Great Train Journeys Around The World

Growing up in Europe we went everywhere by train.

I think it is so relaxing, compared to going by air. I’ve done each of these journeys several times.

Here are some of my favorites

NEW ZEALAND: The Trans-Alpine in the South Island of New Zealand. Five hours. It takes you coast to coast and there is a wilderness lodge half way through the journey in Arthurs Pass, where I recommend my clients stay at for a few days of hiking in the Southern Alps. It is also a working sheep farm. Breathtaking scenery.

AUSTRALIA: The Indian Pacific, Sydney to Perth. It takes 72 hours and you go across the entire Continent.  Wonderful experience, comfortable, and this would be impossible to do by road. Have a few days in Sydney, then a few days in Western Australia at the end of the journey to visit the Margaret River wine region, or the old gold mining towns.    

Also, the Ghan Train, Adelaide to  Alice Springs, then to Darwin is unusual. Twenty-four hours each segment. You can now get a double bed in your cabin.  You can also rent an entire carriage for a family, complete with sitting room.  It was built for the Queen’s visit years ago. You can't go on the Ghan in the wet season, November to March.

CANADA: The Most Spectacular Train Journey in the World -- Vancouver, British Columbia to Banff, Alberta. I have done this several times. It is unusual, since you sleep in a hotel each night and travel by train during the day to see the magnificent scenery. You can also go to Jasper and Lake Louise. I love going when there is snow in the Rockies. So much prettier. I recommend spending a few days in Vancouver, see Victoria, then take the train. Great fishing, fantastic golf. I took Amtrak from San Jose on one trip and it was fun, sleeping on board one night.   The train across all of Canada is also a great experience.

SWITZERLAND: The Glacier Express goes from Zermatt to Davos or St. Moritz.  Takes seven hours through 91 tunnels and across 291 impressive bridges.   Fantastic scenery and this journey is good all year. I fit this into a week’s tour of seeing the highlights of the Alps. In my university days, I took this many times carrying skis since I loved skiing in both Davos and St. Moritz. 

SCOTLAND: Take the flying Scotsman overnight  from London to Edinburgh, and then the train into the highlands. You have a wonderful choice of a two-day into the Highlands, a four-day with stops in castles and estates and meetings with clan chiefs through the highlands, or seven days around all of Scotland. You can also do a seven-day trip  around the entire country of Great Britain.   

My favorite is the four-day to see castles and magnificent gardens. It only operates April to October. You sightsee during the day, and sleep on the train which stops in various places.  You can play golf, hunt, fish, and meet wonderful Scottish estate owners who tourists normally don’t get to visit with.

EUROPE: The Orient Express started in 1883, from Paris to Constantinople carrying kings, celebrities and shady characters, with the l920’s being its heyday.  After World War II, the service declined until its last service in May l977.  Thirty-two vintage cars were bought at auction and in l982, the legend was reborn when it made its maiden run, London to Venice, a true luxury experience. They added new destinations recently, such as Prague and other places off the beaten track in Eastern Europe.

Maureen Jones owns All Horizons Travel and is always in motion.