Traveling by train has its own charm. Sitting in a compartment with a slightly open window wafting through the smell of the wheels rubbing against the tracks, counting how many more stations there are, watching the scenery through which the train rushes... Time stops.
Not only does it evoke a unique sense of freedom and comfort, traveling by train is also essential less stressful and more affordable from traveling by car or plane. And what is most valuable, the tracks wind through forgotten places, villages and valleys, where there are no roads, where nature is still unspoilt, where there are no large shopping centers and modern urban infrastructure. Traveling by train is a journey into the past...
These are one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world!
TRANSMONGOLIA ROUTE
FROM ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA TO BEIJING, CHINA
Mongolia is a land of grassy dunes.The Trans-Siberian Railway, which runs from Moscow to Vladivostok, is the most popular among train travel enthusiasts. However, in terms of the picturesque landscapes through which it passes, it far surpasses it Transmongolian Railway from Moscow to Beijing: especially in the last part of the journey. As the train crosses Siberia and enters Mongolia, the land changes to red plains with grassy dunes. In the evening light, you can watch the magical glitter of rivers and lakes through the window of your compartment, and the ground reflects a rich orange glow. And wake up in the morning in China, where you can already see the Great Wall of China in the distance. The train, however, grinds over steep valleys and orchards towards the river, where fishermen in characteristic wide trousers and cone-shaped hats squat in the rivers.
transsiberianexpress.net
RIVIERA RAILWAY
FROM CANNES, FRANCE TO VENTIMIGLIA, ITALY
The route starts in the city of Riviera and ends 90 minutes later in the pleasant Italian town of Ventimiglia. A ride along the Ligurian Sea in a double-decker carriage takes passengers through lesser-known coastal areas such as Cagnes-sur-Mer, Juan-les-Pins and Antibes. The train also stops at the station in Nice and Monaco, where passengers are at a "safe" distance, far enough from the Baha'i world of yachts, beach volleyball, Lamborghinis and the rest of the glitz. The enchanting drive from France to Italy is a real balm for the soul.
raileurope-world.com
VENICE SIMPLON–ORIENT EXPRESS
FROM VENICE TO LONDON
Probably the most famous train in the world is the Orient Express. The route is also certainly one of the most beautiful that you can travel by train in Europe. The legendary Orient Express was put back on the popular travel map by the Belmond company, thus reviving the golden age of travel. You will travel in private compartments equipped with prestigious mahogany, comfortable beds on which you will sleep like a king in damask bedding, while you wind between the Italian Dolomites, the Swiss Alps... And in the evening, dressed in an evening gown, you will be in a prestigious restaurant pamper your taste buds with oysters and foie gras to the tunes of a pianist who will be playing in the corner of the carriage. A trip, really, like from a novel...
belmond.com
DEATH LANE
FROM BANGKOK TO KANCHANABURI
Death LaneDuring World War II, the Japanese, hoping to reach India, forced prisoners of war to build a railway line connecting Thailand with Burma. During the construction of this 414-kilometer-long track, the prisoners struggled with many deadly diseases: cholera, beriberi, fever... and the track was only completed in 14 months. The track, also known as the Death Track, claimed at least as many victims as it is meters long. This magical ride with a bitter aftertaste starts at Thonburi Station in Bangkok and ends at Nam Tok Station in Kanchanaburi. The train departs from the platform twice a day and weaves its way through jungle areas and also crosses the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai.
tripadvisor.com
MANDOVI EXPRESS
FROM MUMBAI TO MADGAON
Mandovi Express crosses as many as 2,000 bridges on its route.The Mandovi Express ride takes 12 hours. The half-day drive takes place along the Konkan coast, where the Arabian Sea shines on one side and the Sahyadri hills spread out on the other. The train departs from the Chhatrapati Shivaji starting station in Mumbai, weaves its way through this Indian megacity and continues its journey through the countryside, just meters from children playing cricket and shepherds tending their sheep. As the train approaches Goa, it passes through coconut and palm groves. It crosses more than 2,000 bridges on its way, including the highest viaduct in India. Mandovi Express is definitely the best train in the entire rolling stock owned by the Indian Railways.
indiarailinfo.com
TRACK OF REUNION
FROM HANOI TO DA NANG
The Reunification Route starts in Hanoi and runs through the entire country, all the way to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. The track suffered a lot of damage during the Vietnam War, some sections were destroyed. However, after the state unification in 1976, traffic on it again ran regularly. Driving through the city's capital, among the houses and gardens of the locals, is a real voyeuristic experience that takes you to the next morning's sunrise. The train runs through the jungle, through banana plantations, through villages, so close to the houses that you can look deep into the eyes of the locals, all the way to the cliffs above the South China Sea, covered by the golden sands of Lang Co Bay. It makes its last stop at Da Nang Station.
vietnam-railway.com
THE RUPERT ROCKET
FROM JASPER TO PRINCE RUPERT
The Skeena Train (also known as the Rupert Rocket) travels from Alberta's Jasper National Park deep through British Columbia. Three times a week you can drive northwest, past Canada's highest peak Robson, past perfectly calm emerald green lakes under blue sky. On the way, you can watch black bears, white-tailed deer, moose, eagles from the window... With an overnight stop in Prince George, the train passes through Kwinitsa, Vanderhoof and Penny stations. Few people live there (less than 10), so there are a lot of dogs. Passing sawmill settlements and freshwater lakes in which salmon swim, it reaches its last stop, the town of Prince Rupert.
rupertrocket.com
SUNSET LIMITED
FROM NEW ORLEANS TO LOS ANGELES
The ride on the oldest train in the United States takes two days and takes passengers from southern New Orleans to Los Angeles. Its specialty is definitely the people you can meet on the train: from musicians, teachers, farmers to retirees, Amish, models; all classes of American society in one wagon! The route winds past bayous in Louisiana, cacti in New Mexico, through red sunsets in Arizona. Passengers definitely have enough time to read a book, practice the guitar or just watch the wild rabbits and golden eagles circling above the train. At the station in El Paso, a lady is waiting with burritos, which you absolutely must try.
amtrak.com
