Rail · 2-DAY EXPERIENCES
Good two-day rail trips fill up weeks ahead and the famous ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Use Granada’s open carriage city train to circle the historic center and reach the Alhambra route. Hop on and off at stops such as Plaza Nueva, the Cathedral, Mirador de San Cristóbal, and Carmen de Los Mártires. A 12-language audio guide explains the sights, but bring your own headphones.
“Good way to see the city, downside was can be quite busy and have to wait for a seat”
This two-day TreXperience tour combines a challenging 16-kilometer Inca Trail hike with Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, the Sun Gate, and guided Machu Picchu visits. English or Spanish-speaking guides such as Gilbert, Abelardo, Jason, and Alejandro lead groups of up to 16. You get trail meals, a hotel night, buses, and a Vistadome train home.
“Abelardo was the best guide! Me and Dimitris had a great time! Also the food was great, as of quality, diversity and taste, more than expected!”
Travel from Hanoi to Sapa by shared four-berth overnight train, then trek through Sin Chai, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van with an English-speaking local guide. You get one hotel night, meals, village walks, and a daytime return to Hanoi. Guides may include Ai, Sung, or Zua. Bring warm layers and shoes with firm grip.
“Easily the best activity that we have done in Vietnam. Our guide Ai was the sweetest Hmong guide. She communicated clearly and was funny. She took us to our trekking tours and helped us cross rice fields. The trekking is not east so you need good shoes or gum boots. Locals accompany you along the way. We read various comments but the ladies along the road are necessary. If they help you be a nice traveller and buy something from them. This was the highlight and definitely recommend it. Good value for money. The train experience was great and our hotel very clean and spacious. Thank you to Ai for…”
Ride an air-conditioned sleeper train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then trek through Cat Cat, Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Giang Ta Chai. You’ll meet H’Mong, Black H’Mong, Red Dzao, Dzay, and Tay communities with a local English-speaking guide. Choose a shared four-bed cabin, private cabin, hotel, or homestay option.
“Great two-days trip through fantastic landscape and villages surrounding SaPa. Our guide - Chi talked really good English and had a lot to tell about the landscape, plants and the way of living in the remote villages in the area. We did this trekking with the best pace on tour with small group. Great food at the village in the middle of nowhere! Highly recommended!”
Spend two days in Sri Lanka’s hill country with a private or small group tour covering Kandy, Peradeniya Garden, Nuwara Eliya, and a three-hour blue train ride. You’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a tea factory, spice garden, and Kandyan cultural show, with hotel, meals, and train tickets depending on the package you choose.
“I got a completely different experience than almost every other review here. My guide wasn’t really a guide at all but more like a private driver. He didn’t really say a word the entire 2 days to me as he didn’t speak english well. But he was a great driver, always on time, and dropped me off and picked me up everywhere like clockwork. I accepted that I basically paid for a private chauffeur for two days which is fine. Still had a good time seeing all the sights, and as promised, they took care of all train tickets, hotel, etc.”
Travel from Hanoi to Sa Pa by night train, then trek for two days through mountain villages and rice terraces with a local guide such as Tú. You will stay one night with a Hmong family, share meals, and visit four hamlets and two ethnic communities. The group is limited to eight people.
Start with a 4:00am pickup, a private Yala safari, and a drive into Ella’s hill country. You’ll see Rawana Falls, Nine Arch Bridge, and Little Adam’s Peak, sleep in a 3-star hotel, then ride the hill train for 60 to 70 minutes before visiting Kelliebedde Tea Factory. Driver-guide Ishan is available on some departures.
“This was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on! Our driver Ishan was an expert and super friendly and helpful. They even got me a cake for my birthday! Every experience from the safari to the train ride was excellent. The communication and coordination of the tour agency was perfect. I can’t wait to come back to Sri Lanka, thank you so much!”
By the kind of train, or by the country the track runs through.
