The World’s Greatest Train Journeys

Our traveller's impulse to escape hordes of obnoxious tourists often sends us on wild goose chases in search of untouched, undiscovered beauty. We crave the chance to find the real heart and soul of a new land and not just the sanitised, postcard version.

This is the great joy of seeing the world by train. With their routes often built to service even the most remote of locations, train travel allows tourists to see a side of the world that often remains unseen to your average Lonely Planet traveller.

So in the interests of getting off the well-beaten track - and for people who know that the journey is always greater than the destination - here are eight of the world's most spectacular train journeys.

Glacier Express

Route: St Moritz to Zermatt, Swiss Alps
Duration: 7.5 hours
www.glacierexpress.ch

While the Glacier Express holds the title as the world's slowest express train, it's hard to complain when the views are this spectacular. Connecting two major Swiss Alps resorts, the Glacier Express reaches a whopping altitude of 6,670 feet travelling across 291 bridges and weaving through 91 tunnels in its ascent through one of the world's most stunning winter wonderlands.

The Flam Railway

Route: Flam to Myrdal, Norway
Duration: 1 hour
www.visitflam.com

This trip takes you into the very heart of the world's longest fjord and one of Scandinavia's great wonders, the Sognefjord. Beginning in a quaint, idyllic village, the Flam Railway mounts the world's steepest non-cog, normal-gauge railroad climb before taking a hair raising turn through raging rapids and waterfalls. With its perilously narrow passages and the sound of crashing water on all sides, the Flam Railway is as enthralling as it is beautiful.

Pride of Africa

Route: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania
Duration: 14 days
www.rovos.com

If the majesty and mystery of the African plains entices you but your idea of a safari doesn't involve chasing wildebeest and constantly swatting flies then you can hardly do better than The Pride of Africa. The epic expedition takes you across some of the most awe-inspiring parts of Southern and Central Africa, revealing the hidden, often untouched beauty of the world's poorest continent. And the train itself? Pure luxury. The sumptuous interior has been painstakingly created to resemble an exclusive Victorian-era train, boasting the world's most spacious sleeping quarters, handsome wood panelling and first-class dining.

Trans-Siberian Railway

Route: Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
Duration: 19 days
www.trans-siberia.com

The big kahuna of rail journeys, the Trans-Siberian Railway is already engraved in travel folklore due primarily to its bewildering length. The 10,000 kilometre trip from the Russian capital to the Pacific Ocean crosses eight time zones coming to a distance just shy of one-third of the planet. While it takes a brave traveller to tackle the Cold War capital from side-to-side, those that do are richly rewarded not only by the great variety of beauty Russia has to offer but also by the famous hospitality of the Trans-Siberian commuters, who are always more than happy to share a shot of $3/litre vodka with you.

Eastern & Oriental Express

Route: Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
Duration: 3 days
www.orient-express.com

The Eastern & Oriental Express stretches from Singapore to Bangkok and provides a whirlwind tour of the range of tropical beauty that South-East Asia has to offer. The bustling modernity of Singapore soon gives way to the natural wonders of Malaysia and Thailand with the train zigzagging through dense rainforests, towering mountains and fields of frangipanis and sunflowers. The rich tapestry of South East Asian life can also be seen at the various stops the train takes, giving travellers the chance to explore golden temples and fascinating farm villages. The Eastern & Oriental Express is also reputed as one of the world's premiere luxury trains with fine dining and cocktails in the open-air observation car; this trip is perfect for those that like the finer things in life.

Narrow Gauge Railroad

Route: Durango to Silverton, Colorado
Duration: 3.5 Hours
www.durangotrain.com

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad twists and turns up winding canyons through the stunning and secluded wilderness of the San Juan National Forest - and all on narrow rails a mere three feet apart. The 45 mile track traverses upwards 3000 feet, eliciting breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. The 1920s coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive was originally built to transport gold and silver ore and thus travels at the leisurely pace of 18 miles per hour, making the magnificent views all the more easier to take in.

West Coast Wilderness Railway

Route: Strahan to Queenstown, Tasmania
Duration: 4.5 hours
www.puretasmania.com.au

The rich history of the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania is only the beginning of this mystifying and alluring adventure. Running from the port of Strahan to the mining town of Queenstown, this magnificent railway right here on our own turf provides a gateway to the untouched wilderness of Tasmania's heritage listed area. It acts as a window back to the year of 1896 when the pioneers laboured arduously through rain and mud to create this unique track and pinion system. The 35km journey travels through a number of stations of the past, crosses waters of the renowned King River and spans jaw-dropping rainforest gorges.

Machu Picchu Train

Route: Cusco to Machu Picchu, Peru
Duration: 3.5 hours
www.machupicchutrain.com

Departing from Cusco and passing through the ancient stone-built Incan village of Ollantaytambo, the Machu Picchu train then only goes up from there - both figuratively and literally. The three-foot wide track wraps around the steep gorges of the valley and wanders over the torrents of the marvellous Rio Urubamba. Originally constructed as a commercial line to exploit the lumber, cacao and coffee of the valley, the train is today used as a highly popular tourist trip to reach the extraordinary peaks of the infamous ancient Incan site, Machu Picchu.