Six of the best rail journeys

Happy smiling woman looks out from window traveling by train on most picturesque train road in Sri Lanka
Happy smiling woman looks out from window traveling by train on most picturesque train road in Sri Lanka

There’s something incredibly romantic about rumbling through the countryside by train. Here are six of the best rail journeys around the world.

The Ghan

Gazing out the window of The Ghan is one of those dreamy experiences that travellers dream of. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, the Ghan offers access to parts of Australia that might otherwise be regarded as fairly inhospitable. 2019 would be a good time to get onboard The Ghan as it marks the 90th anniversary of Great Southern Rail with a range of special events and celebrations. Greatsouthernrail.com.au

Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer’s rail route through the Rockies is so breathtaking it made the cover of Lonely Planet’s Amazing Train Journeys. Regardless of whether it’s a solo vacation or an epic excuse for an anniversary or birthday celebration, Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer is up there at the top of our list of must-do train journeys. The countryside the train traverses through is spectacular, especially when viewed through the glass dome ceilings in Gold Class. rockymountaineer.com

TranzAlpine

The TranzAlpine is regarded as New Zealand’s finest inland rail journey. We’re onboard with that. The rail journey rouses the senses as it passes through the snow-capped Southern Alps of New Zealand. Enjoy a few drinks and snacks on the train as it cuts a picturesque path through tunnels and across bridges in a loop from Christchurch to Greymouth and back again each day. greatjourneysofnz.co.nz

Lake Titicaca Railway, Peru

The journey from Puno to Cuzco in Peru travels a distance of 388km and is an unmissable experience.  The train clings to the side of the Andes while rumbling past in the shadow of its snow-capped peaks. Viewing the landscape from the open-air observatory car as it rolls through the countryside gives the experience a few extra layers of fairy dust. perurail.com

The Darjeeling Toy Train    

The dinky Darjeeling Toy Train has been connecting the high-altitude hills of the Himalayas to the lower plains since the 1880s. The steam locomotive is the little engine that could and riding onboard the train is a coveted experience and one that has been awarded World Heritage status. Although it was once considered the most important mountain transportation link in the country, the Darjeeling Toy Train is now more of a joy ride. Darjeeling-tourism.com

The Glacier Express

The Glacier Express is considered one of the most exclusive rail experiences in the world. Passengers onboard the train carve across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels during the eight-hour journey between St Moritz and Zermatt. The world’s slowest express train will debut its brand-new Excellence Class when it pulls out of the station in March 2019.  www.glacierexpress.ch/en

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