Where to next?
Discover the best destinations and holiday providers, independently researched and recommended by us & save 30% only £34.30.
Join Which? TravelOffer ends 16 Jun 25. Cancel anytime.
By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Great Rail Journeys review
Find out how Great Rail Journeys fares for its escorted tours in our survey of nearly 20,000 package holidays
Who is Great Rail Journeys?
From the mountain tops of Switzerland on the Glacier Express, to the Himalayan foothills on Shimla’s Toy Train, Great Rail Journeys offers small-group escorted tours on some of the world’s most celebrated rail routes.
Which? verdict
With five-star tours, five-star organisation and an excellent customer score, Great Rail Journeys is an excellent holiday company and a deserving Which? Recommended Provider.
Book a holiday with Great Rail Journeys
Great Rail Journeys customer ratings
| Holiday type | Which? Recommended Provider? | Customer score |
|---|---|---|
| Escorted tour | Yes | 82% |
Customer score Based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the company. In August/September 2024, we asked 12,119 Which? Connect panel members and members of the public about 19,958 holidays from the past two years, in an online survey.
We tracked the price of more than 20,000 holidays to find out exactly when to book to get the cheapest price – read our 28 ways to save on your next holiday
What’s a Great Rail Journeys holiday like?
With more than 50 years of experience, Great Rail Journeys offers unique holidays by rail for small groups, with the reassurance of a professional UK tour manager travelling with the group all the way.
While it has long been popular with Which? Travel readers, and has flirted with the top tier of the escorted tours table, this is the first time it has beaten off the competition to be named a Which? Recommended Provider.
Customers were particularly impressed with the way trips were organised, giving this five out of five stars. The tour managers were also well regarded. One survey respondent said: ‘We had an exceptional guide, who was very well prepared with detailed information she had clearly researched in advance.' Many commented that guides were 'there to help in an instant’ and pivot plans in the face of train delays or cancellations.
And importantly, the itineraries proved very popular. As one traveller put it, ‘the places we went were spectacular’.
Great Rail Journeys’ refund, cancellation and surcharge policy
Great Rail Journeys is a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) which means that, as well as being one of the most highly rated holiday firms in our survey, it has also guaranteed to offer a full refund or free changes if the Foreign Office (FCDO) changes its advice about your destination.
It has also promised that in 2025 it won’t apply any additional surcharges to holidays that have already been booked.
Should I book a holiday with Great Rail Journeys?
Definitely. Its holidays are well organised, with excellent guides and interesting itineraries.
Which? Travel has been rating holiday companies for more than 50 years. Join Which? Travel to get more unbiased reviews on the best and worst hotels, car hire companies, travel insurance and other essential holiday services.