Is there a more charming way to witness the wonders of the world while travelling than from a train window? Unlike the cramped confines of economy class on a plane, or the stuffy backseats of a bus, railway travel combines first-class service with unbeatable views – all of which you can take in at a leisurely pace. Considering that, it makes complete sense that a luxury Australian train ride has just been ranked among the world’s best.
Easily Australia's most iconic overnight train journey, The Ghan, not only cracked the top ten but was named the fifth most popular and talked-about luxury train ride globally. To determine the rankings, Japan Rail Pass – aka the top dogs of train travel – analysed the world’s greatest trains on several factors, including Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags and global search volumes.
The Ghan ranked fifth with a total indexed score of 8.5 out of ten, tallying an average of 4.3 in Tripadvisor reviews, more than 13,200 Instagram hashtags and more than 22,000 average monthly searches. Given that the legacy locomotive has been hosting unforgettable (and extremely Instagrammable) train journeys for almost 100 years, we think it’s fully deserving of a podium position on the list.
‘The Ghan Expedition,’ a four-day all-inclusive trip running from Adelaide to Darwin, is the train’s signature line, but they also offer shorter and slightly more affordable trips to Alice Springs. On board, passengers can unwind with a glass of chilled Aussie wine, while tucking into crocodile sausages and taking in the vast landscapes of Australia’s rugged red outback. If you can pull yourself away from the top-notch service, upgrades including scenic helicopter flights and camel rides can be added to your trip, while other experiences like gorge cruises and cycling tours are included in your fare. Chug-ching!
Here are the 10 best luxury train rides in the world
- Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
- Napa Valley Wine Train, USA
- GoldenPass Express, Switzerland
- Rovos Rail, South Africa
- The Ghan, Australia
- Venice Simplon Orient-Express, Italy/France
- British Pullman, England
- The Canadian, Canada
- Twilight Express Mizukage, Japan
- Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru