The TranzAlpine, New Zealand

website: www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/tranzalpine

Start – Christchurch; End – Greymouth; departs daily;

Distance - 223 km (139 mi); Duration – 4.5 hours

• The train runs daily between Christchurch and Greymouth. After leaving Christchurch, the train travels through the fertile Canterbury Plains and then passes through the Southern Alps past the spectacular Otira Tunnel and terminates in Greymouth, among the streams and rainforests of the West Coast before returning to Christchurch in the evening.

• The most iconic views come at the far end of the Craigieburn Straight, where the high plains stretch out to give a stunning view of Mount Binser and the edges of Arthur's Pass National Park.

The Bĕijīng to Lhasa Express, China

website: www.thelandofsnows.com/train-to-tibet

Start – Bĕijīng; End – Lhasa; departs daily;

Distance - 3750km (2330 mi); Duration – 40 hrs

• Linking the wonders of Bĕijīng with the dreamlike monasteries and palaces of Lhasa, the Z21 train transports passengers from urban o China a once-remote land of magenta-robed monks, where the air is heady with the aroma of incense and yak-butter candles. As it makes its way westward the train climbs nearly 16,400ft (5000m) to the roof of the world: the Tibetan plateau, where it glides past grazing yaks, fluttering prayer flags, snow-capped mountains and boundless blue skies.

• Special consideration: Leaving Beijing or any city from sea level is NOT a sufficient way to acclimate to Lhasa’s high altitude (12,000 feet/3660 meters) in the the 2-day train ride duration.

  • To acclimate properly before going to Lhasa, you need to spend some time at an intermediate elevation. The U.S. CDC recommends: “The process of acute acclimatization to high altitude takes 3–5 days; therefore, acclimatizing for a few days at 8,000–9,000 ft before proceeding to Lhasa is ideal.”

  • If you are short on time, as the great majority of travelers to Tibet seem to be, here is one option:

    • Leaving Beijing, stop at Xining (7490 ft/2283 m), and stay there at least 1 day, and optimally 2 or 3, and then take the train to Lhasa. (Xining has some very interesting day trips to take while you wait.) 

Glacier Express – Switzerland

website: www.glacierexpress.ch/en/travel-planning/route

Start - Zermatt; End - St. Moritz;

Distance - 290 km (180 mi); Duration - 8 hours

• Departs daily; The Glacier Express runs all year round apart from a short break from late-October to mid-December.

• Connecting two of Switzerland’s most scenic mountain resorts, Zermatt and St Moritz, the Glacier Express is the most relaxing way to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps.

• Traveling eastward from Zermatt, the day-long trip rolls past southern Switzerland’s alpine meadows, pristine mountain lakes and picture-perfect hamlets. Highlights of the journey include Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the ride at 6706 feet. Another is the famous Landwasser Viaduct — a magnificent six-arch structure standing 200 feet and plunging into a tunnel cut straight into the mountainside.

The Bergensbanen, Norway

Websites: https://en.visitbergen.com/visitor-information

www.vy.no

Start – Oslo; End – Bergen; departs 4 times a day;

Distance - 496 km (308 mi), Duration – 6.5 hrs.

• A outstanding journey and yet outside Norway hardly anyone knows about it. In just over six (6) hours and 300 miles (490km) of travel, it covers the spectrum of Norway’s natural splendor: climbing canyons, crossing rivers, burrowing through mountainsides and traversing barren icescapes. Excellent option to witness Norway’s nature.

• The Oslo to Bergen train stops 21 times, one of them being Myrdal. From Myrdal you can change train and experience the historic Flåmsbana described below.

The Flåmsbana Experience, Norway

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website: visitflam.com

Start - Myrdal; End - Flåm;

Distance - 20 km (12 mi). Duration - 1 to 2 hours.

• The train runs to the end of Aurlandsfjord. Over the course of one hour, the train takes you from the Myrdal mountain station to sea level at the Sognefjord in Flåm. The small village of Flåm is one of the most popular destinations in Norway due to its stunning scenery and location.

• Myrdal is also a station on the Bergen Line, meaning the Flåm Railway connects with trains running between Bergen and Oslo.  For combined travels with The Flåm Railway and The Bergen (Oslo) Line, please purchase your ticket at www.vy.no

London to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper, UK

website: sleeper.scot

Start – London (Euston); End – Fort William; departs daily.

Distance - 819 km (509 mi). Duration – 13.5 hrs.

• Segueing from the sooty suburbs and crowded concrete-lined cul-de-sacs of central London to the crisp air and soaring vistas of the Scottish Highlands via one overnight train journey epitomises the romance of rail travel. The whole experience – from buffet-car banter and single malt nightcaps, to being lulled into la-la land by the rhythm of the rails and waking to bedside views of towering granite peaks – feels like it’s over in a flash.

The Rocky Mountaineer Train: Vancouver <—> Banff

website: www.rockymountaineer.com

Start-Vancouver; End Banff (or reverse); departs daily (seasonal)

Distance-990km (594 mi.) Duration - 2 days.

• The Rocky Mountaineer season runs from late-April to mid-October with multiple departures every week going both eastbound and westbound. It tracks along rivers through the Rockies and Cascade Mountains.

• Overnight hotel included: The train travels only during the daytime hours, therefore it’s a 2-day journey.

• Day 1. The train pulls into Kamloops for its overnight stop. Motor coaches meet the train and transfer passengers to their hotels.

• Day 2. Depart Kamloops and head for final destination, Banff.

Scenic and historical, this is the original route that the Rocky Mountaineer ran on when the company first began 27 years ago. It takes you from Vancouver to Banff (or reverse) while showcasing Western Canada's most stunning landscapes along the way. You'll be traveling on the Canadian Pacific Railway – the country's first continental line.

Perurail’s Lake Titicaca Railway, Peru

website: perurail.com

Start – Puno; End – Cuzco; departs daily except Tuesdays;

Distance – 388 km (241 mi) Duration – 10 hrs.

• Traversing the Altiplano, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the beating heart of the Inca capital, the railway from Puno to Cuzco cuts a ponderous but picturesque path through the snow-dusted peaks and voluptuous valleys of the Andes.

• Between drinks in the bar and enjoying entertainment and fine food in the restaurant, passengers aboard Perurail’s Lake Titicaca train can ogle the vista from an open-air observatory car, as they roar across the epic Peruvian plains, passing hardy bowler-hatted llama farmers and travelling through remote towns and villages. Plus, Machu Pichu is nearby !

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India

website: dhr.in.net

Start - New Jalpaiguri; End - Darjeeling; departure - daily.

Distance: 55 miles (88 km); Duration: 7 hours

• Also known as the DHR or the Toy Train, is a 2-ft (610 mm) gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal.

• Built in 1881, it climbs from about 100 m (328 ft) above sea level at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m (7,218 ft) at Darjeeling, using six zig zags and five loops to gain altitude. Six diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled service. Steam-enthusiast specials are hauled by vintage British-built B-Class steam locomotives.

• The railway's headquarters are at Kurseong. Riding the DHR will take you, in just a few hours, through a wonderful variation in vegetation, forest, mountain peaks and people unlike any other journey of its length in the World. In 1999, UNESCO declared the DHR a World Heritage Site.

Blue Train, South Africa

website: Blue train

Start - Cape Town; End - Pretoria; depart: daily;

Distance - 1660 km (904 mi); Duration- 27 hours

• South Africa’s iconic railway trip is between Cape Town and Pretoria. The 27-hour journey even takes in views of the grassy savannas dotted with wildlife. The Blue Train has an aura of mystique about it. Kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel.

• The routes of The Blue Train - both scheduled and chartered - take guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside to be found anywhere in the world. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows, guests can savor exquisite meals freshly prepared on board by top chefs. The meals are complimented by the best wines South Africa has to offer.

• The luxurious suites on board transform from a lounge area by day to a sleeping cabin at night. For meals, guests dine at tables set with crystal and china to indulge in seafood and game specialties.

The Train to the Clouds, Northwest Argentina

website: trenalasnubes.com.ar

• A must for altitude-seekers, the Tren a las Nubes along part of the old line from Salta in Argentina to the Chilean border, climbs to 13,800ft during its (7) seven-hour journey each way through dramatic Andean scenery – one of the highest train journeys in the world. The backdrop of multi-colored rock formations mixed with giant cactus fields extends as far as the eye can see .

• This railway journey features breathtaking views from incredible heights, including 19 tunnels and 29 bridges. Altitude sickness precautions are advised for this journey.