Great railway journeys of the world

However, to gain a true appreciation of a destination, a more leisurely approach is needed, where we enjoy the travelling as much as the arriving – and what could be better than watching fresh new landscapes unfolding before our eyes from the comfort of a well-upholstered railway carriage?  

The novelist E M Forster once described railway stations as ‘our gates to the glorious and the unknown’ and an air of romance and adventure still accompanies the great train journeys of the world. We’ve filtered our favourites and created our collection of the world's most amazing rail journeys. Some are epic, multi-day adventures while others take place over the course of a few memorable hours. All aboard for a ride along the great railways of the world…

Titicaca Train, Peru

Travelling between the Altiplano and the Andean peaks, Peru’s Titicaca Train is one of the highest railway routes in the world, reaching altitudes of more than 4,300 metres. The train’s classic midnight-blue and cream livery hints at the stylish décor inside, with dark-wood panelling, linen-dressed tables and brass details inspired by the Pullman carriages of the 1920s.

The journey takes around 10 hours from end to end, travelling through a variety of changing landscapes, through green fields, hills and gorges and into the agricultural heartland of the Urubamba Valley, known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You’ll see the impressive remains of the Inca temple of Viracocha, pass through the high plateau region of the Altiplano and make an almost literally breathtaking stop at La Raya, the highest point of the trip. 

A bartender might demonstrate how to make the perfect pisco sour, while performers in traditional dress join you on board for Peruvian music and dancing. And when you want to really immerse yourself, there’s an open deck where you can breathe in that crisp mountain air as the La Raya range slips past.

Hop on board 

Enjoy a journey on board the Titicaca Train as part of our Footsteps of the Incas tour. Boarding the train at Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, you’ll climb past villages and grasslands to La Raya - the highest point of the journey. Then it’s on towards vibrant Cusco, once capital of the Inca empire. This amazing tour also features a visit to Machu Picchu, Peru’s most famous and arguably most breathtaking sight. 

Rovos Rail, Southern Africa

They call it ‘the most luxurious train in the world’ – and we’d be inclined to agree. Stepping aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa, you are immediately transported to another era, a world of colonial elegance and charm, the atmosphere enhanced by the stylish Victorian furnishings.

There are several fantastic routes to choose from, but our pick is the 4-night journey from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. As you meander through the South African bushveld and into Zimbabwe, you’ll spy zebras, giraffes, springboks and more, even hopping off for a safari game drive in Hwange National Park.  

On board you can relax in air-conditioned comfort in the lounge and observation cars, sit down to a formal dinner in the dining car (with expertly paired South African wines) or simply watch the varied landscapes from the window of your spacious suite. And for that extra-special experience, try one of the Royal Suites, which take up half a carriage and come with roll-top bathtubs, private lounges and elegant writing desks for penning postcards.

Hop on board 

A journey on Rovos Rail is just one highlight of our Tracks of Africa tour. You’ll also ascend to the summit of Table Mountain in Cape Town, drive the famously scenic Garden Route, track wildlife in Botswana’s Chobe National Park and feel the cooling spray from Victoria Falls.

Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

With numerous awards to its name, the Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences. It’s the perfect way to explore the magnificent scenery of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, as the train makes its way through the wild, unspoilt beauty of British Columbia and Alberta.

SilverLeaf is the ‘standard’ option – but it’s anything but standard! You’ll enjoy superb views of the passing scenery from a plush seat, dine on delicious cuisine that’s plated and served to your seat (no plastic trays here), and learn more about the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the area’s you’re travelling through from one of Rocky Mountaineer’s excellent onboard Hosts. Upgrade to the GoldLeaf service and you'll have access to the two-level, glass-domed coach, with gourmet meals served in a dedicated downstairs restaurant.  

For optimal sightseeing, the train only travels during the daytime. Overnight stops will be in hotels (you and your luggage will be whisked there by Rocky Mountaineer as part of a well-oiled routine) - depending on the route you’re taking, you might stop in the delightful mountain resort of Whistler or Kamloops, which enjoys a picturesque location at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers.

Hop on board 

A number of our Canadian Rockies tours include a journey on Rocky Mountaineer as part of the package, including cross-Canadian trips and Cruise & Tour itineraries that combine Canada with a cruise to Alaska.

The Orient Express, Europe

If there’s one name that immediately conjures up images of the golden age of rail travel, it’s the Orient Express, that great trans-continental service which ran between Paris and Istanbul - a route made famous, of course, by Agatha Christie in her 1934 novel.  

Today, you can sample a taste of the glamour and unabashed luxury of that bygone era aboard the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express, travelling the most famous route between London’s Victoria station and Venice. The carriages are sumptuously decorated in a style recalling the sleek and tasteful fashions of the 1930s, and service on board is, as you would expect, impeccable, while the excellent four-course dinner, served in the dining car, is an experience in itself.  

At the end of the line, Venice, with its abundance of sumptuous architecture, makes a more than fitting destination, while beyond, the treasure-filled cities of Tuscany invite exploration.

Shinkansen, Japan

Running at speeds of up to 320km per hour, Japan’s high-speed trains – known as bullet trains – link most of the main cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. A journey on one is a must-do experience in Japan.

Bullet trains are renowned for their sleek and dramatic profile, high levels of comfort and impressive punctuality (departures are usually timed to the second, and in the rare instance of a train being more than one minute late, it’s announced as delayed).  

Despite the very high speeds reached, travelling on the Shinkansen is surprisingly smooth, and is the perfect way to see the country, especially if time is limited.  

The extensive network allows you to easily get around Japan’s major sights. Even the railway stations are something of an attraction in Japan – the futuristic, 15-storey Kyoto Station is one of the largest buildings in the country.

Hop on board 

Our Japanese tours all include at least one journey on a bullet train (our Essence of Japan and Grand Tour of Japan itineraries feature three). We’ll arrange tickets and timings, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

Glacier Express and Bernina Express, Switzerland

Think of an express train ride. An image that probably doesn’t spring immediately to mind is a gentle journey through snow-covered peaks, seen through panoramic windows. So, the Bernina Express and Glacier Express are a revelation. Winding their way through the magnificent Swiss Alps, they offer panorama after panorama and are both an absolute joy to travel on.

The Bernina Express crosses borders and cultures, taking you from Chur/ St Moritz in Switzerland, all the way down to Tirano in Italy. The Glacier Express takes you on a seven-hour journey between the Swiss resorts of St Moritz and Zermatt. 

Both railway lines are seriously impressive feats of engineering. The Bernina Express passes over 196 bridges and climbs the incredible Brusio Spiral Viaduct, which was built to limit the railway’s incline to 7%. The Glacier Express crosses a remarkable 291 bridges and its fittingly ‘glacial’ pace only adds to your enjoyment of those spectacular views.

Hop on board 

You can travel on both the Bernina and Glacier Express trains on Switzerland’s Spectacular Rail Journeys.

TranzAlpine Train, New Zealand

New Zealand’s TranzAlpine train carves a spectacular route through the Southern Alps, linking the Pacific coast town of Greymouth with Christchurch, the biggest city on South Island. The full journey takes just under five hours, though you can also hop off at several points along the way.

The scenery either side of the Alps is glorious – the patchwork fields of the Canterbury Plains, the winding Waimakariri River, the rugged landscapes of the ‘wild west’ coast. But the mountains are the true highlight. Following an ancient Maori route, the train’s oversized windows will reveal soaring peaks (travel outside of high summer and they’ll be topped with a blanket of fresh snow), glacial lakes and steep-sided ravines. One of the most dramatic gorges on the route is bridged by the Staircase Viaduct, a 73-metre-high construction that the TranzAlpine crosses during its journey.

Hop on board 

Great New Zealand Discovery includes a journey on the TranzAlpine train from Greymouth to Springfield, from where you’ll journey on to Kaikoura. It’s one of 18 unforgettable excursions on the tour – others include an overnight fiord cruise, a jet boat safari on the Haast River and a Maori cultural experience.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway & Kalka Shimla Railway, India

This trio of mountain railways are protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their historical significance and bold engineering. In a country where train travel is an intrinsic part of life, these three rail routes really stand out from the crowd.

The oldest of the three is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which first opened to the public in 1880. Cobalt-blue carriages chug up a series of switchbacks and loops as they make their way up into the tea-lined hills of West Bengal. Then there’s the Kalka-Shimla route, which links the sun-baked northern plains with the mountains (blissfully cool in summer, decorated with snow in winter). Finally, there’s the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, India’s only remaining rack railway. Little locomotives slowly climb through hills and forests en route to the lovely town of Ooty.

Hop on board 

A number of our India tours include the Kalka-Shimla railway, including the Great Indian Rail Journey. For the Darjeeling Himalayan railway, look to our India & Bhutan itinerary; for Nilgiri, try the Grand Tour of Southern India.

Rauma Railway, Norway

Once named Europe’s most beautiful railway line, this route leads past forested mountains, lush valleys and tumbling waterfalls en route to the fjords.

The 90-minute journey begins in the mountain town of Dombås. From here, it’s a 115-kilometre route to the fjordside town of Åndalsnes. Along the way, you’ll pass jagged granite mountains, cross chunky stone bridges, and pause for photos of the Vermafossen waterfall. Keep your camera handy for the stop at Trollveggen, a towering vertical rock face that rises a thousand feet towards the sky.

Hop on board 

The Best of Norway by Rail and Sea includes tickets for the Rauma Railway, as well as the Flam and Dovre railways.

Visit our website to find out more about our rail holidays.