Train Rides that will take your breath away

Written by Valentina Romano

If you love to travel the old-fashion way – enjoying the view from a train cabin whilst listening to some relaxing music – then you should definitely try, at least once in your life, one of these train rides.

The only thing you have to do is find your seat, make sure that your luggage is placed not too far from you, and admire the view outside the window. You will be amazed by the magical and fascinating landscapes that will open up in front of you. From snowy mountain villages, to infinite woods; going on a ride on one of these trains will be like being immersed in a living painting.

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER – CANADA

The Rocky Mountaineer was first created in 1885 and it goes from Vancouver to Calgary. This train travels throughout Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies, and it will take you to see pristine wilderness, such as black lava cliffs, glacial lakes, crystal clear rivers, hills covered in woods and stunning waterfalls.

DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY – INDIA

For those of you who watched ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ by Wes Anderson, this train route should sound quite familiar. Starting from Siliguri, a small town on the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, this 8 hours train ride offers one of the most stunning views in the world: from your window-seat you will be able to admire the gigantic rocks that compose the Himalayas, and because the view reaches 7,400 feet, if you are lucky, you might be able to see the peaks of the mountains too. This train ride is part of UNESCO World Heritage Railway

WEST HIGHLAND LINE – UNITED KINGDOM

The West Highland Line consists of a 90 minutes train ride over breath-taking landscapes of rock castles and green hills. Starting from Glasgow, this train will allow you to be completely immersed in the stunning British sceneries that will take you back to the 1880 when skyscrapers and cements hadn’t ruined the landscapes yet. Among the wonderful views, the costal scenery showing the Isles of Eigg, Muck and Rum is definitely worth the ride.

EL CHEPE – MEXICO

El ChePe’s route connects the mountain area of central Mexico with the cost. This stunning train ride allows you to admire the arid and rocky canyons, blue waterfalls covering green valleys, high desert plains, as well as the beautiful Mexican seaside. The journey lasts for 13 hours, but the train facilities, together with the stunning view, will definitely help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

THE GAHN – AUSTRALIA

Starting from Adelaide, the Gahn goes all the way across the desert, the Clare Valley and the Red centre to finally reach the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory. This train ride is the perfect solution if you want to travel across Australia and at the same time enjoy the breath-taking sceneries that characterise this country. The Ghan’s route is 2 days long, and it gives you the chance to observe and admire different types of landscapes: from desert to seaside; from green plains to humid jungles.

HIRAM BINGHAM ORIENT-EXPRESS – PERU

The Hiram Bingham Orient-Express follows the style of a 1920s train with leather seats and wooden interiors. This train ride goes through amazing landscapes, such as crystal clear waterfalls, ample plains and wild jungles.This 7 hours ride will take you around agricultural terraces that used to belong to the Incas, as well as across traditional Peruvian mountain villages. If you are in Peru, you should definitely book a ticket and jump on the Hiram Bingham Orient-Express, it is, indeed, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

BERNINA EXPRESS – ITALY and SWITZERLAND

From Tirano in Italy, to the highest peaks of Saint Moritz in Switzerland, the Bernina Express will take you through the most beautiful natural landscapes characterised by mountain villages and frozen lakes. Even thou the train is quite small, it offers very big windows to make the trip as much enjoyable as possible. The Bernina Express is considered as UNESCO World Heritage Site.