You may have noticed we love to travel by train and we don’t shy away of travelling to ride on one or more specific trains or railway line. The Canadian in Canada, the California Zephyr in the United States, the Glacier Express in Switzerland or the Flåmsbana in Norway just to name a few. As a matter of fact, this month we’re doing the Crescent, from New Orleans in Louisiana to New York. Here are some other ideas for inspired and inspirational railway journeys. For its train or for the itinerary. 

Travelling by train takes time, can be expensive and requires patience. But it allows you to enjoy the scenery more, while – hopefully – sat comfortably in your seat. 

Train de la Rhune in France

Everyone knows that the Atlantic Coast of France has extensive sandy beaches, but did you know that there are also mountains? This year marks the 100th anniversary of Sare‘s legendary little wooden train: the Train de la Rhune, which takes passengers to the top of La Rhune at an altitude of 905 metres, in the French Basque Country. 

The ride up is beautiful and the train creeps up the mountainside so you have plenty of time to enjoy the surrounding landscape along the way. Once you arrive at the top, a view unfolds over both Spain and France and, in clear weather, even to the wide sandy beaches of Les Landes in the north. You will also find the so-called ‘potoks’ at the top, these are wild ponies typical of the region. Once you arrive at the top, you have two hours to walk or have a drink on the terrace before you go back down by train. If you are more sporty, make a day trip of it by walking down.

Sare is located in the departement of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the south west corner of the Hexagon. 

Texas

Interstate train travel in the United States is peculiar and frankly not straightforward. But there are heritage railways worth your time. The Texas State Railroad covers East Texas on the ride from Rusk to the city of Palestine and back. 

As the train rumbles along, you can sit back and enjoy a drink, relax and almost forget how modern transport works and feel part of the Roaring ’20s. 

Steam train enthusiasts travel to Cedar Park north of Austin. Here, the Austin Steam Train Association will teach you all about the history of Texas railroads. 

The highlight is a 4-hour train ride with the Hill Country Flyer that takes you past rolling hills, babbling rivers and charming villages. 

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is located in the middle of historic downtown Grapevine. This railway features authentic 1920s Victorian rail cars pulled by two vintage locomotives: an 1890s steam locomotive and a 1950s diesel locomotive. The train travels along the old Cotton Belt Route and is a fun outing for the whole family.

Oman 

For a scenic train in Oman you can travel to the Al Hoota Cave. All visitors start their Al Hoota Cave tour with a short ride on the only electric train in Oman. This train transports its passengers comfortably with air conditioning from the visitor center at the foot of Jebel Shams to the entrance of the cave hidden in the mountainside.

Al Hoota is Oman’s only show cave and, like most caves, it is carved out by water. The cave extends 4.5 kilometers underground, part of which visitors can visit. With a guide you walk past stalactites, stalagmites and rock curtains formed by the mineral deposits of the water that is estimated to have been continuously trickling through the cave system for more than 2 million years. 

The cave is also home to unique ecosystems and four lakes that are home to rare blind fish.

Cruise and rail in Alaska

Did you know you can experience Alaska by train as part of an Alaska cruise? All cruise companies you can book this land excursion as part of your cruise holiday and experience the raw natural beauty of Alaska.

A train journey in Alaska means entering the wilderness, where cars cannot go and the landscape is spectacular. The train travels over salmon-filled streams, through mountain tunnels and along edges of narrow cliffs.

There are several options for adding a train trip to your cruise, including the McKinley Explorer®, part of a cruise tour to Alaska by Holland America Line, the Alaska Railroad or the White Pass & Yukon Railway.

The Romantic Road in Franconia

The Romantic Road or Romantische Straße starts in Bavaria in Germany, in the city of Würzburg, and runs through Franconian towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen. 

The route then winds further through the heart of Bavaria to the destination Füssen where the fairytale castle Neuschwanstein awaits you. Don’t bother going inside though. 

This world-famous route has been a popular road trip for car travelers for decades. But did you know that you can also explore this beautiful region by train? 

A train journey along the Romantic Road is ideal for those who want to relax and enjoy the surroundings. While you sit comfortably back, the train glides through a picture-perfect landscape with idyllic villages full of half-timbered houses, medieval castles and rolling vineyards. Various train connections make it possible to travel the entire route or parts of it. 

Would you rather go by car? Then at least stop in Nördlingen for a visit to the Bavarian Railroad Museum to experience the nostalgia of trains.

Across America

You can of course take a plane from New York City to San Francisco. But you can also opt for an epic adventure, really want to get to know America and decide to travel by train from the east coast to the west coast. 

In The Big Apple you board the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited to travel via Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana to The Windy City: Chicago. Here you transfer to the California Zephyr that takes you through Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska to Denver in Colorado.

From here the train dives into the wild nature and the journey becomes nothing short of spectacular. 

The train continues its journey across the steppes, prairies and grasslands of the Great Plains, through the deep gorges of the Rocky Mountains and along the wildly flowing Colorado River to Salt Lake City in Utah. From here it goes through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the final station San Francisco. 

The great thing about American train travel is the Amtrak trains themselves. You may be sitting on a train with a panoramic glass roof. Or with chairs that you can rotate so that you sit optimally in front of the window and do not have to miss anything of the surroundings.

Tuscany

Discover the charm of Tuscany in Italy by train and rental car! Leave the daily stress behind and enjoy a relaxing journey by train to Milan. 

Did you know that you can travel very comfortably from Utrecht in the Netherlands to Milan with just one transfer in Basel? From Brussels in Belgium, Milan requires only one transfer, Paris. 

To roam Tuscany, you can either get a rental car or use Trenitalia‘s more than decent network.  Explore ancient cities such as Florence (Firenze), Siena and San Gimignano, taste authentic Italian cuisine, or take a walk through nature and enjoy a picnic in the vineyards.