As the train rumbles over the 15-span Finke River bridge, it is roughly as close as the railway gets to Uluru.

The approach to Alice is unmistakeable. Ahead lie the tall MacDonnell Ranges, and the train heads for a gap so narrow that there is room only for the railway, the Todd River and a two-lane road. From a distance it looks as though a giant angle-grinder has been taken to the mountains.

Alice is like no other town, the only hub and tourist centre for thousands of square miles. Hemmed in by the surrounding hills, it is having to expand to the south beyond the MacDonnells and near the airport. The railway made Alice: pastoralists could send livestock to Adelaide in days rather than months, and in the first ten months of railway service, 15,000 head of cattle worth $436,000 were railed south. And the first train load of conducted tourists arrived in 1930. Today The Ghan stops long enough for tours of the town, variously visiting the Flying Doctor Service Museum, Anzac Hill, the Women Pioneers’ hall of fame, a reptile centre and the Telegraph Station (see below).

Pressing north across endless vistas of red earth under a sky of cobalt, The Ghan pauses at Tennant Creek, a centre of gold production and cattle stations of Santa Gertrudis and Brahmna cattle. Some stations are the size of Belgium. At Katherine there is another extended stop for a boat ride between the towering sandstone walls of the crocodile-populated Nitmiluk Gorge, where the waters can rise eight metres overnight.

The final stretch to Darwin is through densely forested country interspersed with mango plantations and watermelons before mangroves lining the Elizabeth River herald arrival in Darwin, Australia’s only tropical capital. After so many miles of arid country, it is almost a shock to be submersed in such luxuriant vegetation. Among the street trees are frangipanes with their glossy laurel-like leaves and white flowers. 

During the stop at Alice Springs, passengers can visit the wonderfully atmospheric Telegraph Station a few miles out of town in a lonely but beautiful riverside location shaded by red river gum trees. The cluster of buildings at what was then named Stuart was part of the telegraph line that linked London with Darwin and Adelaide, which opened in 1872, reducing communication from two months to three hours. Eucalyptus telegraph poles on the overland route were eaten in a matter of months by termites, and 3,000 steel poles had to be ordered from England. Intermediate stations were required because messages had to be forwarded between stations and the signal boosted at intervals by wet-cell Meidinger batteries. The first message Stuart received told of the death from thirst of the man making his way to become the first Station Master.

How to book

The Ghan is operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions (00 61 8 8213 4401;  journeybeyondrail.com.au ) which also operates the other principal long-distance trains in Australia. There are two trains a week in each direction. The journey can be broken in Alice Springs, and Journey Beyond offers a range of inclusive packages to Uluru and the outback, Kings Canyon and other attractions, some entailing a sea cruise. For a UK booking, contact Trailfinders (020 7084 6500;  trailfinders.com ).

The Ghan has become so popular that berths for 2023 are almost completely sold out.

The Ghan journey takes about 54 hours with a roughly midday northbound departure arriving in Darwin late afternoon/early evening, and a southbound departure at 10.00 and arriving in Adelaide at lunchtime. The Ghan Expedition (southbound only) takes 73 hours, also departing from Darwin at 09.00 on Saturday 10.00 on Wednesday. Given the physical challenges that can afflict the railway through this terrain, it is unwise to schedule tight connections.

The two fare levels are determined by season. One-way per person fares, in Australian dollars, are: Gold Single from $2,475 (£1,329), Gold Twin from $2,925 (£1,570), and Platinum from $4,785 (£2,569). 

The Ghan Expedition fares are: Gold Single from $3,695 (£1,984), Gold Twin from $4,245 (£2,279), and Platinum from $6,950 (£3,731). Gold Superior cabin fares are available on request. All off-train excursions are included in the price, as are drinks at meals and in the lounge cars.

There are four classes/level of service on The Ghan: Gold Service Single, Gold Service Twin, Gold Superior and Platinum. 

Single or twin Gold Service cabins have three seats which convert into sleeping berths; twin cabins have an en suite lavatory and shower, but single cabins share facilities at the end of the corridor. Beds are made up by the attendant during dinner in the dining car, and there is a lounge car with bar, small library, games and postbox. An upgrade to Gold Superior gives a 3/4-size double bed, a DVD player and screen and various service refinements.

Platinum cabins are almost twice the size of Gold with double bed, lounge chairs and larger en suite lavatory, washbasin and shower. Wood panelling and thoughtful design create an attractive space, and stewards are on hand with beverages and drinks as well as other service touches that add to those of Gold Superior.

Large cases cannot be accommodated in Gold compartments, so it is best to take a small case for the two/three nights.

What to pack

Sunscreen of at least SPF30, a hat and comfortable walking shoes are essential. A powerful insect repellent is vital, and in the Northern Territory between August and November the midges can be vicious. The train’s air conditioning can keep the temperature cooler than some would like. Dress in the dining car is smart casual, usually a tie-free zone.

What to read

If you are travelling other railway routes, a good guide is Colin Taylor’s Australia by Rail (Trailblazer) although it was published in 2005; it covers the country’s other passenger lines with route descriptions, but the general and city information will have dated. 

The extraordinary story of the railway’s construction and difficult operation is well told in The Ghan: The Story of the Alice Springs Railway by Basil Fuller (New Holland). 

For those interested in natural history coupled with heroic exploration, H.H. Finlayson’s 1835 classic The Red Centre is an astonishing story. 

Perhaps the most obvious fiction to take is Nevil Shute’s 1950 A Town like Alice, though paradoxically the story has little to do with Alice Springs. None the less it does give a good idea of outback life at the time. 

For more recent fiction titles, try Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, made into a film by Peter Weir in 1975; The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough; Voss by Patrick White; The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin; and for outback crime, Diamond Dove by Adrian Hylands or Return to Uluru by Mark McKenna. 

A recent book of photographs, Australia’s Red Centre by Mark Cunich, captures its essence.

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Home News The Ghan: Australia’s red centre rail journey

The Ghan: Australia’s red centre rail journey

It could be any night in almost any town, but there’s a difference: we’re on the Ghan, speeding across the continent.

The sun has just set, and the local watering hole is bustling. Bartender Sonja Lemondine is trading jokes with a group celebrating an anniversary; lounging nearby a couple of blokes cradling cold beers are swapping tall tales and tips of the plumbing trade. A mother and daughter sit across from each other with glasses of wine; a kid sips lemonade and with her coloured pencils draws a picture of a train. Four friends laugh raucously over the card game “aces and trumps”. “She’s killing us,” exclaims one to me. From the distance come the sounds of the restaurant preparing for the mealtime rush, and waiters pick up the pace as people dressed for dinner arrive for an evening drink. It could be any night, in almost any town in the country, but there’s one big difference: we’re on the Ghan, speeding across the continent on one of the world’s great train journeys.

The Ghan slides like a drop of mercury down the map of Australia, running 2979km between Darwin and Adelaide in a nation-slicing 54-hour trip. The train’s residents – its crew – start from Adelaide, heading for Darwin and a quick sleepover, returning six days later for four days off. “There’s a rhythm,” says chef James Rosenthal. “It’s full-on work when you’re on board. But when you’re off, you’re off.”

I’ve only been aboard a few hours but I’ve already learnt that here, time takes on a new flexibility.

“Train time runs on food…when dinner starts, when lunch starts,” James tells me. “If anything goes wrong, it’s always food that comes to the rescue,” adds chef John Cousins. There are scheduled stops where passengers disembark in Katherine and Alice Springs – for the crew, these arrival and departure times are referred to in pre- and post-lunch terms. The passengers are on a long-anticipated trip aboard a famous train on which they’ll cross Australia’s arid red heart, but for the staff it’s another day in Ghantown, with a new set of guests, coming to visit their close-knit community. 

IN A PLACE where specific skills seem to matter the most – chef, locomotive driver – no-one is as versatile as Ghantown’s Mr Fix-it, Wayne Lehmann. He’s a regular fixture on the “main street”, his lanky figure leaning back against the cabin walls to let lurching passengers pass as he lopes from one end of the train to the other, carrying an intriguing array of tools and gadgets. Wayne’s primary job is the care and guardianship of the two generators in the power van, directly behind the locomotives, that run everything from the kitchens and air conditioning to the hot water and bedside lamps. He’s an electrician by trade, but “you do everything. You’ve got to fix TVs, DVDs, microwaves, air-conditioning, PA systems, brakes”.

When something goes wrong, it’s always a different thing, and in a different place. Someone brought a pedometer on one trip and Wayne used it to measure how far he walked. It was on a 16-carriage train, and not too busy, he says, yet he covered 18 km in a day.

AFTER YOU’VE BEEN aboard the Ghan awhile you relax into the train’s movement and the carriages become your universe. It starts to feel as if the train is the stationary object, and it’s the landscape framed by the windows that’s on the move. The sun goes down on the tropical northern scenery, but by sunrise the next morning, we’re part of a new set of colours and shapes, as the light starts to slide across scrub and sand dune.

Most crew members are due on shift 5–6am, but the train feels deserted, with all the cabins tightly shut. The absence of chatter brings the realisation of how peaceful the train is. “It’s really quiet,” says Ian Kelleher, the night manager. “When you’re out there, when you’re shunting the train, you just don’t hear anything. They call it the ‘silent death’.”

I’ve discovered Ian in one of the kitchens, pouring himself an early morning coffee before the first passengers appear. Like many who work on the Ghan, trains run in Ian’s blood. His father worked on the Ghan, and although Ian has worked in hospitality across Australia, he was drawn back to life on the trains. 

He and I share a quiet conversation about his family as crew arrive to set up for the day. They’re busy with their tasks, while swapping stories. 

“On my birth certificate my father’s occupation is ‘silver boy’,” Ian tells me, smiling. “He started off cleaning the cutlery.” Hospitality attendant Jess Valentign adds that there used to be “a person in each carriage just to shine the shoes”. 

Once breakfast is over for the guests (there are two sittings for each meal) it’s time for the crew to grab some food or, for Ian, a snack before bed. Jess is finishing her morning meal with a cup of sweet coffee – and, for good measure, a teaspoon of honey as a chaser. The early starts are taking their toll, and each has their own method for dealing with it. “Even if you get an hour break, everyone sleeps for 45 minutes. Seven minutes up [to the crew car], seven minutes back…I’ve timed it,” Jess says.

It’s the last full day aboard for the crew, and in the Ghan’s six-day working week, today is known as the “day five monster”, but everyone’s relaxed. 

“There’ve been a few conflicts,” James says. “When you’re working so close to people there’s always going to be. But you get to learn to live with the fact that it’s not like you can do your Charlie and storm off – because you’re on the train.” 

“TO WORK ON THE TRAINS you’ve got to have a sense of humour,” says John Brinkley, the train manager. “[Staff] have got to know when they can muck around with the guests and when they can’t. They have to know how to speak to people, so they all need experience in hospitality, retail or customer service.”

John is another character perpetually on the move. At 7.30am, while most of us are considering our cereal options, John can be found striding the length of the train, swinging his briefcase. “I’m the doctor, policeman, mayor,” he tells me good-naturedly, and like all mayors, his work veers between administration, staffing, problem-solving – and a fair number of handshakes. 

Even as we talk in the bar carriage, John has an ear cocked for any questions or concerns from the guests around us, breaking off to offer schedule information or tourism trivia. He’s sympathetic to the plight of a woman who missed her chance to see one of the landmarks, the Iron Man sculpture, which commemorates the one-millionth sleeper laid between Tarcoola and Alice Springs. “I think we’ve got a right turn down here somewhere; we can try and turn around for you,” he teases. The woman laughs, returning to her conversation clearly buoyed by the exchange.

John’s one of the rare exceptions to the train-family rule. He was in the Navy for 22 years before joining the railways. He started as a hospitality manager behind the bar, then was night manager, and is now train manager. “I didn’t start out as a train nut, and I still don’t think I am – not yet, anyway.” 

IT IS TIME for the last disembarkation. Along the platform, people step down and stand blinking in the stark, hot Adelaide sunshine, hesitating before leaving train time to step back into reality, and its strangely static structure. For the staff there’s still a little bit more paperwork to do, uniforms to hand in and perhaps a drink at the pub. Then it’s off to get four days sleep before they’re back in Ghantown once again. 

Find out more at Journey Beyond .

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The ultimate guide to The Ghan

Posted April 01, 2024

The Ghan is a legendary train journey between Darwin and Adelaide that crosses through Australia’s Red Centre. Here’s everything you need to know about The Ghan to make the most of your trip.

The Ghan is a moving and unforgettable train travel experience that evokes a romantic connection to our great southern land.

"On a journey like The Ghan, it’s easy to be seduced by the incredible landscapes of the Australian outback as you travel between Adelaide and Darwin," says David Donald, Executive General Manager, Rail, at Journey Beyond.

"It’s not just about watching the scenery as you pass through, though. There are also opportunities to immerse yourself in those landscapes on the all-inclusive Off Train Experiences, whether it’s a cruise along Nitmiluk Gorge, a cultural walk at Standley Chasm, lunch underground in an opal mine in Coober Pedy, or dinner under the stars at the old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs."

It’s also a great way to travel responsibly , by supporting Australian communities, learning from Indigenous guides, and reducing your reliance on car and airplane travel.

RACV Members save on The Ghan trips with RACV Travel and Experiences .

Everything you need to know about The Ghan

What is the ghan.

The Ghan is one of the world’s greatest train journeys. The railway stretches for 2979 kilometres between Adelaide and Darwin, with stops at iconic locations like Alice Springs and Katherine.

The Ghan is a shortened version of the train’s original name, The Afghan Express. It’s named after the pioneering Afghan cameleers, who blazed a trail into Australia’s Red Centre more than 150 years ago.

Donald says that it’s the landscapes and colours that set The Ghan apart from other rail trips. "The Ghan as it goes through the heart of the country has all those hot reds, pinks, honey yellow and ochres," he says. "It has so much history behind it, too: The Ghan turns 95 next year. The history, the ambience, the scenery, the hospitality… Travelling on The Ghan makes you feel like you’re connecting with the country in a different way and seeing it in a new light."

The Ghan is one of the world's greatest train journeys. Image: Supplied

How long does The Ghan journey take?

The full Ghan journey is the three-day trip from Adelaide to Darwin , or vice versa from Darwin to Adelaide . "From April to October, the southbound journey is called The Ghan Expedition and it lasts four days, whereas the northbound journey (and March and November southbound) is three days," explains Donald. "The extra day is spent in the fascinating opal mining town of Coober Pedy."

There are also shorter rail journeys between Alice Springs and either Darwin or Adelaide.

There are also a number of holiday packages, where you can extend your journey with additional stops and experiences, like the eight-day Top End Explorer , the 11-day Red Centre Spectacular , or the 14-day Ultimate Territory Tour .

Finally, The Ghan and Ponant: Outback to Ocean rail and sail tours last between 15 and 17 days. They pair the legendary train journey through Australia’s Red Centre aboard The Ghan with a cruise aboard PONANT’s Le Laperouse boat from Darwin to Broome.

Flinders Ranges are just one of the surreal landscapes you'll see aboard The Ghan. Image: Supplied

Where does The Ghan stop for Off Train Experiences?

All Ghan journeys that travel between Darwin and Adelaide stop at Alice Spring s and Katherine .

The northbound Adelaide to Darwin trip also briefly stops at Marla , an outback town where you’ll watch the sun rise over the South Australian desert landscape with a steaming cup of coffee and a bacon and egg roll.

Between March and November, the southbound Darwin to Adelaide journey stops at Manguri , a rail siding 30 minutes outside of Coober Pedy in South Australia. You’ll arrive after dinner to enjoy a nightcap around a bonfire while taking in the outback’s pitch-black sky, carpeted in brilliant stars.

If you take the four-day Darwin to Adelaide Expedition journey between April and October, you will spend the extra day at Coober Pedy . This amazing mining town is built largely underground and is known as ‘the opal capital of the world’. You’ll tour the town and hear about its fascinating history, witnessing sights such as the informative Umoona Opal Mine and Museum and an underground home known as a dugout. At the Opal Quest Mine, you’ll have the chance to fossick for your own opal and enjoy a relaxed lunch underground. You’ll then travel along a portion of The Dog Fence, built to keep dingoes out of the sheep flocks of the south-east. At over 5,600 kilometres long, it is one of the world’s longest structures. Finally, you’ll arrive at The Breakaways, a series of colourful low hills that change colour with the passing of the sun for a surreal arid panorama.

At Katherine, travellers on The Ghan can partake in the Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise. Image: Supplied

What is there to do at Alice Springs with The Ghan?

At Alice Springs, you can embark on exciting experiences such as:

• Alice Explorer – visit a range of unique Alice Springs sites, starting at the School of the Air to learn about the local children’s lives in the Australian Outback and followed by the Reptile Centre to get up close and personal with Aussie reptiles like saltwater crocodiles, goannas, thorny devils and frill-neck lizards. You’ll also explore the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, where you’ll learn about the Overland Telegraph Line that bridged the isolation between remote Australian towns.
• Standley Chasm Cultural Walk – explore this impressive sandstone gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges with an indigenous Western Arrernte community member. Beautiful outback colours, a natural spring, and native wildlife abound on this guided cultural walk.
• Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk – tour an important spiritual site where a group of mythological giant goanna ancestors lived, full of ancient ghost gums and sunlight reflecting off the cliff walls.
• Alice Springs Desert Park – tour the park with an experienced guide, go inside the Nocturnal House to peek into the nighttime habits of native creatures the avoid the harsh daytime temperatures, and get a front-row seat to the spectacular free-flight bird show.
• Alice to Off Road – a mountain biking adventure led by a local guide that will take you from the Alice Springs Rail Terminal through town and down to the Ilentye Trail, an ochre-coloured dirt track named after the pink galahs that fly overhead. You’ll also spot black-footed rock wallabies and ghost gums on your bike ride.

What is there to do at Katherine with The Ghan?

At Katherine, there’s another wealth of activities to choose from:

• Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise – cruise down the dramatic Katherine River listening to the cicada calls reverberating off the ancient cliff faces and the commentary that explains the significance of Nitmiluk to the indigenous Jawoyn people.
• Top Didj Cultural Experience (Adelaide to Darwin, Apr-Oct) – be welcomed to Top Didj with a traditional didgeridoo performance by Indigenous artist Manuel Pamkal, before listening to Manuel share a Dreamtime story, demonstrate the Woomera spear, share what it was like growing up bush as part of tribal life, and guide you through creating a painting using his unique Rarrk (crosshatch) technique.
• Katherine Outback Experience (Adelaide to Darwin, May-Oct) – experience what it’s like to live and work on a huge cattle station. You’ll see live demonstrations of horse-breaking and work dogs rounding up cattle, goats or ducks, and listen to Aussie anthems performed from horseback.
• Cutta Cutta Caves (Darwin to Adelaide, Apr-Oct) – explore this underground limestone cave system, full of sparkling stalactites and stalagmites and five species of bats. The indigenous Jawoyn people named the caves Cutta Cutta (‘many stars’) for their belief that the caves are where the stars rest during the day.

The Alice Springs Desert Park experience gets you front-row seats to a spectacular free-flight bird show. Image: Supplied

Are there off-train upgrades and add-ons available on The Ghan trips?

There are also optional Off Train Experience upgrades and add-ons available. These experiences incur additional costs, and you may not be able to participate in the included Off Train Experiences, as they happen at the same time.

At Katherine, you can upgrade your experience with the Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter Flight and fly over the 13 limestone formations that make up the incredible Nitmiluk Gorge to fully appreciate the gorge’s sheer enormity and complexity.

At Alice Springs, you can upgrade your experience with the Spirit of Mt. Gillen Helicopter Flight . You’ll fly over Alice Springs to Simpson’s Gap, one of the most prominent waterholes in the region, and on to Mt. Gillen Ridgeline and the famous Larapinta Trail. Alternatively at Alice Springs, there’s the Pynden Camel Tracks , a guided camel ride tour through the heart of the Outback, through Temple Bar Gap with sweeping views of the MacDonnell Ranges, to White Gums Station. Here you can explore the camel museum, sit back with a chilled drink and light canapes, and try to spot kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and birds.

If you travel on the four-day Darwin to Adelaide journey, you can upgrade your Alice Springs day to the Uluru Fixed Wing Scenic Flight . This is an incredible way to view Uluru and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), rising majestically out of the surrounding Central Australian desert. Once you arrive at Ayers Rock Airport, your tour guide will take you on an immersive experience of Uluru to visit important indigenous sites like Mutijulu Waterhole.

Donald recommends the Painted Hills & Lake Eyre Scenic Flight that departs from Coober Pedy as his top optional off-train experience. "It takes guests to the Anna Creek Painted Hills, a spectacular section of the Breakaways country in the far north of South Australia that can only be accessed by air," he explains.

"The flight then continues to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake, for captivating views of the lake’s shimmering pink and orange salt crystals. Lunch is a quintessential Australian pub lunch at the William Creek Hotel, and then after a ground tour of the township, it’s back in the air to fly over Anna Creek Cattle Station, the world’s largest working cattle station."

You can opt to upgrade to a camel ride at Alice Springs. Image: Supplied

Are meals included on The Ghan journeys?

All meals and drinks are included on The Ghan. Special dietary requirements such as gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian and vegan diets can be accommodated: simply advise at time of booking.

"The food on board is a highlight," Donald says. "Our chefs craft superb dishes that are very much of the place. In the Northern Territory it might be barramundi, kangaroo usually makes an appearance along the way, and so on. There are a lot of native ingredients in the mix as well. Naturally, there is a selection of Australian wines to pair with your delectable meals – and again, everything is included. The only thing you have to do is board the train and enjoy the experience."

Telegraph Station is a stop that boasts an impeccable dinner. Image: Supplied

Is there Wi-Fi or charging points aboard The Ghan?

All The Ghan cabins have 240v household outlets for charging your devices. Electricity may be subject to fluctuations, so a surge protector is recommended.

Wi-Fi is available in Platinum Club carriages and the Outback Explorer Lounges. Wi-Fi availability is dependent on mobile network coverage, so as the train travels through some remote locations Wi-Fi may not always be available.

What should I pack for The Ghan? Are there luggage limits?

Temperatures vary significantly on The Ghan as you travel from one end of the country to the other. You should pack for both warm and cool climates. Expect mid-30° temperatures in Darwin and Katherine, and 4° nights and early mornings around Marla or Manguri. On board temperatures average 22° thanks to air conditioning.

Most travellers opt for smart casual attire aboard The Ghan. Make sure to pack a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy full-length pants, closed-in walking shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, and SPF30+ sunscreen for your Off Train Experiences. Add a fleece or jacket, gloves and a beanie for cooler morning or evening experiences.

Please note that The Ghan has luggage limits for both checked and carry-on luggage.

You can go on a discovery walk at Simpson's Gap from the Alice Springs stop. Image: Supplied

How much are tickets for The Ghan?

Ticket prices vary depending on your journey and any add-on experiences you choose. Prices start from just over $1,000 per person for a two-day rail journey aboard The Ghan to over $10,000 per person for the 14-day Ultimate Territory Tour.

What else is there to see and do in Adelaide?

Adelaide has become one of Australia’s leading cultural and lifestyle destinations , with plenty of boutique shopping, art museums, festivals and beaches. Adelaide is one of the best road trip destinations from Melbourne thanks to sinkhole-filled Mount Gambier and internationally acclaimed wine district McLaren Vale. From Adelaide , you can explore the Flinders Ranges, explore the picturesque Adelaide Hills region, the travel the Limestone Coast.

Coober Pedy is an awe-inspiring underground mining town. Image: Supplied

What else is there to see and do in Darwin?

Darwin is a former frontier outpost that has grown into the Northern Territory’s capital. From Darwin, you can explore Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park ’s incredible waterfalls, lush rainforests, ancient rock art and dramatic landscapes. Tiwi Islands , the ‘Island of Smiles’ full of thriving Indigenous culture, is just a ferry ride away. In the city itself, visit the hair-raising Crocosaurus Cove and the Darwin Royal Flying Doctor Service . If you’re after adventure, try the Darwin Airboat Tour through the mangroves – or, if you prefer luxury, book onto the Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise .

RACV Members save on The Ghan trips with RACV Travel and Experiences. Discover more →

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The Ghan rail journey

• Art & culture
• Family activities & attractions
• Festivals & events
• Food & drink
• History & heritage
• Luxury experiences
• Nature & wildlife
• Outdoor activities

Known as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan travels through the middle of Australia, visiting some of the NT’s best destinations along the way.

Between the 1860s and the 1930s, Afghan cameleers – also known as ‘Afghans’ or ‘Ghans’ – were shipped in and out of Australia at 3-year intervals, to transport goods throughout the harsh inland environment. In recognition of the trade routes they established connecting the remote cattle and sheep stations of the Outback to the capital cites on the coast – the naming of ‘The Ghan’ acknowledges their pioneering spirit and success in the rugged Australian Outback.

As you step aboard The Ghan, you're transported back in time to the golden age of train travel.

Choosing your Ghan journey

The 2,979km journey from Adelaide to Darwin (or vice versa) through the heart of the Red Centre provides the perfect balance of comfort and adventure, and access to parts of Australia in a way that no other travel experience can.

The journey can be broken down into smaller sections, which means you can always choose to do a part of the journey in a direction that suits you.

Adelaide to Darwin on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Adelaide to Darwin includes:

• 3 days / 2 nights aboard The Ghan
• All-inclusive meals, wines, and beverages
• A regionally-inspired menu paired with wines
• Off Train Experiences in Marla , Alice Springs , and Katherine
• Off Train Experience at Nitmiluk Gorge.

Darwin to Adelaide on The Ghan Expedition

The Ghan Expedition , a vailable April to October inclusive, is only available for travel from Darwin to Adelaide and includes:

• 4 days and 3 nights aboard The Ghan
• Off Train Experiences in Katherine , Alice Springs , and Coober Pedy
• Evening Off-Train Experience in Manguri .

You also have the chance to purchase an optional upgrade for Nitmiluk Gorge during the Katherine stop, and another optional upgrade for Ulu r u during the Alice Springs stop.

Darwin to Adelaide on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Darwin to Adelaide includes :

• 3 days and 2 nights aboard
• All-inclusive meals, fine wines, and beverages
• Off Train Experiences in Katherine , Alice Springs and Manguri .

Darwin to Alice Springs on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Darwin to Alice Springs includes:

• 2 days and 1 night aboard The Ghan
• Off Train Experiences in Katherine .

Alice Springs to Darwin on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Alice Springs to Darwin includes:

Alice Springs to Adelaide on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Alice Springs to Adelaide includes :

• Evening Off Train Experience at Manguri .

Adelaide to Alice Springs on The Ghan

Available March to November inclusive. The Ghan Adelaide to Alice Springs includes :

• Early morning Off Train Experience in Marla .

Services on board

During your time aboard, you'll experience luxurious dining in the   Queen Adelaide Restaurant . Your passage will also include alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and a choice of ‘Off Train Experiences’ as part of your fare. Optional upgrades for an additional fee may include a scenic flight to Ulu r u, helicopter flights at Nitmiluk Gorge or Alice Springs, or a camel ride.

While booking your trip, you'll have the option to choose your level of luxury:

• Platinum Service   includes your own spacious cabin with full-size ensuite and private lounge with picture windows by day and double or twin beds by night.
• In   Gold Twin   Service , your comfortable sleeper cabin with ensuite and upper and lower berths converts to a three-seater lounge by day.
• In   Gold Single   Service , your compact sleeper cabin bed converts to a seat by day, with a shared bathroom in the carriage.

Sites along the way

Prior to departure from darwin.

If you’re starting your rail journey in Darwin, arrive a few days early and embrace one or more of the amazing experiences the Top End has to offer. What better way to prepare for the odyssey ahead?

Darwin to Katherine

The Ghan departs mid-morning from the Darwin Railway Station at East Arm – about 20 minutes ’ drive from the CBD. The short trip to Katherine takes approximately 4 hours. As you relax in comfort and style, take in the passing views of the lush, green tropical surrounds. Enjoy a 5-star lunch in the restaurant prior to arriving in Katherine in the early afternoon. A choice of available Off Train Experiences to enjoy awaits. You can choose to explore Katherine on your own, or you can take advantage of one of the included excursions. There’s also a helicopter flight optional upgrade for Nitmiluk Gorge available for those seeking extra adventure.

Katherine to Tennant Creek

Back on the train for your next and longest leg of the journey: from Katherine to Tennant Creek. The majority of the 550km distance traversed through sparse desert country is covered through the night. The Ghan arrives in Tennant Creek at approximately 3am with a short chance to stretch your legs if you’re not deep in slumber.

Tennant Creek to Alice Springs

Your first night on The Ghan will be followed by the morning views of the spectacular desert country of Central Australia. The expansive blue sky, the yellow and green of the desert plants and the striking coloured sand of the Red Centre await. Rising up from the dirt to dominate the surrounding landscape to the east and the west are the MacDonnell ranges. Mparntwe (pronounced M-ban tua) or Alice Springs is the geographical centre of Australia and has been home to the Arrernte people for at least 45,000 years.

If Alice Springs is the final stop on your Ghan odyssey, you’ll arrive in the mid morning feeling refreshed and ready for a day of exploring. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the Alice Springs region and its surrounding areas, such as the East MacDonnell Ranges , Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges , Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Kings Canyon & Watarrka National Park .

For those continuing the journey onto Adelaide, a choice Off Train Experiences are available Alice Springs. As well as the option to explore the area on your own, is the opportunity to enjoy one of the included excursions. Options include a visit to the Alice Springs Desert Park, a Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk or the Alice Explorer experience (Royal Flying Doctor Service, Reptile Centre and Telegraph Station). Upgraded options, at additional cost, include a helicopter flight over Mt Gillen or a camel ride at Pyndan Camel Tracks. There ’ s also an optional upgrade for Uluru for a chance to marvel at the iconic monolith from both the ground and the air.

Alice Springs to Adelaide

Departing early afternoon, the beauty and immersive experience of Central Australia will be hard to leave behind as you continue on to Adelaide. After dinner, around 30 minutes outside of Coober Pedy you’ll stop at Manguri rail siding for a nightcap around a bonfire while taking in the stars in the pitch-black night sky undiluted by man-made lights. More of an an added bonus rather than an official Off Train Experience as such, this stop is only on the southbound journey from Darwin to Adelaide in March and November. It’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself in Manguri at any other time, making this a unique memory from your time on The Ghan.

Travellers on The Ghan Expedition will have an extra day touring in and around the unique underground opal mining township Coober Pedy before continuing on overnight to Adelaide.

Come morning, the view from your window will reveal a change in landscape, from the sun baked lunar landscape of the desert, to the semi-arid plant life atop the hills and grassy plains of the majestic Flinders Ranges. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through and prepare for your mid-morning arrival into Adelaide, to complete your incredible travel experience.

Do it all in reverse

You can do the trip in reverse and embrace the same opportunities to relax and take in the journey, along with similar experiences to explore and enjoy – just on a slightly different schedule.

Check out the timetables to see which direction of travel and which time of year suits you best.

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The Ghan: 11 Things You Need To Know Before Riding This Australian Train

Australia is a continent of extremes. The ability to see all the “extremes” that Australia has to offer has never been easier with a train excursion aboard The Ghan. The Ghan is mighty, yet luxurious in all the right places, leaving you wanting for nothing. Considered one of the best train trips on the planet, The Ghan will be an experience that will go down in the annuls as a favorite for every traveler that embarks on this adventure.

• 1 Why is the Australian train called The Ghan?
• 2 How long is The Ghan Train?
• 3.0.1 Darwin to Adelaide with Off-Train Excursions
• 3.0.2 Adelaide to Darwin
• 3.0.3 Adelaide to Alice Springs
• 3.0.4 Darwin to Alice Springs
• 4 What does the Ghan include?
• 5 How long is The Ghan Train trip?
• 6 Is The Ghan a luxury train?
• 7 Do you sleep on the Ghan?
• 8.0.1 Gold Twin
• 8.0.2 Gold Single
• 8.0.3 Platinum
• 9 Which is better, the Indian Pacific or The Ghan?
• 10 What are the best months to travel on the Ghan?
• 11 Is the trip on The Ghan worth it?

Why is the Australian train called The Ghan?

The Ghan derived its name from the Afghan Express, which is was previously named. The name pays homage to 19th century Afghan camel drivers who helped Australian colonizers explore the interior of the continent. It is said that one of the original crewman of the train coined the nickname and it has been called The Ghan ever since.

How long is The Ghan Train?

The average length of the Ghan is 2,539 feet. The train length can very if train cars are added or deleted. At times of high demand, train cars will be added making the length of the Ghan as long as 3,595 feet, which includes 44 carriages.

How much does it cost to travel on The Ghan train in Australia?

The cost to ride The Ghan train excursion ranges from $1485 to $3695 and beyond depending on which trip and package you choose. There are four different itineraries that you can choose on The Ghan.

Darwin to Adelaide with Off-Train Excursions

This four day and three night trek aboard The Ghan will take you from the top end of the continent, south to the coastal region. You will begin in the lush tropical environment of Darwin, then travel through the arid, red desert portion of the country, finally to be delivered to the beautiful Southern Coast of Adelaide.

This trip has the added benefit of optional excursions such as helicopter or plane trips to romantic dinners in private locations for an additional cost.

Adelaide to Darwin

Starting your journey in the coastal town of Adelaide, you will then travel north, through the interior outback of the country and experience its remote and vast landscape in this three day and two night trip. As you move through to the town of Darwin, you will be surprised by how the environment changes from red deserts to tropical rainforests.

Adelaide to Alice Springs

In two days and one night you can experience the heart of Australia with this scenic jaunt from the Coastal town of Adelaide to the peaceful desert setting of Alice Springs. Dine under the stars and awake early to see the sunrise over the rich Australian Outback.

Darwin to Alice Springs

Begin this two day and one night trip in the tropical city of Darwin. After boarding you will enjoy a trip through the top end of the continent to the red desert setting of Alice Springs. Pass through gorges and riparian environments and enjoy a hike and a cruise among ancient sandstone cliffs.

What does the Ghan include?

The Ghan includes meals, room and board, excursions, and service. Some itineraries also offer additional off-train excursions, for a fee, to explore the surroundings of the city or town the train has stopped or a helicopter or airplane trip for a special meal in a secluded area.

How long is The Ghan Train trip?

If you take The Ghan across the continent of Australia from North to South the journey is 1,850 miles or 54 hours.

However, there are shorter itineraries available with stops in various cities. If you take The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, it takes 36 hours and 825 miles to get to your destination by train. Taking The Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs will take you around 24 hours and 930 miles.

Is The Ghan a luxury train?

The Ghan is among the most luxurious trains in the world. With its opulent decor, gourmet meals and impeccable service, The Ghan’s atmosphere and treatment of guests is second to none. If romance is on the docket, look no further as the living quarters are comfortable, private and are perfect for that honeymoon or anniversary celebration.

Do you sleep on the Ghan?

The Ghan is designed to spend multiple days on board with sleeping quarters or cabins that are created to feel as if you are in an exquisite hotel room. There are several options for accommodations while on The Ghan. Choose from a Gold Twin, Gold Single or Platinum cabins.

What are The Ghan cabins like?

Cabins aboard the Ghan are tastefully decorated with special attention to comfort and accessibility. There are three accommodation levels to choose from on the Ghan.

Traditional style bench seats convert to a twin bed with upper and lower berths. Private ensuite bathrooms include a toilet, sink and shower. A tray table also makes eating meals in your cabin easy and convenient. There is also a large window to enjoy the ever changing view outside as it passes you by.

Gold Single

Designed for the solo traveler, this cabin is equipped with a single bench seat that folds out to a single bed. There is also a tray table to enjoy snacks and meals in a private setting when the need arises. There are large shared bathrooms at the end of the carriage. For every sixteen passengers in each carriage, there are two showers and two toilets. Additionally, one tip is that the Gold Single showers that are shared are much larger than the in- room showers provided for the Gold Twin passenger.

The ultimate way to travel awaits you with the Platinum Cabin. At almost twice the size of the Gold Twin Cabin, the Platinum cabin goes that extra mile in comfort and style. Choose from a twin or double bed cabin depending on your sleeping preference. Furthermore, with windows on both sides of the cabin for superior viewing and ensuite bathrooms, this cabin is great for a couple wanting just a little more room and privacy.

If you are traveling with a large family or a group, the Platinum Chairman’s Carriage is the pinnacle of comfort and privacy aboard The Ghan. Designed for up to eight people, this carriage features four Platinum level cabins that share a highly appointed lounge area complete with leather sofas and club chairs, a television and a kitchenette.

Which is better, the Indian Pacific or The Ghan?

The Ghan is jammed pack with additional experiences and excursions that might appeal to a younger clientele looking for outdoor adventure, while the Indian Pacific focuses more on fine wine, multi-course gourmet meals and casual excursions that might appeal to a more mature traveler. For a once in a lifetime experience, the Indian Pacific is better than the Ghan.

What is the dress code on the Ghan?

Casual, yet smart attire is recommended for the trip aboard The Ghan. For men, you may want to where attire such as a polo shirt and slacks. For women, sheath dresses or slacks and collard shirts are considered smart-casual attire.

However, you should pack comfortable and warm clothing for evenings in your cabin as the air conditioner can make nights tucked away in your sleeping quarters cooler.

What are the best months to travel on the Ghan?

The best months to travel on The Ghan are during High Season which are from May to August when temperatures in the desert are cooler. Excursions in The Outback are much more enjoyable with the moderate weather of autumn and winter.

Is the trip on The Ghan worth it?

Train travel on The Ghan is a breathtaking experience that for many is a “once in a lifetime” encounter. The ability to see an entire continent and so many landscapes in one journey is something that many will never have the chance to accomplish. The Ghan Train excursion will leave a lasting impression on even the most discerning traveler. A trip on the Ghan is totally worth the cost and effort and will leave you with lasting memories.

Wendy Edwards

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Great train TRAVEL

The vast continent of Australia is home to three of the world's Great Train journeys

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Coober Pedy Ghan Expedition only

• Alice Springs

Travel the 2,979 km between the North and South coast of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide (or vice versa) through the heart of the Red Centre.

Travel in style on The Ghan visiting Alice Springs, Katherine and Coober Pedy (Ghan Expedition only).

Indian Pacific

Travel the 4,352km between the East and West coast of Australia from Sydney to Perth (or vice versa).

This transcontinental journey includes visits to many diverse locations.

•  Depart Perth and visit: Kalgoorlie, Cook, Adelaide, and the Blue Mountains (optional).
•  Depart Sydney and visit: Broken Hill, Adelaide (McLarenVale or Barossa or Hahndorf) Cook and Rawlinna (Nullabor Plain).

Great Southern

Australia's newest rail adventure. Explore the Great South of Australia.

•  Depart Adelaide (two nights/three days) : Visit The Grampian, Canberra and enjoy a NSW North Coast Beachside experience.
•  Depart Brisbane (three nights/four days) : Visit The Hunter Valley, Melbourne and Regional Victoria and enjoy an evening NSW North Coast Beachside experience.

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The Ghan Train Journey – Our Guide to the Epic Australian Rail Adventure + NEW DATES!

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The Ghan train journey is one of Australia’s greatest train journeys, an epic Australian rail adventure from Darwin to Adelaide – or Adelaide to Darwin – that’s punctuated with memorable experiences and excursions, from a serene cruise through the spectacular ancient gorges of Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine, to a scenic flight from Alice Springs to Uluru-Kata Tjuta .

We’ve been lucky to experience The Ghan train journey (a perk of travel writing) so we can guarantee that it’s one of Australia’s greatest train journeys and one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips in Australia that you need to book as soon as new dates are released. Because this legendary train doesn’t run every day and it books out fast after announcements – and there’s just been one!

Luxury Escapes has just launched new 2024 dates for an exclusive 9-day rail adventure from Darwin to Adelaide that they’re calling The Ghan Once-in-a-Lifetime Luxury Escapes Charter . Starting in Darwin 16 October 2024 and ending in Adelaide on 24 October 2024, the package includes an all-inclusive 3-day rail journey plus Litchfield National Park , premium on-board dining and drinks, off-train experiences and a Penfolds Tasting from A$6,199 per person.

The Gold Upgrade includes upgraded stays, a Darwin Harbour Cruise and Penfolds Dining Experience for A$6,999, while a Platinum upgrade to a cabin with double bed includes an upgraded charter experience with VIP hotel stays, Darwin Harbour Cruise and a Penfolds 5-Course Degustation Experience for A$10,499.

The Ghan Once-in-a-Lifetime Luxury Escapes Charter includes three nights of pre-Ghan accommodation at Mindil Beach Casino Resort with a Welcome to Country ceremony, welcome cocktails, a three-course welcome dinner with free flowing drinks, and daily breakfast; two days of excursions and activities, kicking off with a full-day in Litchfield National Park, and a day of sightseeing in Darwin.

On the morning of the third day a transfer will take you to Darwin Station Terminal where The Ghan train journey begins. You’ll get three nights on board the luxury train with your choice of Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy; two nights at the Hilton Adelaide , including two days in Adelaide and the Penfolds experience at Magill Estate; plus the services of expert on-ground representatives; and all entrance fees and sightseeing per itinerary.

You can read more about The Ghan train journey and what to expect below based on our experience on The Ghan.

The Ghan Train Journey – An Epic Australian Rail Adventure in Style

The Ghan train journey takes lovers of slow travel on a leisurely rail adventure from north to south through the Red Centre of Australia. One of Australia’s greatest train journeys, The Ghan departs from Darwin, the tropical capital of the Northern Territory in the Top End of the country, and your destination is Adelaide , the lovely, laidback South Australian capital, famed for its fine food and wine, arts and culture, sprawling parks and gardens, and endless beaches. You can also do the trip in reverse from Adelaide to Darwin.

The Ghan train journey has a special place in my heart and not just because I’m Australian. I’m Sydney-born and not all ‘East Coasters’ feel as deeply connected to Australia’s red heart as I do. While I adore Australian beaches, the Outback with its ochre-red soil, silvery ghost gums, brilliant blue skies, and cotton-wool clouds is my happy place and I’m happiest in the heart of Australia with its Albert Namatjira landscapes.

My family travelled around Australia and lived in Alice Springs when I was in my early teens. Our weekends there would be filled with camping trips and four-wheel-drive adventures. We’d bump along corrugated dirt tracks to palm-shaded valleys for sweaty hikes through ancient gorges, dips in serene swimming holes skirted by sandy beaches, and moonlit barbecues under the stars.

My dad worked on the new standard gauge railway line for The Ghan railway at the time and we got to go to the official opening of the Tarcoola to Alice Springs section of the line. I remember standing next to the towering Gough Whitlam, Australia’s legendary prime minister, while Princess Alexandra cut the ribbon.

Journeying on The Ghan was a very special experience for me. I’m sure it will be for you too. Here’s what to expect on this legendary Australian rail adventure.

How to Plan and Prepare for The Ghan Journey

Book the ghan when you see a deal.

The Ghan train expeditions are seasonal and they’re incredibly popular, selling quickly, so you really have to act fast and book tickets for The Ghan as soon as you see dates announced. Itineraries generally include a 3-4 day rail journey on the legendary train in either twin cabin Gold Service or a Platinum service cabin with a double bed with 2-3 days of accommodation and activities in Darwin and Adelaide.

While The Ghan packages differ from season to season, they are typically all-inclusive on the train and usually include all on-board dining and drinks and unmissable Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy; along with pre-trip accommodation with welcome drinks, daily breakfast and transfers, a choice of activities; the services of expert on-ground staff; and all entrance fees and sightseeing per itinerary.

Do Some Pre-Trip Reading and Movie-Watching

Do some pre-trip reading and movie-watching before embarking on The Ghan train journey and you’ll get so much more out of the experience. You’re not only travelling through Australia’s red heart, you’re journeying through its spiritual heart, so I suggest your pre-trip reading start with Marcia Langton’s Welcome to Country, a Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia . There’s also time to read books and watch movies on the train, so see my extensive list below for more suggestions.

Book Transfers Ahead of Time

Transfers are usually included in Darwin between the hotel and the railway station on the day of your departure for The Ghan train journey, but you’ll need to book your airport transfer to Darwin in advance, as well as your Adelaide transfers to save money and the hassle of waiting for a taxi, as we did. It took ages.

Book Activities and Tours in Darwin and Adelaide

If you’re starting in Darwin, depending on when your flight arrives, you may have some free time. We recommend getting your bearings on our self-guided Darwin city walk , which takes in many of the key sights. If you can spare more time, arrive a coupleof days ahead of the start of the itinerary and do a tour to Kakadu (it’s a long day, but worth it) or day trip to Litchfield National Park if it’s not included on the itinerary. It’s closer to Darwin, so easier to get to.

Consider Extending Your Stays If You Can

If you live on Australia’s East Coast, the chances of you having been to Darwin or even Adelaide are slim. Bizarrely, Darwin does not even make it onto Australians’ top ten destinations. Most Australians would rather go overseas. But Darwin is a compelling city with fantastic waterfront parks, weekend markets filled with stalls with multicultural eats, terrific museums, and magic sunset rituals.

Darwin is also the launching pad for road trips to nearby Litchfield National Park, Mary River National Park and Kakadu National Park , all endowed with dramatic landscapes, rich in ancient history and indigenous art and culture, with thundering waterfalls and cooling waterholes, and opportunities galore to gawk at birdlife and wildlife, especially crocodiles.

While you could self-drive (see our guide to driving from Darwin to Mary River and Kakadu ), once you get there you’ll get more out of the trip on an indigenous tour or cruise with a local Aboriginal guide.

Adelaide has a fabulous food and wine scene, some of Australia’s best museums and art galleries, gorgeous gardens and more sprawling parks, stunning sandy beaches, and loads of outdoor dining opportunities.

Adelaide also has some of Australia’s best wine regions in the backyard, and Kangaroo Island , with its abundance of wildlife, wild white-sand beaches, and more wonderful food and wine. Who said it wasn’t about the destinations?

What to Pack for The Ghan Train Journey

Pack carefully and weigh your bags.

There are baggage restrictions on The Ghan train. Passengers are only allowed to have one carry-on piece in their cabin with a maximum weight of 7kg, although of course you can take a handbag, light day-pack or laptop in addition to this. You are also allowed two pieces of checked-in baggage with a maximum weight of 30kg per piece.

However, you can’t access those bags between Darwin and Adelaide (and vice versa). That means if The Ghan train journey is part of a longer holiday and you’re extending time in Adelaide or Darwin and exploring more of South Australia and/or The Northern Territory, you will need to make sure you don’t lock something you need in the checked-in bags.

What Clothes To Pack for The Ghan

Pack outdoorsy cottons and linens, a sun hat and heavy-duty sunblock for the excursions to Nitmiluk National Park and Alice Springs as it will be hot out. Comfy walking shoes are a must, especially for Nitmiluk. If the water levels are low, which they usually are just before the wet season starts, you’ll have to clamber over rocks between gorges and boats.

Smart-casual is fine for the train – take a cardigan as it can get chilly – and nice PJs for the cabin if you fancy being woken by staff delivering a cup of tea to your bed. Pack something a bit special for cocktails and dinner in the evenings when passengers tend to dress up a little.

I’ve not seen black tie and evening gowns on The Ghan as I have on the Eastern & Oriental Express, however, the blokes swap their long shorts for trousers and women do what women do and dress up. Flat shoes are best. It’s a train after all and it bumps and sways on some of the Outback tracks.

Other Gadgets To Pack for The Ghan

Pack a camera, batteries and power-banks . There is Wi-Fi in your cabin, but only when you’re in or near civilisation. It will cut out as you leave towns and communities. There are power-points in the cabin to recharge your gear. A pair of small binoculars will get used if you enjoy a bit of birdwatching and there are lots of birds to spot.

Books to Take on The Ghan

Not everyone is as content as I am at staring out a window at constantly changing landscapes for hours on end, so there are a few books you should pack that might inspire you to gaze a bit more and think a little differently about the geography outside your window.

Pack a copy of Marcia Langton’s Welcome to Country, a Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia (link above) which I also recommend as pre-trip reading, along with Richard Broome’s Aboriginal Australians: A History Since 1788 , which tells the history of Australia from the standpoint of our First Nations Peoples.

Look for the expanded fifth edition which covers the Northern Territory Intervention, remote Australia’s mining boom, the Uluru Statement, and the resurgence of interest among Australians in traditional Aboriginal knowledge and culture.

If you’re interested in Australian food and agriculture, Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu reveals how Australia’s pre-colonial Aboriginal peoples sowed, harvested and irrigated land, stored crops, used domesticated plants, and built dams and houses – you’ll look at the landscapes out your window in a very different light.

Bill Gammage’s The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia and Billy Griffiths’ Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia should have that same effect on you, as well as changing how you see history.

Gammage reveals how early European explorers noted how land across Australia looked like parkland with sprawling grassy areas within woodland and walking paths, evoking an English estate. This is because Australia’s Aboriginal peoples systematically managed the land, using fire and native plant life-cycles to ensure plentiful food for people and wildlife and prevent wildfires.

Griffiths’ book is one for lovers or archaeology, weaving history, biography and literature together to tell the story of Aboriginal archaeology in Australia and the archaeologists who uncovered traces of ancient Australia and evidence of 60,000 years of continual habitation.

If you enjoy birdwatching, there’s plenty to see on The Ghan train journey – from kites to wedge-tailed eagles, cockatoos and galahs – so a Field Guide to Australian Birds or The Australian Bird Guide will get used, along with those binoculars. There are books on Australian birdlife and wildlife in the small library in the lounge, but these tend to disappear soon after the train leaves Darwin and you won’t see them again until you’re pulling into Adelaide.

Movies to Watch on The Ghan

If you’re planning on loading up a few films before you leave home for post-dinner movies during The Ghan train journey, don’t plan on finishing any epics. While you’re at dinner your cabin seats will have been converted into double bunks if you’re staying in Gold class or a double bed if you’re in Platinum, and the train movement will quickly lull you to sleep.

But if you do want to attempt something, then start with the Baz Luhrmann-directed Australia , set in Darwin during the World War II bombing by the Japanese, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The landscapes are breathtaking, the story is uplifting (and we all need a lift up right now) and it’s loads of fun.

The 1955 Australian classic Jedda , directed by Claude Chavel, is set in the Northern Territory. It was Australia’s first colour film and starred Aboriginal actors Robert Tudawali and Ngarla Kunoth. When you’re on the cruise boat wending your way through the spectacular sandstone cliffs of Nitmiluk National Park, your local Jawoyn guide will point out Jedda’s Rock, but I won’t spoil the film for you by explaining its name. Other locations include Mary River south east of Darwin and Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge not far from Alice Springs.

The feel-good campy Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert , directed by Stephan Elliot and starring Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Bill Hunter, is a must before you arrive in Alice Springs, where much of the movie is set. You’ll recognise Simpsons Gap and the MacDonnell Ranges in an instant.

What to Expect on The Ghan Train

Your cabin is comfy but compact.

While you’re going to be immeasurably more comfortable in a Gold cabin than you would be sitting up in a seat, the cabins are compact, which is why you can only take a carry-on each. There is storage space, however, including a wardrobe and a shelf, but you’ll need to stay organised to maintain that sense of comfort.

The Ghan’s Platinum cabins have a lot more space and after the staff sneak in to transform your seats into beds while you’re dining, you can slide your bags under the double bed. You can also store stuff in your private bathrooms before you shower.

Magic Sunrises from the Comfort of Bed

If you’re an early riser and love a good sunrise and waking to the warmth of that big fiery ball in the sky on the cheeks, you’ll relish the experience from your cabin bed. Open the blind before you doze off.

I could have laid in bed for hours watching the colours of the earth cycle from dusky pink, peach and apricot to musk, rust-red and tangerine as the sun rose and illuminated the scorched land. That means accept the offer of a pot of tea in bed.

Cabin Time, But Not as Much as You Might Imagine

While you might envisage most of your time on The Ghan being spent in your comfy cabin, working your way through a few books in between naps, by the time you’ve finished your pot of tea, it will be time for breakfast in the Queen Adelaide dining carriage.

And you’ll definitely want to linger over breakfast, so opt for the second breakfast sitting. Then you should have some cabin time before your off-train excursion or before it’s time to eat again. Make the most of the cabin time you have, as the cabins are a delight.

Prepare to Eat and Drink to Your Stomach’s Content

The food and drinks are a real highlight of The Ghan train journey. There are welcome glasses of bubbly in the cabin after you’ve boarded (we clinked a Croser Petaluma from the Adelaide Hills on our last trip) and Western and South Australian wines and beers are offered in the lounge during the introductory briefing and before and after meals.

Expect three-course menus for lunch and four courses for dinner with plenty of beautiful Australian produce and well-matched Aussie wines. When we last travelled, highlights included prawn and crab dumplings with a lemon myrtle infused seafood broth, grilled saltwater barramundi with sweet potato mash and spinach, a roasted kangaroo fillet with crocodile boudin blanc, potato puree and quandong jus.

There were Australian cheese courses as an alternative to dessert, with the likes of a Barossa Valley brie, Limestone Coast clothed cheddar and Lobethal goat blue cheese. We recommend the later sittings for all meal times so you can linger and not feel rushed. You may want to prepare for all the food with pre- and post-train walks (or runs) in Darwin and Adelaide.

Magic Sunsets from the Outback Explorer Lounge

You could savour the sunsets from your cabin as you will the sunrises, but who doesn’t love watching the sun go down with a glass of white wine in hand? Plus, there’ll be some nibbles to go with those. Everyone else will have the same idea, so you’ll need to get to the lounge early-ish to snag a good spot.

An added bonus of sundowners in the lounge is that you can move from side to side, snapping pics of the sun sinking beneath the horizon to the west and the changing colours of the landscape in the east. If you book a table for dinner for the later sitting, you can linger after the first diners depart or head back to your cabin for a quiet one before dinner.

You Might Make As Many Friends As Memories

If you’re travelling as a couple, you can ask to dine alone if you’re on a romantic getaway, honeymoon or celebrating a special anniversary, however, at some point during The Ghan train journey, due to the numbers of passengers and number of seats, you will probably share a table with others and make new friends.

If you don’t do it over dinner, it will be over drinks, as there are plenty of opportunities for those – and there’s a camaraderie that naturally develops after a couple of days and nights in close quarters with other Australians on a train. Take plenty of old-fashioned business cards as you won’t always have access to Wi-Fi to ping one from your phone.

The Ghan Train Journey Excursions and Activities

The Ghan itineraries and the excursions and activities vary slightly from trip to trip, so check the link at the start of this post for a detailed itinerary, but the epic 3,000 kilometre journey kicks off in Darwin and ends in Adelaide, or vice versa.

The itinerary typically includes a choice of excursions and experiences at each stop. Of the options available from Katherine, the highlight for us is the spectacular Nitmuluk gorge cruise (which I’ve now done a handful of times) and the helicopter ride of the gorge.

From Alice Springs, a walk through Simpsons Gap or Standley Chasm is special, a camel ride is good fun, before visiting the Alice Springs Desert Park and the Royal Flying Doctors is also fascinating, For an additional fee, you can also do a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, so lots of choices there.

From Coober Pedy, the itineraries usually offer a choice of a visit to the majestic Breakaways, the chance to explore the underground town, and an opportunity to get to go fossicking for opals.

We’ll be sharing a more detailed guide to the highlights of The Ghan trip covering sights to see and excursions to do on the way and will link to that when it’s published.

Published 22 December 2021; Updated 17 May 2023

Images courtesy of Luxury Escapes.

Disclosure: we are affiliate partners of Luxury Escapes so if you make a booking via the links in this post we earn a commission, which goes to supporting the work we do to create content on this site.

Have you done The Ghan train journey? We’d love to hear about your experience, especially if you do the upcoming November trips. Please leave a comment below or feel free to email us.

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Australia's best train journeys

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Romance awaits aboard Australia’s lavish long-distance sleeper trains.

By Amy Fraser and Krysia Bonkowski

Four days, three states, two oceans and one train. The Indian Pacific isn’t just any train journey, it’s an epic escape from day-to-day life, an adventure of a lifetime and one of the best ways to experience the true beauty of Australia. Picture the majestic Blue Mountains in New South Wales, the rolling hills and winding streams of Western Australia , the bubble-gum pink lakes of South Australia and the iconic Nullarbor Plain ; you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled and your camera at the ready. Choose to hop on at any leg of the journey, or sit back for an epic four days from one ocean to another along the world’s longest stretch of straight railway.

Over three to four days, the Great Southern sweeps through one of the most diverse corners of the nation – venturing from the lush folds of South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, to the rugged Grampians mountain range in Victoria, past the lazuline shores of the New South Wales north coast and on to Brisbane. Four Australian states in a handful of days; it’s the ultimate way to see the country's ever-changing landscapes, all the while indulging in the world-class luxuries. This all-inclusive journey runs only once a year, across summer. The best part? The itinerary changes with the direction, giving you the perfect excuse to hop back on and do it all anew.

No distractions, no complications – just you and the monumental Australian outback. Traversing almost 3,000km (1,864mi) across some of the most hard-to-reach and jaw-dropping pockets of Australia, the Ghan journey is truly awe-inspiring. Snaking your way through the heart of the outback, you’ll see a new side to Australia – and perhaps yourself. From stylish interiors to indulgent experiences; the Ghan isn't one of the world’s most celebrated train journeys just for the route – it's the whole experience. To top it off, you'll have the opportunity to create your own adventure, choosing between a handful of routes and journeys.

26 hours and 1,300-odd km (808mi) – that’s all it takes to see the soul of western Queensland . As the Spirit of the Outback sleeper train chugs inland from Brisbane, lush greenery gives way to a land tinted gold and bronze by the sun. Between the Australiana-themed dining cars serving Queensland produce and the cattle stations stretching to meet the endless horizon, it’s an experience unique to this corner of the world. A place steeped in lore and legend – the inspiration for bush poet Banjo Paterson’s ballad “Waltzing Matilda” – the Queensland outback still echoes the bushrangers, prospectors, and hardy drovers that once roamed here.

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Top 5 rail trips to pair with a cruise for incredible experiences around Australia, Europe, Canada and more - full list

Boarding a train is one of the most traditional ways of travel but there is much more to it than getting from A to B.

It can offer a small piece of nostalgia while relaxing with five-star service and seeing some of the most breathtaking places in the world. Discover incredible routes on board The Ghan , Rocky Mountaineer , Indian Pacific , Himalayan Queen and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express .

Pairing a rail trip with a cruise can be the recipe for a truly unique holiday.

Like rail, cruising is an exciting way to travel where the journey becomes as much part of the experience as the destination.

Here are the five best rail journeys to pair with a cruise, according to Imagine Cruising.

The Ghan is a legendary train that has run for 95 years and ventures through some of the most beautiful parts of Australia.

It offers all-inclusive service while guests take in the vast landscapes of the Australian Outback.

The Ghan Rail & Luxury All-Inclusive Voyage gives Britons a once-in-a-lifetime experience while they travel from Australia to Singapore.

Holidaymakers can sip on wine in Adelaide before journeying on the Ghan to Darwin, where they will spend three nights and indulge in a sunset dinner cruise.

During the two-day train journey, enjoy off-train experiences including a cruise of the Nitmiluk Gorge, a chance to see the Simpsons Gap and the opportunity to set your eyes on the Milky Way.

Up next, it's time to fly to Sydney where you’ll enjoy a five-night before the cruise part of the journey begins.

Embark Celebrity Solstice® and soak in Australia's east coast while enjoying a luxurious 15-night cruise, including an overnight stop in port in Bali.

Guests will then arrive in Singapore where they can relax during a two-night stay.

As well as sampling all the fine wine and dining available on both the train and ship, there are plenty of included excursions to look forward to.

The cruise and rail voyage runs for 31 nights, departing on October 5, 2024. Prices start from £7,499pp and it includes all flights and transfers with drinks, wi-fi and tours.

Rocky Mountaineer

Step on board the Rocky Mountaineer for a scenic train journey through Canada.

Experience the continent during an incredible train journey from Vancouver to Calgary. Explore the history of the country and take in the breathtaking natural landscapes.

The All-Inclusive Silversea Alaskan Voyage, Rocky Mountaineer & Calgary Stampede pairs the unmissable rail journey with a seven-night cruise of Alaska.

Kicking off with a one-night stay in Anchorage, holidaymakers will then board Silver Nova for the cruise, passing views of Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, and Haines.

Next, travellers can relax with a night in Vancouver before stepping on the Rocky Mountaineer for the unforgettable rail journey that promises to treat guests to a "VIP experience from start to finish".

Hosts will talk you through the highlights of the tour, as well as storytelling and wildlife spotting.

The cruise and rail voyage runs for 15 nights, departing on June 24, 2025. The cruise and rail journey starts from £8,499pp and is exclusive to Imagine Cruising.

Indian Pacific

Holidaymakers will explore Australia and New Zealand during the 27-night holiday.

Enjoy a magnificent all-inclusive service on board the Indian Pacific travelling from Perth to Sydney during a four-night journey.

As well as taking in the views from the train, Britons can immerse themselves in the beautiful landscapes as they step off board in the Kalgoorlie, the Barossa Valley, and the Blue Mountains.

During the All-Inclusive Silversea New Zealand Voyage & Indian Pacific Rail Journey , Britons will spend a night in Perth before boarding the train.

Once in Sydney, you’ll embark Silver Muse for a 14-night cruise to Auckland.

This includes stops in Geelong, Tasmania, Hobart, and Port Arthur, among other destinations, with complimentary premium shore excursions available at every port.

Complete the break with even more luxury and enjoy a two-night stay in a five-star hotel in Auckland.

The cruise and rail voyage runs for 27 nights, departing on January 9, 2025. The cruise and rail journey starts from £9,999pp.

Himalayan Queen

The Himalayan Queen helps guests to immerse themselves in the vibrancy of India.

Journey to the Himalayan foothills, take part in an exhilarating jungle safari and bask in one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal as part of the Golden Triangle tour.

The All-Inclusive Celebrity Voyage & Ultimate India Experience offers a Tigers, The Himalayas & Golden Triangle Tour and more during a 27- to 29-day stay.

Take the Shatabdi Express to Kalka and then board the Himalayan Queen for a journey from Kalka to Shimla.

Enjoy a cruise with the Celebrity Millennium® where you get the chance to see Goa, Colombo in Sri Lanka and the wildlife in Hambantota. Other destinations include picturesque Phuket, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

Holidaymakers will get to experience opulence on and off their modes of travel, with several five-star hotels included in the price.

The cruise and rail voyage runs for 27-29 nights, departing on dates between November 2024 and February 2025. The cruise and rail journey starts from £3,699pp based on a November 24, 2024 departure and includes a classic drinks package and wi-fi.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Mediterranean cruises are a popular holiday option for seeing the continent in style.

There are also some fantastic rail journeys to be had along the way.

Travel on the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Verona to Paris with waterside views of the continent.

Holidaymakers will be treated to dedicated steward service, three course lunches and four course dinners, as well as a full porterage service.

The Luxury Cunard Mediterranean Cruise, Lake Garda & All-Inclusive Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers a remarkable voyage to beautiful parts of Europe.

Explore the Mediterranean on board the Cunard’s Queen Victoria, a sleek and luxurious ship with gourmet dining and spacious cabins.

Visit lively Barcelona, historical Florence and celebrity-studded Lake Garda.

As well as taking part in a winery tour and tasting before boarding the train to Paris.

The package also includes a standard Premier Class Eurostar train journey from Paris to London.

The cruise and rail voyage runs for 13 nights, departing on June 16, 2025.

The cruise and rail journey starts from £5,499pp including outbound flight and transfers, with a complimentary Oceanview to Balcony cabin upgrade on board Queen Victoria. You won’t find this holiday anywhere else as it’s exclusive to Imagine Cruising.