All aboard!

As the saying goes “it’s about the journey, not the destination”. Which is definitely about trains, not planes. With the world beginning to (tentatively) open up, it’s time to start adding some refreshing experiences to your plans. Here are our picks for the most miraculous train journeys around the world.

1/14 Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles, United States

The Coast Starlight steams out of the seaport city of Seattle and rides along the western edge of America, passing through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. This journey is a feast for all the senses, with sights serving snow-covered peaks, lush forests, and long stretches of the Pacific Ocean and chefs serving an array of dishes from enchiladas to grilled atlantic salmon.

2/14 The Riviera Railway from Cannes, France to Ventimiglia, Italy

What better way to combine both the French and Italian rivieras than by train? Easily one of the, Follow one of the most scenic railway routes on earth from Cannes on the French Riviera to the terracotta town of Ventimiglia in Italy’s Liguria. Along this 90-minute long journey, you’ll stop at some of the most famous ports of the Cote d’Azur, passing Nice, Monaco and Villefranche Sur Mer before crossing the border into Italy. It’s an adventure of pastel-hued ports and astounding sea views.

3/14 Mandovi Express from Mumbai to Madgaon, India

Travelling with doors flung open, passengers slink between wet greenery, palm trees, and coconut groves while trundling down the southwest coast of India.  The name of this classic route is derived from the famous Mandovi River in Goa. The Mandovi Express is widely known for housing the best pantry car on Indian Railways, with vendors strolling down the aisles carrying baskets of fresh biryani with yoghurt, hot pakoras, and more.

4/14 The Skeena from Jasper to Prince Rupert, Canada

The Skeena runs through fragrant pine forests between Jasper in Alberta and Prince Rupert in the furthest reaches of British Columbia. Sit in comfort and sip on bottomless wine while curving around the glistening white peaks of the rocky mountains. Built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, the train can accommodate roughly 334 passengers a week—not only tourists wanting to take a dip in the teal-green lakes, but also First Nations people who have no other form of transport within this isolated region.

5/14 Reunification Express from Hanoi to Saigon, Vietnam

Originally finished under French colonial rule in 1936, the Reunification Express transports travellers along a timeline of the nation’s history. Beginning at Hanoi station, the journey slowly rides the spine of the country over two nights to finish in Saigon. Rumbling along dense jungles, fishing villages, and rice paddies, you’ll hear whistle blows and metallic shrieks every now and then—adding to an incredible, unique journey.

6/14 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice, Italy to London, United Kingdom

Probably the world’s most iconic train, the Orient Express is an ideal adventure for those who long for a decadent journey reminiscent of the 1920s. Rail along the Dolomites and around Lake Geneva and wake up to the smell of croissants and fresh coffee in Paris. The train is traded for a ferry in Calais, as the train is unable to travel through the Channel Tunnel, before a luxurious British Pullman in Kent carries passengers the final leg to London Victoria Station. 

7/14 Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Xining to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

The highest train in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet train might leave you a little light-headed. But the altitude brings its own rewards: passengers will experience mountains dusted with snow. Regarded locally as the holy mountains, the Kunlun mountain range extends west from the Pamirs for 2,500 kilometers. The 6,178-meter-high Yuzhu Peak is the highest of the Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai, and is the first sightseeing station—where passengers may disembark to capture picturesque memories.

8/14 The Flåm Railway, Norway

The most magical place to visit in the colder months—because it literally transforms into a winter wonderland—Norway boasts one of the most charming railway lines anywhere in Europe. The Flåm Railway is only an hour long, but manages to pack soaring peaks and cascading waterfalls into one of the steepest rail routes in the world.

9/14 Sagano Scenic railway in Kyoto, Japan

Travelling for only 25 minutes from Saga torokko station to Kameoka torokko station, this nineteenth-century railway follows the breathtaking beauty of the Hozukyo Ravine. Known as the Sagano Romantic Train, the route offers a unique experience of all four seasons: lush greens in summer, explosions of sakura in spring, flaming shades of orange and dark red maple in autumn, and shimmering snow in winter. 

10/14 Golden Eagle Danube Express, Istanbul, Turkey to Budapest, Hungary

The Golden Eagle Danube Express leads passengers through an epic route across four countries. One of the most popular highlights is the 14th-century Bran Castle in Brasov, Romania—better known as Dracula’s Castle.

11/14 The Death Railway from Bangkok to Nam Tok, Thailand

This one has a dark history. The occupying Japanese used prisoners of war to construct a railway connecting Thailand and Burma, with the aim of invading India during World War II. Under the most extreme conditions, men were forced to build 372 miles of track, with one prisoner dying for every sleeper laid. To this day, a segment of the railway continues to run from Bangkok to Nam Tok, along some of Thailand’s most sensational scenery. The train ride ends at a museum, where passengers can listen to testimony from survivors of the internment and construction.

12/14 Trans-Mongolian Railway from Moscow, Russia to Beijing, China

Taking more than five days to cross Siberia, the Trans-Mongolian Railway departs from Moscow and passes through isolated farms and naked trees before arriving in Mongolia where the ride will carry on for another two days through China to Beijing. Known as the Godfather of Trains, this journey is unequivocally a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you’ll meet everyone from soldiers to farmers.

13/14 The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz, Switzerland

Boasting spectacular panoramic views, bridges, and tunnels, the Glacier Express is the most gratifying way to enjoy the scenery of the Swiss Alps. This day-long trip crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels as it slides through cute hamlets and immaculate mountain lakes of southern Switzerland.

14/14 West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland

Leaving industrial Glasgow for the wild west of Scotland, the route travels through the most diverse scenery in the country. After passing the remote wilderness of Rannoch Moor, the train switches direction and moves westwards to Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was featured in the Harry Potter film series, before arriving at the port of Mallaig.