The Glacier Express, Switzerland: The Glacier Express distills the Alpine experience into eight hours of snowy peaks, mountain meadows, and storybook villages between Zermatt and St. Moritz, Switzerland. PHOTOGRAPH BY OLAF PROTZE, GETTY IMAGES
To many people, travel is all about reaching a destination. With this mindset, they may be tempted to hop on a plane or pack up the car, oblivious to the spectacular sights they’ll miss as they zoom toward their target. Hoping to open jet-setters’ eyes to alternative ways of traveling, National Geographichas compiled a collection of “The Sixteen Best Train Trips in the World” for their August/September issue of National Geographic Traveler.
The scenic train rides selected by National Geographic offer a diverse look at the world’s railway travel. Some, like Europe’s dazzling Orient Express, offer views of various metropolises, including London, Paris, and Venice. Others, such as Africa’s Shongololo Express, showcase the beauty of wild nature. In addition to eclectic environments and terrains, the list also presents trips of various durations, from daytime journeys, like the 8-hour route of Switzerland’s aptly-named Glacier Express, to overnight excursions, including the seven-day passage of India’s radiant Royal Rajasthan.
With a wealth of tantalizing trips to choose from, “The Sixteen Best Train Trips in the World” is sure to have a picture-perfect excursion for everyone. To see the full list, be sure to pick up this month’s edition of National Geographic Traveler, on newsstands now!
Here, we offer a look at the world’s most scenic train rides, as selected by National Geographic Traveler.
The TranzAlpine, New Zealand
In New Zealand, the TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Greymouth, racing alongside the Waimakariri River and through the Southern Alps on a nine-hour round-trip route. PHOTOGRAPH BY AGE FOTOSTOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Belgrade to Bar, Serbia and Montenegro
On Belgrade to Bar, riders experience 254 tunnels and 435 bridges on a 296-mile trip from Serbia’s capital to the shores of the Adriatic, at a bargain price. PHOTOGRAPH BY NICK COTTMAN, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
The Orient Express, Europe
Black-tie glamour still rules on the century-old Orient Express from London to Venice, which passes through Paris while you’re having dinner and brings aboard fresh-baked croissants when the train stops in Switzerland. PHOTOGRAPH BY HUBERT FANTHOMME, PARIS MATCH/GETTY IMAGES)
Pack hiking boots and binoculars to explore Alice Springs on The Ghan, which runs north to south in the “Red Centre” of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY THE GHAN
Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, India
A mobile palace complete with onboard spa, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels highlights India’stemples, forts, and Taj Mahal on a seven-night passage. PHOTOGRAPH BY VIJAY MATHUR, REUTERS
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, Russia
National Geographic Expeditions offers a 16-day excursion through Russia, from Vladivostok to Moscow, aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, which rolls by Lake Baikal, the deepest lake on Earth. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY GOLDEN EAGLE TRANS-SIBERIAN
California Zephyr, California
Rolling from the Windy City to San Francisco, the California Zephyr climbs both the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada before descending to the Pacific coast on its 2,447-mile traverse across the heartland of America. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MARC GLUCKSMAN, AMTRAK
The Canadian, Canada
Take The Canadian, where passengers can spend three days watching the countryside scenery from Toronto to Vancouver via dome cars. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY VIA RAIL CANADA
The Train to the Clouds, Argentina
The Train to the Clouds climbs to 13,800 feet in the rugged Andes on its way from Salta, Argentina, to the Chilean border on one of the highest train journeys in the world. PHOTOGRAPH BY MARCO GUOLI
Belmond Grand Hibernian, Ireland
Rooms on the Belmond Grand Hibernian look like Georgian-era hotel suites, while cushy observation cars are ideal for viewing green fields and sheep on the way to Cork or Belfast from Dublin. Photograph Courtesy Belmond Grand Hibernian.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.