Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you are a couple, or a couple of friends, or travelling solo, our Magnificent Rail journeys will appeal to anyone who is inspired by the charm of scenic rail travel and wants to see the best of a country.

Our adventures are designed to appeal to those in their 50s, and 60s and early 70s (but of course, everyone is welcome!) Our clients are curious and active, and want to find the magic of travel again, but with some modern comforts in unique and interesting places along the way. They’ve often avoided tours in the past because they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.

They prefer insider perspectives and lingering longer in the right places for a deeper experience.

Reserve your place by getting in touch with us or call us at:

AU +61 482 095 648
NZ +64 9 802 2113

There is a maximum group size of 12, and a deposit is required to reserve your spot.

Magnificent Rail  does not require proof of vaccination to travel. However, we are bound by the laws and regulations of the countries we travel to, and because of this, some trips may require proof of vaccination and/or mandatory covid testing.

What happens if someone shows symptoms of COVID-19 on the trip?

If a guest feels unwell during the trip, the Trip Leader will request that they take a COVID-19 test. Depending on local regulations, the guest may choose between a PCR (when available) or a RAT.

If the test is COVID-19 positive, the guest will be required to isolate, and they will be cared for separately from the group. Magnificent Rail will assist with sourcing any alternative accommodation and medical care that’s required, but these expenses will be paid for by the guest.

If you plan on claiming on insurance, you will need to contact your insurance company immediately to understand their requirements and get approval on next steps. The insurance company may require you to take a PCR test and go through additional steps that may extend your isolation period.

In the case of a positive test, the Trip Leader and any crew are required to take a test. The Trip Leader may also request other guests who have been a close contact to take a RAT test, in order for the group to continue on the trip safely.

Our aim is that the trip continues wherever possible, unless local regulations require otherwise.

Caring for you

For all our trips, we have contracted a local back office support team that helps us to resolve emergency situations if they arise.

If you test positive, you will be connected with that service and they will work with you to manage your case until you test negative once more.

You will also be added to a group Whatsapp chat with our team, where you can ask questions and receive support.

When can the guest rejoin the group?

Once the guest tests negative by 2 consecutive RATS tests (12 hours apart) or by 1 PCR test, Magnificent Rail will make the arrangements necessary for the guest to rejoin the group, as soon as logistically possible.

Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Magnificent Rail and we encourage all guests to ensure that their policy includes COVID-19 medical and trip interruption coverages, and to understand the testing requirements of their policy.

It is at our discretion to move the guest to a new location if the circumstances warrant. Examples would include a lack of accommodation, available support staff, or local medical facilities. This would happen in separate transportation to the main group.

What if the trip is ending?

Once a trip is over, and a guest is still isolating, it is at the guest’s discretion to organise any changes to flights. If extra accommodation, transportation or services are needed, we will work with the guest to ensure these services are provided until the isolation period ends.

Mask Wearing

Even if testing negative to Covid, if you are showing any signs of a cold or flu, you will need to wear a mask while in enclosed spaces such as vehicles.

Get ready for an adventure where all women and men MR, including our LGBTQI friends, are celebrated! At Magnificent Rail, we’re all about diversity, creating small-group tours that bring together incredible people to experience off-the-beaten-path places around the globe.

For this reason, it’s important for our guests to be aware of the local laws and customs in the destinations we visit as some countries have laws that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people. We recommend you visit Equaldex and/or Smartraveller before you choose a trip for up-to-date advice and information about LGBTQIA-related laws.

As a tour company for groups of 12 women and men, we book travellers solely based on the gender info in their passports to make sure everyone’s journey with us is smooth and secure( as individuals, in a group, and as roomies. If you identify differently from the gender marker on your passport, please let us know in advance and we’ll suggest a tour that would best suit your needs!

We also have a Single Supplement available on most trips for guests who prefer to have their own room.

Imagine small groups, big connections, and a vibe that’s all about camaraderie, exploration, and empowerment… We’re about building friendships and unity among women and men from various backgrounds. We have zero tolerance for any kind of discrimination, violence (verbal or physical), or sexual harassment, whether it occurs among fellow travellers or involves our leaders, partners, or local individuals.

If you experience any inappropriate behaviour during your travels with us, kindly bring it to the immediate attention of your tour leader or local guide. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we are committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment throughout your journey.

The majority of our trips are classed as level 1 or easy, which means as long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you should be fine. There will be days where you’ll be walking and spending a lot of time on your feet. Daily activities may include walking on uneven ground and sometimes uphill, as well as getting on and off different types of transport. You should be able to ascend a flight of stairs and access a shower over a bath. Some requirements can vary between trips, and your trip manager will cover these with you during the booking process.

Guests who are 75 years or older, or those with pre-existing health conditions may require medical clearance to ensure safe travel.  This will require the completion of a ‘Certificate of Medical Fitness to Travel’ by your doctor.

Yes!  We have a limited amount of single supplements available on each trip, and can usually match you up with a fellow solo traveller if you’re open to sharing with someone else of the same sex.

It’s natural to be a little nervous about sharing a room with someone you haven’t met. That being said, all the other guests are friends you haven’t met yet! Magnificent Rail is for open-minded, friendly, curious people. If that sounds like you, you’re going to find yourself in great company and amongst like-minded friends in no time at all.

We’re going to get to know each other quickly — by the end of day one, we’ll know each other well, and by day three, the ice will be well broken.

This depends on the adventure, but to keep groups small, we take a maximum of 12 on each trip. Check out the trip you’re interested in for confirmation.

Your fellow MagRailers are men and women who might be: solo travellers, travelling as a couple, a couple of friends, in a group, or even rail-loving family members who enjoy sharing in the magic of culture and rail around the world.

The perfect MagRailer has a great sense of humour, is flexible, adventurous, fit and enjoys walking – just like you! More often than not, they tend to see the bright side of life, enjoy meeting new people, are stimulated by interesting conversation and are easy to get along with. They love the cultural aspect of travel, combined with a little of the local history and giving local foodie and any other experiences a go!

You love to travel but don’t like being herded around B-grade attractions… just the mere idea of joining a ‘big bus’ tour makes you want to run for the hills. You love train travel!

You also know, however, that some places are worth the wait.

You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.

You also love the idea of living a day fully, and then returning to unique, interesting accommodation!

You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that could involve trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.

If that sounds like you, you’d enjoy our trips!

There are some key considerations to remember when going on a group trip, here’s how you can help your fellow MagRailers have a great time.  If everyone brings a similar attitude, the whole group can have an incredible trip:

1. Respect cultural customs. Cover shoulders, and knees and be ready to remove footwear at a moment’s notice. (This is why we recommend walking shoes/runners as opposed to hiking boots.)
2. Go with the flow. There are varied ideas of punctuality and customer service in other countries, amongst other things.
3. Learn some local words. Ask your guide to teach you.
4. Ask permission before taking a photo of someone.
5. Bring a readiness for adventure – show curiosity, and try new foods and drinks. If something intrigues you, great – dive in! We’re not trying to rush this – as a group, let’s bring our curious, interested selves and look for opportunities to say YES!
6. Look out for your fellow travellers. Especially in the first days of a trip, it can take some people a day or so to get into the groove of the trip and become acclimatised. Culture shock, jet lag, and new foods can all play havoc on usually easygoing behaviours (and bellies!) so be gracious to yourself and your fellow MagRailers – you’re all in this together! If you see someone feeling unwell or uncomfortable in some way, why not ask them gently, privately if they’re ok?
7. Look out for yourself. Look out for your health. Listen to your body. Don’t push yourself if there’s no need. And stay hydrated!
   

You need to make a deposit to hold your spot (check the specific trip page to see the required amount). From there, you need to pay the final balance of the trip at least 95 days before the start of the trip. This is not for our benefit — our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability. You can pay with a major credit card such as Visa or Mastercard (fees apply) or with a bank deposit (please contact us to complete a bank transfer).

Note: Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is a significant variation in the exchange rate. Please refer to the full terms and conditions.

This is one of the most established yet disheartening practices of tourism worldwide. We aim to never take you to shops where you’ll be pressured and to always put your interests first. Again, if you ever have any concerns about this or need help negotiating the purchase of an item you fall in love with, we’ll be there. Most people who visit the countries that we travel to want to visit shops and do end up buying exotic wares; that being said, we try our very best to avoid situations where you may feel uncomfortable.

No! As much as possible, activities are included in your trip price. Any additional add-ons will be as reasonable as possible, and alternatives will be provided where requested and practical.

No! We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the trip starts.

If you have a group and want to travel privately on any of our itineraries, that’s not a problem. Contact us for a quote if you’re interested, and we’ll customise it to your needs. Note: all pricing on our website is based on groups of 12 people. Costs will vary for different amounts of people, but please keep in mind that a guide’s salary does not vary with trip numbers. This means that the per-person price for a very small group might be significantly higher.

Yes!  Feel free to reach out with any requests as we’re always investigating new destinations.

Unless specifically mentioned, airfares are not included.

AUD

Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf. The amount for each trip is unique.

We believe strongly in the principles of sustainable tourism. All our guides are certified (where relevant), trained, and well-paid in their local context. Beware of a tour that is suspiciously cheap – this is the first place that less reputable operators will go to cut expenses. If you have any concerns, at any time, about the treatment of animals or the environmental impact of an activity managed by us, ​please​ raise them. We love this Earth and the gifts it has provided. Protecting those things is critical to the Magnificent Rail owners and guides.