Traveling is one of the greatest pleasures of life. Being able to leave the place that has become so familiar to witness an entirely different place with foreign customs and culture, fascinating people and incredible food is not something that everybody is blessed with. So, if you do get the opportunity, make sure to cherish it and enjoy it to the fullest possible measure!
In this modern world of technology there are a lot of options for travel to choose from: planes, cars, boats, etc. But it’s trains that we’re looking at today. While most of the time a train is only a means by which to reach a destination, there are certain times when the train journey itself is the most incredible experience.
Here are some of the greatest train journeys in the world that you have to experience in your lifetime.
1. The Blue Train
Known to be the first luxury train of the modern era, the Blue Train of South Africa has been transporting passengers from Cape Town to Pretoria since 1946. The train has been updated recently and no includes deluxe suites and a full sized bath, which is not easy to come by on a train! You’ll also stop by some of the most iconic sites in between these two cities and taken out for excursions.
2. Maharaja Express
As a foreigner in India, you might have a little trouble adjusting to the local run trains, but the Maharaja Express is a whole other ball game. This luxury 23-coach “hotel” train winds through north-western India. The journey takes from 4-8 days, depending on the itinerary you choose. You will be allowed to leave the train to explore incredible cities like Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur, and more.
3. The Ghan Expedition
Experience Australia like you haven’t ever before by embarking on a journey on The Ghan. Taking you from Darwin to Adelaide, you’ll pass through incredible towns and hidden gems in the Australian Outback. This luxury train makes stops along the way with outside excursions that allow you to witness the best of what every town has to offer.
4. The Canadian
Going from Toronto to Vancouver and back again with a one-way journey of 2,791 miles (4,466 km) is The Canadian. This trains takes your across the second largest country in the world in a 3 ½ day journey. You’ll pass through iconic landscapes of the Canadian Shield’s boreal forest, the Rocky Mountains, the Fraser River, and more.
5. The Inland Line – Inlandsbanan
The Inland Line is a 1,288-kilometre (800 mi) railway line between Kristinehamn and Gällivare in Sweden that was constructed between 1908 and 1937. It takes you through the central parts of northern Sweden, and you can witness incredible scenery as well as wildlife like reindeer and moose. You might also spot a bear, wlf, wolverine, or lynx!
6. Shiki-shima Sleeper Train
Japan’s Shiki-shima sleeper train is definitely not for everyday travel. Designed by Ferrari, this lavish champagne-gold train is good enough to rival a luxury hotel, with a 5-star lounge, an observatory car, and restaurant car with a menu planned by a Michelin-starred chef. The entirety of the 10 cars are built to accommodate just 34 passengers among 17 suites, so you know they aren’t playing around!
7. Belgrade to Bar
Named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 European train trips, Belgrade to Bar takes you through incredible scenery, quaint villages, magnificent lakes and mountains. The good news is that while some of the trains on this list might not be affordable to the everyone – this one is a budget-friendly train and it comes with good amenities too.
8. Belmond Grand Hibernian
Another country to have a hotel-on-wheels is Ireland. The Georgian-era like deluxe suites on the Belmond Grand Hiberian are posh and comfy – perfect for gazing out the windows into fields and grazing livestock on the way from Dublin to Cork or Belfast.
9. Thai-Burma Railway – The Death Railway
The charmingly named “death railway” is one of the cheapest train journeys in the world. It got its nickname from the because of the number of civilian “prisoners of war” who were forced to work on and died during the construction of the railway. Almost 80 years later after being built, only a part of the railway line remains functional. Today, this 2 ½ hour train journey takes you through the most amazing scenic countrysides, and gorgeous scenery of lakes and mountains. You can visit the death museum, paddle along the River Kwai, or more!
10. The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok in Russia for a total of 5753 miles and is the longest railway track in the world. While many trains run this path, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian is the only luxury train and is targeted towards foreigners. A trip along the Trans-Siberian will take you through incredible landscapes of lakes, mountains, and Russian villages.
