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Vacation Time: Off The Rails!

Best train journeys in Asia

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels


Train crossing a bridge with snow-capped mountains in the background, set against a bright blue sky and green grassland below.

THE BEIJING-TO-LHASA EXPRESS covers 3,757km in 40 hours, gliding from the neon-lit capital across the near-deserted Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. At the Tanggula Pass (the highest rail pass in the world, at 5,072m), the views become truly sensational: think snow-capped peaks, Gobi-like desert, remote Tibetan villages, grazing yaks, fluttering prayer flags and boundless blue skies.


A white train speeds through a snowy landscape, snow flying around. Bright headlights on, against a backdrop of snow-covered structures.

THE HOKKAIDŌ SHINKANSEN starts in Tokyo and ends in Hakodate, the southern port of Hokkaidō, covering 824km in just four hours. One of Japan’s iconic bullet trains, with an average operating speed of 260 km/h, it zooms past picturesque rural landscapes (mountains, forests, farmland) and through the Seikan Tunnel, one of the longest subsea rail links in the world.


Train traveling through lush green hills and fields with a mountain in the background, evoking a serene and scenic countryside vibe.

THE ARGO WILIS journeys 696km across Java, connecting Bandung and Surabaya in just under 10 hours. In the train’s ‘panoramic’ car, giant side and ceiling windows provide glorious 360 views – crossing the Parahyangan Highlands is a highpoint, showcasing rolling hills, volcanic vistas, traditional Sundanese villages and well-preserved Dutch-era estates.


Silver tea set and flower vase on a tray atop green bedding in a train cabin. Window view of mountains over water, creating a serene mood.

THE EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS rolls in high style from Bangkok through central (and coastal) Malaysia to Singapore, covering 1,900km in three nights and four unforgettable days. Large picture windows in the luxurious, wood-panelled observation cars provide an excellent view of the passing scenery. There is also an open-air observation deck at the rear of the train.


Train on a lush, green mountain curve. Person in window with pink bottle. Overcast sky. Scene evokes calm and travel adventure.

THE REUNIFICATION EXPRESS, starts in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi, covering 1,726km over two days. One of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways – and one of the most epic overnight train journeys in the world – it runs the full length of Vietnam, rattling through inviting colonial-era towns and alongside spectacular coastlines.


Steam train chugs through lush greenery. Two men onboard, one steering. Smoke billows, adding a nostalgic feel. Sunlight filters through trees.

THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, known as the Toy Train, covers 88km in seven hours connecting New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling in West Bengal. An impressive feat of engineering, the line winds along extremely narrow tracks with sharp turns, steep climbs and precarious-feeling loops that offer stunning views of the Bengal plains and Eastern Himalayas.


Red train crossing an arched stone bridge surrounded by lush green forest. Passengers visible at windows. Bright and lively scene.

THE COLOMBO-TO-BADULLA TRAIN covers 292km in 10 leisurely hours, rising from Colombo’s leafy, sea-level boulevards into mist-wrapped hill country. Jungle and forest give way to paddy fields and palms, then soaring ridgelines and plunging valleys. Approaching Ella, the train crosses Nine Arch Bridge, a striking example of colonial-era engineering set amid lush tea plantations.

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