National Geographic Best Train Trips in the World

1 Russia — Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian

Image Source: Courtesy of Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian

National Geographic Expeditions offers a 16-day excursion through Russia, from Vladivostok to Moscow, aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, which rolls by Lake Baikal, the deepest lake on Earth.

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2 Switzerland — The Glacier Express

Image Source: Getty / Olaf Protze

The Glacier Express distills the Alpine experience into eight hours of snowy peaks, mountain meadows, and storybook villages between Zermatt and St. Moritz, Switzerland.

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3 Canada — The Canadian

Image Source: Courtesy of Rail Canada

Take The Canadian, where passengers can spend three days watching the countryside scenery from Toronto to Vancouver via dome cars.

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4 Argentina — Train to the Clouds

Image Source: Marco Guoli

The Train to the Clouds climbs to 13,800 feet in the rugged Andes on its way from Salta, Argentina, to the Chilean border on one of the highest train journeys in the world.

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5 New Zealand — TranzAlpine

Image Source: Age Fotostock / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

In New Zealand, the TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Greymouth, racing alongside the Waimakariri River and through the Southern Alps on a nine-hour, round-trip route.

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6 Australia — The Ghan

Image Source: Photo Courtesy of the Ghan

Pack hiking boots and binoculars to explore Alice Springs on The Ghan, which runs north to south in the "Red Centre" of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide.

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7 India — Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

Image Source: Reuters / Vijay Mathur

A mobile palace complete with on board spa, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels highlights India’s temples, forts, and the Taj Mahal on a seven-night passage.

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8 South Africa — Blue Train

Image Source: Courtesy of the Blue Train

The overnight Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town showcases South African scenery and includes a station stop at the diamond mining town of Kimberley.

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9 Europe — The Orient Express

Image Source: Getty / Hubert Fanthomme Paris Match

Black-tie glamour still rules on the century-old Orient Express from London to Venice, which passes through Paris while you’re having dinner and brings aboard fresh-baked croissants when the train stops in Switzerland.

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10 Japan — Train Suite Shiki-shima

Image Source: Getty / Kyodo News

Japan's Train Suite Shiki-Shima has just 10 cabins and serves up kaiseki cuisine created by Katsuhiro Nakamura, the country's first Michelin-starred chef.

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11 Africa — The Shongololo Express

Image Source: Courtesy of Rovos Rail

The Shongololo Express pairs a safari with deluxe rail travel in Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

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12 California — The California Zephyr

Image Source: Courtesy of Marc Glucksman / Amtrak

Rolling from the Windy City to San Francisco, the California Zephyr climbs both the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada before descending to the Pacific coast on its 2,447-mile traverse across the heartland of America.

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