Unearth The Voyage
Some train journeys are so breathtaking that passengers spend more time staring out the window than scrolling through their phones. From snow-dusted mountain passes and sun-baked deserts to rugged coastlines and ancient river valleys, the world’s most spectacular rail routes prove that getting there can be just as thrilling as arriving.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone dreaming of your first big adventure, these 14 train rides will make you want to pack a bag and buy a ticket today.
Bernina Express — Switzerland and Italy
Gliding through the Swiss Alps at over 7,000 feet above sea level, the Bernina Express is the kind of train ride that makes your jaw drop before you’ve even finished your coffee. Panoramic windows stretch nearly floor to ceiling, giving passengers an unobstructed front-row seat to glaciers, frozen lakes, and dramatic stone viaducts.
The UNESCO-listed Bernina Pass is the crown jewel of this route, offering some of the most jaw-dropping alpine scenery in all of Europe. Snow-covered peaks tower over the tracks while the train curves gracefully through mountain tunnels and across sky-high bridges.
The journey runs between Chur in Switzerland and Tirano in northern Italy, covering about 90 miles of spectacular terrain. No fancy reservation tricks are needed since standard rail passes often cover the route.
Bring a camera with a fully charged battery because you will absolutely need it. This is one alpine adventure that lives up to every bit of its legendary reputation.
Rocky Mountaineer — Canada
Spotting a grizzly bear from the comfort of a plush train seat is just one of the many surprises that make the Rocky Mountaineer so wildly popular. This Canadian icon rolls through the heart of the Rockies with glass-domed coaches that give passengers a sweeping 270-degree view of the landscape unfolding around them.
Turquoise rivers, ancient cedar forests, and peaks that seem to scrape the clouds scroll past like a live-action nature film. The train only travels during daylight hours, which means not a single mile of scenery goes unnoticed.
That thoughtful detail alone sets this journey apart from almost every other long-distance train ride on the planet.
Wildlife sightings are surprisingly common, with bears, elk, bald eagles, and bighorn sheep all making regular appearances along the route. Onboard hosts share fascinating stories about the land, the history, and the wildlife as the journey unfolds.
Choose between different service levels depending on your budget, but even the standard experience feels genuinely luxurious. Canada rarely shows off better than this.
The Ghan — Australia
Crossing an entire continent by rail sounds like something from an adventure novel, but The Ghan makes it a very real possibility. This legendary Australian train connects Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north, covering nearly 1,900 miles through some of the most remote terrain on Earth.
Red desert plains stretch endlessly in every direction, occasionally broken up by dramatic gorges, dry riverbeds, and ancient rock formations. The train moves slowly enough that passengers can truly absorb the scale and silence of the Australian outback, a landscape that feels almost otherworldly in its raw, untouched beauty.
Named after the Afghan cameleers who once helped open up this rugged interior, The Ghan has been running since 1929 and carries real historical weight. Off-train excursions in Alice Springs and Katherine allow passengers to explore Aboriginal culture, wildlife, and stunning natural landmarks up close.
Cabins range from comfortable seats to full sleeping berths with private en suites. The journey takes roughly 54 hours, which sounds long until the scenery kicks in and time just melts away.
West Highland Line — Scotland
Mist rolling across dark lochs, ancient stone viaducts disappearing into the clouds, and wild deer grazing beside the tracks — welcome to what many consider Britain’s most beautiful train journey. The West Highland Line winds from Glasgow all the way to Mallaig on Scotland’s rugged western coast, passing through scenery so dramatic it almost feels theatrical.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the undisputed star of the show, a curved 21-arch masterpiece that fans of a certain wizarding film series will recognize immediately. Watching the train curl across it while the Highlands stretch out beneath is genuinely one of those travel moments you never forget.
Beyond the famous viaduct, the route passes through Rannoch Moor, one of the most isolated and hauntingly beautiful landscapes in all of Europe. The journey is especially atmospheric in autumn when the hillsides turn gold and amber.
Steam-hauled services occasionally run on this line during summer, adding an extra layer of old-world magic. Scotland rarely wastes a backdrop, and this route proves it at every single mile.
TranzAlpine — New Zealand
Few train journeys pack as many landscape changes into a single day as the TranzAlpine on New Zealand’s South Island. Starting in Christchurch on the Pacific coast, the train climbs steadily through wide Canterbury Plains before plunging into the dramatic heart of the Southern Alps and eventually rolling down into Greymouth on the wild West Coast.
River gorges, beech forests, alpine meadows, and braided glacier-fed rivers all take turns filling the windows during the five-hour journey. The open-air observation car is the most popular spot on the train, and honestly, it’s easy to see why.
Standing outside with mountain air rushing past while snowcapped peaks loom overhead is a sensory experience that no photograph fully captures.
New Zealand locals are genuinely proud of this route, and visitors consistently rate it among the most scenic rail journeys in the entire Southern Hemisphere. The train runs year-round, with each season offering a completely different visual experience.
Winter brings snow to the mountain passes, while summer turns the valleys a vivid, electric green. Either way, the TranzAlpine absolutely delivers on its spectacular reputation.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express — Europe
Boarding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express feels less like catching a train and more like stepping into a golden era of travel that most people assumed was gone forever. Restored 1920s Art Deco carriages gleam with polished wood paneling, etched glass, and crisp white tablecloths that belong in a classic film rather than a modern railway schedule.
Routes vary by season and can include Paris, Venice, Vienna, and Istanbul among other legendary European cities. The journey itself is the destination here, with formally dressed staff, candlelit dinners, and cocktail hours in the bar car creating an atmosphere of effortless elegance.
Cabins convert from daytime seating to proper sleeping berths at night, making long overnight legs feel genuinely luxurious rather than cramped. The food is exceptional, drawing on regional ingredients and classic European culinary traditions.
Yes, it comes with a premium price tag, but passengers consistently describe the experience as one of the most memorable things they have ever done. Sometimes splurging on the journey rather than just the destination makes every bit of sense.
Flåm Railway — Norway
Packed into just 12 miles of track, the Flåm Railway somehow manages to deliver more visual drama per kilometer than almost any other train ride on the planet. The line drops nearly 3,000 feet from the mountain plateau of Myrdal down to the fjord village of Flåm, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world.
Thundering waterfalls cascade down sheer cliff faces while the train twists through hairpin curves and short mountain tunnels. The train even makes a special stop at Kjosfossen waterfall, giving passengers a few minutes to step outside and stand in the mist while the falls roar beside them.
It is genuinely one of those moments that feels almost too cinematic to be real.
The surrounding Aurlandsfjord scenery is UNESCO-listed, which tells you everything about the caliber of landscape on display here. The full journey takes about an hour in each direction, making it a perfect day trip from Bergen or Voss.
Despite its short length, most travelers agree the Flåm Railway punches well above its weight in the spectacular scenery department.
Maharajas’ Express — India
Royalty used to travel India in jewel-encrusted carriages with personal chefs, armed escorts, and silk-curtained sleeping quarters. The Maharajas’ Express keeps that extravagant spirit very much alive, offering a level of onboard luxury that would genuinely impress even the most well-traveled passengers.
The train connects iconic destinations including Jaipur, Agra, Ranthambore, and Varanasi, weaving together some of India’s most celebrated cultural and historical landmarks into one unforgettable journey. Each cabin is individually styled with rich fabrics, carved wooden details, and private bathrooms that rival boutique hotel rooms.
Guided excursions at every stop take passengers inside palaces, ancient forts, wildlife reserves, and bustling local markets. The dining car serves elaborate multi-course meals inspired by regional Indian cuisines, and the bar lounge stocks a genuinely impressive selection of whiskeys and cocktails.
It is one of the world’s most awarded luxury trains, winning top honors from travel publications year after year. If there’s one train ride that truly captures India’s color, history, and grandeur all at once, this is the one worth saving up for.
Chepe Express — Mexico
Bigger than the Grand Canyon in some places and arguably wilder in others, Mexico’s Copper Canyon is the kind of landscape that makes you feel genuinely small in the best possible way. The Chepe Express is the only practical way to experience the full scale of this massive canyon system, threading through tunnels, across towering bridges, and along cliff edges that would make even seasoned hikers nervous.
The route runs between Los Mochis on the Pacific coast and Chihuahua in the north, covering around 400 miles through the rugged Sierra Tarahumara mountains. Thirty-seven bridges and 86 tunnels are built into the line, each one representing an extraordinary feat of engineering that took decades to complete.
The indigenous Tarahumara people have called this canyon region home for centuries, and stops along the route offer chances to learn about their culture, crafts, and traditions. The scenery shifts dramatically as the train descends from cool pine forests into warm subtropical valleys, almost like watching seasons change in fast-forward.
Travel tip: book a seat on the right side heading east to catch the most dramatic canyon views as the afternoon light settles in.
Coastal Pacific — New Zealand
Winding between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura mountain ranges, the Coastal Pacific offers a travel experience that feels almost too scenic to be a regular scheduled train service. The route connects Christchurch and Picton along New Zealand’s northeastern South Island coast, covering roughly 210 miles of endlessly photogenic terrain.
Fur seals sunbathing on rocky outcrops are a surprisingly common sight from the windows, and passengers occasionally spot dolphins playing in the surf just meters from the tracks. The Kaikoura coastline is particularly special, squeezed between steep mountains and crashing ocean waves in a way that leaves almost no flat land between the two.
Marlborough wine country comes into view toward the northern end of the journey, with rolling vineyard hills and neat rows of grapevines creating a pleasant contrast to the wild coastal scenery. The train runs seasonally from September to April, with summer days offering the clearest views and the most vivid colors.
Open-air viewing platforms at the ends of each carriage give passengers the chance to breathe in the sea air and photograph the coastline without glass in the way. It is pure New Zealand beauty, unfiltered.
Trans-Siberian Railway — Russia
Spanning nearly 6,000 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian Railway holds the record as the longest continuous train journey ever built, and it has been capturing the imaginations of adventurous travelers for well over a century. Boarding this train means committing to approximately seven full days of travel across one of the most remote and varied landscapes on Earth.
Dense birch and pine forests give way to the frozen expanse of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake, before the train pushes east through open Siberian steppe and eventually into the Russian Far East. The changing scenery across time zones is genuinely hypnotic, especially on clear winter days when snow blankets everything in sight.
Fellow passengers often become part of the experience, with long-distance travelers sharing food, stories, and card games across the compartment tables. First-class sleeping cabins offer a comfortable and private way to tackle the journey, though second-class compartments provide a far more social and culturally immersive experience.
This is not a journey for those in a hurry, but for travelers who want to truly feel the enormous scale of Russia, nothing else comes close.
Rhine Valley Railway — Germany
Medieval castles perched on hilltops, vineyard terraces cascading down to the riverbank, and centuries-old villages reflecting in the Rhine below — the train through Germany’s Rhine Valley rolls through a landscape that looks like it was painted by hand. The stretch between Koblenz and Mainz is the most celebrated section, following the river through the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
Over 40 castles and castle ruins are visible from the train windows along this stretch alone, each one with its own history of knights, merchants, and river tollgates dating back to the Middle Ages. The Lorelei rock, a famous clifftop associated with German legend, rises dramatically from the riverbank and is easily one of the most photographed spots along the entire route.
Spring brings cherry blossoms and fresh vineyard growth, while autumn turns the hillsides a blazing mix of red, orange, and gold that makes every photograph look professionally edited. Local wine festivals in riverside towns add extra charm to the region between September and November.
The journey takes just a couple of hours, but feels like flipping through a very well-illustrated history book with excellent scenery included at no extra charge.
Hiram Bingham Train — Peru
Named after the American explorer who brought Machu Picchu to global attention in 1911, the Hiram Bingham train turns the journey to the world’s most famous ancient citadel into something genuinely worth savoring. Most visitors take budget trains to Aguas Calientes, but this luxury service transforms the approach into a full sensory experience.
Vintage-style Pullman carriages in warm cream and brown tones roll alongside the rushing Urubamba River as the Sacred Valley unfolds outside the windows. The route descends from Cusco through dramatic Andean scenery, passing through cloud forest and past terraced Inca ruins before arriving at the base of the mountain.
Brunch is served on the way up and a cocktail hour with live Andean music fills the return journey, making the train feel more like a rolling dining experience than a simple transfer. White-gloved service, locally inspired cuisine, and warm lighting inside the carriages create an atmosphere that feels quietly celebratory.
Machu Picchu is extraordinary on its own, but arriving via the Hiram Bingham adds a layer of occasion that most travelers say genuinely enhances the whole experience. This is how bucket-list travel should feel.
Sagano Romantic Train — Kyoto, Japan
Cherry blossoms drifting through open windows onto your lap sounds like something from a poem, but on the Sagano Romantic Train it can actually happen in spring. This charming open-air train runs through the forested Arashiyama gorge near Kyoto, covering just 4.5 miles of track that consistently rank among the most beautiful short rail journeys in the entire world.
The train travels at a deliberately leisurely pace, creeping along the edge of the Hozu River gorge while ancient maple trees and towering bamboo groves lean in from both sides of the track. Each season transforms the journey completely, from pale pink blossoms in spring and vivid green canopies in summer to the fiery reds and oranges of autumn that make Arashiyama famous across Japan.
Vintage-style wooden carriages with open sides let passengers hang out slightly and photograph the scenery without barriers, which is unusual and genuinely delightful. The full journey takes about 25 minutes one way, with most visitors choosing to return by traditional wooden riverboat down the Hozu River for a completely different perspective on the same magical valley.
Short in distance, enormous in atmosphere — the Sagano Romantic Train earns its poetic name every single time.
