With international rail travel gaining momentum again in 2026, long-distance trains are back in focus as an immersive, lower-impact way to see a country. These 23 routes pair striking scenery with cultural insight—each one offers a distinct travel experience, from overnight sleepers to scenic day trips worth planning into your next itinerary.
| Route | From | To | Departs | Distance | Approx. duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangier – Marrakesh | Tangier | Marrakesh | Daily | 580 km | 5h 15m |
| Bergensbanen | Oslo | Bergen | 4–6/day | 496 km | 6h 30m |
| Reunification Express | Ho Chi Minh City | Hanoi | Daily | 1,726 km | ~48h |
| California Zephyr | Chicago | San Francisco | Daily | 3,924 km | ~53h |
| Lake Titicaca train | Puno | Cuzco | 3/week | 388 km | ~10h |
| Beijing–Lhasa Express | Beijing | Lhasa | Daily | 3,750 km | ~40h |
| TranzAlpine | Christchurch | Greymouth | Daily | 223 km | 4h 30m |
| Tazara Railway | Dar es Salaam | Kapiri Mposhi | Twice/week | 1,860 km | ~46h |
| Sunset Limited | New Orleans | Los Angeles | 3/week | 3,211 km | ~48h |
| Caledonian Sleeper | London (Euston) | Fort William | Daily | 819 km | ~13h 30m |
| Mombasa – Nairobi | Mombasa | Nairobi | Daily | 579 km | ~5h 10m |
| Rocky Mountaineer | Vancouver | Banff | Twice/week | 957 km | ~37h |
| Alexandria – Aswan | Alexandria | Aswan | Daily | 1,100 km | ~16h |
| Serra Verde Express | Curitiba | Morretes | Daily | 68 km | 3h 30m |
| Darjeeling Toy Train | New Jalpaiguri | Darjeeling | Daily | 88.5 km | 7–8h |
| Hokkaidō Shinkansen | Tokyo | Hakodate | Daily | 824 km | ~4h |
| Colombo – Badulla | Colombo | Badulla | Daily | 292 km | 9–10h |
| Glacier Express | St Moritz | Zermatt | Daily (seasonal) | 290 km | ~8h |
| Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express | Paris | Venice | Several/month | 2,090 km | ~48h |
| Nova Gorica – Jesenice (Bohinj) | Nova Gorica | Jesenice | Daily | 89 km | ~2h |
| The Ghan | Adelaide | Darwin | Twice/week | 2,979 km | ~54h |
| Bernina Express | Chur | Tirano | Daily | 156 km | 4h 30m |
| Cannes – Menton | Cannes | Menton | Daily | 55 km | ~1h 20m |
1. Tangier → Marrakesh (Morocco)
The rail run from Tangier down to Marrakesh is a brisk, revealing corridor into Morocco’s contrasts—coastal towns and inland cities meet medinas and gardens. Arrive ready to trade the carriage for narrow alleys and lively souks.
2. Bergensbanen (Norway)
Climbing out of Oslo and into Norway’s highlands, the Bergensbanen traverses fjords, mountain plateaus and tundra-like expanses. The route’s dramatic altitude changes make it a visual highlight of European rail travel.
3. Reunification Express (Vietnam)
Linking Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, this cross‑country service threads together Vietnam’s history and coastline. Many travelers prize it for the overnight rhythm and the chance to watch changing landscapes roll by at a relaxed pace.
4. California Zephyr (USA)
From the Midwest plains to the Pacific coast, the Zephyr crosses the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. The three-day itinerary is as much about the engineering feats and mountain passes as it is about uninterrupted vistas.
5. Lake Titicaca – Cuzco (Peru)
Departing the high plateau near Lake Titicaca, the line winds toward the cultural heart of the Andes. The journey reveals rural highland life and stark, high-altitude scenery uncommon on shorter trips.
6. Beijing → Lhasa (China)
One of the globe’s most ambitious railway corridors, the Beijing–Lhasa route climbs onto the Tibetan plateau and crosses permafrost and sweeping plains. Altitude and remoteness shape the experience—plan accordingly for acclimatisation.
7. TranzAlpine (New Zealand)
A short but intense mountain passage: the TranzAlpine departs Christchurch and slices through the Southern Alps to the West Coast. In under five hours you cross braided rivers, alpine passes and dense rainforest.
8. Tazara Railway (Tanzania–Zambia)
Running between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi, the Tazara line offers rare windows onto rural East Africa—market towns, crops and, occasionally, wildlife visible from the carriage. Expect unpredictability; the journey’s human and landscape moments are its chief rewards.
9. Sunset Limited (USA)
Connecting New Orleans with Los Angeles, the Sunset Limited is a cross‑country panorama of bayous, urban skylines and desert stretches. It’s a practical way to experience the American South and Southwest without changing planes.
10. Caledonian Sleeper (UK)
Board in London and wake in the Highlands: the overnight service to Fort William compresses city-to-mountain travel into one night. The simplicity of arriving refreshed into sweeping Scottish scenery is part of its strong appeal.
11. Mombasa → Nairobi (Kenya)
Modernised tracks have sped up this coastal-to-capital corridor, but the route still carries echoes of early safari travel. Rolling past coastal plains and highland approaches, it remains a convenient, scenic alternative to flying between Kenya’s two major cities.
12. Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)
Designed for daylight viewing, this service navigates the Canadian Rockies with large observation windows and curated stops. Expect engineering highlights—bridges and tunnels—and frequent wildlife sightings if luck is on your side.
13. Alexandria → Aswan (Egypt)
Traveling the spine of Egypt by rail is a way to trace the Nile’s human history. Stations open onto ruins and modern towns alike; punctuality can vary, so leave flexible time for downstream plans.
14. Serra Verde Express (Brazil)
Between Curitiba and Morretes the track threads Atlantic rainforest, dramatic viaducts and colonial towns. The short duration makes it an accessible day-trip for photographers and nature lovers.
15. Darjeeling Toy Train (India)
The narrow-gauge mountain line up to Darjeeling is part nostalgia, part spectacle: slow curves, tea‑garden panoramas and a lingering sense of the region’s colonial-era rail heritage. Sections still use steam traction, preserving that old-world charm.
16. Hokkaidō Shinkansen (Japan)
Blending speed and comfort, Japan’s shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate delivers punctual transit alongside changing rural vistas. The service itself—the staff, tidiness and onboard routines—feels quintessentially Japanese.
17. Colombo → Badulla (Sri Lanka)
One long, green ascent links the capital with the tea country. Slow speeds are a feature, not a flaw: they let you absorb dense jungle, tiered plantations and misty highlands that look different at every bend.
18. Glacier Express (Switzerland)
Designed for leisurely viewing, the Glacier Express threads through Alpine meadows, high viaducts and deep gorges at a deliberately gentle pace. Panoramic windows and a methodical timetable support relaxed sightseeing.
19. Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express (France–Italy–Switzerland)
More about atmosphere than speed, this private luxury service recreates classic dining‑car travel between Paris and Venice. It’s an exercise in historic rail glamour rather than a simple point‑to‑point transfer.
20. Nova Gorica → Jesenice (Slovenia)
Often overlooked, the Bohinj line climbs from the Italy–Slovenia border into wild Alpine country, skirting the Soča Valley and offering access to Lake Bled. It’s compact but packed with mountain views.
21. The Ghan (Australia)
Crossing the Red Centre from Adelaide to Darwin, the Ghan traverses sparsely populated desert and remote stations. It’s both a transport link and a cultural passage through Australia’s central landscapes.
22. Bernina Express (Switzerland → Italy)
The Bernina line’s narrow-gauge alignment delivers glacier panoramas, high mountain passes and dramatic viaducts en route from Chur to Tirano. UNESCO recognition underscores its outstanding scenic and engineering qualities.
23. Cannes → Menton (France)
Short, coastal and endlessly photogenic: this Riviera hop links glamorous towns along the Mediterranean with sea‑fringed views on one side and steep cliffs on the other—ideal for a day of island-hopping-style exploration by rail.
- Practical tip: For long overnight services, book sleepers early; for scenic daytime routes, reserve panoramic seats when possible.
- Seasonality: Some lines run only in high season or have limited departures, so verify schedules before planning.
- Why it matters now: Trains offer a more relaxed way to travel and can reduce the number of short-haul flights on a multi-stop itinerary.
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A globe-trotter and international trade enthusiast, Oliver explores the connection between business travel and trade opportunities.
