An air of romance often accompanies long-distance train travel, and for good reason. Traveling by rail offers the chance to sit back and gaze out the window at spectacular urban and natural landscapes. It provides the opportunity to indulge in first-rate service, strike up conversations with fellow train enthusiasts, and fall asleep to the sound of wheels trundling over parallel lines of steel. From the ever-changing scenery of Africa to the wide-open vistas of the Southwest U.S., here are six long-distance rail trips you won’t want to miss.
The Canadian – Canada
Inaugurated in 1955, the Canadian is an epic transcontinental rail journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Over four nights and 2,775 miles, passengers will experience the spectacular natural landscapes that make Canada famous. From Ontario in the east to British Columbia in the west, the train visits five diverse provinces, with the scenery shifting from the shimmering Great Lakes and thick deciduous forests of Ontario to the sprawling prairies of Manitoba, the big blue skies and bright-yellow canola fields of Saskatchewan, and the majestic Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
The Canadian offers three seating classes, with the Prestige Class featuring a concierge service and suites with domed, glass windows to enjoy the scenery. A la carte meals are available to all, and there’s even an onboard wine tasting, too. For those preferring to break up the journey, the Canadian can easily be turned into a hop-on, hop-off rail adventure. Overnight stays are possible in destinations like Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Jasper.
Blue Train – South Africa
Billed as a “Palace on Wheels,” the Blue Train has been an icon of long-distance train travel since it first set off in 1946. Traveling 994 miles between Cape Town and Pretoria, this epic trip has attracted — and continues to attract — everyone from royal families and dignitaries to honeymooners and celebrities. On the 54-hour cross-country ride, the train passes the sprawling Magaliesburg Mountains, the flamingo-inhabited Kamfers Dam, the arid expanses of the Karoo Desert, and the emblematic Table Mountain, among other sights.
Onboard the Blue Train, guests are treated to impeccable service, with butlers providing all the bells and whistles. Carriages feature plush suites with elegant furniture, goose-down duvets, and private bathrooms. Dining, too, is an elegant affair, with gourmet meals and fine South African wines. There’s also a lounge car for socializing or simply gazing out at the jaw-dropping scenery.
Reunification Express – Vietnam
The historic Reunification Express connects Vietnam’s vibrant capital of Hanoi with energetic Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s most populous city. Traveling 1,072 miles in around 30 to 35 hours, the long-distance train crosses thousands of bridges and passes through 150 stations, which were all meticulously repaired following the reunification of the country in 1976. Passengers can take in forest-clad mountains and dense jungle, emerald-green rice paddies, pristine coastlines, and expansive wetlands. Notable sights along the way include the ancient city of Hue, the snaking Hải Vân Pass, and the white-sand beaches of Da Nang.
Travelers can choose between a range of seating classes onboard, such as budget hard seats, shared sleeper cabins, and private rooms. This is by no means a luxury adventure, but it offers an authentic view of Vietnamese culture and nature. The train is used by tourists and Vietnamese locals alike, with a food cart serving traditional Vietnamese food adding to the experience.
Tazara Railway’s Mukuba Express – Tanzania and Zambia
From the highlands of Zambia to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coastline, Tazara Railway’s Mukuba Express Train provides an unforgettable snapshot of East Africa. The journey covers 1,160 miles in approximately 46 hours. The railway was constructed with the help of Chinese engineers between 1970 and 1975, and is named after the Zambian word for copper (mukuba). Facilities onboard include comfortable shared and private sleeper cabins along with a dining car.
The real beauty of the journey is the scenery — this is one of a few train journeys in the world where it’s possible (though not guaranteed) to spot big game animals from the comfort of your seat. Starting in Tanzania, the train passes through the bustling markets of the capital Dar es Salaam. Then, it crosses Nyerere National Park (formerly called the Selous Game Reserve), which is home to free-roaming elephants and giraffes. The train then trundles underneath craggy escarpments and clings to hillsides in southern Tanzania. After weaving through the green valleys of Zambia, the journey finally ends in the Zambian town of Kapiri Mposhi.
Sunset Limited – United States
First introduced in 1894, Amtrak’s Sunset Limited is the oldest continuously operating named train in the Americas. Crossing 1,995 miles of the American South and Southwest in 48 hours, the journey provides an unforgettable opportunity to take in the bayous and plantations of Louisiana and the far-reaching deserts and soaring mountains of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona during a single trip. The last leg the journey trundles over the Californian hills to the Pacific coastline.
The onboard service provides all the comforts needed to lean back and watch the beauty unfold outside the train’s picture windows. A range of sleeping arrangements, with both shared and private bathroom facilities, are available, and a dining car serves up meals with a Southern spin. Plus, opportunities for adventure abound along the way. Disembark in Alpine, Texas, to visit Big Bend National Park; in Tucson, Arizona, for Saguaro National Park; or in Palm Springs, California, for Joshua Tree National Park.
Z21 Beijing to Lhasa – China
From the imperial monuments and modern skyscrapers of Beijing, China’s Z21 train embarks on a mammoth 2,336-mile, 40-hour journey to the spiritual Buddhist city of Lhasa. This excursion is a one-of-a-kind experience, as it travels along the world’s highest railroad, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. It’s also a fairly economical way to appreciate the natural riches of China and Tibet. Options on board include soft sleeper (four-bunk compartments), hard sleeper (six-bunk compartments), and hard seat (seat only). A dining car serves three meals per day, and snack trolleys pass through the carriages regularly.
Leaving the bright lights of urban China behind, the train enters the rural landscapes of the North China Plain and the Gobi Desert. Upon reaching Qinghai, it climbs steadily up into the Tibetan Plateau, with spectacular views of snow-capped mountain peaks and sparkling lakes. At the 16,400-foot-high Tanggu-la Pass, an in-carriage oxygen supply is activated to combat altitude sickness. Finally, you’ll descend toward Lhasa, where robed Tibetan monks, grazing yaks, and villages decorated with multicolored prayer flags await.
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