Traveling by train is a wonderfully old-fashioned way to get a front-row seat for some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. From the jagged peaks of the Canadian Rockies and Norwegian fjords to ancient temples and the legendary Alps, these are some of the most breathtaking train journeys on earth.
The Royal Canadian Pacific, Canadian Rockies
This small, 23-passenger train ranks as one of North America’s finest touring trains. It offers an unparalleled six-day trek through the Canadian Rockies from Calgary and back, traveling 635 miles roundtrip. It makes stops along the way so passengers can visit Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, the re-created gold rush town of Fort Steele and more. Truly fit for a king, The Royal Wentworth once served King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s royal train. Its five attractive walnut-and-mahogany-paneled carriages were drawn from the Canadian Pacific Railway’s fleet of fully restored 1940s business cars. Sumptuous meals are served in two dining rooms, while live music highlights the evening entertainment.
Al Andalus Express - Andalusia, Spain
One of the best train rides in Europe, Al Andalus Express offers a great way to check out the gorgeous sights of the Andalusia region in Spain. This luxurious train with its polished wood carriage interiors and sparkling etched-glass windows have much in common with the great train journeys of the past, similar to the Orient Express. It takes passengers on a six-day tour of the historic towns of Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Jerez, meandering through hills of olive and citrus trees, as well as the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. You’ll also see the massive 8th-century mosque-turned-cathedral Mezquita, the Alhambra and the Ronda bullring, the oldest in Spain. Rides are tailored to allow passengers plenty of time for daytime exploring, and comfortable sleeping at night with the train typically traveling from place to place during breakfast hours.
The Ghan - Darwin to Adelaide, Australia
Considered one of the world’s most luxurious sleeper trains, The Ghan is a beautiful train covering 1,851 miles across the heart of the Australia continent, making its way from the north coast at Darwin to the south coast at Adelaide over three days and two nights. This living legend will bring you through endless vistas of some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the world – the most comfortable way to witness the incredible beauty of the outback and visit some of the nation’s most remote towns. Adding to its allure is a stop at Alice Springs, a town known across the globe as a symbol of isolation. From here, you can also visit the world’s largest monolith, Ayers Rock, or Uluru. The train also crosses the Great Victoria Desert, the Macdonnell Ranges, sheep and cattle stations.
The Flam Line - Myrdal to Flam, Norway
This short but incredibly sweet train journey winds through the deep fjords and dramatic mountains while making its way up from Myrdal to Flam. The incredible scenic beauty on this one-hour adventure has turned the Flam Line into Norway’s third most visited tourist attraction. You’ll rise from the shores of Aurlandsfjord as the train makes the steep climb – steeper than any other normal-gauge railroad on the planet. You can see rivers cutting through deep ravines, a multitude of waterfalls that plunge down the sides of snow-capped mountains and you’ll twist through tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountain too. It travels slowly, so that you can take it all in, and stops at some of the most scenic places like Kjosfossen waterfall, which cascades for over 300 feet.
The Glacier Express - St. Moritz to Zermatt, Switzerland
Covering nearly 200 miles through the Swiss Alps, the Glacier Express route is one of the most famous scenic rail adventures on earth. The panoramic journey through the heart of Alpine heartland features craggy peaks that are especially awe-inspiring against the almost always present brilliant blue skies. As the train chugs across more than 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels on the seven-hour journey, you’ll also pass chalet-and-cow-dotted emerald valleys, deep gorges, and the highest geographical point as you travel over Oberalp Pass at more than 6600 feet above sea level. The slow pace allows passengers time to really take in all of those impressive vistas too.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Durango, Colorado
If you visit Durango in southwestern Colorado, you’ll have the opportunity to travel back in time over 130 years by hopping aboard this historic steam train. If it looks familiar, that may be because it was featured in the 1969 film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The circa-1882, coal-fired, steam-operated train was specifically built to handle the narrow mountain routes, chugging along at 18 miles per hour as it climbs the steep and magnificent mountain passes between Durango and Silverton, 45 miles north.
The tiny and picturesque town of Silverton is tucked between two rugged San Juan Mountain passes, Red Mountain and Molas. Much of its downtown is a designated National Historic District with a number of interesting places to visit, including the San Juan County Historical Society, housed in the old county jail, as well as the Mayflower Gold Mill National Historic Site and the Old Hundred Gold Mine.
Hiram Bingham Orient-Express - Cusco to Machu Picchu
What is arguably South America’s greatest train ride, this 1920s-style Pullman train takes the passenger on a full-day, round-trip journey winding past misty mountains and the roaring rapids of the Urubamba River to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. The seven-hour adventure begins in the high plains, continuing through agricultural terraces from the Incan era, then passes through colorful villages and lush fields before reaching the “Lost City of the Incas.”
The luxurious Hiram Bingham, named after the famous explorer who discovered the lost city and published his findings in a 1911 book entitled “Across South America,” is richly upholstered and outfitted with fine tableware.
Rovos Rail, South Africa
Rovos Rail offers one of the world’s greatest train journeys, with its principle route running between Pretoria and Cape Town. The heritage rail line of lavishly enhanced historic coaches and cabins that date back to the 1920s, offering old-world charm and stunning views of the South African countryside. It also boasts a number of exceptional dining options, including traditional dishes like game, with fresh, local ingredients used wherever possible, along with an extensive wine list.
The highlight of the journey is the Big Hole at Kimberley and its Diamond Mine Museum, with the viewing platform that juts over the world’s biggest excavation quite vertigo-inducing – the cerulean-hued water-filled hole 580 feet below is a mile in diameter.
Venice-Simplon Orient Express - London to Venice
The train inaugurated in 1883 by Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers, became the most famous train in the world. It’s been featured in movies, TV shows, and countless novels. It exemplifies the romance, intrigue and mystery of long-distance, international train travel. While the Orient Express initially just ran between Paris and Istanbul, new routes like London to Venice were eventually developed. While the original train ceased operations in 2009, hotel chain Belmond bought the rights to it.
Today’s Orient Express still offers sophistication and incredible comfort, carrying passengers across Europe in the style of a bygone era, with glamorous carriages, incredible cuisine and impeccable, personal service. Lunch and dinner are served at prearranged seating in three lavish dining cars, complete with glistening silver, china, and white linens.
TranzAlpine - Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand
The TranzAlpine offers the trip of a lifetime aboard one of the world’s most famous train journeys, between the garden-filled city of Christchurch and the rugged wilds of Greymouth. You’ll travel through 16 tunnels and over five viaducts, taking in thrilling views over deep gorges while traveling alongside the icy Waimakariri River, crossing fertile farmlands and traversing the grand Southern Alps with breathtaking views of the alpine landscape. It continues through thick stands of native beech forest before reaching your final destination, Greymouth, where you can climb the nearby Franz Josef Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers on the planet if you’re so inclined. You can walk right up to its base, providing a rare opportunity to explore a dynamic glacial environment. This unspoiled region is home to a number of other glaciers, wild rivers and the famous Pancake Rocks, a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts through several vertical blowholes during high tides.
Golden Chariot - Bangalore to Goa/Kochi, India
Most of the trains on the Indian Railways network are very basic, extremely crowded and have limited facilities. But a new range of trains that were added, like Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels and particularly, The Golden Chariot, with its swaying dining cars right out of an Agatha Christie novel, are changing this perception. This train that travels through South India’s major tourist destinations offers beautiful views, outstanding service, and fantastic food.
The train winds across Karnataka, once the home of the Vijayanagara kings who ruled the region. Along the way, it stops at Kabini wildlife sanctuary before arriving at the amazing world heritage sites of Hampi and Badami, with its palace and temple ruins, and rock-cut sandstone caves.
Rocky Mountaineer - Banff to Vancouver, Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer runs from just outside one of the most magnificent places on earth, Banff National Park, to the city of Vancouver on the west coast, winding through the Canadian Rockies along the way. The two-day, all-inclusive trip includes an overnight in the mining town of Kamloops, where passengers are treated to dinner and hotel accommodations. Be sure time to spend lots of time hiking in the park to help counteract all those calories from the plentiful made-to-order breakfasts and lunches – and, unlimited cocktails and snacks. While the scenery you’ll pass is truly out of this world, getting an up-close and personal look is really a must.
The Royal Scotsman, Scotland
This popular train carries 36 passengers through some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes, including the country’s famous highlands, lochs, babbling streams, ancient castles, craggy cliffs and pristine emerald-colored hills, while making regular stops at charming villages. It travels slowly, never more than 20 mph at any given time, so you can really soak up all Scotland has to offer.
The red carpet is really rolled out for passengers aboard the Royal Scotsman. At the station, a kilt-clad bagpiper offers entertainment, and the first order of business on the train is a champagne toast. Its textured plaid and polished wood décor look like its straight out of a Highlands country estate. Dinners are either a black suit or black-tie event, with the four-star quality meals served in dining cars that date from 1945 to 1960. If you really want to get into the experience, you can rent a kilt, or even have one custom-tailored to wear during the trip.
Manakara Express, Madagascar
This French colonial-era railway lumbers up from Manakara on Madagascar’s southeast coast to Fianarantsoa in the highlands, taking up to 16 hours to cover 87 miles. While it’s not a luxury tourist train by any means, it offers the chance to explore one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. You’ll pass over 67 bridges, through 48 tunnels and tropical rainforest. At each station, villagers offer fresh fruits like bananas and tangerines, pastries and fish for sale.
Trans-Siberian Express - Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
The longest journey you can make on a single train, the Trans-Siberian Express travels 6,152 miles between Moscow and Vladivostok. The seven-day trip crosses the Ural Mountains and Siberia’s taiga and steppes along the way, passing an incredible diversity of landscapes and culture. The adventure can be broken into sections with overnight stays in hotels. Many stop in Irkutsk, to see its churches and museums, streets lined with log cabins and the preserved steamship, Angara, or hop off to dip their toes into the glorious Siberian Baikal Lake, a nearly 400-mile-long lake that’s the oldest in the world and one of the largest, with its clear waters home to hundreds of species found nowhere else, and the railway winds along its cliff-lined shore. The Golden Eagle line, an upmarket option, delivers pampered comfort with en-suite facilities, cabins with a personal space for reading, watching DVDs, or just gazing at the landscape through large picture windows.
Bernina Express, Switzerland
This mesmerizing adventure will bring you through impressive snow-capped mountain scenery aboard red carriages, passing dramatic gorges, glaciers, frozen lakes, over 200 bridges and through more than 50 winding tunnels. It kicks off in Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, concluding in the beautiful town of Tirano Italy, clinging to the mountains that straddle the border between the two countries. The narrow-gauge, vertigo-inducing train manages seemingly impossible switchbacks, including one point in which the train’s engine trundles across a bridge, while the tail of it is still underneath. It also takes on extreme 7 percent inclines as it continues to course through the Alps, reaching the summit at the Ospizio Bernina station at nearly 7,400 feet.
Danube Express, Budapest to Istanbul
The Danube Express will bring you back in time, crossing cultural, political and religious conflicts that span not just centuries but millennia. Eight carriages take passengers between Budapest and Istanbul, meandering from the Bosporus on Asian shores, over the Carpathian Mountains, and across vast Hungarian plains. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the magnificent architecture in both capital cities as well as the miles of legendary Transylvania countryside in between, including sites like Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle, and Sighisoara said to be the birthplace of Dracula. This luxurious “hotel on wheels” is the only international private train in Europe with air conditioning and en-suite compartments. You can also enjoy dining to the cheerful tunes of Cole Porter in the restaurant and lounge car.
