Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Canadian - Vancouver to Toronto
Spanning over 2,700 miles across Canada, The Canadian is one of the world’s most renowned and breathtaking train journeys. Operated by VIA Rail, the Canadian travels between Vancouver and Toronto, taking passengers on an unforgettable cross-country adventure.
Departing from the stunning city of Vancouver, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, The Canadian heads east through British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon and the Rocky Mountains. Gaze out large panoramic windows as the train winds past turquoise glacial lakes, sheer mountain cliffs, and thundering waterfalls. Few train rides offer scenery as spectacular as the Canadian Rockies.
The train rolls on through the rolling foothills of Alberta, home to the vibrant, cosmopolitan cities of Calgary and Edmonton. After crossing into Saskatchewan, passengers can spot the vast grain fields and big blue prairie skies that stretch to the horizon. Manitoba brings you to the historic railway hub of Winnipeg before entering Northern Ontario, where the terrain transforms into the ancient granite of the Canadian Shield and thousands of crystal clear lakes.
Finally, after three days of peaceful train travel, Toronto’s soaring skyline comes into view. Canada's largest city is a thrilling juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers and 19th century architecture. End your epic rail journey by exploring Toronto’s world-class museums, diverse neighborhoods, and ardent sports fans.
With luxurious sleeper cars, gourmet meals prepared by onboard chefs, and incredible scenery just outside your cabin window, The Canadian is the perfect way to experience the vast beauty of Canada at a relaxed pace. As the train gently rocks its way across the entire width of the country, you’ll enjoy unparalleled views and access to rugged wilderness that can only be reached by rail.
The Canadian operates year-round so you can witness Canada’s spectacular seasonal changes. See autumn colors, winter wonderlands, budding spring, and long summer days. With this iconic train ride, there is always breathtaking beauty awaiting outside your window.
What else is in this post?
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Canadian - Vancouver to Toronto
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The TranzAlpine - Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Palace on Wheels - Delhi to Jaipur, India
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Rocky Mountaineer - Vancouver to Banff, Canada
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express - Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Pride of Africa - Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa
- Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Maharajas' Express - Mumbai to Delhi, India
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The TranzAlpine - Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand
Winding through the Southern Alps, The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s most scenic train rides. This epic journey across New Zealand’s South Island takes travelers between Christchurch on the east coast and Greymouth on the west coast. Renowned for its jaw-dropping mountain vistas, the TranzAlpine crosses the breadth of the South Island in just 4.5 hours.
Leaving Christchurch, the train quickly heads into the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. Views open up to snow-capped peaks as you enter the Waimakariri River valley, flanked by towering cliffs. The real magic begins after Arthur’s Pass, when the TranzAlpine climbs into the heart of the Southern Alps.
Prepare to be amazed as you cross viaducts, traverse river valleys, and burrow through tunnels surrounded by rugged alpine terrain. Have your camera ready to capture cascading waterfalls like the storied Bridal Veil Falls. The further west you travel, the more isolated and wild the scenery becomes.
After cresting the valley at Arthur’s Pass, the track drops down towards Greymouth. On a clear day, you’ll spot New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook, dominating the horizon. The last leg of the journey winds past Lake Brunner and granite bluffs draped in native Southern Beech trees, before pulling into Greymouth on the Tasman Sea.
The TranzAlpine has been rated one of the world’s great train journeys for its combination of thrilling scenery and superb service. From your comfortable reclining seat, expansive windows give you unobstructed views of the sensational landscape. Friendly staff provide commentary during the trip, pointing out highlights along the route.
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Palace on Wheels - Delhi to Jaipur, India
Step aboard the Palace on Wheels for a luxurious journey into the heart of royal Rajasthan. This iconic train provides a moving hotel for travelers to immerse themselves in India’s rich history and vibrant culture. From Delhi, The Palace on Wheels departs on an eight-day circuit to visit Rajasthan’s most famous destinations.
The train itself is a rolling tribute to the royal heritage of the Maharajas, decorated with original handicrafts and furnishings from their palaces. While onboard, you’ll be treated like royalty in 14 deluxe cabins outfitted with en-suite baths and cozy wood-paneled interiors. Attentive khidmatgars cater to your every need as you relax in the lounge car or dine on sumptuous cuisine inspired by local specialties. Each day brings new adventures as The Palace on Wheels transports you effortlessly between cities.
One highlight is exploring Jaipur, the famed “Pink City” built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The Palace on Wheels provides a full day to discover Jaipur’s imperial grandeur, from the honeycomb-like Hawa Mahal to the imposing Amber Fort perched on a hillside. Lose yourself in the colorful bustle of local bazaars bursting with vibrant textiles, aromatic spices, and glittering jewelry.
Fellow traveler Robin R. recounts her experience in Jaipur: “It was amazing to see how people live within those ancient walls, still utilizing some parts built in the 1500s! And shopping in the markets, it’s like you’ve been transported back centuries but are able to buy 21st century trinkets.”
The Jaipur leg allows you to experience all the city’s highlights in-depth without having to switch hotels or transport your luggage. At night, you retire to the comfort of The Palace on Wheels to continue your journey west towards Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. As the train passes through the desert under a canopy of stars, you may find yourself transported back to the romantic era of the Rajput princes.
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Rocky Mountaineer - Vancouver to Banff, Canada
Winding through the backbone of the Canadian Rockies, the Rocky Mountaineer provides one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. This legendary train travels between Vancouver on Canada’s West Coast and Banff in the heart of the Rockies. Prepare to be awed as you traverse steep slopes blanketed in evergreen forest, pass thundering waterfalls, and get up close to dramatic mountain peaks.
Operating from April to October, the Rocky Mountaineer offers several different rail route options. The classic First Passage to the West journey departs Vancouver and travels east to Banff with an overnight stop in Kamloops. This allows you to experience the Fraser Canyon and winding river valleys of British Columbia before entering the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Alberta.
Alternatively, the Rainforest to Gold Rush route goes from Vancouver to Jasper, showcasing the Cariboo Mountains and Yellowhead Pass. Onboard hosts provide commentary to highlight natural wonders and histories along the way. GoldLeaf Service passengers can take in the views from open-air vestibules on double decker cars.
One of the Rocky Mountaineer’s most appealing aspects is its leisurely pace. The train only travels during daylight hours so you don’t miss any of the scenery at night. Guests spend evenings resting in hotels in Kamloops, Jasper or Banff before re-boarding the next morning. You’ll enjoy freshly prepared gourmet meals as you soak up the vistas outside panoramic windows.
Travel blogger Mark D. describes his Rocky Mountaineer experience: “It was an incredible way to see parts of Canada that you just can’t reach by road. From Fraser Canyon to Mount Robson, there were non-stop 'wow' moments looking at mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. The train let me enjoy the Rockies at a relaxed pace with fantastic service.”
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express - Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express takes you on the ultimate rail adventure, traversing all of Russia on the world’s longest continuous railway line. Spanning 9,289 kilometers between Moscow and the Pacific port of Vladivostok, the iconic Trans-Siberian railway passes through eight time zones and some of the planet’s most extreme landscapes. Golden Eagle’s private train allows you to explore this epic route in comfort, with two weeks to soak up Siberia’s hypnotic scenery and intriguing history.
Once on board, settle into your cozy en-suite cabin as the train heads east from Moscow into the Russian interior. Gaze out on endless birch forests, log-cabin villages, and steppe grasslands dotted with wildflowers. Enjoy elegant meals in the dining car as the train rolls onwards through the Ural Mountains, considered the boundary between Europe and Asia. After skirting the edge of the Altai Mountains, the landscapes transform into the green taiga forests and crystal clear lakes of Eastern Siberia.
Days are filled with stops in historic cities like Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk for guided tours and cultural activities. You’ll gain insights into daily life in Russia as you interact with locals from Siberian Cossacks to Mongolian tribespeople. The Golden Eagle makes several trips to Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake containing 20% of Earth’s unfrozen surface water. Its vast expanses and picturesque islands are highlights.
As you venture further east, the vistas open up. Endless steppe, lush wetlands, and rugged volcanic peaks fill the horizon on the approach to Vladivostok. Train enthusiast Martin S. reflects, “I’ll never forget when we entered the Zabaikalsky region with its rolling hills disappearing into the distance. I realized Russia’s scale - never-ending in both directions.” With two weeks onboard, you’ll have plenty of time to appreciate the hypnotic landscapes and roaming wildlife like reindeer, bears, and upland buzzards.
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Pride of Africa - Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa
Winding along South Africa's western coast, The Pride of Africa provides a first-class train journey between Pretoria and Cape Town. This luxurious train operated by Rovos Rail is considered one of the most exceptional rail experiences in the world for its scenery, service, and sublime cuisine.
The three-day, two-night journey aboard The Pride of Africa allows you to soak up the diversity of South Africa's landscapes at a relaxed pace. Departing from the administrative capital Pretoria, the train traverses gold fields dotted with sagebrush before reaching the desert-like Great Karoo. Astounding mountain ranges rise in the distance as you continue southwest through the Hex River Valley's lush vineyards and fruit orchards.
Further along, the train skirts the Cape Fold Belt Mountains and national parks where herds of antelope roam. Have your camera ready as The Pride of Africa crosses bridges over deep ravines and chugs past whitewashed towns. The final stretch into Cape Town follows the coast, providing tantalizing glimpses of golden beaches and aquamarine ocean under the looming shadow of Table Mountain.
The Pride of Africa's bespoke coaches are a tribute to the golden age of rail travel, featuring handsome mahogany woodwork, brass fittings, and charming period decor. You'll enjoy five-star hotel luxury with cozy private cabins equipped with en-suite bathrooms and minibars. Pride's famed chefs provide gourmet fare from elegant candlelit dinners to delicious high tea on scenic highlights of the journey. Attentive staff take care of your every need.
Renee K., a heritage tour guide from Canada, shares her experience: "Riding Pride of Africa let me see parts of the country that most visitors miss when driving between cities on highways. Laying in my bunk bed watching amazing mountains roll past my window, it felt like going on African safari - but with champagne and lobster!"
Ride the Rails: 10 Epic Train Journeys to Add to Your Bucket List - The Maharajas' Express - Mumbai to Delhi, India
Experience India's regal heritage and rich cultural traditions onboard the Maharajas' Express, a lavish train journey between Mumbai and Delhi. This iconic route takes you to the beating heart of imperial India, exploring the famed Golden Triangle cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Step back in time to the era of the great maharajas on this unforgettable rail voyage.
The Maharajas' Express brings five-star luxury to the rails with sumptuous cabins outfitted with silk sheets, marble bathrooms, and 24-hour butler service. You'll dine like royalty in ornate dining cars serving cuisine crafted by on-board chefs using fresh local ingredients. Attentive attendants cater to your every need as live music and cultural performances entertain you each evening. The train's sophisticated ambiance evokes the refined elegance of the maharajas' grand rail tours.
During your 4-day journey, you'll stop to discover India's most captivating historic sites. In Delhi, marvel at the imposing Red Fort and graceful Jama Masjid mosque, both built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The train continues south to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan's ethereal monument to eternal love. Watch the sun glow pink on its white marble domes at sunrise, a magical experience.
Further along at Ranthambore National Park, search for tigers prowling the forests before arriving in Jaipur, the famed Pink City. Like Shah Jahan, Jaipur's founder Maharaja Jai Singh II had exquisite architectural taste you'll see at Amber Fort and the City Palace. Throughout the journey, every stop unveils centuries of royal history and India's diverse cultural tapestry.
Well-traveled blogger Alicia R. shares her take on this iconic rail voyage: "We stepped into another world on the Maharajas' Express. Lounging on brocade sofas as India's tiny villages rolled past our window, it felt like time travel. The thoughtful service and delicious regional meals enhanced the whole experience. I'll never forget drinking champagne at sunset under the amber fortress in Jaipur!"
The leisurely pace is ideal for soaking up the passing scenery, whether desert scenes dotted with camels or lush rice paddies. Vintage carriages gently rock and transport you back to the romantic era of luxury train travel, perfected by the maharajas. You'll disembark feeling enriched by India's cultural treasures and warm hospitality.