Flying will guide you in the fastest way from point A to B, but only those with a private jet call it relaxing. And while road trips are fun, like flight, they are not very good for the environment, and the heavily focused drivers can’t stare at the scenery. For our money, the most relaxed and scenic way is by train travel. And these nine relaxed and rewarded railway rides are about travelling as much as destinations. From the Grand Canyon to the Swiss Alps, it is a place to glide through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Alaska Railroad
- root: Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska
- interval: 12 hours one way
- Book Now: Alaskarailroad.com
- Starting at $221
The Denali Star Railroad route on the onboard Alaska Railroad rotates snowy peaks, including Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. Denali stars run between Anchorage and Fairbanks from mid-May to mid-September, and stop in Wasilla, Tarketona and Denali National Park. This is a particularly beautiful train in autumn, with leaves changing early in Alaska starting from late August.
Blue train
- root: Cape Town, South Africa to Pretoria
- interval: 3 days, 2 nights each way
- Book Now: bluetrain.co.za
- Approximately $2,570 (ZAR 44,840)
South Africa’s historic Blue Train has since 1923 covered nearly 1,000 miles of scenic tracks from Pretoria to Cape Town. Over the vineyards and Cape Wineland quarantine in the Cape Dutch town, head to Cape Town. The train passes through the Great Karu Desert, a sparsely populated area of open planes, savannahs and grasslands. Thanks to impeccable antique decorations (with modern amenities such as hot water floors, air conditioning, soundproofing etc.), there is a nostalgic feel, especially during the elegant dining service, using a variety of South African ingredients and served with the country’s acclaimed wine. You can chat with fellow passengers over afternoon tea or after-dinner drinks in the sniffy lounge car.
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- root: Adelaide from Darwin, Australia
- interval: 3 days, 2 nights one way
- Book Now: JourneyBeyondrail.com.au
- Approximately $1,664 in 2025, $1,408 in 2026 ($2,590 and AU$2,190, respectively)
Departing from Adelaide, South Australia, we set out for a two-night, three-day chug that includes vibrant greenery and a rugged red desert. The journey runs south-to-north the entire length of Australia, covering 1,851 miles and traverses the dramatic valleys and strange rock formations of ancient mountains in Flinders range. Traveling the Outback passes through the Red Centre, two of Australia’s two most famous natural landmarks, Uluru and Katachuta, and stops at Alice Springs, in the middle of the remote desert. And as the train approaches the north coast, the landscape turns into tropical forests and wetlands. The price includes seven meals served in the cheerful restaurant carriage, which showcases local ingredients and wine.
Grand Canyon National Railway
- root: Williams, Arizona to Williams
- interval: 8 hours 15 minutes round trip
- Book Now: thetrain.com
- Starting from $70
The historically important Grand Canyon Railway, once a means of transporting ore through the Wild West, dates back to 1901. The 130-mile round trip, one day, begins from Williams, Arizona, west of Flagstaff, to the south rim of Grand Canyon, where riders explore for three hours. Along the way, you may find wildlife such as bald eagles, mountain lions and elks, in addition to dramatic canyon landscapes.
Sri Lanka Railway from Colombo to Badra
The ride of this romantic train, running from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Badura, inland on the country’s west coast, is almost comically slow, covering 181 miles in about 10 hours. The trains craze and cover the mountains, one after another, the lush green landscapes. Through valleys, jungles, forests, and tea plantations. And past bushes of palm trees waving gracefully in the damp breeze. This is on a train for fantasy, painting, reading, playing cards, or other low-tech pursuits. Please note that if you want to stick your head out of the window, it is possible only with third class. The seats on these trains are fairly limited, so book in advance.
Glacier Express
- root: Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland
- interval: Approximately 8.5 hours each way
- Book Now: glacierexpress.ch
- Starting at about $61 (CHF49)
The magnificent Glacier Express passes through the Swiss Alps between the alpine village of Zarmatt and the holiday resort of St Moritz, weaving in natural scenery and charming Swiss towns. The narrow train embraces the mountains and valleys and offers impressive views of the countryside. It passes through alpine landscapes at the foot of the Matterhorn in the Valley region, heading towards Oberappass (the highest point of the route is 6,707 feet) and offers views of the Rhine Valley over 1,000 feet deep. Every class of this train has both panorama and skylights, so nothing blocks the view.
Rocky Mountainer Rockies to the Red Rocks
- root: To Moab, Utah, Denver, Colorado
- interval: One-way for two days and one night
- Book Now: Rockymountaineer.com
- Starting at $1,723
Rocky Mountaineer runs along several scenic North American routes and offers daytime only rail travel for the largest immersive viewing experience. Operators have historically been driving on Canadian rails, but the Red Rocks route from the Rockies, released in 2021, introduces the dignity of the American West. The train runs along the Colorado River, passing through a series of canyons with window frame mountain views, desert cliffs and sturdy rock walls as rock formations. Open the bighorn sheep’s eyes with a high pass.
Related: For one summer, you can take the unusual trains through Jasper and Banff National Park
Pacific Surfliner
- root: San Diego to Los Angeles
- interval: Approximately 3 hours each way
- Buy tickets: PacificSurfliner.com
- Starting at $36
Amtrak’s iconic Pacific Surfliner runs dozens of times a day between San Diego and Los Angeles, with five morning trains following Santa Barbara (just under six hours). In addition to stopping at convenient urban stations (including Disneyland’s Anaheim), you’ll also get stunning views of the gentle hills of the Pacific Ocean and Southern California. Between San Diego and San Juan Capistrano and again from Ventura, the train runs along the coast. This trip will be a fun way to roll the diverse natural beauty of the region, along with brake lights from gridlock traffic, where the region is known for. Pacific Surfing is intended to run all the way to San Luis Obispo, but at the time of this writing, Amtrak Bus will end the route from either Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, with the exception of the trains at 4:10am and 1:10pm.
West Highland Line
- root: From Glasgow to Maraigue
- interval: 5 hours 20 minutes one way
- Book Now: scotrail.co.uk
- Starting from about $35 (£26)
Aboard this scenic train, Glasgow goes deep into the west coast wilderness, passing through areas where there are no roads built. The West Highland Line in Malaig, operated by the Scottish National Railway, crosses the Glenfinnan viaduct used by the Hogwarts Express Harry Potter movie. As you navigate the visually arrested landscapes of steep lakes, Heather Moore and mountains, beware of red deer silhouetted into the skyline or camouflaged with leaves. Some stations are very far away, and few others save little, saving miles on dozens of sheep.
This article was originally published in 2023, and most recently updated the current information on August 25th, 2025.
