Longhaul family holiday ideas by train

[Hdsqgbo]

Got two primary aged kids who both get really car sick. Just came back from Japan which we did by train and that worked really well. Now trying to think of where to go for next year. Looking for longhaul destinations that can be done by plane or train? Have done China and that also worked.A bit cautious about India as I was really sick there a few years back. Anywhere else?

Where did you travel from to Japan? And how long did it take?

Quite a bit of Malaysia is doable by train. We did Kuala Lumpur - Ipoh - Butterworth - Penang.

You need to get onto seat61.com!! We planned a wonderful train holiday all round Europe that way but it covers other countries too.

Thank you so much for this tip!!!

Vietnam - a lot of the main destinations between Ho Chi Min City and Hanoi are connected by train although the trains won’t be as comfortable as in Japan.

Uzbekistan - trains connect some of the main destinations

Lots of options in Europe of course.

Thailand has an excellent train system and it is well priced 1st class sleeper ticket Bangkok to Chiang Mai is around £40.

I'm probably being really dense but do you fly somewhere then travel by train or do you literally get on the train at your nearest train station and go from there? I'd love to do the latter btw but just trying to get my head around it.

You seriously cant think they got the 0730 Tamworth-Tokyo express? 🤣

Why not? 🤣I want to do that. I hate flying. But no obviously not one express train. But surely it's possible to get a train from London to European mainland and then from Europe to Asia?

Just asked chat gpt for a route. I'd need to train to Russia or China then ferry to Japan because there's no tunnels or bridges into Japan. Boo!!! It would take 10-14 days.

That would be awesome 😂 day trip to Japan!

Currently it is not possible.
Lines EU - Russia are stopped.

In past the option was there, but it would take ages.

Yes you can go UK to Singapore by train

Like they did on series 1 of my favourite programme- RATW

Singapore is or was the furthest you could get over land. RATW is back too starting in China!

I’d love to do it minus the cameras!

Oh I've never watched this but I'm going to now.

Some interesting trips around South America...

https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/inspiration/best-train-journeys-south-america/

Thanks for the ideas. Hadn't realised you could do so much of Vietnam by train. I didn't mean the whole way by train, happy to fly and then train it.

I love that programmes . One of the fw things I watch ( no tv at home)

Still?

My nephew did it years ago but he started the journey by doing the Trans-Siberian route, can't imagine that is doable now.

Not through Russia but I believe through India and Pakistan

I did Hué to Hanoi recently (overnight train). It was fine and I slept ok but the mattress although very clean was rock hard. You also needed a sweat shirt or 2 due to the air con.

In early summer I’m going to Briancon (southern French alps) by train. It’s Eurostar to Paris then overnight with couchettes. €300 return for 2.