A beautiful luxury train, to a world-famous destination, through some spectacular scenery: what could be wrong with this scenario; well there is a big flaw.

The luxury Hiram Bingham train runs from Cuzco to Machu Picchu daily: making the 7 hour return day trip in fantastic comfort. The train is run by the well known 5 star rail group Orient Express and this is by far the best train in Peru, quite possibly South America. Although the 112km trip from Cuzco to Machu Picchu is not a long train journey, it certainly rates as one of the most scenic railroads in the world.

The Hiram Bingham train is named for the American professor who “discovered” the site in 1911. In reality the local farmers were always aware of the site and it was they who guided Bingham. Bingham was looking for the mythical Inca treasure: but in fact the Machu Picchu site is really a treasure: just not of the gold Bingham had in mind, and little too big to ship home, luckily for the Peruvians.

The Hiram Bingham train is designed in the style of a 1920’s rail experience with blue and gold Pullman style carriages fitted out in paneled wood with brocade upholstery featuring heavily in the dining cars. The train includes two Dining Cars, an Observation Bar Car and a Kitchen Car to serve the 84 passengers it has the capacity to carry.

The passengers board in Cuzco at around 9:00am and then are served brunch as they admire the spectacular Sacred Valley as the Urubamba River valley has been prosaically re-named. Now there are regular trains running this route which can be had for only a few dollars, and you will certainly get to experience a slice of Peruvian life that the Hiram Bingham Train (no chickens on the Orient Express fleet!). However the Hiram Bingham travels slowly through well-cleaned windows and you will definitely see a lot more of the scenery thanks to these innovations, and the lack of standing passengers.

The day tour arrives at Aqua Calientes around midday. The train can’t reach the actual Machu Picchu site: which is high above the valley floor, and a transfer is required my mini-bus. With pre-booked tickets you skip the tours and a guided tour of the site is included in the price. According to Orient Express:
“After the guided tour, guests are given the choice to wander alone through this fascinating World Heritage site, or to enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the Orient-Express hotel located right at the entrance to the citadel”

Therein is my problem with the day trip to Machu Picchu. It is frankly an annoying tease.

The site is worth a whole day at least. You could spend a week in Cuzco and not run out of things to do. Machu Picchu is an amazing collection of well preserved Inca ruins, but in addition it is located in one of the most attractive locations in the world. And at an altitude of 2300 metres so you can watch the weather move in from below. Add a few colourful locals and lamas for photographic opportunities.

Imagine if the Pompeii was located on the a mountain ridge, which drops away to two beautiful valleys, and up to two spectacular mountain peaks, Take Pompeii and and relocate in a remote beautiful valley at altitude: take several airplane transfers to get there and then spend only a few hours at the site? Wasting some of that time taking tea? Do yourself a favour arrange your trip to Cuzco to include overnight at the Machu Picchu site. Don’t settle for the movie’s trailer: watch the whole show!

True luxury comes to the Australian outback. Great Southern Railways launches “the Southern Spirit – luxury rail cruises”

The Great Southern Rail is launching its new Platinum level Service on The Ghan rail service. The Ghan has connected Adelaide with Darwin for a number of years but the new Platinum service really takes this train journey into a level of luxury of some of the great train journeys of the world. The twice weekly trip takes two nights to cover the 2979km in either direction with ½ day stop-overs in Alice Spring and Katharine on the way. The new Platinum cabins are twice the size of Gold class cabins and include full ensuite facilities, a plush lounge by day and a double or two twin beds by night. Platinum class includes 24 hour room service but you also have the choice of dining in the elegantly themed Queen Adelaide Restaurant Carriage or relaxing in the outback Explorer lounge.

This trip from south to north is the last word in luxury for a train line that took over 100 years to develop. The original Ghan replaced the Afghan camel drivers who helped open up the outback. The first 40 kilometres of track was laid in 1879 between Port Augusta and Quorn. It took another 50 years following the line of artesian springs through Maree, Oodnadatta until the line reached Alice Springs: roughly ½ way. The line was notoriously difficult to maintain and the old Ghan train, definitely not a 5 star luxury experience, was often days late into either Alice Springs or Adelaide. The old line had to follow the line of artesian water bores as the steam trains needed frequent water stops. Finally in 1980 the current line was opened re-aligning the train to Alice Springs via Tarcoola, several hundred kilometres to the east. Remnants of the old line remain are a popular trip for 4WD enthusiasts. The line was only extended to Darwin in 2003! Photo credit: vacation tips

November 2008 sees the launch of Luxury Australian Rail Cruises, with a 13 day cruise across the heart of Australia from the Darwin, through the tropical tropical Top End, the Red Centre, the scenic south, Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra to Sydney. This marathon trip takes 13 days and is priced at A$13,290 per person twin share in Platinum class (the cheaper gold class is also available). Prices include “port excursions”in Katharine, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra. What a way to experience without any of the inconvenience of the dust and flys: well except of course when you leave the “ship”!