By admin 
Practice journey is having a moment, and it is no thriller why.
In comparison with flying, trains provide unimaginable views of scenic landscapes and distant villages, together with some which are tough to entry another approach. Plus, trains are a extra relaxed technique to get from one place to the following, with no 100-milliliter liquid guidelines or snaking safety strains to fret about.
This is our roundup of essentially the most scenic trains you possibly can take across the globe — those that’ll have you ever feeling like a younger Paul Theroux as you trundle via countryside, desert, mountains and extra.
Associated: Best European routes where you should take a train instead of a plane
Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Practice in England and Wales
In July, Belmond will unveil the Britannic Explorer, the primary luxurious sleeper prepare in England and Wales. This service goals to showcase native tradition with three- or six-night routes via the landscapes of Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales. Through the day, passengers can select from non-obligatory guided excursions to discover every area’s cultural and pure wonders. Again on the prepare, 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 prepare begin at 6,300 kilos (roughly $8,380) for 3 nights.
TPG tip: If these prepare fares stretch your price range, save on airfare to London — the start line for the Britannic Explorer — by reserving your flights with factors and miles. British Airways Club is a superb choice, and you’ll transfer Avios from most main bank card factors and miles packages at a 1:1 ratio.
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Japanese & Oriental Specific, a Belmond Practice in Singapore and Malaysia
This opulent sleeper prepare options its personal piano bar, two restaurant automobiles, an open-air commentary automotive and now a Dior Spa. So far as prepare journey is worried, this journey is as luxurious as they arrive, with high-end service matched solely by first-class views alongside the best way.
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You possibly can select between varied three-night itineraries that every one begin in Singapore and discover totally different components of Malaysia. There’s the “Wild Malaysia” journey via Taman Negara Nationwide Park and Penang, the “Tastes of Tomorrow” journey with award-winning cooks and knowledgeable mixologists, and the “Festive Malaysia” journey in December.
It in all probability goes with out saying that it is not an affordable journey (costs for the Eastern & Oriental Express begin round $4,650 per particular person), but it surely is without doubt one of the most luxurious trains you possibly can trip.
TPG tip: You can too lower your expenses by reserving your journey to Singapore with points and miles. For instance, you possibly can fly from San Francisco to Singapore for less than 42,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles plus $6 one-way.
Rocky Mountaineer within the American Southwest
This iconic luxurious prepare operator, well-known for its excursions of Western Canada, launched its first route within the U.S. in 2021. Rockies to the Red 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 prepare, so friends keep in a resort in Glenwood Springs.)
The prepare solely operates through the day, so vacationers will not miss a minute of surroundings from the glass-domed prepare automobiles with out of doors viewing decks because the towering Rocky Mountains give technique to Utah’s nearly Martian desert panorama. In any case, Moab is the gateway to Arches Nationwide Park, named for its surreal sandstone arches and rock formations.
You possibly can e book the Rockies to the Red Rocks itinerary from $1,723 per particular person. Rocky Mountaineer plans to increase this route from Denver to Salt Lake Metropolis and rebrand it as Canyon Spirit in 2026.
TPG tip: It can save you on domestic flights to Denver through the use of factors and miles, and the Mile Excessive Metropolis provides loads of factors motels, together with some affiliated with Hilton and Hyatt.
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Gornergrat Railway in Switzerland
Maybe essentially the most uncommon prepare journey on this checklist, Gornergrat Railway’s NostalChic Class train is a wonderfully restored Sixties cogwheel prepare that carries solely 22 friends as soon as each week. Whereas on this prepare, 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 price 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 possibly can simply switch factors or miles to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio from all the most important transferable points and miles packages.
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La Dolce Vita Orient Specific in Italy
The brand new La Dolce Vita Orient Express sleeper prepare simply launched Could 1, and it comes courtesy of hotel 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 tremendous eating programs on eight totally different one- or two-night itineraries, together with a Sicilian route that begins and ends in Palermo after circling via Agrigento and Taormina. Alongside the best way, 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 via 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 Live Limitless can earn 2,500 ALL factors for each 1,000 euros spent on La Dolce Vita Orient Specific, and unlock computerized elite status relying on which cabin or suite you e book.
Associated: Things that surprised me about my first luxury train journey
Bernina Specific in Switzerland
You will see every little thing from glaciers to palm timber on this 4 1/2-hour panoramic prepare trip, which passes via 55 tunnels and practically 200 bridges on its approach from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano — a small city simply throughout the border in Italy. You will additionally go over the spectacular Landwasser Viaduct, a part of the Rhaetian Railway UNESCO World Heritage Website.
A primary-class ticket for the Bernina Express will set you again round $160 one-way. Otherwise you may contemplate getting a Swiss Journey Move Flex (from $349), which entitles you to limitless journey in Switzerland by prepare (together with panoramic routes), bus or boat in addition to admission to over 500 museums.
TPG tip: There aren’t many factors motels in Chur and Tirano, so it’s possible you’ll choose to e book your lodging via a bank card journey portal like Chase Travel or Capital One Travel so as 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 prepare. It chugs via 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 technique to get round New Zealand, but it surely is without doubt one of the most lovely. You can too add stops to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or navigate the glowworm-lit chambers of the Waitomo Caves alongside the best way. 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 possibly can fly business class with 75,000 Chase points or check out Air New Zealand’s distinctive economy Skycouch.
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Rocky Mountaineer in Western Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer route via the Canadian Rockies is the luxurious prepare’s unique and best-known itinerary, exposing you to picture-perfect surroundings in each route. The now-iconic First Passage to the West Classic tour is a six-day journey from Vancouver to Banff (and vice versa) that crosses the Continental Divide and passes via the Spiral Tunnels carved into the Rockies. You will spend two days aboard the prepare, 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 motels, 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 approach in financial system, and Aeroplan is a switch accomplice of a number of bank card currencies. Aeroplan additionally permits stopovers for 5,000 points every approach.
Associated: How to choose between Rocky Mountaineer’s most popular routes
Andean Explorer, a Belmond Practice in Peru
No comforts are missed 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 choice 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 (primarily based on double occupancy), with meals and excursions included.
TPG tip: Earlier than flying dwelling, make sure you spend a couple of days in Lima, one in every of our favourite Latin American cities, to make use of your factors and miles. This new IHG hotel is bookable ranging from 25,000 factors per evening.
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The Blue Practice in South Africa
For the reason that Twenties, South Africa’s Blue Practice has carried vacationers between Pretoria (close to Johannesburg) and Cape City in luxurious automobiles with panoramic home windows — greatest for admiring the passing vineyards and main sights like Desk Mountain. Since this is without doubt one of the fancier sleeper trains on provide, count on formal costume codes at dinner, personal ensuite loos (full with tubs should you e book a luxurious suite) and loads of awe-inspiring surroundings.
One-way tickets for the two-night journey on the Blue Train begin at 36,325 South African rand (about $1,988) per particular person primarily based on double occupancy, or 54,488 rand (about $2,982) for solo vacationers.
TPG tip: In the event you’re searching for factors motels at both finish of your journey, each the Park Hyatt Johannesburg and InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town are slated to open later this 12 months. And take a look at how this TPGer visited South Africa using points and miles.
Associated: The best Africa cruises for 2025 and 2026
Durango & Silverton Slender Gauge Railroad in Colorado
In the event you dream of driving in a classic coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive whereas having fun with gorgeous views, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad just isn’t solely a terrific alternative 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 prepare to select up Santa Claus, full with scorching cocoa and twinkling lights.
TPG tip: Durango is a six-hour drive from Denver, or it’s possible you’ll want to fly into the close by Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO). In the event you determine to make a highway journey out of it, listed here are our high suggestions for renting a car on points and miles.
Shinkansen in Japan
Along with dependable service and ultra-clean automobiles, Japan’s bullet prepare 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 unimaginable views of Mount Fuji — should you begin in Tokyo, it’s best to be capable of spot the long-lasting 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 possibly can reserve a seat for only a few {dollars} further. Prime tip: Sit on the right-hand facet.
TPG tip: There are numerous methods to go to Japan on points and miles, particularly now that you would be able to e book Japan Airlines flights with JetBlue points. You will even have your alternative of factors motels, together with the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, the Tokyo Edition, Ginza, and Six Senses Kyoto.
Jacobite Steam Practice in Scotland
You may acknowledge the Jacobite Steam Train from the time it guest-starred because the Hogwarts Specific within the “Harry Potter” films, and it is each bit as enchanting in actual life.
Journeys begin on the base of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak, and go via 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 prepare for the return journey. One of many key moments of the journey is crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, so make sure you have your digital camera prepared as you pace throughout its arches.
The Jacobite Steam Practice 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 resort 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 prepare. This service carries vacationers from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a cease at Denali Nationwide Park for imposing views of the route’s namesake mountain (also referred to as Mount McKinley), the best peak in North America. You will traverse the Knik River, navigate the Healy Canyon and go lots of of toes over Hurricane Gulch Bridge towards 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 possibly can choose to e book solely a part of the journey — for 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 Airlines Mileage Plan is a superb alternative for flying to Alaska on miles. This system is a 1:1 switch accomplice of Bilt Rewards, and since you possibly can transfer miles between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, you possibly can successfully switch Amex factors to Alaska as nicely. 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 make it easier to see the world from a brand new perspective. There’s an choice for each price range, and factors and miles can assist you save much more on attending to your vacation spot.
If you cannot get sufficient of prepare journey, take a look at our roundups of spectacular European trains for summer and airways that provide air and rail tickets in Europe.