12 Most Scenic Train Journeys Around the World for Your Bucket List
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Taking the train is a relaxed, eco-friendly, and convenient travel method. Some of the world’s most scenic routes also mean taking in epic landscapes en route. If the idea of traveling in style, comfort, and luxury appeals to you, why not book your trip on one of the following famous routes?
The West Highland Line, Scotland
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Scotland’s West Highland Line will introduce you to some of the UK’s most untamed landscapes. This scenic route connects the city of Glasgow with Fort William and the west coast towns of Oban and Mallaig. Crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct is a magical moment for Harry Potter fans, and you can also expect to marvel over sparkling lochs, highland glens, and sprawling moorland.
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The Ghan, Australia
If you want to get to grips with the vast and remote Australian outback, there’s no better way than booking a seat on the Ghan. The route connects Adelaide and Darwin, cutting through the middle of the country. Alternatively, a shorter Red Center Explorer route can transport you from Adelaide to Alice Springs or vice versa.
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Rovos Rail, South Africa
Departing from Pretoria, Rovos Rail offers train safaris through South Africa. The experience is designed to echo the golden age of train travel, complete with wood-paneled carriages. Passengers can travel to Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa, depending on the selected scenic route.
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Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
The luxurious Rocky Mountaineer offers a choice of four routes and two levels of travel. Even silver-leaf passengers can gaze through glass-dome windows, access an outdoor viewing area, and are served two meals daily. Gold leaf passengers, meanwhile, benefit from upgraded facilities. It’s an incredibly memorable way to see the likes of the Canadian Rockies, Fraser Canyon, the coastal rainforest of British Columbia, and more.
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Andean Explorer, Peru
The Andean Explorer is the first luxury sleeper service in South America. Departing from the former Inca capital of Cusco, the journey takes you to Arequipa, the so-called White City. En route, you can stare wide-eyed at cobalt-blue Lake Titicaca, Andean plains and peaks, and the deep gorge of Colca Canyon.
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Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the world’s most epic train journey, stretching over 5,770 miles. Connecting Moscow and Vladivostok, it’s the longest route on the planet. To travel on this train is to embark on an unforgettable and unique adventure.
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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
This deluxe train trip is probably the planet’s most famous scenic rail route. Traveling between London and Venice, you’ll pass through Paris and swoon over the peaks of the French and Swiss Alps and Dolomites. The luxury cabins are all in 1920s style, complete with polished wood and luxury linens.
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Palace on Wheels, India
Securing a seat on India’s Palace on Wheels means seeing many of the highlights of this fascinating, colorful land. The journey includes Delhi, the pink city of Jaipur, the iconic Taj Mahal, the Jaisalmer dunes, romantic Udaipur, and Ranthambore National Park, which is home to tigers.
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Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express is arguably the best of Switzerland’s spectacular scenic train journeys. Its route takes you between Zermatt and St. Moritz via the Swiss Alps. Even better, many holders of European and Swiss rail pass holders only need to pay a reservation fee to secure a seat.
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Pacific Surfliner, US
The Pacific Surfliner is one of the top three Amtrak routes in terms of popularity. This epic coastal journey will take you between San Diego and San Luis Obispo through Southern California. It’s a stress-free and incredibly scenic way to see the famous SoCal coast, and you can stop at destinations like Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Oceanside along the way.
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TranzAlpine, New Zealand
The TranzAlpine is a coast-to-coast route through New Zealand’s South Island, showcasing some of the country’s most jaw-dropping scenery. It whisks passengers from east to west between Christchurch and Greymouth via the Southern Alps of the Great Divide. Expect to gaze in awe at rocky gorges, river valleys, curving viaducts, beech rainforest, and more.
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Eastern & Oriental Express, Asia
Like the Orient Express to Venice, the Eastern & Oriental Express is operated by Belmond. It transports travelers between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand via tropical jungle and tumbling rice terraces. The train is a colonial-style masterclass, making you feel like you’ve stepped straight into another era.
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