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Five Great Train Journeys To Include In Your Round The World Trip
- By Jeffery Nevil
- Published 11/18/2011
- Best Interisland Travel
- Unrated
Jeffery Nevil
Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including , hotels in Kent.
Five Great Train Journeys To Include In Your Round The World Trip
Part of the fun of taking a round the world trip is travelling from one place to the next. As far as modes of transport go, rail travel is heard to beat. You won't get stuck in traffic, it's often a great way to meet local people and, most importantly, you get to see the country you're travelling through. So if you love travelling as much as arriving, here are 5 fantastic train journeys you could include in your round the world trip:
1) The Ghan, Australia
This iconic rail journey takes you through the centre of Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs, covering 1,852 miles. It was named after the Afghan camel trains that pioneered routes through the Outback, and is a great way to discover the Australia that most people never get to see, from the vineyards of South Australia to the Flinders ranges, the remarkable red centre through to the tropical top end.
2) Thailand to Singapore
You can start this journey in Bangkok, or if you want to make the most of it, Chiang Mai in the north. If you really want to push the boat (or train!) out, the Orient Express provides opulent extravagance from Bangkok to Singapore, or vice-versa. For the rest of us, there's the normal train which is perfectly comfortable, especially if you go for the 1st or 2nd class option. This wonderful journey takes you through the paddy fields of northern Thailand, across the bridge over the River Kwai, through southern Thailand into Malaysia, stopping off at Penang and Kuala Lumpur before arriving into the faded colonial grandeur of Singapore's 1930's art deco railway station.
3) Cuzco to Macchu Picchu, Peru
Starting in Cuzco, one of the world's highest cities, this spectacular railway journey meanders through the magnificent Andes. Passing through the Sacred Valley, it follows the Urubamba river with stunning views over the canyon, before arriving at the breathtakingly beautiful ancient Inca site, Macchu Picchu.
4) Seattle to Los Angeles, USA
This is a great way to see some of America's most spectacular scenery from the comfort of your reclining seat. The double-decker Coast Starlight links two of America's great cities and takes you past forests, mountains and the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. A stop in San Francisco is a great way to break up the journey and the perfect opportunity to explore this fabulous city.
5) The Tranzalpine, New Zealand
This scenic journey takes you from Christchurch to Greymouth, across the Southern Alps. It's a 4 hour journey so is possible to do as a return day trip, although if you don't fancy spending the whole day on the train you can just go as far as Arthurs Pass, which takes around 4 hours round trip from Christchurch. The train itself is comfortable with huge windows and an outdoor viewing platform so you can fully appreciate your stunning surroundings. From the Canterbury Plains, the train slowly climbs into the mountains, crossing spectacular gorges and valleys before descending through lush rain forest to the west coast town of Greymouth.
1) The Ghan, Australia
This iconic rail journey takes you through the centre of Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs, covering 1,852 miles. It was named after the Afghan camel trains that pioneered routes through the Outback, and is a great way to discover the Australia that most people never get to see, from the vineyards of South Australia to the Flinders ranges, the remarkable red centre through to the tropical top end.
2) Thailand to Singapore
You can start this journey in Bangkok, or if you want to make the most of it, Chiang Mai in the north. If you really want to push the boat (or train!) out, the Orient Express provides opulent extravagance from Bangkok to Singapore, or vice-versa. For the rest of us, there's the normal train which is perfectly comfortable, especially if you go for the 1st or 2nd class option. This wonderful journey takes you through the paddy fields of northern Thailand, across the bridge over the River Kwai, through southern Thailand into Malaysia, stopping off at Penang and Kuala Lumpur before arriving into the faded colonial grandeur of Singapore's 1930's art deco railway station.
3) Cuzco to Macchu Picchu, Peru
Starting in Cuzco, one of the world's highest cities, this spectacular railway journey meanders through the magnificent Andes. Passing through the Sacred Valley, it follows the Urubamba river with stunning views over the canyon, before arriving at the breathtakingly beautiful ancient Inca site, Macchu Picchu.
4) Seattle to Los Angeles, USA
This is a great way to see some of America's most spectacular scenery from the comfort of your reclining seat. The double-decker Coast Starlight links two of America's great cities and takes you past forests, mountains and the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. A stop in San Francisco is a great way to break up the journey and the perfect opportunity to explore this fabulous city.
5) The Tranzalpine, New Zealand
This scenic journey takes you from Christchurch to Greymouth, across the Southern Alps. It's a 4 hour journey so is possible to do as a return day trip, although if you don't fancy spending the whole day on the train you can just go as far as Arthurs Pass, which takes around 4 hours round trip from Christchurch. The train itself is comfortable with huge windows and an outdoor viewing platform so you can fully appreciate your stunning surroundings. From the Canterbury Plains, the train slowly climbs into the mountains, crossing spectacular gorges and valleys before descending through lush rain forest to the west coast town of Greymouth.