The world's best railway journeys

And sometimes, there’s no better way to see the world, enjoying a unique perspective through your carriage window. Rather than feeling isolated from the country you’re exploring, as you might be in a car or plane, there’s a chance to glimpse daily life as well as indulging in some of the most luxurious travel experiences on the planet.

From world-famous train lines to lesser-known rail routes, with options in every continent (except Antarctica!), who knows what adventures await from the comfort of your seat with our pick of the world’s best railway journeys.

The perfect mix of luxury on board and dramatic landscapes, the Rocky Mountaineer transports you from Vancouver to the peaks of the otherwise inaccessible Canadian Rockies, where tranquil green-blue lakes glitter in the sun and the rush of white water carves canyons and gorges from the rocks.

Along the way, you might spot bears, moose, elk and bald eagles, as the onboard staff share stories of the railway’s history and facts about the surrounding landscape, between plying you with food and drink.

Rocky Mountaineer interior

As standard you’ll travel by SilverLeaf service in a single-level glass domed coach with oversized windows, allowing you to enjoy the great scenery as hot meals are served at your seat. Or if you upgrade to GoldLeaf service, the wrap-around windows of the upper level of your coach give even better views out, as well as food cooked to order in the dining car. With several routes to choose from, travelling either eastbound or westbound across Canada, you could visit Jasper as well as Banff and Lake Louise.

One of the world’s most famous railway journeys, boarding The Ghan as it travels from Adelaide to Australia’s Northern Territory is no mere journey – this is an unforgettable railway adventure.

The Ghan

Named for the Afghan cameleers who transported goods to remote Outback communities before the railway was built, its original nickname was ‘The Afghan Express’. Today the experience features a mix of some sensational scenery as you cross the country from south to north (or in reverse if you prefer), plenty of indulgence with all meals and drinks included, and a choice of additional activities off the train.

Venturing into the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, passing iconic Alice Springs, you’ll also discover the ancient rock formations of the Southern Flinders Ranges, and watch the sun come up far from any cities. Passing otherworldly desert plains and rugged canyons, you can gaze out from your private cabin or the comfortable lounge car, with regional food and drink to enjoy as you go.

Can’t get enough of seeing Australia’s fabulous scenery from a train? The Great Southern Rail route runs from Brisbane to Adelaide, a four-day adventure with stops to explore New South Wales and Victoria, including Melbourne

The vintage Rovos Rail is one of the most stylish ways to see Africa’s incredible landscape, transporting you back to the golden days of rail travel – but with African wildlife along the way, rather than European cities.

Expect plush leather sofas and high-backed armchairs in the observation and lounge cars, four-course meals and world-class wines in the wood-panelled dining cars, as well as your own private Pullman sleep suite to retreat to after the excitement of the day.

Rovos Rail

And you needn’t be limited to one journey with several Rovos Rail journeys in South Africa to enjoy – why not travel from Cape Town to Pretoria, through the winelands and the arid Karoo desert, past the diamond mines of Kimberley? Or voyage from Pretoria to Durban, on the shores of the Indian ocean, seeing gold rush towns, Boer War battlefields and the Drakensberg Mountains along the way, plus the chance to tack a safari on the end.

You’re not even limited to South Africa alone, with a longer four-night route running from Pretoria up to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on our Tracks of Africa escorted tour, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn and visiting two Zimbabwean national parks for game drives.

One of the most exhilarating ways to explore India is by using the country’s historic railways, soaking up the contrasts of bustling towns and quieter rural villages, whether that’s aboard one of the standard trains travelling more than 42,987 miles of track, or lavish experiences like the Maharajas Express, inspired by the royal carriages of India’s rulers in days gone by.

Kalka-Shimla ‘Toy Train’, India

But arguably the most memorable train journey in India, and one of the world’s best train journeys, is the ‘Toy Train, which runs from Kalka to Shimla. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Mountain Railway, it gets its name for the diminutive size of the narrow gauge railway, just two feet six inches wide.

But small is definitely beautiful. This is one of the loveliest rail journeys in the world, travelling 96km from the plains of Kalka into the foothills of the Himalayas, crossing between lush river valleys and skirting steep hills, with more than 850 bridges and 100 tunnels along the way.

One of the most spectacular ways to cross the Alps, the Bernina Express only travels for around 76 miles from Chur/St Moritz to Tirano, but this journey could hardly be more memorable. The scarlet trains negotiate 55 tunnels, 196 bridges and countless steep inclines to reach the highest part of the Alps accessible by train, climbing to 2,253m above sea level.

Along the way, the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway is an engineering marvel with its helical tunnels, viaducts and other clever features to enable the train to navigate the mountain route, as well as some of the world’s most awe-inspiring scenery as you voyage through the peaks.

Bernina Express

Look out for the Morteratsch glacier and the curved Landwasser viaduct on the way before you wind down some daring loops towards the final destination in Italy, including the tight corkscrew turns of the Brusio Spiral Viaduct.

Visit in midwinter and you’ll see the Swiss Alps at their snow-capped best from your cosy carriage, with ploughs often needed to clear the way at the highest point, although whenever you visit, the Alpine scenery is never less than spectacular.

Named one of the top 10 train journeys in the world, the TranzAlpine train journey lasts just five hours and travels only 139 miles, but you’ll see some of New Zealand’s most spectacular mountain landscapes as you go.

Travelling from Christchurch on the east coast through the Southern Alps to Arthur’s Pass and Greymouth on the west coast, you pass through the ‘Great Divide’, the spine of mountains that splits the country’s South Island.

TranzAlpine Train, New Zealand

Along the way, there’s a series of spectacular gorges and river valleys, before you descend through the Otira Tunnel and alpine beech rainforests to Greymouth. All the carriages have panoramic windows to make the most of the views, but if you upgrade to Scenic Plus, there’s hot and cold food made to order, accompanied by New Zealand wines.

If there’s one name that immediately makes you think of the golden age of rail travel, it’s the Orient Express – the route from Paris and Istanbul made famous by Agatha Christie in her 1934 novel. And while you can no longer travel the exact route experienced by Hercule Poirot (and a host of real-life stars), you can get a taste of the same luxurious experience aboard the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express, travelling from Paris to Venice.

Venice-Simplon Orient Express interior

With glamorous 1930s styling and impeccable service, you’ll wish you could stay on board longer, although the four-course dinner in the hand-restored 1920s restaurant cars and elegant sleeping cabins help make it an experience to remember. It’s possible to connect with La Dolce Vita Orient Express, with eight different routes onwards through Italy if one night simply isn’t enough.

There’s no better way to discover some of the glories of South America in luxury, than aboard the Andean Explorer train from Belmond, the same company that’s behind the Orient Express. Travelling from the city of Cusco in Peru, the former capital of the Inca Empire, you head high into the mountains until you reach Puno, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, while the longer two-night route continues on to Arequipa.

Andean Explorer, Peru

One of the world’s highest standard-gauge rail routes, you’ll climb to altitudes of more than 4,300 metres, all in comfort, with Peruvian cuisine and Andean ingredients on the menu.

The train carriages and dining car are designed to take you back to the golden age of train travel, with 1920s décor, plus a rather more modern observation car which lets you appreciate the dramatic scenery as you pass through the mountains, as well as a spa car where the signature treatment uses local flowers and coca leaves.

The best train journeys in the world don’t have to be long to be memorable. The journey from Ella railway station in the hills of Sri Lanka to the hill station of Nanuoya near Nuwara Eliya normally takes around 3.5 hours but is packed with some of the country’s best scenery.

Nine Arch Bridge, Sri Lanka

Travelling past tea estates, the hills are vibrantly green with their carpet of tea bushes, with splashes of brightly coloured clothing from the pickers plucking the tenderest leaves from the top. Sit on the right hand side for the best views of Ella Gap if you’re travelling towards Nanuoya, where the hills break and you get a wonderful panorama down to the plains below.

Before you set off, the famous Nine Arch Bridge is just a short journey from Ella itself – you’ll cross over it if you take the Ella to Kandy line, although the best views of the bridge are from the surrounding countryside, rather than the train itself.

The USA might be renowned for its road trips rather than its rail journeys, but if you’re looking to see America by train, you can’t beat the California Zephyr, which travels from Chicago to Emeryville, near San Francisco Bay. Covering over 2,400 miles and lasting around 52 hours, you’ll spend three days and two nights on the train.

Truckee, California

Along the way, you pass through the flat fields of the Midwest, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas, spotting desert canyons in Utah before arriving to the west coast in California. It’s a reminder of the days when the railroads opened up the Old West, when America was still in its infancy.

And there’s a chance to soak up the sprawl of US history as you travel, as well as the nation’s every-changing scenery, with impressive feats of engineering to help the train get through the Rockies as well as the chance to see herds of elk from your window. If you want to complete the journey in one go, there are sleeping cars as well as reclining seats in coach, or you can stop en route if you prefer. There’s a dining car and observation area as well.

Japan is famous for its high-speed, ultra-punctual bullet trains, but for one of the best train journeys in the country, head on board the Thunderbird Express, travelling from Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa. Passing snow-topped mountains and lush forests, you’ll spot steam rising from natural hot springs and tranquil turquoise lakes as you travel through the Japanese Alps. It’s not only the most scenic journey between the destinations but also the fastest one taking around two hours and 40 minutes to travel from Osaka to Kanazawa.

Thunderbird Express, Japan

Buy a ticket for the Green Car for the most luxurious experience – seats here have more space compared to other train carriages. There’s also trolley service throughout the train, toilets and even a ladies-only area in carriage 3.

Arguably one of the most famous train journeys in the world, the Trans-Siberian Railway is no mere journey – this is an epic adventure, covering around 5,771 miles and linking Moscow with Vladivostok in the far east of the country.

Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia

The original route connected six separate trains across the rail network, although there’s also an option to board the Golden Eagle private train for a more luxurious version. Following part of the route of the ancient Silk Road, you can also see the Ural Mountains, remote Lake Baikal and the Mongolian steppe as you tackle this astonishing journey, tracing the history of tsars, famous exiles and some of the great moments in history as you go.

Feeling inspired? Hit the rails on one of our rail holidays