Sri Lanka's landscape is impressively varied. Grand national parks are home to safari adventures, otherworldly coastlines circle the perimeter, and hilly tea country is at its heart.
16.10.2023 - 20:09 / cntraveler.com
There's something seriously special about train travel—particularly when the journey includes a sleeper carriage as good as these ones. There's only one problem: you'll be so mesmerized by the view whooshing past your window that sleep seems nigh impossible. Below, we take a look at some of the world's very best sleeper trains, where the sleep cabins are just as inviting as the views.
No network in the world can rival the magic and dynamism of India’s railways. Starting in the capital, this two-night journey covers 1,650miles to Kerala, thundering south through the red dust of Rajasthan’s deserts, past Gujarat’s salt flats and Maharashtra’s villages. From the comfort of a second-class sleeper berth, passengers get an unfiltered view of everyday life as the train inches along the backs of huts where buffalo roam, kids play cricket, and the smell of fried cooking wafts through the open doors. And there’s plenty to see on board too: vendors call up the aisles with milky tea and sweet coffee, hawkers sell everything from pop socks to playing cards, and each stop brings freshly fried snacks from dosa and pakora to omelette sandwiches. On the second morning passengers wake to the sight of the Arabian sea sparkling in the light as the train hugs the Konkan Coast, coconut groves and bent-backed palms throwing shadows across the carriage.
The train departs on Saturdays from Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin station at 9:40 p.m. arriving into Ernakulam Junction at 18:15 two days later. A one-way ticket in a second-class air-conditioned sleeper berth (2AC) costs from $85. Visit 12go.asia/en
Few train journeys can literally take your breath away, but the Qinghai railway from Xining in China to Lhasa in Tibet, is the highest railway in the world—its beauty worth the struggle. A nightly departure from Xining takes passengers along the Qinghai plateau in the darkness, but pull up the blind in the morning and hot sunshine floods the compartment, electric-blue skies with not a cloud in sight. Over 22 hours the train barrels through sandy flats, cocoa-colored mountains rising in the distance and mirror-like lakes closing in against the carriages. As the train ascends, passengers will hear the hiss of purified oxygen pumping into the compartments while the Kunlun Mountains draw close, a cold blue glow filling the carriages from their jagged icy sides. Bedraggled yaks dot the landscape and colorful prayer flags flap in the wind before the train descends into the Lhasa Valley, and China’s red flags herald the arrival.
The train departs daily from Xining at 9:50 p.m., arriving into Lhasa at 7:56 p.m. A single ticket in a soft sleeper costs 781RMB ($100). Visit tibettravel.org
As ice crunches under furry-booted feet pacing the
Sri Lanka's landscape is impressively varied. Grand national parks are home to safari adventures, otherworldly coastlines circle the perimeter, and hilly tea country is at its heart.
Imagine taking nearly three months to meander across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, reveling in the romantic atmosphere of first-class train travel all the while. From your individual suite on board—or a seat in a gleaming bar car—you’d soak in the unique landscapes of each continent that whoosh past your window, making stops to explore historical marvels, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and picturesque cities.
No matter your child’s age or interests, they'll find their ideal adventure on Sri Lanka's shores. From the hills of tea country and the bustling streets of Colombo, family is central to Sri Lankan culture, and warm smiles welcome children everywhere. And if your family relishes nature, Sri Lanka is a haven for kid-friendly activities.
Not all Buddhist temples are Zen-like experiences with manicured gardens and meditative art. In countries like Thailand and Singapore, travelers can visit Buddhist “hell parks.” Once used to warn parishioners about the punishments that awaited them after a life of sin, hell gardens are now more like B-movie horror theme parks.
Which natural wonders are most sought after by travelers? The experts at Titan Travel have noted the popularity of world-famous natural wonders on Instagram and TikTok, as well as Google search volumes and Tripadvisor, to reveal the world’s natural wonders perceived as most worthy of a visit.
No matter where you're traveling in the world, you'll want to take some of those memories back with you. And if you love capturing them on Instagram, you're in luck. Condé Nast Traveller India spoke to some of the best travel creators in South Asia—including Larissa D’sa, Wander with Sky’s Aakash Malhotra, Savi and Vid of Bruised Passports, Siddhartha Joshi, and Revati and Charles Victor of Different Doors—for their tips on creating travel Reels for Instagram and putting your best foot forward on the Explore page. Here is your ultimate guide to making the next viral travel Reel.
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“Muy bien, Panchita,” I whispered to my horse as she picked her way up the rocky path. It was 5:30 a.m., and the stars above us were lighting the way. Our group was hushed, and the only sounds came from our horse's hooves, the gauchos' commands, and reverent gasps as the sun began to rise, revealing the Andes against a pinkening sky. I took a moment to let the experiences of the past weekend wash over me while we rode: Two days prior, I'd learned how to cook by fire with iconic Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. I had, later, taken a sensory wine course taught by one of the first certified sommeliers in Argentina, Mariana Onofri. When we reached the mountain peak, I dismounted my horse and joined my group of fellow travelers circling a roaring fire, as someone handed me a steaming gourd of maté.
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From a rodent’s optic nerve and the venomous fangs of a small tarantula to auto-fluorescing hairs on a leaf, the images winning the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition are luminously colorful works of art revealing the artistic side of science.
They hang upside down, slide into canals, roll down hills, or act as mobile nightclubs, but in the end the world’s most unique modes of public transport get commuters where they need to go. From sleds to tricycles to toboggans, many of these vehicles have become national icons, beloved by locals and enjoyed by tourists.