16 Best Train Trips in the World

After three decades of riding trains all over the world—rural China, the Swiss Alps, Latin American jungles—I am still thrilled by a classic rail journey.

Take The Canadian, where passengers can spend three days watching the countryside scenery from Toronto to Vancouver via dome cars. From the wheat fields to the jagged Rockies to the thickly forested Coast Mountains, it’s one of the world’s most amazing routes. Here are 15 more of my favorite journeys by rail.

Glacier Express at the Landwasser Viaduct in the Swiss Alps.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian train running along Lake Baikal in Russia

Tranz Alpine train near Springfield Canterbury New Zealand

The Ghan train in Australia

CALIFORNIA ZEPHYReastbound Amtrak California Zephyr, Train 5, climbing in to the Rockies on a winter day, between Denver and Winter Park, about to enter the Moffat Tunnel near the Colorado hamlet of Rollinsville.

THE CANADIAN glassdome of The Canadian Train in Canada

Train to the Clouds in Argentina

ORIENT EXPRESSGARE DE L'EST, PARIS, FRANCE

Shongololo Express in Southern Africa

TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMAJR East unveils inside of new luxury sleeper train

Blue Train crossing a bridge in South Africa

ROYAL RAJASTHAN ON WHEELSAn attendant works inside Sheesh Mahal restaurant coach aboard a new luxury train on the outskirts of Jaisalmer

BELGRADE TO BARRail bridge, Montenegro

Gotthard Panorama Express Train at a station in Switzerland

BELMOND GRAND HIBERNIAN - bedroom of the Belmond Grand Hibernian train in Ireland

Caledonian Sleeper train at a station in Scotland