Train journeys have a special place in my heart as it takes me back to a million memories I had as a child while travelling on trains with my family. The scenic view outside, the shenanigans with my siblings in the train, and long chats and games onboard that helped us all bond as a family; these are the things that will always be a part of my existence. That is why, when I heard of the special tours conducted by the luxury train- Deccan Odyssey, I immediately thought of setting out on a trip with two of my best friends. With the help of the Worldwide Rail Journeys,I booked a New Year Special package called the ‘Susegado Goa Journey’.

This four nights and five days journey commenced at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station in Mumbai. My friends and I were thrilled to begin this journey through the mesmerising Konkan region. We received a warm welcome onboard and got ourselves comfortable in our individual, spacious beds. We had ample time to get accustomed to the facilities and staff of the train as we had an overnight stay onboard before our journey finally began.

The next day we started our day with some delicious breakfast, that was later followed by a hearty lunch at one of the gourmet restaurants in the Deccan Odyssey. The train finally halted at the Thivim Railway Station, which is located in North Goa. We decided to set out to explore the beaches in this area as we had the entire day to ourselves. A gala dinner was organised on board which gave us the experience of sheer indulgence. After a day of roaming on the beaches and shopping it was quite a treat to come back to the train for an extravagant dinner.

On day three, we were at Karmali beach in central Goa that gave us the perfect opportunity to visit the iconic sites of Old Goa. As we witnessed the beautiful churches and forts in this vicinity, we got an insight into the rich Portuguese influence. We thought of exploring the place a bit more, so we headed to a nearby shack for some drinks and a scrumptious lunch. The three of us even got the chance to watch the glorious sunset on the beach. By dinner time, we were back in the train, freshening up and getting ready to explore the luxuries onboard. We also got an option to have dinner at a happening restaurant in Goa which would be arranged by the Deccan Odyssey. However, we decided to try out some continental dishes in the train’s exquisite restaurant. Later that night, we tucked ourselves in our comfortable cabins for a good night's sleep.

Finally, on day four, we were at Verna. After waking up, we went for a delicious brunch on board and headed out to the exotic and pristine beaches of South Goa. There can’t be a better way to start the New Year than strolling on the beaches of South Goa with two of my best friends. By evening, we had the option to relax on the train or enjoy at a wonderful sea-facing restaurant in the area. Since we had an overnight stay in the train, we thought of spending some time at the beach restaurant relishing the local delicacies.

Our exclusive New Year train tour came to an end on day five as the trained arrived at Mumbai in the morning. With fond memories in our hearts, it was time for us to bid adieu to the Deccan Odyssey. This journey was a perfect blend of fun, luxury, adventure, and leisure. We were glad that we had a savvy ticketing agent like the Worldwide Rail Journeys that helped us plan this entire trip so smoothly.