If it isn’t on the ‘gram’ did it really happen? Like it or not, Instagram is affecting our decisions more than ever before, in fact, a recent study revealed that over 40% of milennials choose a travel spot based entirely on its Instagrammability. While we might not entirely agree on this (some of the world’s best destinations and journeys aren’t the most aesthetic), we do love looking at a Instagrammable train trips, especially a luxury one. RantCasino.com has rounded up the most Insta-worthy train journeys around the world, set to give you a much-needed dose of wanderlust for 2021…
10. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Belmond’s reincarnation of the world’s most iconic train is proving popular with train travellers who love the ‘gram, with 4,430 posts on Instagram. It doesn’t get more luxurious than the VSOE, with a cocktail bar and lounge car, two restaurant carriages and sublime sleeper cars and surroundings inspired by the golden age of travel. With fares starting from £4,000 it’s definitely not the most accessible luxury train trip, but worth it for a bucket-list trip between the likes of London, Venice, Paris and Istanbul.
9. Eastern & Oriental Express
Think the Venice Simplon-Orient Express, but instead of whizzing past mountains, lakes and European cities and towns, you’re trundling past paddy fields, glistening pagodas, traditional villages and gold-dipped temples. The Eastern & Oriental Express is one of the most luxurious and beautiful trains in Southeast, with interiors by the colonial era and route between Bangkok and either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. The stunning journey has 4,433 hashtags on Instagram, making it one of the most Instagrammable train trips in the world.
8. Marrakech Express, Morocco
Enigmatic and exotic Morocco is one of the most gorgeous countries to explore by train, and coming in eighth place is the Marrakech Express. The route takes travellers from coastal Casablanca to the cacophonic city of Marrakech, and is a journey that has inspured both films and songs alike. Offering visitors to enjoy a coastal and colourful city break, it has 5,156 related hashtags.
7. Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland
Another ranking for luxury leisure group Belmond, with its gorgeous Scottish train taking seventh place on the list with almost 6,000 hashtags. On the Royal Scotsman, guests travel around the Scottsh Highlands in what feels like a plush country hotel on wheels, serenaded by Scottish pipers and treated to produce like fresh salmon, oysters and lots of Scotch whisky. Journeys on offer range from two to seven nights and there’s even a spa carriage…
6. White Pass and Yukon, Alaska
Step into the shoes of the workers of the Klondike Gold Rush, who descended on Alaska in the late ninteenth century to seek their fortune. The stunning, historical and very isolated White Pass and Yukon route connected Skagway with Whitehorse (the capital of Yukon) allowing access to the gold fields. Today it’s a heritage rail route offering three scenic rail excursions, one to the summit of the White Pass. The journey has 9,412 hashtags on Instagram, making it sixth in the line-up.
5. Oslo-Bergen, Norway
Norway is a stunning country – fjords, mountains, beaches, lakes, forests, it’s got it all. One of the best ways to experience Norway is travelling from Scandi-cool capital Oslo to the colourful fjordland city of Bergen. The journey takes about seven hours, has 180 tunnels and climbs to peaks of 1,200m. Travelling through some of Europe’s most isolated and inhospitable landscape, it has an impressive 16,869 hashtags.
4. California Zephyr, USA
The flatlands fo Nebraska and Denver, the Colorado river, Utah desert and snow-capped Sierra Nevada are just some of the sights you’ll get to ‘gram on the California Zephyr‘s 2,438-mile odyssey. The famous Amtrak train travels between Chicago and San Francisco and is one of North America’s most scenic and historic routes. The journey comes in at number four with 24,674 hashtags on Instagram.
3. Trans-Mongolia route
The word’s second most iconic train journey, after the Orient Express, is without a doubt the Trans-Siberian, which is actually known as the Trans-Mongolian. Departing from Moscow, the journey travels thousands of miles east through Siberia, Mongolia and eventually ends up in China. Luxury train The Golden Eagle takes passengers on this enigmatic route in five-star opulence, so gorgeous it recieved 35,713 hashtagged posts.
2. The Jacobite, Scotland
Representing the UK is Scotland’s Jacobite steam train with takes ninth place on the list with 43,292 hashtags. Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, the Jacobite takes passengers on an 84-mile round-trip from Fort William to Mallaig through some of the most picturesque sights of the Scottish Highlands. Passengers travel in old world ex-Pullman carriages, which you may recognise for their role as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potters films.
1. Bernina Express, Switzerland
Switzerland kills it when it comes to stunning train journeys, offering travellers either a frosted world of snowy peaks and glittering pine forests or grassy meadows and tapestries of spring flowers. The iconic Bernina Express, which travels from the Swiss Alps to Italy, took the topspot in RantCasino’s findings for the most Instagrammable train trips, with a total of 64,296 hashtags for the journey.