15 of the Greatest Train Journeys Around the World
All aboard for some of the world’s top train journeys, from the Scottish Highlands to the mountains of Mexico.
The world is home to more spectacular train journeys than you could ever hope to enjoy in a lifetime. Enter: our picks to help you narrow down your options. Whether you’re looking for throwback Orient Express-esque luxury (not to mention more legroom than on nobody’s favorite budget airlines) or simply want a scenic ride through the countryside, here are the 15 train journeys you’ll want to consider.
El Chepe
Sinaloa to Chihuahua, Mexico
You might not think of Mexico as a country crisscrossed by train tracks and you’d be right. However, there is one train worth traveling for in this North American country — El Chepe. Running 220 miles (350 kilometers) between Los Mochis in Sinaloa to Creel in Chihuahua — and slicing through the Copper Canyon en route — a ride on El Chepe offers a new perspective on underappreciated northern Mexico. Stop off en route to enjoy the Sierra Tarahumara, National Park Cascadas de Basaseachi, and sweeping mountain views.
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Llanberis to Snowdon, Wales
The concept of “quality not quantity” applies to the Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa). Although only 4.7 miles (7.6 kilometers) long, the Llanberis to Snowdon journey offers some of the region’s most impressive views and allows easy access to the summit of Wales’ highest peak. However, due to the extreme weather conditions along this rack and pinion line, trains only run from roughly March to October.
Trans-Mongolian Express
Moscow, Russia, to Beijing, China
Sometimes overshadowed by the perhaps better known Trans-Siberian Express, the Trans-Mongolian Express follows much the same route as its famous sibling from Moscow, although it branches off at Zaudinskiy to make the Mongolia border crossing farther south. (The third of the Trans- trifecta is the Trans-Manchurian route.) Even so, you’ll still be rewarded with spectacular views of snowy tundra, rolling hills, and rushing rivers as you make your way to China on this multi-day, truly once-in-a-lifetime train journey.
Want more incredible train journeys? Head to Viator for the full article.
Author: Lauren Cocking
Lauren is a Mexico City–based writer, editor, and translator from Yorkshire with bylines at CNN, BBC Travel, and Al Jazeera. She’s currently working on her first full-length literary translation in between harassing her cat, drinking smuggled Yorkshire Tea, and blogging about Latin American literature at leyendolatam.com.
