Travel news: Take an independent Indian odyssey with Wild Frontiers and more

Plus: Luxury train takes to the tracks in Peru; Tulip Inn blooms in Ras Al Khaimah; New four-star hotel debuts in Al Barsha.

The Taj Mahal, which is one of the stops on Wild Frontiers’ tour of India. Prakash Singh / AFP

Luxury train takes to the tracks in Peru

Bookings are now open for a new luxury rail route in Peru, the Andean Explorer, which runs from Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, to Puno, the gateway to Lake Titicaca in the south-east of the country. The journey will cross the highest plains of the Andes for about 300 kilometres, taking about 24 hours. The train will begin operating in May, and will complement the Hiram Bingham luxury train, an existing route between Cusco and Machu Picchu. More details are available at www.perurail.com, but bookings must currently be made through a tour operator such as Journey Latin America (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk), which is offering a 10-day "Peru by Rail" trip incorporating both rail journeys, five-star accommodation at three Belmond hotels and travel to and from Lima, from Dh26,600, excluding international flights. Flights to Lima are available with Qatar Airways (www.qatarairways.com), from Abu Dhabi or Dubai, via Doha.

Tulip Inn blooms in Ras Al Khaimah

A new three-star hotel has opened in Ras Al Khaimah, with rooms from Dh250 per night, including taxes. The 104-room Tulip Inn Ras Al Khaimah is located on Ahmad bin Masjid Road, and offers a spa, business centre, fitness club and all-day dining restaurant. For more information, visit www.goldentulip.com.

New four-star hotel debuts in Al Barsha

The new Al Khoory Atrium Hotel opened this week near Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha, Dubai. The 227-room property aims to offer value for money to families, groups and business travellers, with colourful rooms, free Wi-Fi, basement parking, two restaurants, 24-hour room service, a spa and rooftop pool. Double rooms are currently available from Dh273 per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.alkhooryhotels.com/atriumhotel.

Take an independent Indian odyssey

The tour company Wild Frontiers is offering a 44-day group tour of India next year to mark the 70th year since the country's independence. The trip includes visits to 15 World Heritage Sites, a visit to the Pushkar Camel Fair, New Delhi, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kerala, Goa, the Taj Mahal, Varanasi and Bandhavgarh National Park. The trip departs on October 26, 2017, and costs from Dh42,800 per person, including most accommodation, meals and expert guides such as the historian and writer William Dalrymple, but excluding international flights. For more information, visit www.wildfrontierstravel.com.

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