7 breathtaking bucket list train journeys worth travelling for in 2025
Especially living in Dubai, where the people are so heavily reliant on cars to get around. Elsewhere, train tours and journeys are whole, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, offering an ever-transforming window into nature, history, heritage and a way of slow travel the world seems to have pushed into the shadows as commercial flying only grows and grows. This summer, take a trip…to take another trip – an easy, effortless adventure, featuring scenic landscapes, glamorous, old-world charm and a brand new perspective on travelling. Rocky Mountaineer – Canada and USA
This train, founded in 1990, takes you through USA and Canada, and presents to you every formation of nature you can think of, of course, with amplified beauty. Roll through and past waterfalls, canyons, lakes, gorges and rivers between Vancouver, British Columbia and Alberta, from the East of Canada through to the West. In the US, the train goes from Moab in Utah and Denver in Colorado, with options to start or end in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, as well. Indulge in local Canadian treats and beer, and be regaled by the magical storytelling of the staff aboard. Floor to ceiling windows and large platforms for all the views.
@rockymountaineer Maharajas' Express – India
Moving through India, Maharajas' Express offers a level of opulence matched by few and a name that couldn't be more appropriate. Decked out to the tribute of the kings and queens bygone in the subcontinent, this sleeper train comes with extensive amenities, including full-sized closets, comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and satellite TVs, even in the bottom-tier suites. Garlands, welcome flower showers, personal butlers, champagne breakfasts and country-club style establishments onboard complete this luxury experience. The train operates four different itineraries from October to April, mainly focused on Rajasthan.
@maharajas_express Dar es Salam by Rovos Rail – Africa
Rovos Rail is inspired by the African safari experience, and has been traversing the lands of Africa for more than 30 years. It's can be quite a long one, if you wish it to be – a 15-day trans-Zambezi trip from South Africa to Tanzania, going through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania. It's lavish, luxurious and marked by off-board experiences at every step, giving passengers a chance to immerse themselves in the cultural and historical wealth of the continent. Inside, find sleek wooden interiors, cosy corners and levels of full-sized, freestanding clawfoot tubs in the more fancy compartments.
@rovosrail The Ghan – Australia
The Ghan holds history from back in the first half of the 20th century, and offers a stretching picture of the Australian Outback like nothing else. It takes passengers across the heart of Australian country in four days, three nights, from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south, a journey through which one can discover the sometimes inconspicuous, but always spectacular beauty of the country's rolling, dry plains, arid deserts and domineering mountains – barren and beautiful. Inside, you'll find all the luxuries you might need, but off-board, you'll get a chance experience the rugged splendour of Central Australia yourself.
@journeybeyondrail Glacier Express – Switzerland
The views – that is why you need to do this trip. Switzerland is known far and wide for stunning sights few are able to forget, but the views of valleys, lakes, rivers, alpine landscapes and villages from the Glacier Express as it chugs along, slow and steady, give a glimpse into some of the most iconic natural landmarks of the country, including the Matterhorn, Piz Bernina, and the Rhine Gorge. The train connects the resort towns of Zermatt and Saint Moritz over eight hours – the world's slowest express train – during which you'll pass through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges, indulge in a six-course meal and have champagne.
@glacierexpress.ch Belmond Hiram Bingham – Peru
It is believed that American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the Machu Picchu. Whether this is true or not, is still up foe debate, but this namesake train grand love letter to vintage train travel, taking you through the Lost City and Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu. Start in the city of Poroy, west of Cusco, and trail through Peru's most unforgettable landscapes to make your way to the Inca. Inside, the 20th century shines in the polished wood, the brass fittings, big windows and skylights, long, languid meals and expansive spaces to lounge in.
@belmondhirambingham Eastern & Oriental Express – Singapore and Bangkok
Think of the classical, Hercule Poirot-appropriate, Orient Express-style train, and this is what comes to mind. A stunning portal into the past, the Eastern & Oriental Express has it all, the polished wood, the corridors trimmed with silk, the silverware, the ornate carriages, the exotic, ornamental dining room. A 1920s-jazz-club-inspired Bar Car completes the time travelling and you can soak it all in as you traverse the landscapes of Thailand and Singapore. This is truly one of those perfect tributes to the bygone era of train travel, when it was a mode for the elite, draped in luxuries and amenities. It's considered to be one of the best train journeys in Southeast Asia and is absolutely unmissable.
@easternoriental
Images: Getty/Socials
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Broadcast Pro
40 minutes ago
- Broadcast Pro
Luxor African Film Festival opens submissions for 15th edition
Submissions are open until November 25, 2025, for films produced in 2025 that have not yet been screened in Egypt. The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) has officially opened submissions for its 15th edition, which will be held from March 30 to April 5, 2026, in Luxor, southern Egypt. The festival, founded by screenwriter Sayed Fouad, will once again celebrate the richness of African cinema while providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers across the continent and the diaspora. Film entries are now being accepted across four main competitions. The Long Films Competition will showcase narrative, documentary and animated features over 60 minutes, while the Short Films Competition will highlight short-form works in the same categories. Both competitions are exclusively open to African directors. The Diaspora Films Competition invites submissions from African filmmakers living abroad whose works address Africa from a global perspective. In addition, the Youth Films Competition is dedicated to young filmmakers from the governorates of Qena and Luxor. Azza El Hosseiny, Founder and Director of LAFF, said: 'Several months before the festival, we will organise a workshop dedicated to those interested in making short films with no budget, targeting youth from Luxor and Qena. The aim is to develop their skills and give them the opportunity to become part of the Egyptian and African cinematic landscape. This initiative is not limited to offering film workshops; it also includes opening submissions for a special film competition dedicated to Luxor and Qena, with members of the jury coming from these two governorates themselves.' This edition of LAFF will also pay tribute to the late filmmaker Youssef Chahine on the centennial of his birth. Under the theme 'Youssef Chahine… An Egyptian Story,' the festival will honour his pioneering contributions to Egyptian and global cinema. Film submissions open on August 20, 2025, and close on November 25, 2025, through the festival's official website. Eligible films must have been produced in 2025 and should not have been previously screened in Egypt. Acclaimed Egyptian actor Mahmoud Hemida has been named Honorary President of the 15th edition, underscoring the festival's stature within the cultural landscape. Organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation for Support and Development, LAFF is held in partnership with Egypt's Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Youth and Sports, and Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with Luxor Governorate.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Dubai travellers tell of days in limbo due to Air Canada strikes
Air Canada may have agreed a deal with striking cabin crew and resumed flights, but the dispute caused − and is still causing − major disruption to passengers' travel plans. More than 10,000 flight attendants walked out on Saturday, triggering a standoff with the Montreal-based carrier. return to work order from the government on Sunday did not end the dispute over pay and conditions. However, early on Tuesday, Air Canada said it would 'gradually restart' operations after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. 'Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking,' Air Canada president and chief executive Michael Rousseau said, acknowledging that the full restoration of operations might 'require a week or more'. From Dubai, Air Canada operates a daily flight to Toronto at 1.25am. Data from Dubai Airports shows that Wednesday's flight still marked as cancelled. Refund rights Grace Guino, a Dubai resident, was booked for the Tuesday flight, having purchased the ticket on June 14. On Monday, she received an email from Air Canada at 4.34pm, which she shared with The National, informing her that her flight was cancelled due to a 'labour disruption [that] is impacting our operations … outside our control'. The airline said at the time it was searching for rebooking options on more than 120 carriers for up to three days after the cancelled flight. Ms Guino was also given the option to refund, which she took. Affected customers should check airline policies around refunds and cancellations, as well as any attached penalties for doing so, said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research. He added that passengers should not be penalised for seeking compensation. 'Others might elect to defer and rearrange travel – but that will be predicated on how quickly this strike is concluded. If it drags on, those wanting to travel into or out of Canada will simply rebook elsewhere,' he told The National. Ms Guino's full ticket cost was about C$1,530 ($1,106), which included a C$300 voucher. However, Air Canada refunded her C$1,830, meaning she received both the full cost of the ticket plus the voucher. 'As soon as I saw the news [of the government intervention] over the weekend, I was hopeful the situation would be resolved immediately,' she told The National. Ms Guino – who was travelling to attend a concert by English rock band Oasis – was forced to then find an alternative flight; she was able to book one on Emirates, but to Montreal and at a cost of about Dh8,400 ($2,290). 'It was frustrating, of course. But at least I got my refund immediately … and I was able to plan earlier,' she said. 'It was chaos' Meanwhile, a Canadian resident who travelled to Dubai for work said he was stranded in Venice on the way to Toronto from Dubai due to the cancellation of Air Canada flights. The passenger travelled to Venice from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Saturday morning and was supposed to take an Air Canada flight to Toronto on Sunday, after a 20-hour layover at Venice. However, that turned into a more than two-day stay amid the cancellations. 'Probably five or six hours before the departure of the flight, Air Canada announced the cancellation of flight,' he told The National. 'The first thing was how to get the luggage out and it was a hassle. We called Air Canada and their numbers were off. Finally, I called Emirates; they helped me get our luggage and what needed to be done, and then, finally, an Air Canada representative offered us a stay for a night in Venice.' However, when they reached the airport, the flight on the following day − Monday − was also cancelled. An Air Canada representative helped him find seats on Air France to travel to Paris, and from there to Detroit on Delta Air Lines. After reaching Detroit, he planned to take a bus to travel to Windsor in Canada and drive to Toronto to reach his final destination. For all the re-bookings and extra transport, he had to shell out an additional C$2,000 to get to Toronto. 'It was chaos,' said the passenger. Another Air Canada passenger, Zee, a Czech national who has been living in Dubai for the past 10 years, said his wife and children are stuck in Canada because of the situation. 'They were supposed to have reached Dubai on Sunday evening from Toronto but will only reach there tomorrow [Wednesday] morning on a different flight, because of the current situation with Air Canada,' Zee told The National. 'They were in limbo with the Air Canada app saying that the flight was scheduled and on time, while there's an email communication saying everything is cancelled. It was not helpful, because they were on standby waiting … overall, terrible communication from Air Canada … terrible timing,' he said. Mr Zee said his family plans to seek a refund from Air Canada for the cancelled journey once the strike ends and the family returns. 'Overall, it is a sad situation and frustrating. My wife was supposed to have [resumed work] on Monday but will now start on Wednesday, soon after reaching Dubai.' The strike at Air Canada, or for any other carrier that may experience the same situation, is also a lesson and opportunity for its rivals, Mr Ahmad said. 'While the strike continues and Air Canada's reputation lies in tatters, rival airlines will do whatever they can to accommodate travellers and poach that traffic away in the short term,' he said. 'The longer this drags on, the impact on Air Canada could well result in the airline losing regular and coveted loyal business customers that often pay top dollars to fly them – given the competition across the Atlantic in particular, Air Canada isn't the only game in town to reach Canadian cities – and they'll be well aware of that.'
The National
a day ago
- The National
Dubai travellers tell of 'days in limbo' due to Air Canada strikes
Air Canada might have struck a deal with its workers to resolve a labour dispute and resume its operations, but not before causing a major disruption in their passengers' travel plans. More than 10,000 cabin crew walked out of work on Saturday, triggering a standoff between them and the Montreal-based carrier despite a return to work order from the government on Sunday. On Tuesday, Air Canada said it will "gradually restart" its operations after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. 'Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking," Air Canada president and chief executive Michael Rousseau said in a statement, acknowledging that the full restoration of operations might "require a week or more." From Dubai, Air Canada operates a daily flight to Toronto at 1.25am. Data from Dubai Airports shows that Wednesday's flight is marked as cancelled, for a fifth day in a row. Last-minute scramble Grace Guino, a Dubai resident, was booked for the Tuesday flight, having purchased the ticket on June 14. On Monday, she received an e-mail from Air Canada at 4.34pm, which she shared with The National, informing her that her flight was cancelled due to a "labour disruption [that] is impacting our operations ... outside our control". The airline said at the time it was searching for rebooking options on more than 120 carriers for up to three days after the cancelled flight. She was also given the option to refund, which she took. Critically, affected customers can – and should – check airline policies around refunds and cancellations, as well as any attached penalties for doing so – and passengers shouldn't be penalised for seeking compensation, said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research. 'Others might elect to defer and rearrange travel – but that will be predicated on how quickly this strike is concluded. If it drags on, those wanting to travel into/out of Canada will simply rebook elsewhere," he told The National. Ms Guino's full ticket cost was about C$1,530 (Dh4,100), which included a C$300 voucher. However, Air Canada refunded her C$1,830, meaning she received both the full cost of the ticket plus the voucher. "As soon as I saw the news over the weekend, I was hopeful the situation would be resolved immediately," she told The National, referring to the Canadian government's Sunday order to resume operations, which did not resolve matters. Ms Guino – travelling to attend a concert of English rock band Oasis – was forced to then find an alternative flight; she was able to book one on Emirates, but now to Montreal and at a cost of about Dh8,400, as that was the cheapest option. "It was frustrating, of course. But at least I got my refund immediately ... and I was able to plan earlier," she said. 'Terrible timing' Meanwhile, a Canadian resident who travelled to Dubai for work said he was stranded in Venice on the way to Toronto from Dubai due to the cancellation of Air Canada flights. The person, who requested anonymity, travelled to Venice from Dubai on an Emirates airline flight on Saturday morning and was supposed to take an Air Canada flight to Toronto on Sunday after a 20-hour layover at Venice. However, that turned into a more than two-day stay amid the cancellations. 'Probably five or six hours before the departure of the flight, Air Canada announced the cancellation of flight,' he told The National. 'The first thing was how to get the luggage out and it was a hassle. We called Air Canada and their numbers were off. Finally, I called Emirates; they helped me get our luggage and what needed to be done, and then, finally, an Air Canada representative offered us a stay for a night in Venice." However, when they reached the airport, the flight on the following day, which was Monday, was also cancelled. An Air Canada representative helped him find seats on Air France to travel to Paris, and from there to Detroit on Delta Airlines. After reaching Detroit, he planned to take a bus to travel to Windsor in Canada and drive to Toronto to reach his final destination. "It was chaos," he added. Another Air Canada passenger, Zee, a Czech Republic national who has been living in Dubai for the past 10 years, said his wife and children are stuck in Canada because of the situation. 'They were supposed to have reached Dubai on Sunday evening from Toronto but will be reaching only tomorrow morning on a different flight because of the current situation with Air Canada,' Zee, who preferred to give only his first name, told The National. 'They were in limbo with the Air Canada app saying that the flight was scheduled and on time, while there's an email communication saying everything is cancelled, it was not helpful, because they were on stand by waiting ... overall, terrible communication from Air Canada ... terrible timing," he said. Mr Zee said his family plans to seek a refund from Air Canada for the cancelled journey once the strike ends and the family returns. 'Overall, it is a sad situation and frustrating. My wife was supposed to have rejoined in her duties on Monday but would start work on Wednesday, soon after reaching Dubai.' The strike at Air Canada, or for any other carrier that may experience the same situation, is also a lesson and opportunity for its rivals, Mr Ahmad said. 'While the strike continues and Air Canada's reputation lies in tatters, rival airlines will do whatever they can to accommodate travellers and poach that traffic away in the short term," he said. 'The longer this drags on, the impact on Air Canada could well result in the airline losing regular and coveted loyal business customers that often pay top dollars to fly them – given the competition across the Atlantic in particular, Air Canada isn't the only game in town to reach Canadian cities – and they'll be well aware of that.'
