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Amy Axworthy is a travel journalist and product reviewer. She was shortlisted for Best News Writer at the BSME Talent Awards in 2023 for uncovering consumer harm.
With flight disruption on the rise, you might be considering slowing things down for your next trip and taking the train instead. Choosing a top-rated rail package holiday takes the hassle out of planning your itinerary, and protects your money.
To help you choose the best provider, we surveyed over 900 holidaymakers on 1,336 recent rail package holidays. Most guests were satisfied with their package holiday company, but two stood out for achieving the highest customer scores in our survey: Audley Travel and Byway Travel.
In fact, Audley and Byway’s booking policies and extras met the high standards we set for Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs). For example, these companies have guaranteed they will not apply surcharges to customers after you book, which can give you much-needed peace of mind amid rising oil costs.
For most, a flight and hotel bundle is likely to be the first type of trip you think of when it comes to package holidays. But you can also book your rail holiday as a package, and this is the best way to protect your plans and money. If you piece together a multi-stop train trip yourself, booking separate tickets, you are on your own if there's a strike, a train delay, or you miss your connection. But with a package holiday, you are legally shielded by the Package Travel Regulations. If a train is cancelled or delayed, your package holiday company is obligated to re-route you and adjust your accommodation plans. Or if a travel company goes bust or fails to deliver the trip as promised, you are guaranteed a full refund or suitable replacement holiday.
Plus, booking a rail package means you don't have to figure out the best routes yourself or spend hours hunting for nearby accommodation in a place you've never visited. You'll also avoid the headache of navigating different booking platforms, seat reservation systems and international transaction fees.
Read the full results of our rail holiday survey below.
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Why you can trust our reviews of adventure/ activity providers
Expert analysis
We don't evaluate providers on our individual preferences, nor do we accept freebies. Instead, we asked the opinions of 943 travellers who have been on rail package holidays in the UK or abroad in the last 3 years about their recent 1,336 rail holidays so you can book with confidence.
Which? Recommended Providers
Our Which? Recommended Providers are the best of the best. They must meet strict criteria, including high customer scores plus uncompromising standards on the customer service available, cancellation policies and surcharging.
| 86% | £195 | ||||
| 83% | £143 | ||||
(30) | 81% | £150 | |||
(51) | 81% | £133 | |||
(30) | 81% | £134 | |||
(56) | 81% | £145 | |||
(38) | 80% | £194 | |||
(43) | 80% | £167 | |||
(36) | 80% | £189 | |||
(33) | 80% | £155 | |||
(47) | 80% | £150 | |||
(41) | 80% | £160 | |||
| 79% | £170 | ||||
(217) | 78% | £180 | |||
(32) | 76% | n/a | |||
(32) | 76% | n/a | |||
(125) | 75% | £125 | |||
| 74% | £166 | ||||
(40) | 72% | £156 |
Survey conducted in February-March 2026 based on 943 members of the public and the Connect Panel who have been on 1,336 package rail holidays in the UK or abroad in the past three years (i.e. since February 2023). Sample sizes in brackets. 'n/a' indicates we did not receive enough responses to report on a company in that category. Customer score based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend.
Rail tours can be a more expensive way to travel than a traditional fly and flop package. But our survey shows that you don't have to overpay for a top-rated experience. Guests told us that they spent an average of £143 each in the UK or Europe, per night, with one of our two Which Recommended Providers (WRPs) - Byway Travel - making it one of the five cheapest options surveyed. But if you choose to spend more with our other WRP, Audley Travel, you can take advantage of its organised private tours at each stop. Whichever rail company you pick, booking a package means you have some financial protection if something goes wrong.
Verdict: Organises outstanding rail trips for those wanting an upmarket experience
Customer score: 86%
Pros
Cons
Audley Travel specialises in custom, high-end tours tailored to your preferences. Its dedicated rail holidays use train travel to its full advantage – whether that means recommending Japan's hyper-punctual bullet trains for the fastest routes, scenic routes for exploring landscapes inaccessible by roads or flights, or world-class sleeper train experiences.
When you step off the train, Audley Travel can organise for you to be immediately met by a tour guide if your sightseeing begins straight away, or a private driver if you are to travel to your accommodation.
Guests frequently shared that part of the luxury experience with Audley Travel lay in the expert planning behind the scenes. As one explained: 'The itinerary was meticulously planned, ensuring neither awkward gaps nor rushed transitions,’ and another said: ‘We can savour each moment without worrying about what comes next.' Other customers told us that the operator has earned their trust and the staff are 'easy to deal with'.
Audley Travel is a premium option in the world of rail travel. But for those who did spend the money, guests found the experience met their expectations and delivered true value.
Book a holiday with Audley Travel and find out how it fared in our other travel surveys in our full Audley Travel review.
Verdict: A top rail holiday specialist with dependable customer service
Customer score: 83%
Pros
Cons
British travel company Byway Travel is a certified B Corp, meaning it has been reviewed by a third-party and meets high standards for social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
It specialises in flight-free trips over land and sea, and invites holidaymakers to take part in 'slow travel', meaning you'll enjoy a multi-stop journey before reaching your main destination. Its suggested stopovers, often tucked away from crowded tourist hotspots, were well-liked in our survey.
Guests particularly liked how Byway can create an itinerary to suit them, rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach. One traveller noted that 'Byway took the pain out of the planning and booking process,' which can often be incredibly time consuming if you're booking a trip yourself that involves multiple train journeys. The staff were described as friendly, and another guest highlighted how Byway booked them different types of rail tickets to get them the best value for money. Another respondent appreciated the quality of the hotels booked and their convenient locations for catching their next train connection.
To make sure your journey goes smoothly, Byway Travel offers its travellers a WhatsApp support chat for any questions on the go, and it will alert you to any live disruption and re-routing options. Such consistent customer support was often praised by holidaymakers in our survey. One said: 'Byway offer a first-class service. They are customer centric and act as a guardian angel when one is out and about.' Another told us: 'From start to finish they are professional and easily contactable for any query. They are so helpful, and will assist with any issues you may have.' When this traveller wanted to change the time of one of their trains when making their way through Spain, Byway sent them their new tickets within 15 minutes.
Book a holiday with Byway Travel.