Sleeper Trains Worth Experiencing on Your Travels
Whether you’re on a European city-hopping adventure or want to cross vast swathes of countryside at once in Southeast Asia, the sleeper train is a convenient and exciting option. Here are the best overnight sleeper journeys you can take with Culture Trip.
You doze off slowly to the soothing motion of a train gently whizzing through the countryside. You wake up in a totally different part of the country, perhaps having arrived at your destination already. Sleeper trains are a unique experience that turn your travel time into an activity in itself, without having to waste a minute of your daytime schedule. It’s a strange blend of efficiency mixed with a sense of childlike wonderment – it’s a gimmick, but it’s fun. Our trips are carefully curated by Travel Experts who know how to perfectly plan out an itinerary that lets you see lots of a country, or even a continent, in just one trip. Our Rail Trips embrace sustainable slow travel, while sleeper trains even feature on our classic Culture Trips, too.
Caledonian Sleeper train, London to Scotland
Overnight trains from London to Scotland date as far back as 1873, and the Caledonian Sleeper ensures modern travellers get a classy and comfortable journey through the heartlands of England, all the way up to the Scottish Highlands. Setting off from London Euston, you’ll doze off somewhere between the Midlands and the North of England, waking up to truly splendid views of the ruggedly handsome Scottish countryside. After waking yourself up with a good stare outside your cabin window, you can slink down to the dining carriage for a hearty full Highland Breakfast with a view – the perfect way to start the day. It’s how we start our Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands trip. You’ll meet the group in London, hop onboard and go all the way to Fort William – the starting point of our stunning Scotland rail adventure.
From US$2407
Next available from 27th May 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
London, England
ENDS AT
Edinburgh, Scotland
DURATION
7
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Thai Sleeper, Nong Khai (near Laos) to Bangkok
This comprehensive two-week epic utilises the trains of Thailand and Laos to cover vast swathes of Southeast Asia – swapping the tracks for a Mekong river cruise across the first few days in Laos. The sleeper experience is a particularly useful one that turns our trip into a full loop. Having started in Bangkok and explored Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Khong, as well as crossing into Laos and exploring the Mekong and Nam Song rivers, we’ll end up in Vang Vieng. From there we’ll catch a high-speed train to Vientiane, near the Laos-Thai border. We’ll transfer across the border to Nong Khai, where we can catch a sleeper train all the way to Bangkok, meaning you can have two more days in the Thai capital and depart from the same airport you arrived at. The carriages themselves are surprisingly comfortable and, thankfully, air-conditioned. This is no luxury experience, but the convenience is next level.
From US$1686
Next available from 5th Apr 2025
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
ENDS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION
14
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Watania Sleeper, Giza to Luxor, Egypt
People forget just how massive Egypt is, and often don’t realise how spread out some of its greatest attractions are. Our nine-day Ultimate Egypt trip aims to offer the most comprehensive Egyptian experience out there. All of the most famous sights – Pyramids, Sphinx, Cairo – are in the north, but there’s so much to explore in Luxor and Aswan, both of which we’ll explore during a four day luxury cruise down the Nile – kind of like the water equivalent of a sleeper train. To get from Cairo or Giza to Luxor is a bit of a slog, so we figured the way to do it is by sleeper train, cutting the journey in half thanks to the power of sleep. Cabins have two seats each, which fold out into beds at night, with an extra bunk bed above. Warm and cold drinks are served in a lounge car, while dinner and breakfast is included with the ticket. It’s a big old trip, but an adventure in itself, which unlocks a whole different side to Egypt that you’ve never seen before.
From US$1807
Next available from 26th Sep 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cairo, Egypt
ENDS AT
Aswan, Egypt
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>
All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.