To the Taj Mahal...by Rail
He did it!
Selective Asia’s founder, Nick, has completed an extraordinary transcontinental train adventure from his hometown of Brighton to India's iconic Taj Mahal.
Fuelled by a passion for responsible travel, and a desire to discover the world in a more considered way, Nick embarked on a journey in October 2024 which (exceeding all initial expectations!) covered 13,277km, 14 countries, 38 trains and over 230 hours on the rails! After two months of sweeping landscapes, genuine connections, unexpected diversions and twists and turns, he finally found himself at the feet of the legendary Taj Mahal in December.
His route took him through Western and Eastern Europe, passing through the likes of Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria, then across the Bosporus and into Asia Minor, passing through Türkiye, Iran and Pakistan, before snaking his way down through India. He rode the rails throughout, making stops to meet the people and explore new destinations.
Spurred on by a desire to reconnect with his sense of adventure, Nick was hoping to be inspired, get lost and take some risks. He wanted to cut through the geopolitical news noise, meet the people on the ground and make his own interpretations. Well, he certainly got that and much, much more! The resulting journey was both harder and more rewarding than he’d ever expected.
“Getting the chance to see so much of the space in between was such a incredible opportunity - so special. The way you connect with a landscape while rumbling through it by rail just hits different. It’s tangible; visceral. You get a more gradual introduction to each place and culture, rather than landing at in the capital or major city” - Nick
His trip was about more than just getting from point A to B; it was an opportunity to rediscover the magic of slow travel, embrace the spontaneity of the unknown, and find deeper connections with cultures and landscapes along the way.
“There are far too many highlights to pick from, but undoubtedly amongst my most stand-out memories are wandering in the foothills of the Carpathians, watching the sunrise over Iran’s Lut Desert - the hottest place on Earth - from the train carriage before anyone awoke, and watching the sun set over the Karakoram Mountains. The many people I met throughout the trip were what really made it for me, time after time I was welcomed into their lives if even for a short moment. However, it would be remiss of me not to highlight how extraordinarily special it was to receive a personal blessing from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. Once in a lifetime stuff.” - Nick
Catch up on Nick’s adventures over on his dedicated blog, where he’s shared experiences, insights and reflections from his journey, and sign up to our newsletter below for more updates and inspiration from across Asia.
