4 Self-Guided Rail Trips Worth Flying For

1.Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,392 reviews · 7 hours · from $127Our pick

Travel from central Cairns to Kuranda by historic railway, then return above the rainforest canopy on the 7.5-kilometre Skyrail. You get roughly 2.5 to 3 hours in the village for markets, cafés, walking trails, and optional wildlife parks. Drivers such as Victor and Dean add useful local context, but this remains a self-guided day.

“trainride was amazing. kuranda is quite touristic. Highlight is the way to go there and way back with cable car”

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2.Oslo To Bergen Self-Guided Full Day Trip with Flåm Railway And Fjord Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 69 reviews · from $454

Travel independently from Oslo to Bergen by Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, fjord boat, bus, and train. You will cross the Aurlandsfjord and narrow Nærøyfjord, then continue through Gudvangen and Voss. Tickets and instructions are supplied, but you must manage every connection yourself.

“For the Flam Railway, it was quite a rainy day, however, we could see some of the beautiful sights on the train. The Fjord Cruise part was incredible. The low hanging clouds (it had stopped raining) made the views that much more breathtaking. Just BEAUTIFUL! The bus and train connection to Bergen went smoothly. Worth it.”

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3.Audio Guided City Tour and Train to “Top of Zurich”

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 65 reviews · 4 hours · from $54Best value

See Zurich by air-conditioned Panorama bus, with audio commentary in 11 languages, then take the Uetlibergbahn to Uetliberg, the city’s 871-meter summit. You’ll pass Bahnhofstrasse, the lake, Old Town churches, Zürichberg, the National Museum, and Kunsthaus before making the mountain trip on your own with a provided train ticket.

“Une façon idéale de faire une visite pour en voir le plus possible en peu de temps”

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4.Self-Guided 22-Hour Round Trip From Oslo To Sognefjord With Flåm Railway

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · from $537

Start at Oslo Central Station for a self-guided 22-hour circuit through Myrdal, Flåm, Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord, Gudvangen, Voss, and Bergen. You’ll combine the Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, fjord cruise, bus, and optional sleeper train. It is a tightly timed way to see Norway’s best scenery in one long day.

“The tour was exactly as advertised. The entire journey is an opportunity for stunning views at every turn. The tickets were all accurate, the tour host was responsive and the directions were well written and easy to follow. I highly recommend the sleeper cabin for the return. The day is long and tiring, but well worth the effort.”

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