Skip to main content

MEMBER LOGIN

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design

FOLLOW US

LOGIN

NEWSLETTER

More In City Guides

24 Hours in Portland, Oregon

The city with its heart on its sleeve is now a thriving foodie mecca with the bar scene and

NetJets Will Soon Add 20 Supersonic Jets to its Fleet—And it Would Cut Travel Time From New York to London to Four Hours
What to Know Before Buying a Travel Insurance Policy This Year
Diving Into the Culinary Scene in the US Virgin Islands

More In Travel

  • Hotels
  • Travel Guides
  • Restaurants

24 Chic Spring and Summer Sneakers That Will Never Go Out of Style

Rest assured that these footwear investments are well-advised.

Sales of Pre-Owned Watches Are Booming—and Now Some Watchmakers Are Getting in on the Action
Meghan Markle's Favorite Shoe Brand Launches New Line With American Ballet Theater
How Does a Storied Heritage Brand Reinvent Itself for the Current Age?

More In Fashion

  • Style
  • Shopping

Possible New Banksy Appears on Prison Wall in the UK

Everyone is trying to decipher the meaning of the piece.

Travel to Greece With These 19 Famous Landmarks of Greek Architecture
100 Female Street Photographers Share Never-Before-Seen Contemporary Artwork
Tour the 21 Most Stunning Examples of Modern Architecture Around the World

More In Art + Culture

  • Books
  • Philanthropy
  • Film

A Guide to Healing Crystals—And How You Can Incorporate Them Into Your Home Décor

Crystals can affect the energy in your home resulting in a more harmonious environ

Design Your Home Like a Cartier Boutique As the Famed Jewelry House Puts Its Most Iconic Furniture up for Auction
Luxury Linens That'll Make You Never Want to Leave Your Bed
Everything You Need to Know About Japandi

More In Home + Design

  • Art + Design
  • Architecture
LOGIN
NEWSLETTER
  • City Guides
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Guides
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Shopping
  • Art + Culture
    • Books
    • Film
    • Philanthropy
  • Home + Design
    • Art + Design
    • Architecture
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • JOIN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
  • Contact Advertise Sitemap
Home

The 18 Best Train Routes Around the World

By The Editors on February 09, 2021

The true luxury of these world-class trains lies in enjoying the ride at a leisurely pace.

© Belmond

SHARE:

In 1829, Englishman George Stephenson brought to life the first steam-powered locomotive—named Rocket—and marked the birth of train travel. Fast-forward 183 years, and today’s jet-setting lives happen at breakneck speed. One can climb aboard a Gulfstream G550 jet in Miami, Florida, and make it to Seoul, South Korea, in a bit less than 15 hours for an impromptu business meeting.

But when it comes to luxury train travel, finding the fastest route between two points is not the goal. It is more about settling back in one’s seat and savoring the experience, one station at a time. The train trips on this list are diverse, encompassing varied cultures within epic journeys, like a four-week excursion through Africa with views of the pyramids and Victoria Falls, or a two-week trans-Siberian sojourn through Russia that crosses eight time zones and travels a quarter of the way around the world.

Not all cover thousands of miles. Microjourneys can be just as eye-opening, such as a two-hour jaunt through Norwegian landscape on the Flåm Railway to see the world’s deepest fjord, or a day trip through the thick, green vegetation of Peru to climb the steps of Machu Picchu. And some trips are about a sense of place, offering a comfortable feeling that you may slip into when, say, sipping whisky aboard a train rolling through the Scottish Highlands, or tasting teas and strawberries grown in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia.

T. S. Eliot once said, “The journey not the arrival matters.” After embarking on these train adventures, we think you’ll agree completely.

RELATED: The Best Luxury Train Experiences This Year

 
Raymond Patrick

Seven Stars, Japan

For 20 years, Koji Karaike had a vision of a deluxe sleeper touring Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s major islands, as if the Orient Express had been shipped to a Pacific paradise. In 2013, Karaike—now chairman of Kyushu Railway—made his dream a reality. The ultra-luxurious Seven Stars runs two- and four-night trips in a loop along the island’s shores, with stops to take in history lessons and sublime vistas.

Richard James Taylor / Belmond

Belmond Andean Explorer, South America

The Belmond Andean Explorer journeys throughout the Peruvian Andes, making it one of the highest train journeys on earth. Cabins come in double, twin, and bunk bed configurations, each with its own ensuite bathroom, and are decorated with hand-woven fabrics and Alpaca wool throws. Two elegant dining cars will showcase the bounty of the Andes and an open-air observation car allows travelers to take in breathtaking vistas while sipping Pisco sours. One-night and two-night itineraries will run from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and in reverse, with stops to explore the Colca Canyon and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa.

Rhätische Bahn / Andrea Badrutt

Bernina Express, Europe

While riding the Bernina Express, which takes just over four hours, you get a view of two million years in geological time, traveling from ski country in the Alps down to the palm trees of Italy, passing through 55 tunnels, 196 bridges and viaducts, and multiple hairpin turns along the way. Panoramas through the train's large windows showcase perfect views of the Landwasser viaduct and the Bernina pass. UNESCO considered the Albula and Bernina line of the Rhaetian Railway so gorgeous that the organization named it a World Heritage Site.

Courtesy of The Incas del Peru

Incas del Peru

This adventurous Peruvian ride follows a dizzying spiral up a slope of the Andes. Coca tea is served on board to ease the altitude headaches. The ride can be taken as a one-way journey, or as part of a package, which includes extras like two full days of programmed touring, hotel accommodations, and a welcome dinner. The route operates 12 days a year (with one journey each month).

Great Western Railway

The Great Western Railway, United Kingdom

Rail hounds used to say the real name of the GWR was "God's Wonderful Railway," and it's easy to see why once the train leaves London and ventures into some truly iconic countryside. Castles, rivers, puffy clouds, thatched roofs: It's all here. Routes vary, but each promises idyllic English countryside scenes, and many rides allow you to experience a sweep of the English Channel and the crashing of the waves making salt splashes on the windows.

The City Night Line

ÖBB Nightjet, Europe

The Deutsche Bahn overnight train, called ÖBB Nightjet, also happens to be one of the most comfortable overnight rides in the world. Luxe bedding, private showers, restrooms in the sleeper cars, and breakfast served in your compartment make this a classy way to speed across Europe. Dining cars serving local cuisine are sometimes—but not always—hitched on.

RELATED: You Can Sleep in an Igloo, Go on a Northern Lights Safari, and Enjoy Snowshoeing in Greenland

Courtesy of The Blue Train

The Blue Train, South Africa

The Blue Train is one of the world's most sybaritic modes of transportation, complete with Champagne and uniformed butlers. Your 19th century-inspired ride whisks you through the Karoo desert with routes from Pretoria to Cape Town and Pretoria to Kruger National Park. As you can imagine, traveling from the idyllic landscape of Pretoria to Kruger National Park aboard this luxury train is, indeed, the most opulent way to kick off a South African safari.

Brandman PR / Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail, Africa

Rovos Rail offers journeys that range in length from two days to 15 nights. No matter the length of your journey, the African rail experience offers plenty of golden-age glamour: dining carriages rebuilt to recapture their 1930s style, Pullman sleeper cars with original 1940s fittings and window-side writing desks, and Royal Suites with polished wood and claw-foot tubs. During southern Africa’s warmer months—September to April—the trips alternate between diesel and electric engines as they travel through landscapes like the fields of Witwatersrand, the Magaliesberg Mountains, and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Maharajah's Express

Maharajas' Express, India

Launched in 2010 as a nostalgic nod to the personal carriages of royal maharajas, this opulently decorated train offers round-the-clock personal butlers, fine Indian cuisine served on Limoges china, and craft cocktails poured in cut-crystal glasses. The Maharajas' Express hosts four distinct journeys October through April; excursions along the route from Jaipur to Delhi, for instance, offer the chance to splurge at local bazaars, paint and ride elephants, and take Jeep safaris through sepia-hued expanses, where Bengal tigers bask in the sun.

Belmond

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe

The art deco icon from the 1920s has been immortalized in the pages of Agatha Christie, the films of Hitchcock and, most recently, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s hypnotizing short film commissioned by Chanel, Train de Nuit. Today’s voyages—ranging from one to four nights—run between the ports of Paris, Venice, Verona, and London. The train features the sumptuous, onyx-lacquer dining carriage, L’Oriental—originally a 1927 Pullman kitchen car. The bar car, built in France in 1931, has been reappointed with elegant art nouveau details and inspires both fine evening dress and perhaps two well-applied drops of French perfume. Take in the passing scenery over leisurely multicourse meals, and sip classic cocktails in the bar cart where a resident pianist entertains guests.

David Noton Photography / Belmond

Belmond Royal Scotsman, United Kingdom

Whether you opt for a one-night jaunt from London to Edinburgh or plunge into the heart of the Highlands on the seven-night Grand Tour of Great Britain, the 36-passenger Belmond Royal Scotsman offers a country-house atmosphere with Edwardian flourishes. Meals feature plenty of games. For more formal dinners, gentlemen are encouraged to spiff up with either a tux or kilt. Cabins have their own rich marquetry, private bathrooms, and ceiling fans.

Simon Pielow

Al Andalus, Spain

The British royal family has used some of Al Andalus’ carriages on their journeys from Calais to the Côte d’Azur. Royalty or not, all travelers will enjoy the onboard and off-board indulgences of this Belle Époque-inspired train. You’ll find aristocratic dining cars, 1929 sleeper suites, and little luxuries in the bathrooms, such as steam saunas and hydrotherapy massages. On the six-day Andulsian itinerary, you’ll travel through Spain and can see performances by majestic Andalusian horses, try Flamenco dancing, and visit the 14th-century Moorish palace and fortress home at the Alhambra, where you’ll have lunch in a serene, glass-enclosed garden. Just be sure to plan ahead by at least six months for the best rates and availability.

RELATED: From Touring the Sagrada Familia to Flamenco Dancing Lessons Here's How to Take a Virtual Trip to Spain

Belmond

Belmond British Pullman, United Kingdom

Few day trips by rail carry more glamour than the carriages of the Belmond British Pullman—some of which have been used by the British royal family, and two of which were part of Winston Churchill’s funeral train. Another sibling of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the train features impeccably restored vintage cars that once ran on legendary lines, such as the Brighton Belle and the Golden Arrow. Nostalgic train fans will love the Champagne-soaked day trip through the British countryside. The timing of your journey will vary depending on which day trip you choose, but all day trips operate with round-trip service through London’s Victoria Station.

Belmond

Belmond Hiram Bingham, Peru

Named for the explorer who, in 1911, discovered the 15th-century Incan ruins, the Belmond Hiram Bingham is the most stylish route to Machu Picchu. The 1920s-inspired Pullman cars, with polished wood and brass, carry passengers on a three-and-a-half-hour journey through the countryside, starting outside the capital city of Cusco. A Peruvian band plays while bartenders serve Pisco sours, or you can sit in the caboose’s cushioned observation deck as the landscape of the Sacred Valley breezes past. On the way out, you’ll enjoy a brunch of traditional Peruvian appetizers and regional wines, and on the way back, a multicourse Andean-inspired meal.

Trans Siberia

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Russia

Travelers aboard the Golden Eagle’s two-week trans-Siberian expedition are in for a wild ride. They will cover 6,000 miles, crossing eight time zones, traveling a quarter of the way around the world in the process. But with luxurious amenities like a Champagne welcome reception, heated floors, and dedicated butler service, guests can settle into their seats and focus on taking in the uniquely Russian scenery—from the Ural Mountains dividing Europe and Asia to the classic wooden architecture of Irkutsk—as Tchaikovsky symphonies play gently in the background. Don’t miss the freshwater seals at Lake Baikal.

Royal Canadian Pacific

Royal Canadian Pacific, Canada

This is a trip so regal, it attracted royalty in the form of Queen Elizabeth II, who traveled in a Royal Canadian Pacific train shortly after her marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh. The train can be rented for private charters, but typically offers a six-day, five-night excursion, which begins and ends in Calgary, scales the Spiral Tunnels of Yoho National Park, during which the Royal Canadian climbs 1,070 feet in 10 miles of track along a narrow mountain pass. Perilous? Perhaps, but the views of the Rocky Mountains afforded by this near-vertical trek are some of the most spectacular in the world. Other highlights include the opportunity to lounge by the emerald waters of Lake Louise in the unspoiled wilderness of Banff National Park.

Sverre Hjornevik

Flåm Railway, Norway

When the Bergensbanen railway opened in 1909, the town of Flåm (meaning “little place between steep mountains”) became a hub for travelers wanting to experience the fjords, mountains, and waterfalls of Norway firsthand. Today, the Flåm Railway, a private branch of the Bergensbanen line, offers a spectacular two-hour glimpse of the steep precipices and snowcapped mountain slopes that make up the majestic Norwegian landscape. The train roars through the world’s deepest fjord and then up the mountain, with views of rivers cutting through deep ravines, waterfalls tumbling over cliffs, and even a tiny wooden church (dating back to 1667) nestled in the side of the mountain.

Courtesy of The Ghan

The Ghan, Australia

The train might be in Australia, but the name is shortened from "Afghanistan" and pays homage to the camel drivers who used to traverse the route through the heart of the continent. Barramundi and grilled kangaroo are served in the dining car, and platinum service gets you views from both sides of the train in your sleeper carriage. The Ghan operates multiple routes through Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide over seven nights to an eight-night wine country tour from Perth to Sydney.


Marketing Events & Promotions

Become a DEPARTURES VIP

Join our Weekly Newsletter

Privacy Statement
Join our Weekly Newsletter
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
FOLLOW US
Other Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group websites: 
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Food & Wine
  • Wallpaper
Related Websites for DEPARTURES International Editions:
  • DEPARTURES-International.com
Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card® benefits

View Terms of Service  and  Privacy Statement.   Ad Choices EU Data Subject Requests All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Please review.

© 2021 American Express Company. All rights reserved. Departures® is published by Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Departures is a trademark of
American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and is used under limited license. Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group is not affiliated with American Express Company or its subsidiaries.

  • RSS
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Promotions
  • Site Map

Member Login

The current issue of DEPARTURES is available exclusively to American Express Platinum Card® Members.

Cancel