Best Train Journeys In The World
evawhite on April 15th, 2008
I think that a train journey has so much more romance and excitement, so much more character than a soulless plane journey. You get a feel of the place you are traveling thru, the people, the culture, the look, sounds, even the smells of the place. That is so much more of a sensory journey than an airplane. I was actually reading Paul Theroux’s The Old Patagonian Express when I was overcome by the urge to travel somewhere really exotic by train. While that was not immediately possible, I did the next best thing, and looked up some of the best train journeys in the world. Read on for a little bit of a tour:
The Orient Express is perhaps the best know train in the world, owing itself in large part to the Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Journeying from Paris/Venice to Istanbul, this train takes you through the heart of Europe and in practically synonymous with luxury and class. You can also start your journey on the Orient Express in London, my favorite city in the whole world!
I have a real yen to visit New Zealand, so let’s now turn our attention to the TranzCoastal train which runs thru the Marlborough vineyards and beside the Pacific and the TranzAlpine, which crosses the mighty Southern Alps over the spectacular Arthur’s Pass. New Zealand being such a spectacular country, there is bound to be beautiful scenery at every twist and turn of the train.
The Ghan is supposed to be one of Australia’s’ best trains leaving from Darwin and traveling upto Adelaide thru some starkly impressive desert landscapes.
South Africa’s Blue train travels from Cape Town to Pretoria and offers you the best of a scenic landscape outside your window and the best of man made luxury within. You have the unique opportunity to the driver’s eye view camera on this train too!
The Trans-Siberian is one of the best known and perhaps the world’s longest train journey. Travel thru Russia from the magnificent cities of St Petersburg and Moscow to the fascinating towns the dramatic frozen wilderness of Siberia. Get the true feel of the magnificent countryside.
The Palace on Wheels is, as the name suggests, a train where you can experience some of the pomp and circumstance enjoyed by the maharajas of the past. A seven day journey takes you thru the historic splendor of the India of Jaipur, Delhi and Agra.
Have I whetted you appetite for some exotic travel with this?
