Get On Board With These Top 10 Scenic Train Rides Around The World

While train travel may seem mundane to the daily commuter, there are some rides that are far beyond the every day. The travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, have gone in search of the ultimate opportunities for travel with a view and compiled their Top 10 Scenic Train Rides Around the World. See the world from a different vantage point aboard these luxury train excursions. From ever-changing landscapes to lavish accommodations and fine cuisine, these train rides offer a journey that is its own reward.

Discover the world aboard these extravagant train excursions. Whether traveling in the U.S. or Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia or Australia, there’s a train ride waiting for you. Below are five such gems to make our list:

-          Maharajas’ Express, India - A world class luxury train, the Maharajas’ Express offers five scenic train journeys departing from Mumbai or Delhi with stops to explore the sights and sounds of India from exquisite palaces to breathtaking landscapes. The interior of the train is inspired by the personal carriages of the Indian Maharajas. The opulent, nostalgic elegance of the guest carriages, dining car, lounge and safari bar is further complemented with sleek modern amenities to give you the best of the two worlds.

-          Venice Simplon Orient Express, Europe - With glamorous restored vintage cars from the 1920s, the Venice Simplon Orient Express has history. Today, the train criss-crosses Europe with itineraries that include Venice, Krakow, Dresden and Prague. With upscale dining in three gorgeous restaurant cars, opulent vintage décor and, of course, the ever-changing European panorama rolling by outside, it’s a step back in time to the golden age of train travel that will leave you in awe throughout the trip.

-          California Zephyr, United States - While it may not offer the same level of luxury as some of the other trains on the list, theCalifornia Zephyr provides an unmatched way to see the western United States. Running between Chicago and San Francisco, this two-night journey packs in an impressive array of incredible views. From the Midwestern plains of Nebraska to the soaring heights of the Rockies and Sierra Nevada Mountains, the scenery will keep you entranced throughout the journey. However, if you decide to get some shut eye, the California Zephyr offers Superliner Sleeping Cars. You can also take in the sights from the glass-walled Observation Car or enjoy a drink with fellow passengers in the lounge. About 23,000 miles of America will roll by in the blink of an eye, and you will hardly want the journey to be over when you reach your destination.

-          The Ghan, Australia - From Adelaide to Darwin, The Ghan is a visually gratifying way to see Australia’s stunning and varied landscapes. With a Platinum or Gold Class cabin, your all-inclusive experience covers all meals and drinks on board throughout your journey. And with locally produced gourmet flavors prepared by top chefs, you will enjoy many an evening at the Queen Adelaide Restaurant with the added option of a nightcap in the lounge car. Each journey offers the opportunity for off-board excursions in the Australian outback, including stargazing in the remote town of Manguri and a relaxing cruise on the Katherine River.

-          Royal Scotsman, United Kingdom - The Royal Scotsman departs from Edinburgh, Scotland, with a variety of itineraries throughout Scotland, England and Wales. With a traditional elegance, luxury accommodations and the perfect vantage point to take in the Highlands, the Royal Scotsman is a relaxing way to tour the countryside. The observation car is the ideal place to sink into a comfy armchair or duck out onto the open-air veranda to view the countryside, villages and castles rolling past. Live entertainment adds to the ambiance, as do gourmet dinners of locally produced regional specialties served in a mahogany-paneled dining car.

Rounding out the list of memorable train experiences are: Belmond Hiram Bingham, Peru; Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia; TranzAlpine, New Zealand; Pride of Africa, South Africa; and Royal Canadian Pacific, Canada. To read Cheapflights.com’s complete Travel with a view: Top 10 scenic train rides around the world, visit www.cheapflights.com/news/travel-with-a-view-top-10-scenic-trains-rides-around-the-world.

About Cheapflights.com, part of the Momondo Group
Momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world.  The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 17.5 million visitors a month – plus 8 million travel newsletter subscribers – via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.com) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands. Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006. The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen and Boston with a consumer base across more than 30 core international markets but users all over the world.

5 Unforgettable African Rail Experiences

Luxuries of a bygone era, there is little that can relax the mind and soul more than a luxury steam rail holiday. Countryside passes by at an elegant pace, time stands still, and more tea is served. If you have always wanted to experience this luxury of yesteryear, here are Africa’s most delightful rail holidays:

Rovos South to East

Fourteen days of luxury – a Rovos journey that takes you from the iconic Cape Town to East Africa’s Dar es Salaam. Or, if you’ve just stepped from your safari vehicle in Tanzania and are looking for a relaxed trip down to South Africa, choose Dar es Salaam as your starting point and end in Cape Town. Either way, this epic journey will take you to all of Africa’s highlights, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa. As for wildlife watching, in South Africa the Rovos will to you to experience Kruger National Park and its wildlife. On the other end of the journey, more wildlife viewing awaits at Tanzania’s Selous game reserve. But there is more than just wildlife on this luxury journey: a picnic at the Kundalilia Falls and experiences of vibrant Dar es Salaam being two other highlights. The Rovos Rail is Africa’s top luxury rail and on this journey covering vast grounds of the African continent, you can expect nothing less than 5-star treatment, while gazing out at Africa’s landscapes and sunshine.

Blue is the colour of luxury

The Blue Train is synonymous with luxury rails in South Africa – and you too can experience this luxury trip! Choose between southbound or northbound route options, each guaranteeing magnificent views, excellent dining and high teas and cultural outings. A stylish journey from the moment you set foot on board the Blue Train, up to your destination. Boarding takes place in Cape Town and Johannesburg. A journey between Cape Town and Johannesburg, literally a South-African cross-country journey, will last two days. If you are starting or ending an itinerary of African travel, this journey is a good option to consider – it is only two days and will offer you a pleasant overview of South Africa, whilst enjoying a relaxed and luxurious environment.

On board to Namibia

Namibia with its dunes and desert-charm, this country should be a highlight of every discerning traveler to Africa. The Rovos Rail has another top class journey to offer. On board this nine day journey between South Africa’s Pretoria and Namibia’s Atlantic Coast, this journey will add a remarkable perspective to your knowledge and appreciation of Africa. Start in South Africa’s hub of economic activity and make your way to the isolation of the Kalahari Desert, beautiful in its own right. Once in Namibia, this journey also offers a trip to the Etosha National Park and the world famous Sossuvlei pan in the Namib Desert. And because it’s a Rovos trip, you know it will be luxury all the way.

Experience the Shongololo

‘Shongololo’ is an African word for a millipede, and a journey on board the Shongololo Rail will see you meandering through southern Africa in traditional rail style. Cuisine on-board the Shongololo is authentic African cuisine, with its exciting mix of cultural influences. This rail holiday cover southern Africa’s must-see locations, with a good mix of adventure. On this journey, you can expect South Africa’s culture, which is known for its remarkable diversity, the country’s heritage and natural environment. But besides South Africa, the Shongololo Express also takes you to eight other countries, including Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania. Now to talk about luxury: accompanying the rail is a fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles – for touring with a guide once you’ve arrived at your destination. Guides are fluent in English, German, Dutch or French, with an in-depth knowledge of off-rail activities and experiences.

Shosholoza Meyl Premier Classe

Private cabins, air-con, comfortable compartments, and high class service – the Shosholoza Premier Classe deluxe trains are the new way of reaching your South African destination in style. Take this opportunity to add to your African luxury holiday, with Premier Calsse journeys taking you between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, or between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Enjoy four-course lunches and five-course dinners – the Premier Classe is the new name in South Africa luxury rail. A new kid on the block, keep an eye out as they are promising exciting new routes for the near future.

For many people, traveling by rail reminds of childhood holidays to faraway places. Now embark on your own adventurous African holiday on board one of these luxury trains. With safari options in-between and dining to write home about, let the rails of Africa take you to luxury, and beyond.

Contributed by Javier Luque, Co-Founder and Director of Your African Safari. www.aluxurytravelblog.com

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Canada’s Greatest Hidden Rail Trip

Weaving along a narrow ledge between razor-sharp mountains and a gigantic, glittering lake, the tiny, two-car Kaoham Shuttle is arguably Canada’s greatest hidden rail journey. And at just 10 Canadian dollars for a two-hour return trip, it’s also a bargain – especially if you’re a fan of both spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Founded in 1912, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (later renamed BC Rail) used to trundle passengers from North Vancouver to the northern city of Prince George, linking dozens of backcountry communities en route. But by 2002, its money-losing passenger services had all been canned – except for a daily diesel “rail bus” between the tiny westernCanada towns of Lillooet and Seton Portage. When the transcontinental freight operator Canadian National Railway acquired BC Rail’s operations in 2004, this lone passenger service somehow endured.

Today, the Kaoham Shuttle – a partnership between Canadian National and the Seton Lake First Nation community – remains a vital service in an area where backcountry roads are sometimes impassable, while also luring travelling train spotters who can’t quite believe their luck.

All aboard
I arrived at Lillooet Station after a 320km forest-and-mountain-filled drive from Vancouver. Huge, pyramid-straight mountains dwarfed the gable-roofed building, while a dozen empty train tracks striped the ground in front of us.

A skeletal tumbleweed rolled across the platform just as the late-arriving train shimmied into view. Bell ringing, it screeched to a halt in front of the platform, looking like a pair of attached steel sheds on wheels.

After paying my fare, I slid onto a seat in the first carriage, making sure I snagged a left-hand, lakeside spot.

At first glance, it’s clear this 30-passenger train was purpose-built. The seats looked left over from an old transit bus, while the granite-coloured floor tiles seemed to come from a hardware store clearance sale. The driver sat in the front, right-hand corner, beside an engine hump that was also used as a ledge for his paperwork, packed lunch and a bottle of window-cleaner.

No-one would mistake this functional conveyance for the luxury of the Orient Express. But as we rattled alongside a fast-moving river and suddenly emerged wide-eyed on the shore of jade-green Seton Lake, the scenery was no less magnificent.

Watching the now-familiar diorama unfurling alongside. (John Lee)

Taking in the view
The mountains across Seton Lake were cloaked with dense forest – a sharp contrast to the jagged, rust-colored cliffs that rose along the tracks, just inches from the windows. The rails twisted like spaghetti strands ahead of us, threading a narrow route between the rocks and the lake.

Without any announcement, the driver slowed down every few minutes; it was our cue to scan the scenery for wildlife. It wasn't long before we spotted eight bighorn sheep peering curiously at us from on high, followed by a black bear and two cubs snuffling around a nearby tree.

After a quick stop at the red-roofed Shalalth Station, we encountered the line’s only tunnel: a narrow, rough-hewn 1.2km cave that looked like a mythical dragon’s grotto. On the other side was the community of Seton Portage: a clutch of wooden houses centred on a derelict brown church, it’s sharp, pinprick steeple rising above it all.

Heading back
After dropping off the mail and chatting with a few of the locals who came for a social visit, our driver shifted to the other end of the train and prepared to head back down the line. I asked if I could sit on the nearby cooler that served as a makeshift bench at the front of the train.

“Go ahead,” the driver, Eugene, said, smiling. “It’s the best seat in the house – apart from mine.”

The return trundle was more relaxed, with passengers comparing wildlife shots and watching the now-familiar diorama unfurling alongside. Eugene explained that the day’s animal sightings were fairly routine. Cougars pop up once or twice a year, he added, but falling rocks are more common.

There were no tumbling rocks the day I was there, but as we rounded a corner, four young deer – two with furry antlers – skittered away from the rails. A little later, the train screeched to a halt as Eugene spotted a well-camouflaged, sandy-coloured mountain quail hopping over the tracks, followed by 10 bouncing feather balls climbing over each other to get across. Once they made it over safely, we continued on our way.

Clouds were rolling in as we inched back towards Lillooet. But there was just enough time for a wildlife finale. Two adult mountain goats – their white, shaggy coats half-moulted – stared intently at the train from about 5m away; a pint-sized baby jumped around on the rocks nearby.

“You don’t normally see them this low – you got lucky,” our driver said, hopping out to change the points on the rails ahead. Lillooet Station was just a couple of minutes away, but I was already planning my next ride.

Practicalities
Friday is the best day to board the Kaoham Shuttle, since the train departs from Lillooet at 10:30 am (morning departures the rest of the week are from less-accessible Seton Portage). Reserving ahead by phone is recommended, especially in summer (250-259-8300).

Contributed by John Lee, www.cnn.com

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