10 Train Journeys You Must Take Once in Your Lifetime

It is often believed that the important part of traveling is the destination. This is not always the case. Sometimes, the journey itself is what truly matters. In fact, here we present ten train journeys that every traveler should take at least once in their lifetime.

There are trains that are like rolling palaces, such as the Ghan, which travels across Australia from north to south. They allow us to travel through time and discover how life was many years ago, like the Al Ándalus, which magically transports us to the Belle Époque, while others, like the bullet train, will speed us to our destination at more than 300 kilometers per hour. We can also enter movie-like settings (how about taking the Harry Potter train?) or discover the Rocky Mountains via a scenic train ride.

We have selected some trips that cost a fortune and are only suitable for the wealthiest; but we also found unforgettable train routes that will cost you a symbolic price considering the breathtaking landscapes you will enjoy. The time has come, passengers - all aboard!

We literally travel to the other side of the world and arrive in Australia. For three days and two nights, the Ghan travels between Darwin and Adelaide to connect the two cities on a journey that offers an indescribable color palette. This train, named after the Afghan camel drivers who once traversed this route, covers nearly 3,000 kilometers from north to south and makes a four-hour stop in Alice Springs.

The journey begins and this rolling palace traverses railway towns and vast stretches of Aboriginal land. It crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and takes you deep into the Tanami Desert. You will enjoy imposing, wild, and rugged landscapes. And, almost magically, the scenery transforms into a green and tropical mantle that will accompany you until you reach Darwin.

Boarding the Ghan will allow you to discover the gold mining town of Tennant Creek, the Katherine Gorge (with its magnificent sandstone cliffs), the sacred mountain Uluru, or the ghost town of Flinders Ranges. However, prices in the most economical cabin (gold class) start at €2,500.

The Trans-Siberian is one of the most iconic and representative trains when it comes to rail transport. There are several routes, and in fact, the name does not indicate the train itself, but rather the railway line that connects European Russia with the provinces of the Russian Far East up to the Pacific Ocean, passing through Mongolia or China.

The most interesting route is the one connecting Moscow with Vladivostok. More than 9,000 kilometers will allow us to discover the vast and unexplored interior of Russia in just a week. From Ekaterinburg in the Urals, Irkutsk near Lake Baikal to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

As mentioned, the Trans-Siberian is not a train but a route, and therefore the range of prices is broad. However, if we want to discover the luxury and opulence of the Tsarist period, we must board the Golden Eagle, which starts at prices from €12,000.

The bullet train or shinkansen is a symbol of Japan. From Tokyo, you can reach the main cities of the country at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour. These are trains where you will only spend a few hours and there is no possibility of overnight stays, but that does not make them any less spectacular.

There are three types of bullet trains (depending on the route and the number of stops) and three types of seating (from non-reserved to Green Car, which is what we currently know as first class). Normally these trains are white, but the one covering the route to Tohoku is green and red. There is also a yellow bullet train known as Dr. Yellow that checks the state of the tracks. And according to tradition, if you cross paths with it, you will have good luck.

The Venice Simplon Orient-Express is the heir to the legendary Orient Express, inaugurated in 1883 by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.

This train connects London and Venice with a stop in Paris on a journey of 1,720 kilometers aboard the original 1920 carriages. Traveling on this rolling palace, with cars decorated in Art Deco style, is one of the most luxurious experiences a traveler can have aboard a train.

Getting aboard the Orient Express means stopping time while traveling through Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and finally, England. The meticulous service on board, with stewards attending to the most extravagant needs of the guests, and its exclusive dining service are experiences to enjoy at least once in a lifetime. And we say once because it is not within everyone's budget, as the two-day and one-night journey starts at a fare of €4,500.

Rocky Mountaineer offers four different routes through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with Rockies to the Red Rocks being the most representative.

Boarding a scenic train is a unique experience. There are no vintage cars, no sleeping cabins, but rather a daytime train where luxury appears behind the glass.

On a two-day journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, you can travel from Denver to Moab, discovering national parks like Arches or Canyonlands and spending the night in Glenwood Springs. Prepare your camera to capture Ruby Canyon, Mount Garfield, or Moffat Tunnel on a unique journey that starts at €1,856 per person.

Harry Potter fans must board The Jacobite, which covers about 135 kilometers between the towns of Fort William and Mallaig on a six-hour journey.

This Scottish steam train became famous after its appearance in the saga written by J. K. Rowling and will allow us to enjoy breathtaking settings such as the highest mountain in Great Britain or the deepest lake in Europe. You will also discover the impressive Glenfinnan Viaduct, with 21 arches and constructed in 1898.

You can board with a standard fare of €58, but if you prefer a more premium experience, the first-class ticket can go up to €90.

The Flåm Railway is one of Norway's main tourist attractions and not without reason.

The train goes from the end of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, to the high mountains of the Myrdal station in a trip that will elevate you to 867 meters above sea level.

The spectacular nature of this journey is due to the particularities of the terrain. Much of the route has a slope of 5.5%, and it passes through more than twenty tunnels. In one of them, the train will make a spectacular 180-degree turn inside the mountain.

In charming vintage cabins, the traveler will enjoy unimaginable landscapes. It should be noted that this ride is on a mountain train, and there may be tremendous accumulations of snow. In fact, if you travel in autumn or winter, the spectacular Kjosfossen waterfall could be completely frozen.

The one-and-a-half-hour journey costs around €45 for a round-trip ticket, a more than reasonable price to enjoy a unique natural spectacle.

We have already talked about the experience of traveling on the bullet train. But in Japan, there is another must-experience aboard a futuristic designed train: the Shiki-shima.

This train travels from Tokyo to the island of Hokkaido and is designed to accommodate only 34 passengers. It features 10 cars: two observation cars (at either end, with wider views), five two-story bedrooms (suites), a lounge, a dining room, and one luxury suite.

The design is by a former Ferrari designer who has decorated this train with marble bathrooms, large windows with exclusive stained glass, or wooden panels with different artistic shapes, using exclusive materials linked to traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

The train travels from Tokyo to the island of Hokkaido, and you can sleep onboard for one to three nights. However, this supreme luxury experience can only be enjoyed starting at around €3,000 in its most economical variant.

In Spain, we also have our own rolling palaces. The Al Ándalus train travels through Andalusia in seven days, during which the luxury of its carriages, attentive service, and cuisine with local products such as Iberian ham, gazpacho, or oxtail will make you feel like a traveler from the Belle Époque.

Among the excursions planned for Al Ándalus travelers are some very interesting visits, such as to a sherry wine cellar or the show "How Andalusian Horses Dance," a famous equestrian ballet with Spanish music. It is also worth mentioning the visit to the Alhambra or the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, as well as the Mondragón Palace, the Moorish King's Palace, and the Arab walls of Ronda.

The Al Ándalus train has two types of rooms (Gran Clase and Suite Deluxe) and is available starting at €4,700.

At Viajar, we have firsthand experience to confirm if all the rumors regarding this rail cruise are true and, well, the best thing is for you to judge for yourself.

Finally, we travel to Ecuador to board a train named after the same, which will allow us to discover from the peaks of the Andes to the Pacific coast.

The most notable feature of this train in Ecuador is its passage through the so-called Devil's Nose, an exhilarating two-and-a-half-hour section that has been dubbed the most difficult railway in the world. If you are afraid of heights, it may not be a good option, but if you love thrilling experiences, you will see how the rocks almost touch the windows of the cars, while looking the other way you will only have the abyss before you in front of you.

Currently, this train route is not operational, but we hope it will reopen to the public soon so that the bravest can board.