Opening my eyes in the early morning light, I peered out the window of my sleeper car on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles. The sun reflected off the rugged mountain landscape. We’re not in Kansas anymore I thought! Overnight the pastoral landscapes dotted with grain silos and weathered barns had vanished. This was a new day and a new world.
Train travel brings an unending stream of scenes just outside the window and with it a sense of nostalgia and adventure. Whether you’re traversing a country or day-tripping through a historic countryside, this is a time when getting there is a big part of the experience. Here are five epic train trips to consider.
The Ghan: Adelaide to Darwin, Australia
If tackling the 1850+ miles spanning Darwin to Adelaide by car overwhelms you, take the train. From the fertile country in the south to the rusty red-hued outback to the tropic environs of the north, the legendary Ghan tackles it all. Your job? Sit back and enjoy the continuous views of the Australian landscape.
Taking its name from the Afghan camel drivers who came to Australia to explore the remote interior, the Ghan celebrates 90 years of outback crossings this year. From the retro-Edwardian décor of the dining car with panoramic windows for perfect observation to the nightly turndown service complete with a chocolate on your pillow, the Ghan is much more than transportation. Chef-prepared specialties include exotic local favorites like saltwater barramundi fish and grilled kangaroo filet.
Book the platinum level and you’ll experience a spacious suite complemented by discreet personalized service. Champagne anyone? You’ll also enjoy expansive window views from both sides of the train and the exclusive use of the Platinum Club carriage.
The Ghan offers excursions to Katherine and Alice Springs, with special stops providing an opportunity to view an outback sunrise in Marla going north or sip a nightcap under the Milky Way in Manguri going south. www.australian-trains.com/ghan
Hiram Bingham Luxury Train, Peru
The journey to Machu Picchu is an experience as magical as the site itself. For some, it’s a trek…four days of hiking, sleeping under the stars and adjusting to altitude increases. For others, it’s pure luxury. Those are the folks who choose to travel to the mystical site via luxury train.
Named for the famed explorer who discovered Machu Picchu, the Hiram Bingham luxury train takes you on a jaw-dropping ride from Cusco in southeastern Peru northwest to the 15th-century Incan site. Onboard, pisco sours flow as musicians and dancers entertain you. Shepherds in the colorful traditional garb herd alpacas as the Andean landscape unfolds.
Polished wood with brass finishes in Pullman-style carriages set the stage for a gourmet lunch and, of course, more pisco sours. An open observation car provides enhanced views of the Sacred Valley. Package options include entrance to the VIP lounge at Machu Picchu station, a tour guide for up to 14 people and tea at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel in Machu Picchu.
Choose a roundtrip or a packaged itinerary. www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru
The Belmond Royal Scotsman
Picture yourself in a 5-star country house hotel. Now picture that country house rolling past spectacular deep green lochs and fog shrouded mountains in the Scottish Highlands. Throw in a castle or two, whitewashed villages and whisky distilleries and you’ve discovered an epic train trip aboard the Royal Scotsman.
Managed by Belmond (formerly known as the Orient-Express Group), the Royal Scotsman exudes luxury at every turn. An intimate 9-coaches carries just 36 passengers and the staff ratio is 3 to 1. Yes, you will be pampered. Sleeper cars feature plush beds dressed with soft Scottish wools and tartans. And for the ultimate indulgence, book a session in the onboard spa—a luxury not typically found on trains.
Unique excursions include visits to country estates like Rothiemurchus for traditional country activities such as archery and shooting or a whisky distillery tour, this being Scotland after all. Whisky is also plentiful in the bar onboard which is stocked with more than 50 different Scottish brands. www.belmond.com/scotland
Switzerland’s Grand Train Tour
Every day in Switzerland locals board trains for routine commutes. But even then, it’s Switzerland, and no train ride is routine. In the land filled with lush landscapes crowned by snow-capped mountains, every vista is epic. From bell-wearing cows grazing outside charming Alpine villages to blue-green lakes shimmering in the sunlight, Switzerland is a feast for the eyes.
Fortunately for us, Switzerland has organized a grand tour showcasing the country’s bounty of beauty, merging stunning panoramic vistas into one unique route. The jaw-dropping experience covers 795 miles and takes the “hop on hop off” concept to new heights … literally. Simply buy a Swiss Travel Pass and choose a route.
A combination 5-hour route by both train and boat, the Gotthard Panorama Express between Ticino and Lucerne, shows the diversity of the country’s landscapes. From palm trees in the Ticino to mountain waterfalls to glistening Lake Lucerne—it’s all here. Another favorite, the Glacier Express, traverses the Alps connecting glitzy St. Moritz with the car-free village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn. On the 8-hour trip, the train crosses 291 bridges and rumbles through 91 tunnels!
While in Zermatt, don’t miss a ride on the Gornergrat Bahn, the highest-altitude open-cog railway in Europe. The 35-minute, 5.6-mile journey to the top takes you to the summit at 10,134 feet. Step outside and you’re surrounded by 29 peaks higher than 13,000 feet—an experience that’s difficult to top. www.myswitzerland.com
Amtrak Across America
USA’s ever-changing landscapes provide numerous opportunities for exploring by train, many of them on Amtrak. Take the Lakeshore Limited from New York City to Chicago along the Hudson River. Or the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle which travels through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington. This journey conquers the Cascade Mountains along the way with the help of the Cascade tunnel which extends through the range for 7.9 miles—the longest railroad tunnel in the country. The Southwest Chief connects Chicago with Los Angeles by way of Albuquerque—the route that brought those early morning red rocks to my window.
Amtrak offers several additional routes for transcontinental travel including to New Orleans from Chicago and the Pacific Coast Starlight, proclaimed one of the most scenic rides anywhere from Seattle through Portland and down the California coast to Los Angeles.
No matter which route you choose, you’re certain to find magnificent vistas, good food, interesting people and the sleep-inducing rhythm of the train. All aboard! www.amtrak.com