MomSkoop
Train travel offers a magical window to the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. Unlike hurried flights or traffic-clogged highways, trains let you soak in panoramic vistas while enjoying comfort and relaxation. From snow-capped mountains to coastal cliffs, these rail adventures create memories that last a lifetime.
1. The Glacier Express Through Switzerland’s Alps
Nicknamed the world’s slowest express train, this journey takes you through Switzerland’s postcard-perfect countryside over eight mesmerizing hours. Red carriages with panoramic windows glide between Zermatt and St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels.
The train climbs the Oberalp Pass at 6,670 feet, where snow often dusts the landscape even in summer. Mountain villages with wooden chalets dot green valleys below while you sip hot chocolate and watch the world unfold.
The highlight comes when crossing the Landwasser Viaduct, a six-arch limestone structure that curves dramatically into a mountainside tunnel. Engineers built this marvel over a century ago, yet it still leaves passengers speechless.
2. Japan’s Bullet Train Through Cherry Blossom Country
Spring transforms Japan’s countryside into a pink wonderland when cherry blossoms bloom. The Shinkansen bullet train zips through this seasonal magic at speeds up to 200 mph, yet the views remain crystal clear through large windows specifically designed for sightseeing.
Starting in Tokyo and heading north toward Aomori, passengers witness the gradual awakening of sakura season. Rural stations become framed by pink canopies while Mount Fuji stands majestically in the distance, often wearing a snow cap above flowering foothills.
Local travelers pack special bento boxes for the journey, a tradition worth copying. These compartmentalized lunch boxes contain seasonal delicacies that complement the visual feast outside your window.
3. Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey Through Canadian Wilderness
Gold-rated service meets golden landscapes aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. This Canadian treasure travels exclusively during daylight hours between Vancouver and Banff, ensuring passengers don’t miss a single mountain peak or emerald lake.
Glass-domed coaches provide unrestricted views of grizzly bears foraging along riverbanks and eagles soaring overhead. The train slows deliberately at particularly spectacular vistas, while hosts share stories about early pioneers who first crossed these imposing ranges.
The journey includes an overnight stay in Kamloops, breaking up the experience into two perfect days. Meals feature regional specialties like Pacific salmon and Alberta beef, paired with British Columbia wines that showcase Canada’s culinary prowess alongside its natural splendor.
4. The Ghan’s Epic Australian Outback Crossing
Stretching nearly 1,900 miles from Adelaide to Darwin, The Ghan cuts through Australia’s fiery heart. Named after Afghan camel drivers who once traversed these routes, this legendary train offers a comfortable way to experience the otherwise harsh Outback.
Rust-red deserts transform into tropical landscapes as you journey northward. Kangaroos bound alongside the tracks at dawn while the setting sun paints the MacDonnell Ranges in impossible shades of orange and purple each evening.
Off-train excursions let you explore Katherine Gorge or the underground homes of Coober Pedy. Back onboard, the Outback Explorer Lounge becomes a gathering place where travelers share stories over Australian wines while watching the endless horizon through wide windows.
5. Norway’s Bergen Railway Above Arctic Landscapes
Northern Europe’s highest railway delivers year-round drama as it connects Oslo to Bergen. Summer brings endless daylight illuminating fjords and waterfalls, while winter transforms the journey into a magical snow globe experience with northern lights sometimes dancing overhead.
The train climbs steadily to Finse, the highest station at 4,010 feet, where the barren Hardangervidda plateau stretches toward the horizon. This otherworldly landscape served as the filming location for the ice planet Hoth in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Near journey’s end, the train descends dramatically through pine forests toward Bergen’s colorful harbor. Clever engineering means even the steepest sections feel smooth, allowing passengers to appreciate Norway’s pristine wilderness from heated comfort fully.
6. India’s Toy Train to Darjeeling Tea Country
Huffing and puffing up impossibly steep gradients since 1881, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has earned its UNESCO World Heritage status. This narrow-gauge marvel—just two feet wide—climbs from the plains of West Bengal to Darjeeling’s misty tea plantations at 7,000 feet.
The blue carriages move slowly enough that local children often race alongside, waving and smiling. At Batasia Loop, the track spirals around itself to gain elevation while offering spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak.
Steam locomotives still operate on special heritage runs, billowing nostalgic clouds as they navigate hairpin bends. The scent of brewing chai from trackside vendors mingles with coal smoke, creating a sensory experience unchanged since Victorian times.
7. California’s Coast Starlight Along Pacific Shores
America’s most beautiful train route hugs the Pacific shoreline between Seattle and Los Angeles. For 35 hours, the Coast Starlight showcases the dramatic meeting point between land and sea along the western edge of the continent.
North of San Francisco, the train runs so close to the ocean that passengers can spot migrating whales from their seats. South of the city, the tracks wind through Big Sur’s rugged coastline where sheer cliffs plunge into turquoise waters.
The observation car features floor-to-ceiling windows and swivel chairs that let you fully appreciate the changing landscapes. Wine tasting events highlight California vintages while passing through the very regions where the grapes are grown—a delicious connection to the scenery rolling by.
8. Scotland’s West Highland Line Through Misty Glens
Harry Potter fans recognize the Glenfinnan Viaduct instantly—it’s where the Hogwarts Express journeyed in the films. The real-life train experience aboard the West Highland Line proves equally magical as it travels from Glasgow through Scotland’s wild western territories.
Leaving the city behind, the railway cuts through ancient peat bogs and skirts mysterious lochs where legends of monsters persist. Stone cottages with puffs of chimney smoke appear briefly before the landscape returns to untamed wilderness.
The final approach to Mallaig reveals the Small Isles and Isle of Skye floating on the horizon. Seafood restaurants at journey’s end serve catches that arrived at the harbor just hours earlier—the perfect conclusion to this adventure through Scottish history and mythology.
9. Peru’s Andean Explorer Through Majestic Mountains
South America’s first luxury sleeper train connects Cusco to Lake Titicaca and Arequipa, traversing some of the highest plains on Earth. The Andean Explorer glides across the Peruvian altiplano at elevations reaching 14,150 feet—high enough that oxygen is supplied in each cabin.
Alpacas and vicuñas graze peacefully as the midnight-blue carriages roll past. Local musicians perform in the lounge car while bartenders prepare pisco sours, Peru’s national cocktail.
The observation car’s outdoor deck—though chilly at these elevations—offers unobstructed photography opportunities. Sunsets here paint the snow-capped Andes in extraordinary colors while stars emerge with remarkable clarity in the thin mountain air, creating natural theater for passengers relaxing after dinner.
10. South Africa’s Blue Train Through Diamond Country
Moving like a five-star hotel on wheels, the Blue Train has transported royalty and celebrities between Pretoria and Cape Town since 1946. Butlers attend to each suite while chefs prepare gourmet meals served on fine china with crystal glassware—all while the diverse South African landscape unfolds outside.
Leaving Pretoria, the train passes through Kimberley, where the diamond rush created vast fortunes. The scheduled stop allows guests to visit the Big Hole, an enormous hand-dug mining pit that changed global history.
Further south, the Hex River Valley presents dramatic mountain scenery and vineyards that seem to flow down hillsides. Evening brings a formal dinner as the train approaches Cape Town, with Table Mountain gradually appearing on the horizon, signaling journey’s end.