If you’re dreaming of the ultimate train travel bucket list, look no further. From luxury sleeper trains gliding across continents to romantic overnight train rides through cultural capitals, this guide highlights the best sleeper trains in the world – all while showing you how to travel smarter and stay connected using a global eSIM from EPICeSIM.
There is something uniquely romantic about long-distance train travel—the gentle rhythm of the carriage, the ever-changing view, and the luxury of waking up somewhere entirely new. These journeys aren’t just transportation; they’re immersive travel experiences. And with EPICeSIM, you can share sunrise photos from your cabin, book last-minute excursions, or navigate your arrival city without worrying about roaming fees or SIM swaps with secure connectivity wherever the rails take you.
Begin your rail adventure with the UK’s premier overnight train journey, the Caledonian Sleeper. This moving hotel on rails, running since the late 19th century, has evolved from a Victorian necessity to a modern luxury as it whisks you from bustling London to Edinburgh or the serene Scottish Highlands in true comfort. After exploring sights like the British Museum or a West End show, board in style. With private cabins, a lounge car, and warm hospitality, this is a top pick for train travel lovers going to Scotland. At Inverness, you can explore Loch Ness or wander the cobblestoned Old Town, whilst Fort William is the gateway to Ben Nevis and the West Highland Way. The United Kingdom, 5GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected is an ideal travel companion to ensure that you’re always online for maps, trail guides, or capturing those Highland sunrises.
Named after the Afghan cameleers who once explored Australia’s interior, The Ghan is an epic 3,000km journey that slices the continent in two. First run in 1929, it’s now a bucket-list luxury trip through the Red Centre and is arguably Australia’s most iconic train journey. Board in Adelaide, where world-class wine awaits in the Barossa Valley, enjoy off-train excursions in Katherine and Alice Springs and travel through dramatic desert landscapes to tropical Darwin and Mindil Beach Sunset Market or Kakadu National Park. Upload dazzling sunset shots or check tour times using the Australia, 10GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected. Check schedules and fares on The Ghan’s official site – Official Site of The Ghan | Journey Beyond Rail
Experience two vibrant capitals in one night. Begin in Madrid with the Prado Museum and tapas at your fingertips and arrive refreshed in Lisbon, ready for tram rides and fado music in Alfama. Whether you choose a reclining seat or a Gran Clase cabin, you’ll enjoy views of olive groves, cork forests and the Tagus River along the way. The EPICeSIM Europe Multi-Country Pass like Europe+, 3GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected ensures seamless coverage across borders (no SIM swapping and interrupted access). Visit this site for more info on this trip – Lisbon to Madrid Train Information: Guide to Trenhotel Lusitania
Luxury rail reaches its zenith with Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express as it evokes the glamour of the 1930s. Picture teak-panelled elegant carriages, five-star dining, and panoramic windows as you traverse lush Thai jungles and Malaysian countryside. This is certainly Southeast Asia’s most glamorous rail adventure. Boarding in Bangkok lets you explore temples and floating markets before you glide through jungle landscapes to Malaysia and into the modern city-state of Singapore. Stay connected with the EPICeSIM Asia Travel Pass like Asia, 3GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected is ideal for cross-country coverage whether you’re snapping temple sunsets, jungles, wildlife, river crossings at sunset. Explore routes and luxury carriage details on the Eastern & Oriental Express official site – Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train | Luxury Trains, Asia
A royal favourite, The Blue Train offers a luxury sleeper train experience through South Africa’s wine country and dramatic highveld. It’s as much a hotel as it is a mode of transport. Stepping aboard this famous train, you’ll travel between Pretoria, with its jacaranda-lines streets, and Cape Town with Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront and nearby wine estates. En route you will awake to dramatic views of the Karoo, interesting towns and lush Winelands. Combine urban highlights with rural beauty – and stay in touch with the South Africa, 5GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected package that is perfect for safari bookings, hotel and restaurant reservations and sharing your epic journey.
Embark on a regal journey aboard the Palace on Wheels, India’s most luxurious heritage train – a rolling palace, introduced in 1982, to showcase Rajasthan’s royal heritage. Expect Rajasthani hospitality, marble bathrooms, and excursions to grand forts and temples as you rail past painted havelis, golden dunes, and bustling markets. Your journey starts from Delhi after sights like Humayun’s Tomb and shopping in Chandni Chowk, whereafter this regal train weaves through Rajasthan with a royal level of service. You’ll visit iconic forts in Jaipur, romantic lakes of Udaipur, and the desert sands of Jaisalmer – all while staying online with the India, 10GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected.
VIA Rail’s The Canadian is the most scenic way to cross Canada by train as you travel from urban Toronto, through endless Prairies and majestic Rockies, to coastal Vancouver. This four-night VIA Rail journey crosses 4,466km of Canada’s diverse landscapes. You’ll stay connected from Toronto’s CN Tower to the icy peaks of Jasper with no roaming woes; just a smooth signal wherever the tracks take you. Plan your day around glacier-fed lakes and mountain panoramas, all while uploading them straight to your feed via this fantastic EPICeSIM package – Canada, 10GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected. Check schedules and onboard services on VIA Rail’s official Canadian page – Toronto–Vancouver Train: The Canadian | VIA Rail
ÖBB’s Nightjet offers budget-friendly overnight trains across Europe. Board after enjoying Vienna’s coffeehouses and opera or Munich’s beer halls and museums and wake up in Rome to see the Colosseum and piazzas or Hamburg’s harbour and Speicherstadt. Enjoy alpenglow from your comfy couchette or private compartment as landscapes shift overnight through Alpine valleys and riverside towns. If you’re planning a Eurotrip, the EPICeSIM Europe Multi-Country Pass like Europe+, 5GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected makes staying connected across each country effortless. Visit ÖBB’s official Nightjet page to explore overnight routes and fares. Forget roaming charges – connect instantly in every country as you Travel, Connect and Save with EPICeSIM.
Named after the world’s highest mountain range, this sleeper links Pakistan’s cultural heart with its commercial hub. This expressive ride from Lahore to Karachi blends historical richness with real-world comfort as Pakistan’s Karakoram Express delivers both comfort and cultural immersion. Start amid Lahore’s Mughal grandeur, Badshahi Mosque, and Shalimar Gardens and then pass farmland, desert, and the mighty Indus River en route to Karachi’s seafront charm like Clifton Beach, bustling bazaars and colonial architecture. As you enjoy one of Asia’s most authentic rail journeys, stay connected and online with this fantastic EPICeSIM plan – Pakistan, 5GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected.
A contemporary marvel of luxury travel, launched in 2017, Shiki-Shima offers multi-day journeys in ryokan-style suites with artful cuisine and panoramic observatory cars. Explore Tokyo’s modern buzz like Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, and sushi bars, then drift into the tranquil landscapes of Tohoku and Hokkaido. As you journey past rice paddies, coastal villages, and mountain ranges, perfect connectivity across both urban and rural is made possible with this idea EPICeSIM plan – Japan, 10GB, 30 Days EPICeSIM Bundles To Stay Connected. Visit the official Shiki-Shima site for itineraries and seasonal offerings – TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA | JR-EAST
Every one of these journeys crosses borders, rural zones, or quiet stretches where maintaining a signal is crucial for maps, booking, and peace of mind. That’s where EPICeSIM shines – swapping to the strongest network automatically, enabling country-specific plans, and activating instantly via a QR code.
Your travel experience deserves to be as seamless as your connection. Once you’ve secured your train tickets, be sure to browse EPICeSIM: Your Global eSIM Provider to stay connected, no matter which route you choose. Travel. Connect. Save.
Disclaimer – EPICeSIM is reliant on coverage from the top global mobile networks and can’t guarantee connectivity all of the time, in all of the destinations.
