7 of our favourite train journeys in Asia
by Suzie on 10th July 2019
Train travel lets you see a country's landscapes scrolling by, not to mention being a great way to people-watch and engage with your fellow travellers. Many of our Destination Specialists have whiled away a fascinating few hours (sometimes even days!) on the rails, so we've shared some of our most memorable train journeys in Asia as inspiration for your next adventure...
Nick: bullet trains in Japan!
'Any Shinkansen ride - all of them! I love everything about them. They come into stations all menacing and bang on time (I once heard an apology for a 30 sec delay), and as they pull away, the conductor at the back sticks his head out and salutes the entire length of the platform. As you go around corners on the track, it feels like the world outside is at an angle, even though it is of course the train. As a very tall man, I particularly appreciate the copious legroom! The wonderful staff salute each carriage as they enter and depart, the luggage racks actually fit proper bags, you can buy bento boxes on the platform... the whole experience is just brilliant.' Discover how to explore Japan by bullet train here...
Karl: early morning train from Mumbai to Goa
'This journey departs from the impressive Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, which is an experience in itself. I'm besotted with Indian food, and the buffet cart on board was a big attraction - I managed to fill my face with samosas, dhal, chapatti and chai all day! In between eating, the train banter was particularly special, with everyone wanting in on the cricket chat. We finally arrived into Goa as the massive red sun melted into the sea. Bliss.' Read about our favourite India journeys here...
Kate: Beijing to Tibet
'It takes 40 hours across the Tibetan plateau, and it's the highest train journey in the world, rising to 5000+ meters at one point - oxygen is supplied in the cabins! The scenery is incredible and really diverse, as the first part is arid and barren, then on day three you awaken to snow-capped mountains, lakes and yaks! Best to go for a soft sleeper if available.' Read about visiting Tibet here...
Natasha: Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan
'You only spend 10 minutes on the train itself, but it’s a key part of the experience, which is observing sunrise over the central mountains of Taiwan! The train is small, and when I took it lots of people were standing - it reminded me of the tube! The train moved slowly, and jiggled around quite a bit, making a very cool rickety sound. At the mountaintop station, there are a few food stalls and steps leading to a viewing platform, but if you walk another 10 mins up the mountain there is another much better viewing platform. I witnessed an incredible sunrise here, with the mist clearing through the mountains. You can take the train down again, but I find the walk through the Giant Tree Trail is much more atmospheric. Huge trees, and incredibly quiet, even though there are people around.' Read more about the Alishan Forest Railway experience here...
Suzie: Yurikamome automated train, Tokyo
'It was my very first time in Japan, and I was still overcoming the effects of having my mind blown on arrival! We hopped on the Yurikamome, an automated elevated train which sweeps out over Tokyo Harbour to Odaiba island, the pleasure district where you can find, amongst other attractions, the Museum of Emerging Science, which is great for families. As we whooshed up and over the harbour bridge, I found Tokyo suddenly opening out around me, stretching along the shore that curves around Tokyo Bay. The train is like a gentle theme-park ride, and even though we were up over the water, this was where my metaphorical feet hit Japanese ground, and the thrill struck - I was finally in Tokyo!' Read about family holidays in Japan here...
Louise: Eastern & Oriental Express
'I spent a night on the Eastern & Oriental from Bangkok - when I stepped on board, what struck me was the sense of stepping back in time into a world of traditional hospitality and service. Everyone congregated in the viewing carriage very early in the morning as we passed over the bridge over the death railway in Kanchanaburi - quite a spectacular experience, although very humbling when thinking of the history of the railway.' Read more about travelling on the Eastern & Oriental Express...
Brittany: Overnight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
'As overnight trains go, this is one of the more comfortable options. Whether you have a private cabin or ride second class in a shared cabin, it really is a tick off on the ‘must-do’ travel list! The food is good, the views are interesting, and it is a reliable, efficient way to get around. Word of advice - bring a sarong as an extra blanket as the air conditioning can sometimes be arctic.' See more of our favourite journeys in Thailand...