Lonely Planet Epic Train Trips of the World

by Lonely Planet

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I was really excited to read this book, because as a disabled person, I am always looking for ways to be able to do things/travel in an easier way.

Each train journey is split up into first hand information on the journey by a Lonely Planet writer (what a job!), maps, beautiful pictures and snapshot information such as start/finish, duration, ticket types, when to go etc. It is a really good set up, although a price range would have bee useful! Personally I would also have loved to know whether each one is wheelchair accessible and I hope Lonely Planet start thinking a bit more about accessibility in these books.

I was hoping this book would give me some train journeys that like cruise ships, you can pop on and off and then travel to the next place during the night. Unfortunately there weren't many of these type of journeys, with most being under half a day trips. However I did find a few that look really good and possible for those with disabilities which is exciting! These include longer journeys in Cananda, Australia, Alaska, Spain and Malaysia.
There were also some shorter journeys that would be amazing if I were ever in those countries. Especially Sri Lanka, Norway and even one from London to Scotland which I would love to do!

I also have been to South Africa four times and never knew there was a stunning train journey from Cape Town to Pretoria. I really want to go back and this instantly made me feel I may be able to as train travel like this would be so much easier physically for me than flying within the country.

Overall, this is perfect for finding out some 1 - 2 day train journeys to travel across countries/continents you are already in. I was hoping for more longer train journeys but I think that was wishful thinking! Although not my favourite, this is another very good, useful and beautiful book for travellers from Lonely Planet!

Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

[im.booked.on.a.feeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Lonely Planet for the physical copy of Epic Train Trips of the World. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a once in a lifetime adventure in a luxurious train car, you need to pick up this book! Epic Train Trips of the World is full of gorgeous photographs of exciting destinations and stunning train interiors, as well as detailed information about grand train adventures!

The book is organized by continent, which makes navigating the content very easy. Additionally each train adventure includes a map, photographs, fun facts, as well as a summary section that displays important information such as distance, duration, how to book, and important things to know about each excursion. As an added bonus, a “more like this” section is included after each in-depth vacation description, which spotlights similar train excursions to learn about!

Bottom line: Epic Train Trips of the World is both beautiful and informative and would make an excellent addition to a train and/or travel enthusiast’s coffee table or book collection.

In the pages, you will find:

🗺️Detailed train route maps
📸Stunning photography
📋A wealth of information
🎁The perfect gift for a train and/or travel enthusiast!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this in e-form should be illegal! I’m super grateful for the e-copy, the photos were stunning, which means they must be next level stunning in the physical form of this book!

It was highly enjoyable to read about all the beautiful train trips all over the world. The writing was good, it was a fast read. Informative, but with lighthearted tone. The text and photos complimented each other perfectly.

I don’t travel the world, mostly Europe only, and when I do it’s rarely by train, but it was so entertaining to read this book. It’s not only for avid train trip fans, but for all who enjoy reading about the world travel-vise and/or enjoy the photos.

You can spend hours simply flipping through the pages of this book, looking at the photos!

[Michelle Madrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

For never having been on a train ride in my life, I absolutely love what this book offers.

It includes basic to luxury offerings from around the world and an abundance of photos of the scenic views along the way.

I don’t know what I don’t know, and reading through this has and will continue to uncover a lot of learnings.

[Sara Planz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that made me want to pack my bags and immediately start traveling by train. Taking readers on a journey around the world, you’ll get an inside look at the beautiful places you can see while riding the rails.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep the Lonely Planet gang have done it again. This book is a wonderful 320 page extravaganza on train travel across six continents. It has it all, from basic train rides to luxury ones, from slow rides to fast. There are myriad facts, there are wonderfully descriptive personal accounts and then of course there are also the most spectacular and stunningly beautiful photographs of train travel all over the world.

As usual with these books, they’re to be left out and gazed at time and time again. Whether you’re an armchair or a seasoned traveller, this book is an absolute dream.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love traveling by train! You don't have to drive, you can spread out comfortably, and someone else takes care of all the planning.

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like riding trains?🚂
I have always loved trains, and one of my favorite places to catch a train for easy transportation is in Japan!
You know we love Lonely Planet and whenever we travel we always use their books as a resource!
This beautiful book Epic Train Trips of the World by Lonely Planet has trains all over the world! I even found some trains I’ve used before!
Check this out!
“From luxury services such as southeast Asia’s Eastern and Oriental Express to the scenic Rocky Mountaineer line in Canada; thrilling high-speed escapes in Japan to Switzerland’s iconic Glacier Express, Epic Train Trips of the World offers an unforgettable window into railway travel with page after page of inspiring green getaways to feed your wanderlust.
Inside Epic Train Trips of the World:
* 50 fascinating first-person stories of world-famous and lesser-known railway routes from seasoned train travellers including Oliver Smith, Monisha Rajesh, Shafik Meghji and more
* Includes 150 further suggestions for out-of-this-world adventures by train
* Select your perfect rail experience from three categories: Everyday, Luxury and Epic
* Each route features a handy map, stunning photography and a factbox to help readers plan their next railway escape
* Beautiful and vibrant hardback book cover by New Zealand illustrator, Ross Murray
* Featured train journeys include: Africa - The Blue Train (South Africa), Cairo - Luxor (Egypt), Nairobi - Mombasa (Kenya); Americas - Hiram Bingham (Peru), Sunset Limited (US), Yukon and White Star (Canada); Asia - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (India), Death Railway (Thailand), Alishan Forest (Taiwan); Europe - Bernina Express (Switzerland), The Douro (Portugal); Milan - Rome (Italy); Oceania - Indian Pacific (Australia), Trans-Alpine (New Zealand), Kuranda Scenic (Australia)”
Thank you @sabrina_dax_pa for this gifted copy!
Epic Train Trips of the World published in September and is available on our Amazon storefront! -Casey

[erin_leigh_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a little girl our family would take the train from our home in Ontario, Canada to the West Coast of BC. The train trip was an adventure through lake country, across the prairies full of wheat fields and through the majestic Rocky Mountains, until we reached our final destination of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean. I have so many fond memories from these cross country train journeys. But my train adventures didn’t stop there. As I teen our family travelled on the Historic Royal Hudson steam train (built in 1937) from Vancouver to Squamish. It was such a special experience as it was my 80 year old grandfather’s dream to ride The Royal Hudson Train.

I’ve always loved trains. Travelling on them, watching train shows and reading about them too. So I was so happy to receive an advance copy of Epic Train Trips of the World by Lonely Planet. This gorgeous travel book “offers a selection of epic railway rides across six continents - from basic to luxury, slow to fast and from the proudly historical to the positively futuristic”. This gem of a book showcases 200 train adventures, gorgeous photos and entertaining travel stories. I appreciate how each train journey includes a map as well as important facts.


I’d highly recommend Epic Train Trips of the World for travellers and/or train lovers alike. And for those of you who want to go on an adventure from the comfort of your home, peruse through the pages and immerse yourself in Epic Train Trips of the World.

Thank you Lonely Planet and Sabrina Dax for my early readers copy of Epic Train Trips of the World.

Pub Date: September 23, 2025

Have you travelled by train? If not, would you ever take a train trip?

#travelguide #traintravel #traintracks #bookish #travelbook #booklover #booksbooksbooks #bookishpost #bookishcommunity

[Amy Lorton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @LonelyPlanet and @Sabrina_Dax_PR for the #gifted copy of Epic Train Trips of the World, which publishes today! All opinions are my own.

Re: trains: “Far more than cars and planes, they are freighted with romance and fantasy. The lines they travel are veins and arteries, moving people about the body of the land.”

What I love about Lonely Planet hard cover books is that they are a piece of art on your coffee table, but the inside is just as remarkable. The title is debossed for an indented effect that shines when it catches the light. The cover art style continues throughout, with beautiful artwork introducing the six continents covered- Africa, Americas (combined), Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Inside, you will find the epic train ride(s) perfect for you- whether you want everyday, luxury or epic, fast or slow, historical or futuristic, short rides or overnights, and everything in between. The photos, as is the Lonely Planet style, are INCREDIBLE. There are images in this book unlike any I have seen before. I am somewhat obsessed with Pompeii, and I have never seen an overhead image like the one in this book. The photo of Mont St Michel makes me want to head there immediately. The rhino in the foreground with buildings in the back- wow. The scenery- breathtaking. There is practical information like when to go or what you will see each season, how to book, recommendations on what to order/ ticket types, the distance traveled, the duration, things to know, website addresses for more information, and even train etiquette when needed.

What train rides would I like to go on first? Anywhere where we can see animals, plus Canada, Switzerland to Italy, Thailand, London to Scotland and of course Naples to Pompeii.

This book would make the perfect gift for the train-lover in your life. It is also ideal for travelers of any kind!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

am in love with this @lonelyplanet book, 𝑬𝑷𝑰𝑪 𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑷𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫, graciously #gifted to me by @sabrina_dax_pr and coming out September 23rd!

This is a bucket-list item for my husband and it isn't a big arm twist to get me to say yes to this! I had thought, after watching a couple of favorite travel youtubers, I had a pretty good idea of where to take a trip. And now I am filled with even more longing!

This incredibly gorgeous book is filled with train rides across the globe. It takes one primary option and gives more detsil, but then offers several others in the same vein. I had no idea there were so many options! I am dreaming so much more. I love the idea of being able to travel outside of a car or plane, even if it takes those to get there (cue classic movie!).

There is something romantic about being eye level to the terrain through which you are passing. My borders feel expanded already. Making a stop along the way creates more of an exciting journey instead of simply arriving in a destination.

Many travel books give me a glimpse of places I will never be able to visit, and this will certainly do that, but I also feel it will expand our dreams and give a starting point for our own adventure.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks @sabrina_dax_pr & @lonelyplanet for my #gifted copy. My opinions are my own.

Train travel is a bit romanticized in the media. The media isn’t necessarily wrong, though—something you would likely agree with after reading through this fantastic picture/coffee book. Trains are practical and necessary in many parts of the world—they provide sustainable, more environmentally friendly mass transportation to and through places that are otherwise inaccessible. This book celebrates the more epic and well-known of these trips in the full photographic and informative spender that Lonely Planet is known for. I loved losing myself in the idea of jumping on every one of these epic train trips, from The Rocky Mountaineer to the Cairo-Aswan to The Eastern & Orient Express. It was AMAZING. I have been on a couple of the routes described, and now I want to make the rest of them happen! I loved it all—the maps, the descriptions, the photos, and how they are all laid out in an accessible and attractive way. Well done, Lonely Planet!

[Terri Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to take a train trip. Mark your calendar for Sept. 23- Lonely Planet has a lovely book coming out that has endless possibilities to inspire you to fulfill that dream! All of these pictures were taken from the pages of the book. Also included are what to expect, best times to travel, mikes and duration.

Epic Train Trips of the World has it all. From short trips to overnights. Coast to coast, or city to city . Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every part of the world is touched.

Thank you @lonelyplanet and @sabrina_dax_pr for this inspiring book- it’s looking like train travel will definitely be on my calendar in the near future!

[Janereads10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a treat. The photos alone make you want to pack a bag and hop on the next train, but what I really liked were the little details about each trip — where it starts, where it ends, and what not to miss along the way. The maps were a nice touch too, very easy to follow.

It’s not overloaded with information, which I appreciate. Just enough to give you a sense of the journey without feeling like homework. A beautiful mix of inspiration and practicality. Definitely one I’ll be pulling out whenever I need a dose of wanderlust.

Thank you to Lonely Planet for my gifted copy for review. Opinions remain entirely personal.

[the_romance_regent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic Train Trips of the World is packed with 200 journeys that prove trains aren’t just about getting from A to B. They’re about the adventure itself. From luxury rides like the Eastern & Oriental Express in Southeast Asia 🚉 to Canada’s jaw-dropping Rocky Mountaineer 🍁, Japan’s high-speed thrills 🇯🇵 to Switzerland’s iconic Glacier Express ❄️, this book is basically a passport to dream trips on rails. The pictures included in this gorgeous book are simple incredible. I highly recommend this book for all adventurers.

[Deirdre K]

It's beautiful and well organized but I'm not sure it is well researched. It has the Rockies to the Red Rocks "ride" by Rocky Mountaineer that misleads consumer to believe you can take a train from Denver to Moab. The tracks stop in Green River.

But I love train travel and reading about it was a pleasure.

Thank you, Lonely Planet, for the gifted book!

[Queen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lonely Planet and Sabrina Dax PR for the free books.

Just call me Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys because I love TRAINS. I may not be able to experience all these train rides in person, but a girl can dream.

Epic Train Trips of the World and Amazing Train Journeys have great photos, information, and little vignettes about train rides from the variety of authors. Despite never leaving my living room, I felt like I was in Australia on the Ghan, or in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some good inspiration - love it!

[Amber’s TBR Adventure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what I wanted from a book about train trips. Beautiful artwork, both photographs and illustrations, descriptions of the accommodations, and what to expect. I loved that the contributors included additional suggestions for similar routes.

Thank you Lonely Planet and team for the gifted copy!

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal. It is literally SO COOL to flip through, very lnformative, and the pictures are breathtaking!! I’d give anything to ride on some of these trains!!🤩 I am so excited to have a copy to put on our shelf! For anyone interested in travel, this is one book I would super highly recommend! And it’s amazing quality!😀