Train Journeys You Need to Take in Your Lifetime
Content and CRM Executive
Train travel can be about so much more than just going from A to B. With the right route, your journey can become an experience in itself. With that in mind, these are some of the best train rides in the world, which you can take with Culture Trip.
From classic European journeys to the adventurous jungle routes of Southeast Asia, we wanted to put together a list of the most scenic train rides in the world. Our Rail Trips are an ode to the joys of train travel. That magical feeling of seeing a destination evolve right in front of your eyes, landscapes changing, cities coming and going, unique cultures and communities flashing by. Our collection of trips are naturally built around some of our favourite railroads and, whether we cross them in luxury trains or old steam locomotives, you won’t be forgetting these train trips in a hurry.
Jacobite steam train, Scotland
The 42-mile route from Fort William to Mallaig, traversed by the Jacobite steam train, is inarguably one of the most jaw-droppingly scenic train routes on the planet. It starts in the shadow of Ben Nevis and winds its way through the dramatic mountain valleys of the Scottish Highlands, all the way to the west coast. Whether it’s the vibrant greenery of summer, the warm auburn foliage of autumn or the blanketed white of deep winter, this journey is mesmerising year-round. The charming old steam train itself was immortalised in the Harry Potter films, standing in as the real-life version of the Hogwarts Express, famously crossing the remarkable Glenfinnan Viaduct. You’ll get to follow Harry’s tracks on our week-long Scotland Rail Trip, which also features a journey from London to Fort William on the amazing Caledonian Sleeper train.
From US$2109
Next available from 25th Sep 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
London, England
ENDS AT
Edinburgh, Scotland
DURATION
7
GROUP SIZE
15
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan
When it comes to the trains themselves, Japan’s iconic shinkansen, or bullet train, should be on everyone’s bucket list. The speed, the comfort, the modernity of it all. It’s an eye-opening travel experience. With so much beautiful Japanese countryside, you can pick pretty much any route and enjoy the view, but there’s something extra special about whizzing past Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain. You can do this on the Tokaido line, which you’ll use to go from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo. Our 12-day Japan Rail Trip features all three cities, and plenty of shinkansen time, but we’ll fly along the Tokaido line when we head from Takayama in the Japanese Alps to Hakone, which lies between the mountain and Tokyo.
From US$2774
Next available from 12th Oct 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Osaka, Japan
ENDS AT
Tokyo, Japan
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Kandy, Ella and Haputale, Sri Lanka
Our comprehensive deep-dive into Sri Lanka isn’t actually a Rail Trip, but it does feature a train ride on one of Asia’s most picturesque routes. The centre of the island is mountainous and covered in jungle. The winding tracks built to get from town to town are of purely practical origin, but the result is a travel experience like no other. Train nuts will love the seven-hour journey from Kandy to Ella, which crosses the famous Nine Arch Bridge, but our trip takes a shorter route from Nanuoya to the hill town of Haputale. The window seats will look out over a sea of green as we cross valleys and mountains, passing tea plantations and rice fields. The following day we’ll hike around Ella and walk across Nine Arch Bridge itself.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Colombo, Sri Lanka
ENDS AT
Kosgoda, Sri Lanka
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Rome to Florence to Bologna, Italy
There’s something so soothingly romantic about a European train journey. You undulate gently through pleasant countrysides, hopping on and off-board at picturesque medieval towns and cities. Italy is no different, and if your daydream image of this beautiful nation features the rolling green hills of Tuscany, lined with olive trees and vineyards, then the journey north from Rome is the ticket for you. That’s what we do on our nine-day Northern Italy Rail Trip, starting with a high-speed ride to Florence from the capital. Fall in love with the sophisticated splendour of Tuscany en route – don’t worry, once we reach Florence we’ll have a day trip to explore the crumbling old churches, sleepy towns and sun-soaked vineyards passing by. The scenery doesn’t get any worse as we continue on through Emilia Romagna to the culinary capital, Bologna, and eventually our final destination, Milan.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Rome, Lazio
ENDS AT
Milan, Lombardia
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Beijing to Badaling, China
China has bullet trains too, you know, and we’ll spend plenty of time flying across the Chinese countryside on our 10-day Rail Trip, which goes from Beijing to Pingyao, Xi’an and eventually Shanghai. Before we hit head-spinning speeds en route to Pingyao, however, we’ll take a train from the capital to Badaling. The purpose of this little detour is so we can go visit one of the most beautiful stretches of the Great Wall of China. Your Great Wall experience starts with the journey, as the wall begins to reveal itself, snaking along the valleys near Qinglongqiao station. At one point you’ll even see the wall on both sides of your train. It’s the perfect tease for the adventure ahead, and by the time you pull in to Badaling Station you’ll have even gone through a tunnel beneath the famous structure.
From US$2137
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Beijing, China
ENDS AT
Shanghai, China
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Nong Khai to Bangkok sleeper train, Laos and Thailand
We love a sleeper train and the sheer joy you get from dozing off to the train’s calming rhythm, before waking up in an entirely different destination. It’s as efficient as it is magical, and one of the most amazing sleeper routes in the world is from Nong Khai, near the Laos border, to Bangkok (or vice versa). Our two-week Thailand and Laos epic will take you on multiple Thai countryside trains and jungle river boats through Laos, before eventually jumping on high-speed trains to Vang Vieng and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. From there we’ll end our trip crossing the border back into Thailand and catching the sleeper from Nong Khai. We’ll cross the Mekong River and pass endless rice fields, tiny villages and luscious jungles before waking up in the energetic Thai capital.
From US$1957
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
ENDS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION
14
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
The Vistadome to Machu Picchu, Peru
Vistadome trains swap boring carriage panels for extra window space all over, creating extraordinary panoramic views of the destination your winding through. We find this a particularly exhilarating experience when heading to Machu Picchu, Peru’s extraordinary ancient citadel. Not only are the views incredible, but the PeruRail Vistadome trains include authentic Andean snacks, ambient music, audio guides and even occasional traditional dance and fashion shows. On our trip we’ll be hopping onboard at Ollantaytambo and spending around an hour and a half basking in the beauty of rural Peru before reaching Aguas Calientes, Pichhu’s local town.
From US$1824
Next available from 1st Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cusco, Peru
ENDS AT
Arequipa, Peru
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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