Road & Rail wrap: New Italian rail tours, Canada rail sale + more!

Road & Rail wrap: New Italian rail tours, Canada rail sale + more!

You know what we love most about a Road & Rail wrap? It signifies we’ve only got one more day left before the weekend! Oh, and so we can catch up on all the latest rail deals, of course.

Grasshopper Adventures, the leader in Asia bike tours, launches three unique bike & boat adventures for 2019 and 2020 on the Mekong in Cambodia/Vietnam, the Brahmaputra in India and the River Kwai in Thailand.

Grasshopper Adventures is partnering up with colonial and intimate river vessels on Asia’s great rivers. Cycling off-the-beaten-path, cruising along storied rivers, meeting villagers at the river banks and enjoying some scenic pedalling mixed with culture and delicious local food.

With these new itineraries unpacking is only needed once. The ships are under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures and are escorted by a Grasshopper tour leader.

Single travellers are welcome. Grasshopper Adventures is matching guest with another same sex single traveller or guest can decide to pay the single supplement for a private cabin.

New Italian rail tours on sale with international rail 

Frecciarossa at sunset

Australian owned rail travel experts International Rail have launched its “Escorted Rail Tours of Italy” range for 2019. These new touring experiences are the ultimate way to travel around Italy, offering all the benefits and inclusions of a coach tour but via rail- a much more relaxing, and economical, way to travel and view the stunning scenery Italy has to offer.

As an opening special offer, receive a 10 percent discount on any 2019 departure when booked and deposited by April 21, saving up to $1000 per couple on a selection of 14-day guaranteed departures.

These tours have been designed to enable travellers a degree of independence and flexibility with organised travel and accommodation and the security of an experienced tour escort, by combining free time to explore independently with an optional food and wine themed excursion package.

An example is “Grand Tour of Italy” a 14-day tour that begins in Milan and visits Venice, Florence, Rome and the Sorrento Coast it is now priced from $3,500 per person twin share.

All the itineraries include high-speed rail travel in premium class, accommodation in centrally located four star hotels, some meals, tour director, luggage porterage and city transfers.

Save up to 50 per cent off Belmond tours with great train journeys 

Belmond British Pullman LR

Until 30 April 2019, agents can pass on up to 50 per cent off a selection of Belmond’s rail experiences when booking with Rail Europe’s Great Train Journeys.

Valid for travel in May or June 2019, agents can save their clients 25 per cent off companion fares on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for journeys departing from Venice.

Over in Ireland, agents can save their clients 15 per cent off the Belmond Grand Hibernian on the two and four-night journeys, and 25 per cent off companion fares on a six-night journey when travelling in July and September 2019.

In Britain, 25 per cent off companion fares on the Belmond Royal Scotsman apply when travelling in May and June applies, while 20% discounts and a complimentary bottle of champagne apply on selected Belmond British Pullman journeys in April, May and June 2019.

Closer to home, 25 per cent off companion fares and complimentary cabin upgrades apply to journeys on the Eastern & Oriental Express departing on 2, 13 and 17 September 2019.

Finally in Myanmar, agents can save their clients 50 per cent on companion fares when travelling in October, November or December 2019.

Launch of 2020 motorbike tours – Save 10 Per Cent

Thar Desert - India2

Travel some of the world’s most breathtaking roads on the back of a classic Royal Enfield motorbike with a  10 per cent discount from Extreme Bike Tours on all six of its adrenaline-filled tours for 2020.

To mark the launch of its 2020 program and new-look website, featuring a new, ride grading system, Extreme Bike Tours is offering a special, limited time, 10 per cent discount on its ‘Hidden Sri Lanka,’ ‘Luxurious Rajasthan,’ ‘Bhutan,’ ‘Madagascar,’ ‘Mongolia,’ and ‘High Himalaya’ tours. The special discount is only available if booked before May 31, 2019.

Save up to $1400 on Canada’s via rail 

RS4679_Via_Canadian_Pacific-234_Chaud-hpr lowres

For a limited time only, Great Train Journeys, a Rail Europe portfolio, is taking 20 per cent off a selection of VIA Rail journeys including The Canadian, The Ocean, Winnipeg-Churchill and the Jasper–Prince Rupert in the Sleeper Plus and Touring classes.

With savings of up to AU$1400 per couple, routes cover east and westbound journeys between Toronto and Vancouver. To secure these savings, agents must ensure bookings are made by 7 April 2019 with and travel completed by 7 September 2019.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

road & rail wrap

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