The romance of the cabins; the panoramic views out the windows; the comfort and relaxed pace and smooth ride—few travel experiences compare to a rail journey. There’s something romantic and aspirational about riding the rails and seeing the world through the open window of a train. But not all train journeys are made equal. Some are more beautiful, luxurious, and truly iconic than others. The following rail vacations are the types of travel experiences that belong on your bucket list. Taking travellers through the world’s most famous mountains, across some of its most beautiful plains, and along one of its oldest and most important trade routes, these rail journeys will craft the sort of happy travel memories you’ll never forget.
The Ghan through Australia’s Northern Territory
This luxury train from Journey Beyond transports travellers 1,229 mi (2,979 km) through the Australian outback between Darwin in the Northern Territory and Adelaide in South Australia. Ride in style in a private cabin, enjoy exceptional on-board service, and head on off train experiences that explore the outback. Iconic stops along the way include Katherine Gorge, the quintessential outback town of Alice Springs, the opal-mining town of Cooper Pedy, and Uluru/Ayers Rock. You can even enjoy a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta if you wish. There are few better ways to explore the Australian outback than aboard The Ghan.
You can learn more about the history behind The Ghan, or book a trip to experience it for yourself. Journey Beyond also offers other exceptional Australian rail journeys: the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney and the Great Southern between Adelaide and Brisbane.
The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland
The Swiss Alps are made for train rides and the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland combines many of the nation’s most scenic train rides into a single vacation. These rides include the popular Glacier Express and Bernina Express. There are 10 variations of the route, but the original route is the most popular, as it includes stops in Montreux, Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Lucerne, as well as views of the Matterhorn and an excursion to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe. The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is available in all seasons, as the landscape drastically transforms between the snowy winter and the florid spring. If you’ve ever wanted to truly see the Swiss Alps, this is the trip for you.
The Rocky Mountaineer through the Canadian Rockies
Not to be outdone by the Swiss Alps, the Canadian Rockies also provide an exceptional travel experience. With several routes, the Rocky Mountaineer connects passengers from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies, including Banff. Along the way, it passes through the Fraser River Valley and the brush-scrub of the British Columbia interior. On the ride, you’re treated to sweeping views of canyons, forests, and towering mountains. You can also enjoy exceptional excursions to some of the most iconic spots in the Rockies, including Lake Louise and the Athabasca Glacier. Don’t just take our word for it: Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame was recently raving about the trip.
Rovos Rail from South Africa to Tanzania
Some train trips feel like time travel: Rovos Rail through Southern Africa provides such an experience. Aboard its luxury steam engines, travellers can venture across Southern Africa in opulent cabins with decor that recalls the Golden Age of Rail Travel. Enjoy gourmet dining as you pass through the African savannah, spotting zebras and giraffes outside your window, and wake each morning to the sounds of elephants and spotting impala heards crossing the plains. Cape Town to Pretoria is the most popular route, but if you want to experience the best of Southern Africa, you can pass from Cape Town all the way through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia up to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. You can learn more about the story behind Rovos Rail and their dedication to luxury rail journeys across Southern Africa.
The Silk Road Journey through The Stans
If you really want to make your friends jealous and head to off the beaten path destinations, the Silk Road is for you. The Orient Silk Road Express crosses the ancient trade route that would transport spice and silks from Asia to Europe, passing through the little-visited but beautiful countries collectively known as The Stans. The journey connects you from Kazakhstan through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan as you marvel at the Central Asian steppe, stop by the town that’s at the centre of the fairy tales from A Thousand and One Nights, and explore legendary settlements such as Samarkand, which was once thought of as the world’s most opulent Eastern city. This is a true bucket list journey that only a few travellers will ever take. Leave the usual routes behind and ride the rails into a world of myth and ancient treasures.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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