Forget about exhausting sight-seeing holidays and delayed flights – it’s time to embrace luxury train travel, says Jessica Salter

Turn back the hands of time, with curated trips where luxury and education are combined for an other worldly experience, from rail to literary inspired escapes

David Myers tests his sanity (and calf muscles) on the Alpenpässe-Weg – a journey of 40 cols and nearly 700km – to discover how the Swiss Alps were lived in and connected long before the combustion engine

No need to fly – visit any of these enticing cities by train

Remote, secluded and surrounded by nature, these high-altitude escapes provide a breath of fresh air – and more often than not, a dose of luxury womanandhome.com 159

Ski the stunning slopes, then unwind with hearty food, roaring fires, and cosy chalet retreats – the perfect Alpine adventure