Best Train Trips in the World

从马丘比丘之谜o的奥秘f Blarney Castle to the gleaming white peaks of Chamonix, these destinations are not only historical but are served by these train journeys that truly evoke the period and style of the landscapes they roll past. Upgrade your experience by booking these ten journeys that offer luxury amenities, beautifully curated interiors, and true hospitality. From measured candlesticks to crystal vanities to plummeting heights, you'll remember more than your final destination once you step on board these glamorous locomotives.

Thelegendary trainthat rolls past Delhi, Jaipur, and Udaipur gives you decked interiors reminiscent of the Raj’s opulence, with 14 coaches named after former Rajput states. Two restaurants (the Maharaja and Maharani) continue with the Rajasthani decor theme that runs throughout the train, featuring silk pillow cushions, white cedar inlay work, and ceiling relief work.

The journey from Cuzco to Machu Picchu aboard theBelmond Hiram Bingham trainis as much a part of the experience as seeing the famed Inca village. Polished wood with gleaming brass fixtures sets the tone that Belmond has come to be synonymous with. Meander to the bar car, where you can enjoy a pisco sour and live Peruvian music as the train winds its way through the hills. Then settle into the observation car for a view you won’t soon forget.

Life aboard theRovos Railis as much about the voyage as it is the destination. The three-day excursion to Victoria Falls feels like a journey back in time, with butler service, formal dining, and a separate car just for cigars. From the uniformed staff clad in crisp green to the measured candlesticks in the gleaming wood-paneled dining car, you’ll feel transported back to another era when train travel was so often a glamorous affair.

Cherry-red and shiny bright, the iconicMontenvers Railway, operated by Compagnie du Mont Blanc and built in the early 1900s, offers travelers a glimpse at some of the Alps' most iconic sites. Peer out the windows and take in the rising mountains and a view of the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in France. Pause at the top for a hot meal at theRestaurant du Refuge du Montenvers, where芝士火锅盟清爽andvin chaudwill be waiting, before you trek back down the mountainside.

India’s characteristicblue trainhas six curated journeys across architecture-rich states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat in 21 coaches that include a spa car and decor that complements the varied landscape of the outdoor sights. Sightseeing tours are included, as well as gin and tonic sundowners and elephant rides.

There’s probably no more gorgeous way to take in the fall foliage of Canada than inthe bilevel, glass-domed Goldleaf class trains, manufactured by Canarail with interiors done by Montreal-based Morelli Designers. Leather seats, with paneling of weathered hemp, mocha rosewood, white pearl wood, and walnut serve as an elegant foil to the gorgeous scenery outside. A lovely two-day Journey to the Clouds will take you from British Columbia to Alberta through Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, and past snow-clad Mount Robson (the highest point in the Canadian Rockies) and Yellowhead pass.

The first luxury sleeper train in Ireland debuted in August 2016, with interiors evoking an Irish country house with sleeper cars featuring cabins outfitted in Galway crystal jewelry stands.The trainheads from Dublin to Cork with stops at the Jameson Distillery and Blarney Castle, a day in Ashford Castle and a gorgeous cruise in Killarney National Park. The observation car, Kildare, was designed to mimic the charm of a local Irish tavern, and staff wear uniforms made of Donegal tweed.

The trainrunning through the gorgeous maze of vineyards in California debuted a Quattro Vino tour last summer that takes place onboard the renovated 1915 Pullman railcars which have plush mohair armchairs, etched glass partitions, Honduran mahogany panels, brass accents, as well as made-to-order meals. The tours start with sparkling wine tastings, and end with trips to three of the area’s vineyards. A Twilight Private Tour debuted this year, allowing guests to enjoy an evening journey to Raymond Vineyards or Grgich Hills Estate in St. Helena.

Traveling from Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo to the iconic swaths of verdant tea fields can be a vastly different experience depending on which of the numerous locomotive options you select. While the newer trains introduced in the late 2000s claim amenities like air conditioning, theiconic colonial style trainis not to be missed. What this experience lacks in luxury it more than makes up for in memory. Spring for the first-class observation car and enjoy a wide-angle view of the lush landscape passing by, while experiencing train travel much as it was when Sri Lanka was colonized.

Journeying between Myrdal and Flåm in Norway offers riders a chance to experience the world’s steepest standard-gauge railway. Although just two hours long, theFlåm Railwayoffers panoramic views of some of Norway’s best assets. Fjords give way to snow-capped mountains and waterfalls, ranging from lush summer greenery to blindingly white winter landscapes. The wood-paneled interior is smart and clean, but the real attraction is outside the postcard windows, as evidenced by the heads dangling from each available opening.