Prepare journey is having a second, and it is no thriller why.
In comparison with flying, trains supply unbelievable views of scenic landscapes and distant villages, together with some which can be tough to entry some other manner. Plus, trains are a extra relaxed option to get from one place to the subsequent, with no 100-milliliter liquid guidelines or snaking safety strains to fret about.
This is our roundup of essentially the most scenic trains you’ll be able to take across the globe — those that’ll have you ever feeling like a younger Paul Theroux as you trundle by way of countryside, desert, mountains and extra.
Associated: Greatest European routes the place you need to take a practice as a substitute of a airplane
Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Prepare in England and Wales
In July, Belmond will unveil the Britannic Explorer, the primary luxurious sleeper practice in England and Wales. This service goals to showcase native tradition with three- or six-night routes by way of the landscapes of Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales. Through the day, passengers can select from optionally available guided excursions to discover every area’s cultural and pure wonders. Again on the practice, you may get pleasure from lunch, afternoon tea and dinner menus that spotlight native specialties and have been designed by chef Simon Rogan, whose eating places collectively maintain 10 Michelin stars worldwide.
Cabins on this opulent practice begin at 6,300 kilos (roughly $8,380) for 3 nights.
TPG tip: If these practice fares stretch your funds, save on airfare to London — the start line for the Britannic Explorer — by reserving your flights with factors and miles. British Airways Membership is a good possibility, and you’ll switch Avios from most main bank card factors and miles packages at a 1:1 ratio.
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Jap & Oriental Specific, a Belmond Prepare in Singapore and Malaysia
This opulent sleeper practice options its personal piano bar, two restaurant vehicles, an open-air remark automobile and now a Dior Spa. So far as practice journey is anxious, this journey is as luxurious as they arrive, with high-end service matched solely by first-class views alongside the way in which.
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You’ll be able to select between varied three-night itineraries that every one begin in Singapore and discover completely different components of Malaysia. There’s the “Wild Malaysia” journey by way of Taman Negara Nationwide Park and Penang, the “Tastes of Tomorrow” journey with award-winning cooks and skilled mixologists, and the “Festive Malaysia” journey in December.
It most likely goes with out saying that it is not an affordable journey (costs for the Jap & Oriental Specific begin round $4,650 per particular person), however it is without doubt one of the most luxurious trains you’ll be able to journey.
TPG tip: You can even get monetary savings by reserving your journey to Singapore with factors and miles. For instance, you’ll be able to fly from San Francisco to Singapore for under 42,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles plus $6 one-way.
Rocky Mountaineer within the American Southwest
This iconic luxurious practice operator, well-known for its excursions of Western Canada, launched its first route within the U.S. in 2021. Rockies to the Pink Rocks takes friends on a two-day journey between Denver and Moab, Utah, with an in a single day cease on the Colorado scorching springs city of Glenwood Springs. (This is not a sleeper practice, so friends keep in a lodge in Glenwood Springs.)
The practice solely operates throughout the day, so vacationers will not miss a minute of surroundings from the glass-domed practice vehicles with outside viewing decks because the towering Rocky Mountains give option to Utah’s nearly Martian desert panorama. In spite of everything, Moab is the gateway to Arches Nationwide Park, named for its surreal sandstone arches and rock formations.
You’ll be able to guide the Rockies to the Pink Rocks itinerary from $1,723 per particular person. Rocky Mountaineer plans to develop this route from Denver to Salt Lake Metropolis and rebrand it as Canyon Spirit in 2026.
TPG tip: It can save you on home flights to Denver through the use of factors and miles, and the Mile Excessive Metropolis provides loads of factors resorts, together with some affiliated with Hilton and Hyatt.
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Gornergrat Railway in Switzerland
Maybe essentially the most uncommon practice journey on this checklist, Gornergrat Railway’s NostalChic Class practice is a wonderfully restored Sixties cogwheel practice that carries solely 22 friends as soon as each week. Whereas on this practice, you may get pleasure from scrumptious aperitifs served by your individual private concierge earlier than savoring a four-course feast at Gornergrat — the best open-air railway terminus in Europe. Plus, each seat has a window to soak up the mountain views.
The service ferries its passengers on an epic six-hour loop that begins and ends within the mountain resort of Zermatt. Fares value 320 Swiss francs (about $380) for this really distinctive rail expertise.
TPG tip: Air France-KLM Flying Blue typically has low cost award flights from the U.S. to Zurich Airport (ZRH) and Geneva Airport (GVA). From there, it is a three- to four-hour drive to Zermatt. You’ll be able to simply switch factors or miles to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio from all the most important transferable factors and miles packages.
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La Dolce Vita Orient Specific in Italy
The brand new La Dolce Vita Orient Specific sleeper practice simply launched Could 1, and it comes courtesy of lodge group Accor. It is an artwork deco masterpiece that takes you thru the center of a few of Italy’s most iconic locations.
Passengers can sip world-class cocktails between high-quality eating programs on eight completely different one- or two-night itineraries, together with a Sicilian route that begins and ends in Palermo after circling by way of Agrigento and Taormina. Alongside the way in which, you may see charming villages and pace by the imposing Mount Etna. Different standout journeys embrace a romantic service between Rome and Venice and a wine lover’s route by way of Tuscan vineyards.
Two-day, one-night itineraries for the La Dolce Vita Orient Specific begin at 3,060 euros (about $3,420) per particular person within the offseason.
TPG tip: Members of Accor Reside Limitless can earn 2,500 ALL factors for each 1,000 euros spent on La Dolce Vita Orient Specific, and unlock computerized elite standing relying on which cabin or suite you guide.
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Bernina Specific in Switzerland
You will see every little thing from glaciers to palm bushes on this 4 1/2-hour panoramic practice journey, which passes by way of 55 tunnels and almost 200 bridges on its manner from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano — a small city simply throughout the border in Italy. You will additionally move over the spectacular Landwasser Viaduct, a part of the Rhaetian Railway UNESCO World Heritage Website.
A primary-class ticket for the Bernina Specific will set you again round $160 one-way. Otherwise you may contemplate getting a Swiss Journey Cross Flex (from $349), which entitles you to limitless journey in Switzerland by practice (together with panoramic routes), bus or boat in addition to admission to over 500 museums.
TPG tip: There aren’t many factors resorts in Chur and Tirano, so chances are you’ll decide to guide your lodging by way of a bank card journey portal like Chase Journey or Capital One Journey as a way to earn bonus factors or miles or redeem factors or miles in your keep.
The Northern Explorer in New Zealand
Fly into Auckland and board the Northern Explorer, New Zealand’s longest-running passenger practice. It chugs by way of Hamilton, Otorohanga, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu, amongst different areas, en path to the capital, Wellington.
When exploring New Zealand by rail, you may see every little thing from volcanic peaks to the rugged coast. The roughly 11-hour journey is not precisely the quickest option to get round New Zealand, however it is without doubt one of the most lovely. You can even add stops to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or navigate the glowworm-lit chambers of the Waitomo Caves alongside the way in which. One-way fares for the Northern Explorer start at 229 New Zealand {dollars} (about $135) for adults.
TPG tip: If you would like to make the lengthy journey to New Zealand in consolation, you’ll be able to fly enterprise class with 75,000 Chase factors or check out Air New Zealand’s distinctive economic system Skycouch.
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Rocky Mountaineer in Western Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer route by way of the Canadian Rockies is the luxurious practice’s unique and best-known itinerary, exposing you to picture-perfect surroundings in each path. The now-iconic First Passage to the West Traditional tour is a six-day journey from Vancouver to Banff (and vice versa) that crosses the Continental Divide and passes by way of the Spiral Tunnels carved into the Rockies. You will spend two days aboard the practice, with two nights every in Vancouver and Banff and one evening in Kamloops.
Fares for 2025 begin at $2,243 per particular person and embrace choose meals and 5 nights in resorts, in addition to station transfers and baggage dealing with.
TPG tip: Air Canada Aeroplan provides flights inside North America ranging from solely 6,000 factors every manner in economic system, and Aeroplan is a switch companion of a number of bank card currencies. Aeroplan additionally permits stopovers for five,000 factors every manner.
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Andean Explorer, a Belmond Prepare in Peru
No comforts are neglected on the Andean Explorer, which is fitted with oxygen tanks and masks for passengers who discover the excessive altitude uncomfortable.
The 2-night Peruvian Highlands possibility travels from Cusco to the gleaming white stone metropolis of Arequipa and features a cease in Puno on Lake Titicaca. Entry-level bunk mattress cabins begin at $3,700 per particular person (based mostly on double occupancy), with meals and excursions included.
TPG tip: Earlier than flying house, make sure you spend a couple of days in Lima, considered one of our favourite Latin American cities, to make use of your factors and miles. This new IHG lodge is bookable ranging from 25,000 factors per evening.
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The Blue Prepare in South Africa
Because the Twenties, South Africa’s Blue Prepare has carried vacationers between Pretoria (close to Johannesburg) and Cape City in luxurious vehicles with panoramic home windows — finest for admiring the passing vineyards and main points of interest like Desk Mountain. Since this is without doubt one of the fancier sleeper trains on supply, count on formal gown codes at dinner, non-public ensuite bogs (full with tubs should you guide a luxurious suite) and loads of awe-inspiring surroundings.
One-way tickets for the two-night journey on the Blue Prepare begin at 36,325 South African rand (about $1,988) per particular person based mostly on double occupancy, or 54,488 rand (about $2,982) for solo vacationers.
TPG tip: For those who’re in search of factors resorts at both finish of your journey, each the Park Hyatt Johannesburg and InterContinental Desk Bay Cape City are slated to open later this yr. And take a look at how this TPGer visited South Africa utilizing factors and miles.
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Durango & Silverton Slender Gauge Railroad in Colorado
For those who dream of using in a classic coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive whereas having fun with gorgeous views, the Durango & Silverton Slender Gauge Railroad isn’t solely an important selection but additionally inexpensive. This service runs between two Colorado mountain cities, crisscrossing the Animas River, navigating San Juan Nationwide Forest and hugging the sheer fringe of the mountains.
Charges begin at $109 per particular person for a half-day loop from Durango to Silverton and again. Different choices embrace a festive Polar Specific practice to select up Santa Claus, full with scorching cocoa and twinkling lights.
TPG tip: Durango is a six-hour drive from Denver, or chances are you’ll want to fly into the close by Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO). For those who resolve to make a highway journey out of it, listed here are our high suggestions for renting a automobile on factors and miles.
Shinkansen in Japan
Along with dependable service and ultra-clean vehicles, Japan’s bullet practice provides lovely surroundings whereas touring between Tokyo and Kyoto on one of many nice (and quickest) pioneers of rail. The Tokaido Shinkansen sweeps previous gorgeous Japanese cities and unbelievable views of Mount Fuji — should you begin in Tokyo, you need to be capable of spot the enduring mountain round 40 minutes into the two 1/2-hour journey.
Tickets begin at 13,320 yen (about $91) for a nonreserved seat when booked upfront on-line, or you’ll be able to reserve a seat for just some {dollars} additional. High tip: Sit on the right-hand aspect.
TPG tip: There are various methods to go to Japan on factors and miles, particularly now you could guide Japan Airways flights with JetBlue factors. You will even have your selection of factors resorts, together with the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, the Tokyo Version, Ginza, and Six Senses Kyoto.
Jacobite Steam Prepare in Scotland
You may acknowledge the Jacobite Steam Prepare from the time it guest-starred because the Hogwarts Specific within the “Harry Potter” motion pictures, and it is each bit as enchanting in actual life.
Journeys begin on the base of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak, and move by way of the lochs and moors of the Scottish Highlands to the coastal city of Mallaig. You will have time to discover the city or take a wildlife cruise earlier than hopping again on the practice for the return journey. One of many key moments of the journey is crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, so make sure you have your digicam prepared as you pace throughout its arches.
The Jacobite Steam Prepare runs from April to October. Spherical-trip tickets begin from 69 kilos (about $92).
TPG tip: To reinforce your train-themed vacation, contemplate staying at The Caledonian Edinburgh, a historic former railway lodge and a member of Hilton Honors.
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Denali Star in Alaska
Uncover the Alaskan wilderness by rail on the Denali Star, Alaska Railroad’s flagship practice. This service carries vacationers from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a cease at Denali Nationwide Park for imposing views of the route’s namesake mountain (often known as Mount McKinley), the best peak in North America. You will traverse the Knik River, navigate the Healy Canyon and move tons of of toes over Hurricane Gulch Bridge in opposition to a backdrop of mountain vistas and different iconic Alaskan views.
Charges for the complete 12-hour Anchorage-to-Fairbanks itinerary begin at $221 per particular person, however you’ll be able to decide to guide solely a part of the journey — as an example, Anchorage to Denali Nationwide Park for as little as $156. The Denali Star is just out there in the summertime season, between mid-Could and mid-September.
TPG tip: Alaska Airways Mileage Plan is a good selection for flying to Alaska on miles. This system is a 1:1 switch companion of Bilt Rewards, and since you’ll be able to switch miles between Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways, you’ll be able to successfully switch Amex factors to Alaska as effectively. However hurry up: American Specific transfers to Hawaiian Airways (and to Alaska Airways) finish June 30.
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From ultramodern to nostalgic, these scenic rides allow you to see the world from a brand new perspective. There’s an possibility for each funds, and factors and miles may also help you save much more on attending to your vacation spot.
If you cannot get sufficient of practice journey, try our roundups of spectacular European trains for summer season and airways that supply air and rail tickets in Europe.
