All aboard! Sunvil’s top 8 railway journeys throughout Europe and Latin America. 

There's something immensely special about experiencing a country's unique landscapes through the window of a moving train. Sit back, relax and admire spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers, remote villages and in many cases some incredible feats of engineering allowing you to travel through some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. Whether your rail journey is an excursion on a steam-hauled heritage line or travelling overnight in a sleeper carriage, you can discover destinations from an entirely different perspective.

Be inspired to see more of your holiday destination by train with these trips as suggested by our destination experts. They may not all offer the fastest journey - but rest assured they will be the most memorable.

Europe

1. Flåm Railway, Norway

The Flåm Railway has been described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. As one of the steepest standard gauge railways, the train runs through some of the wildest, most dramatic scenery in Norway through 20 unique tunnels, and offers so many viewpoints that, for many people, a single trip up and down is not enough to capture the many photo opportunities including Flåm’s magnificent Aurlandsfjord. At the end of the line, be sure to check out the Flåm Railway Museum and 17th century church. Travel from Myrdal for a scenic ride down to the quaint, fjordside village of Flåm with our 7 night Norway in a nutshell itinerary.

2. Odontos Railway, Diakofto, Greece

Although Greece’s railway network is not massive, as it only connects its largest cities, the local train service between the towns of Diakopto and Kalavryta in Achaea, Peloponnese has its own, unique history and beauty. Built between 1885 and 1895, a journey on the Odontos train is considered one of the finest rail trips in Europe. The modern route runs for a total of 14 miles from the town of Diakopto through the famous gorge of Vouraikos and the old monastery of Mega Spilaeon, all the way up to the historic town of Kalavryta.

It is possible to do a day trip, travelling up in the morning and back in the afternoon. We can arrange stays in both Diakopto and Kalavryta as part of a fly-drive itinerary - you could leave the car at Diakofto and pack an overnight bag for Kalavryta.

Diakofto

3. Traverse Alpine splendour and 291 bridges aboard the Glacier Express

This epic train journey begins in London, travelling to the mountain resort of St. Moritz in Switzerland. Spend the night in this picture perfect town before boarding the impressive Glacier Express the very next day, travelling between St. Moritz to the village of Zermatt. 

Excellence Class guarantees sublime vistas from panoramic windows showcasing beautiful snow-capped peaks. Built specifically for the route, the train’s large viewing platforms let you fully soak up the Alpine grandeur and complimentary tablets provide GPS trip tracking and facts about the landmarks you pass by. The comfy bar car serves regional wines and dishes. 

End your rail journey in Zermatt and carry onto Italy, either to explore Milan or make southern connections reaching as far as Greece for the ultimate European holiday.

4. Electric trains in Sweden 

Sweden is renowned for taking a strong stance on environmentally friendly practices and the country’s rail industry is a shining example of sustainable development – combining renewable electricity-powered trains with innovative methods of raising customer awareness on environmental issues. The Inlandsbanan is a scenic train route in Sweden that's 1,300 km long which starts in Kristinehamn in the south and ends in Gällivare in the north. The railway takes you on a voyage of discovery through the beautiful Swedish countryside. You can travel from Värmland in the south via Dalarna up to Swedish Lapland in the north. The journey takes you through 19 municipalities allowing you to explore nature and local heritage as well as sample local cuisine such as cloudberries, whitefish and reindeer. The railway is open for tourist journeys with daily departures from the middle of June until the end of August. 

Sweden

Latin America

5. Belmond train in Peru, Cusco to Lake Titicaca

South America's first luxury sleeper train glides from Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, allowing you to appreciate the region’s spectacular sights as you travel across the lofty Andean plains to Lake Titicaca. The Belmond Andean Explorer marks a departure from classic vintage luxury, instead evoking a contemporary aesthetic perfectly designed to frame the awe-inspiring Andean landscape. Your overnight journey begins with a lunch of Andean specialities in the sophisticated dining car as you watch the captivating scenery unfold. After lunch, visit the Incan archaeological site of Raqchi, which is nestled around Templo de Viracocha, an Inca ruin which was once one of the holiest shrines in the Inca empire. Once back onboard, enjoy a delicious dinner before retiring to the comfort of your cabin. It’s worth setting your alarm to watch the sunrise above Lake Titicaca before having breakfast and bidding farewell to your fellow guests and crew. This journey is one of many that can be taken aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer that promises countless memories during your holiday to Peru.

Cusco/Peru

6. Vistadome train - Cusco to Machu Picchu 

Travelling on the The PeruRail Vistadome train offers a unique connection with the stunning scenery along the way to Machu Picchu. The panoramic windows around and above your seat will bring you close to nature unlike anything you’ve experienced before. The journey from Cusco takes 3 ½ hours as you travel through Ollantaytambo, a village in the Sacred Valley of south Peru, set on the Urubamba River amid snow-capped mountains. It is well known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces built on a hillside.  Also enroute to Machu Picchu is Urubamba, a town surrounded by rugged mountains in the Sacred Valley region of southeastern Peru. Onboard the train you sample the ‘real’ Andean experience with live dances and a snack made with local ingredients, all the while wondering at the incredible landscapes that make you feel you're part of the nature that surrounds you. Arriving into Machu Picchu train station, you’ll find yourself surrounded by clouds and scenery reminiscent of a prehistoric past and the iconic Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains lives up to every expectation.

Peru itinerary

7. The Old Patagonian Express. Esquel to El Maitén, Argentina

This historic narrow gauge railway traverses Argentina's Patagonian wilderness, connecting the towns of Esquel and El Maitén. Locally nicknamed “La Trochita,” the journey meanders through the golden and grey Patagonian Steppe, snow peaked Andes and views to deep blue lakes. The full 402 kilometre roundtrip takes a full day, with its restored vintage railcars limited to 50 passengers travelling at leisurely paces. For the best experience, coordinate an overnight stay with La Trochita’s fluctuating schedule. Consider pairing the adventure with visits to Bariloche and the southern railway from Ushuaia to Tierra del Fuego National Park.

While no railways remain on the Chilean side, the Singular Hotel’s museum in Puerto Natales displays a 1920 Avonside steam engine offering insights into Patagonia’s faded railway era.

Patagonia

8. Train to the Clouds, Argentina 

Taking a trip on the famous Train of the Clouds is one of the best ways to see the incredible landscapes of Salta in northern Argentina from a great height. The ‘Tren a las Nubes’ is a tourist train in Salta Province, Argentina which runs along the eastern part of the Salta–Antofagasta railway line of the Belgrano Railway. The line connects the Argentine Northwest with the Chilean border in the Andes mountain range, over 13,850 ft above sea level, making it the fifth highest railway in the world.

Chugging along at only 35km per hour for 21km, this three-hour journey from San Antonio de los Cobres to the end point at Viaducto La Polvorilla and back again takes you through arid landscapes and places of geological wonder, all of which can be fully appreciated thanks to the leisurely pace of the train. While other parts of Argentina have a noticeable European influence, Buenos Aires in particular, the northern regions of Salta are most definitely indigenous in both culture and ethnicity. You are likely to see people in colourful indigenous dress and many of the artefacts and crafts sold in shops are made locally, so you benefit from a truer sense of Andean culture here than anywhere else in Argentina.

Argentina