Train travel is an exciting experience; some even say it’s magical. Traveling by train is very suitable for Corporate and personal travel, and because it is fast and convenient it works well for transporting staff or clients to a particular venue. You also get to view flawless sceneries and this will make your journey worthwhile.
In this article, we will talk about some of the 10 most beautiful train rides in the world:
10. The Reunification Express, Vietnam
Some railway rides take you through iconic cites, some tell you a story about the cities you whiz past, other rail rides have passengers that just make the journey worthwhile. The Reunification Express line is also known as the North-South Railway has all these features and much more to offer. The Reunification is one of the railways most loved in Southeast Asia. The journey starts at Ho Chi Minh City and ends at Hanoi, the trip takes two days to travel. With the wonders between these 2 cities, there’s almost no better way to view them than with The Reunification Express.
The journey is a pleasant surprise for the people from the west as it passes through dense forests, fishing villages, rice fields, and through crowded villages. An experience not familiar to people from outside the country. It shows the world the rich history of Vietnam. The panorama outside is splendid as it changes from the urban dwellings to sub-urban dwellings and then slowly into villages.
9. The Ghan, Australia
Throughout your three day journey from North to South Australia, The Ghan will give you access to the country’s red center and you can see the Australian Outback in its glory. You can also order the Gold Service Twin Cabin to maximize your experience. With the platinum service you have access to a bedroom, and binoculars.
The Ghan train route is often regarded as one of the greatest rail journeys in the world. It lets you experience places in Australia that are not offered by any other holiday. The best part of the journey is it stops at places that can be further explored. The train journey is a perfect blend of luxury and adventure.
8. The California Zephyr, USA
Are you looking to enjoy the beauty of North America? Then you should do so by traveling the Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. The incredibly long journey spans 4,000 km and takes about 3 days, from start to finish. From Chicago to San Francisco, you’ll get to view the flawless landscape, especially with the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge car.
Amtrak claims the route to be one of the most scenic and beautiful train routes in the world. It passes through the breathtaking Sierra Nevada and upper Colorado River valley. Tunnels, mountains, and canyons add extra magic to the trip. The diverse scenery in the route offers the hues of Utah’s deserts, colors of greenery, mountains, and rivers.
7. The Blue Train, South Africa
Traveling through South Africa can be a difficult journey, but the Blue Train makes it work so that you can view the beauty of this country. The journey begins at Pretoria, take you through Kimberly, Matjiesfontein and eventually, you arrive at Cape Town. This journey has been undertaken by celebrities and kings. So you see a 27-hour ride fit for a king. It is a 1,600-kilometre trip between Pretoria and Cape Town.
It is one of the world’s luxurious train journeys that offer the mystic scenery of South Africa. Additionally, It also runs between Cape Town to Port Elizabeth which is known as the scenic “Garden Route”. The route offers a diverse range of landscapes making it one of the most beautiful luxury train rides in the world.
6. Baikal–Amur Mainline, Russia
Did you know that the Baikal Amur Mainline, also known as the BAM runs through over 2500 miles of the Siberian wilderness, connects remote settlements where temperatures sink to -60°C in winter and have been envisaged as the greatest construction project in the history of the Soviet Union? Compared to the Trans-Sib, the BAM is colder, remoter, and travels across spectacular scenery. The journey starts from Tayshet and ends in Sovetskaya Gavan with about 2500 miles between them. The trip usually takes four days, and despite the cold has been described as one of the best train rides on the planet.
It can be dangerous along the borders of China. The line is durable and built mostly using permafrost. BAM has been called as “the project of the century” due to its harsh terrains, weather, and difficulty while construction.
You may also like: 10 Most Dangerous Railway Lines In The World
5. Perurail Lake Titicaca Railway, Peru
Traveling across the Altiplano, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the capital of Inca, the railway from Puno to Cuzco traverses cuts a treacherous but otherworldly path through the snow-covered mountains and deep valleys of the Andes. The train features a bar, entertainment and a dope restaurant all this plus the company of the other passengers will make the trip delightful as it only takes 10 hours.
The train is an amazing experience of luxury combined with beautiful landscapes. The rail takes us through the Peruvian Andes between Puno and Cusco. The vintage carriages on the train offer a much better experience while dining. The experience is thrilling when the train approaches the world’s highest navigable lake. Many travel magazines around the world attribute the Perurail-Titicaca railway as one of the most beautiful in the world.
4. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Italy
This train ride is known for its luxurious experience. In the 1970s it closed due to managerial problems, but in 1982 it canes back in style by renovating the entire train, so as to live up to its past glory and satisfy its customers. If you are traveling through colorful cities of London, Budapest, Istanbul, Paris, Prague, Venice and Vienna then you can do no better than the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as the 24-hour service is impeccable. If you’re going to stay on a train for 6 days it better be worth it right.
The Alpine scenery with the luxury dining and bar will make your experience romantic and refreshing. It is a world-class service with the finest cuisines, luxury dining, and bar. It crosses through the breathtaking landscapes of Europe with mesmerizing greenery and nature.
3. Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express railroad journey takes you between Switzerland’s two major mountain resorts – St. Moritz and Zermatt. It passes through the majestic Swiss Alps and provides amazing views of mountain peaks, valleys, gorgeous towns and rivers. This train ride is perhaps the slowest in the world as it takes seven and a half hours to reach the destination. Through the course of the journey, you go over 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the high altitude Oberalp Pass. The sights on the trip are truly magical and if you’re with your camera, you can capture the scenes. The Glacier Express is known as the world’s slowest train.
The Rhine Gorge is the best part of the trip which is also known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon.” The highest point of the journey is 7,000 feet. The large windows on the train provide a great viewing experience of the panorama. At certain points, you get to see the snow caps. During the winter seasons, the snowing experience is unforgettable. It is recommended to enjoy the train ride just after winter.
2. TranzAlpine, New Zealand
TranzAlpine, operating over the Midland Line from Christchurch to the town of Greymouth is one of the most beautiful and scenic railway journeys in the world. One of the great train journeys for scenery takes us through valleys, mountains, lush greenery, gorges, and river valleys. The complete journey is 223 kilometers of thrilling experience. It passes through 16 tunnels and four viaducts. The train offers an open-air observation platform to take the best photographs and experience beauty.
In the year 2007, the train’s popularity reached its peak by taking 204,000 passengers. It is a journey of a lifetime for its breathtaking experience of natural landscapes.
1. Tren A Las Nubes, Argentina
Also known as the train to the skies as it is the third highest train rides in the world. It begins its journey in the Argentine city of Salta, traversing across striking viaducts and bridges before reaching its final destination, Puna at 4,200 meters. The scenery from this height is truly awesome if you can work up the courage to go on this trip and you don’t pass out from the dizzying heights.
The train journey is also called “The Train to the Clouds”. If you are looking for beauty, nature, scenery, and also some adrenaline rush, then this is the journey to take. It is also one of the world’s most dangerous railway routes.