All Aboard! 6 of the Most Exciting Train Journeys Around the World

Take one of these rail routes and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip with some of the world’s most scenic landscapes.

Nowadays there are fast and convenient ways of travel including bullet trains and domestic flights, getting you from a to b in no time. However, nothing can beat a traditional train ride, which literally offers the scenic route with amazing sightseeing in the comfort of your seat. You get to enjoy stunning landscapes that you wouldn’t have witnessed if you took the faster route, for example inaccessible and remote destinations.

There are so many rail journeys around the world that connect towns, cities and even countries, some lasting just a couple of hours and some lasting for days. There’s a magical old-world charm about journeying by train that one just has to experience, as it leaves an everlasting impact. As the life saying goes: ‘it’s not the destination, it’s the journey’. Here are some of the world’s most exciting and scenic train routes which pass through some of the most amazing landscapes.

TranzAlpine - New Zealand
Hop aboard the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand and pass along some of the most breath-taking landscapes in the country, including the Canterbury Plains, the Waimakariri River, the Southern Alps and subtropical rainforests with glistening lakes and streams. The TranzAlpine is considered as the finest rail journey in New Zealand, covering 223kms in just under 5 hours and traversing up mountains, over gorges and descending through tunnels. On board there’s a café serving up tasty nibbles, meals, hot and cold drinks and alcoholic beverages, plus panoramic windows and comfortable seats with recline settings.

Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West - Canada
Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West unites the East and West of Canada through the Canadian Rockies, passing the famous Spiral Tunnels, Craigellachie and Cisco Crossing. This historic railway voyage follows the Canadian Pacific route, allowing you to admire dramatic landscapes of canyons, mountains and cliffsides and potentially spot native wildlife. The journey starts at Vancouver and ends at Banff, covering Kamloops and Lake Louise. There’s an outdoor viewing platform and premium carriages on board the Rocky Mountaineer including the GoldLeaf rail carriage: glass domes on top of the train with large reclining leather seats and uninterrupted views. Why not book flights to Canada and cross this epic journey off your bucket list?

Glacier Express - Switzerland
The renowned Glacier Express railway connects two of Switzerland’s major mountain resorts: the charming village of Zermatt and elegant St Moritz, allowing the ultimate opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring Swiss Alps. This rail route takes you past various natural wonders such as mountains, lakes, meadows, streams, caves and hamlets and crosses a series of tunnels and bridges. The Glacier Express is the world’s slowest express train and the journey lasts around 8 hours covering 290km, so you can really take time to admire the views. You’ll be kept comfortable on board with a choice of first or second class, an on-board bar, snack trolley and headphones offering narration.

West Highland Line (Glasgow to Mallaig) - Scotland
The famous West Highland Line between Glasgow and Mallaig is widely considered as the most beautiful rail journey in the world, covering some of Scotland’s most alluring remote landscapes along the country’s west coast including lochs, lush green hillsides, valleys and quaint little villages. This steam rail journey aboard the Jacobite passes the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was featured in the Harry Potter films as the route to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express. The journey time aboard is around 5 hours 30 minutes, and the train also stops at the westernmost railway station in Britain, plus the shortest river in the UK and deepest seawater loch in Europe - Loch Nevis.

Reunification Express - Vietnam
Vietnam’s famous Reunification Express, the North-South Railway is one of Southeast Asia’s most revered rail routes, travelling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with interesting stops in between, offering diverse vistas of cityscapes, villages and farms, and the journey covers 1726km over 36 hours. The Reunification Express train is a sleeper train with a number of shared cabins. It isn’t as luxurious as some of the other trains on this list, but the journey itself is such a fascinating way of getting around the country. This railway line was damaged during the Vietnam War but miraculously was restored, and is now considered symbolic to the unity of Vietnam, which is where it got its name.

California Zephyr - USA
Amtak’s California Zephyr rail is considered as one of the finest train trips in North America, travelling across the US between Chicago and San Francisco and crossing through a number of states. You’ll pass Denver, Colorado’s Gore, the iconic Rockies, Salt Lake City, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, Donner Lake, San Pablo Bay and many other gorgeous spots en route. The entire journey is just over 51 hours and passes 3900km, taking around three days. The scenery is spectacular throughout the California Zephyr, especially in the train’s Sightseer Lounge Cars which have floor-to-ceiling windows. If you want to experience the California Zephyr rail route for yourself, check out our great value USA flights.