There are certain train rides in the world where you would be crying to grab a window seat; this is because of the enchanting routes the trains run on. You can find such scenic train drives across all the continents, but we have made a list of 8 rides that you must experience at least once in your life; it will be worth your time!
Glacier Express
This train runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz (a distance of 291 km) and takes about 8 hours to cover this distance. On this route, you will cross 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
Highlights of the Ride
- Train passes through Rhine Gorge (aka Grand Canyon of Switzerland)
- You get to view World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch and Albula Line of the Rhaetian Railway (two UNESCO world heritage sites)
- There is an array of culinary delights available on the train
TranzAlpine, New Zealand
You are treated to a lot of beautiful sceneries and landscapes when you travel along the TranzAlpine route. This train starts its journey from Christchurch and ends it at Greymouth. If you want to enjoy your ride truly, then go for a stage-side seat. Initially, you will be traveling through fertile fields and then rising to mountains.
Highlights of the Ride
- You will cross the fertile fields of Canterbury Plains and witness the magnificence of the Waimakariri River
- You will cross the mountains of Arthur’s Pass and the west coast’s subtropical rainforest
- You get to see the gold mining town, Greymouth
The Blue Train, South Africa
A trip to South Africa would mean driving through a lot of scenic routes and The Blue Train is one of the best ways to check out the scenic route between Pretoria and Cape Town. The train travels almost 1000 miles in 27 hours and passes across beautiful landscapes that are nothing but a treat to the eyes.
Highlights of the Ride
- You cross the Cape Winelands (and see the vineyards of the place)
- The train also passes the Great Karoo Desert (an area with vast plains) and Savannah Grasslands
- You can enjoy fine wine and tasty meals on the train
Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West, Canada
Rocky Mountaineer Company is a travel company that offers a lot of train-trips to scenic routes. One such route is from Vancouver to Banff. On this route, you will cross the heights of the Canadian Rockies and see the majestic canyons. You will then reach Banff via Alberta where you will see some beautiful landscape.
Highlights of the Ride
· You can customize your trip by either taking four-day round trip or choosing to go on one-day sightseeing trips. It is quite easy to book these day trips at discounted prices via any online travel portals like Trip.com, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, KKday, and more.
- You get to visit Hell’s Gate (and check out the wild water of this area)
- The carriages in the train are very luxurious
The Ghan, Australia
The Ghan starts from Adelaide and ends its journey in Darwin (it takes 3 days to complete the whole ride!) In this three-day journey, you will witness dramatic gorges, intriguing rock formations, tropical forests, and wetlands. It is hard to describe the dynamism of this ride in words; you will need to be on this train to actually experience the thrill of riding The Ghan.
Highlights of the Ride
- You will cross Red Centre which is known for its two known natural landmarks, Kata Tjuta & Uluru
- You can go on off-train trips to Katherine, Alice Springs, and Copper Pedy
West Highland Line, Scotland
If you have ever seen the initial movies of the Harry Potter series, you would have seen the “Hogwarts Express” crossing a viaduct across a beautiful valley (one-of-a-kind imagery that gets imprinted in your minds!); well that is an actual train running from Glasgow to Mallaig and crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. West Highland Line has visually arresting scenic backdrops that have mountains, moors, and steep-sided lochs in it.
Highlights of the Ride
- You will be traveling deep into the wilderness of the West Coast
- The train crosses places where there have never been any roads and you will only see vast nature around you
Pacific Surfliner, USA
This is an iconic train ride organized by Amtrak where you get to see the stunning view of the coastline in Southern California plus also get down at urban stations like Anaheim. In total, the train crosses 29 stations including San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Louis Obispo counties.
Highlights of the Ride
- You get to see the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and the rolling hills of the Southern California
- The railway line is merely a few feet away from the ocean at different points and allows for some stunning view
Bernina Express
The journey on this panoramic train starts with you seeing the glaciers on the Alps and mid-way you are surrounded by the greenery of the palm trees. Bernina Express crosses 196 bridges and 55 tunnels; it runs at the leather turtle speed which is why you hardly miss out on the scenic beauty outside of the train.
Highlights of the Ride
- After crossing St. Moritz, the train climbs up to Ospizio Bernina (the highest point & the height is 2253m)
- You get to view Morteratsch glacier and deep blue Lago Bianco
