The 7 Best Train Experiences Worldwide

Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train - Day 1: Humantay Lake at 4,200 meters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 5 days · from $655Our pick

This five-day Salkantay trek takes you from Cusco to Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, Llactapata, and Machu Picchu. Expect small groups of up to 16, fresh meals, glamping, mule-supported camping, and guides such as José, Cesar, or Roger, depending on your departure.

“In particular our guide, Roger, was fantastic. He must be the best guide TreXperience has, and one of the best I have experienced during many years of worldwide travel.”

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3-Day Experiences, Evening Experiences, Hanoi Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Night Hikes, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences, Vietnam Hiking Tours

Sapa: 3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

2.3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 64 reviews · from $212

Spend three days exploring Sapa’s Muong Hoa Valley with an English-speaking guide, visiting Hmong, Dzay, and Red Dao villages. You’ll ride an overnight train, sleep one night in a Ta Van homestay, stay one night in a Sapa hotel, and return to Hanoi by limousine. Guides such as Su Su, Ai, Mai, and Chu have led this route.

“Nothing to worry about, everything is well organised, very nice people and small group for the hiking. Great experience!”

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Hiking Tours, St Kitts and Nevis Hiking Tours, St Kitts Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Saint Kitts Train Trek

3.Saint Kitts Train Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 60 reviews · from $140Cheapest way up

You’ll tour St. Kitts by air-conditioned minivan and historic railway, with stops at Wingfield Estate and views toward Brimstone Hill. Guides such as Dujan and Joycelyn provide island history, while the 90-minute train ride includes unlimited drinks, music, and onboard commentary. Hotel and port pickup are included.

“Great fun seeing the coast of St Kitts. Party lime atmosphere, music, dancers and unlimited frozen drinks, water and anything rum. Everyone so friendly. You train one way and come back in air conditioned shuttles and hear more about the island.”

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4-Day Experiences, Cusco Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Machu Picchu & Inca Trail Treks, Peru Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Cusco: 4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

4.4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 20 reviews · 4 days · from $690

Spend four days hiking from Lares to Machu Picchu, with two nights camping at high altitude and one hotel night in Aguas Calientes. You will visit weaving communities, cross 4,750-meter Condor Pass, explore Maras and Ollantaytambo, and return by Vistadome train. Guides have included Manolo and Filio, with skilled cooks handling fresh camp meals.

“Un excellent trek a faire en famille ou entre amis, la difficulté est abordable. Cependant il faut noté que le manque d’oxygène et le froid la nuit diminuent nos capacités physiques. Il fait déjà être sportif ou à minima en bonne condition physique. Les paysages sont époustouflants et le guide suit notre rythme (vous pouvez faire autant de pauses que nécessaire) ! Nos chefs cuisiniers étaient excellent, je recommande vivement !!”

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4-Day Experiences, Cusco Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Machu Picchu & Inca Trail Treks, Peru Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

5.4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 4 days · from $552

Trek from Cusco through Humantay Lake, the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, and coffee country before reaching Machu Picchu. You’ll sleep in a glamping camp, Andean huts, and a 3-star hotel, with guides such as Alex, José, Filio, Roger, and William leading past departures. The $552 price includes meals, porters’ duffle service, transport, and a Vistadome or 360° train return.

“This is my first time trekking overseas. Thank you very much for Trexperience the excellent and amazing experience on trekking to Salkantay mountain! My guide, ALEX, the chef FELIX and their team were excellent during the whole trek. I think the whole trip is well organised, from the pick up, route planning, locations of campsites, the meals and activities etc. They are really considerate & thoughtful on that! We have to the longest and the most challenging route to the top on the second day, and Trexperience selected a campsite, locates higher, so that we can be more adaptive to the altitude and we could make it easier on the…”

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Forest & Jungle Hikes, France Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Mountain & Summit Hikes, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Mountain Train Experience: Hike & Mystic Forest (From Nice)

6.Mountain Train Experience: Hike & Mystic Forest (From Nice)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12 reviews · 13 hours · from $188

Join a local guide such as Cyril, Carmela, or Matthew for a 13-hour train-and-hiking day from Nice. Ride the Provence railway through tunnels and valleys, visit Entrevaux and its hilltop citadel, eat a local lunch, then hike among sandstone rocks and old chestnut trees near Annot. Good fitness is essential.

“L'excursion à Entrevaux était vraiment superbe. Ce village vaut le détour. L'auberge du midi est très bien. J'ai ainsi pu goûter à la cecca, un peu d'orgeat et à la citronnade locale. Le périple en petit train était folklorique mais cela crée de beaux souvenirs. Annot est plus rustique mais je suis contente d'avoir vu ce village. Carmela est une guide hors pair. Merci à toi pour cette journée qui n'aurait pas été la même sans ton regard. J'espère te revoir un jour.”

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Hanoi Hiking Tours, Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences, Vietnam Hiking Tours

Explore Sa Pa with Overnight Train & Sleeper Bus & Trekking

7.Explore Sa Pa with Overnight Train & Sleeper Bus & Trekking

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 7 reviews · from $145

Travel from Hanoi to Sa Pa by soft-sleeper train, visit Ma Tra and Ta Phin, then choose a long Lao Chai to Ta Van trek or Cat Cat Village. A local English-speaking guide leads the Sa Pa visits, with one hotel night, meals listed in the schedule, and a sleeper bus back to Hanoi.

“Very good organization and contact with the organizer. Tour process and guide in Sapa ok, hotel ok, train and bus (with rest berths) a bit borderline. But that's just how it is.”

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Other ways to spend the day on foot

Mountain & Summit Hikes356 Volcano Hikes196 Waterfall Hikes166 Guided Day Hikes261 Glacier Hikes90 National Park Hikes123

The 7 Best Train Experiences Worldwide

Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

1.Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

Sapa: 3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

2.3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

Saint Kitts Train Trek

3.Saint Kitts Train Trek

Cusco: 4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

4.4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

Cusco: 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

5.4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

Mountain Train Experience: Hike & Mystic Forest (From Nice)

6.Mountain Train Experience: Hike & Mystic Forest (From Nice)

Explore Sa Pa with Overnight Train & Sleeper Bus & Trekking

7.Explore Sa Pa with Overnight Train & Sleeper Bus & Trekking

Pick a kind of walking day

Above the treeline

Water and rock

How you walk it

Trees and trails