Switzerland’s Bernina Express is Instagram’s most picturesque luxury train journey this autumn/winter, with 96,691 Instagram posts. The world-famous Jacobite luxurious steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct places second with 67,168 hashtagged posts
The cheapest train journey on the list is the Death Railway journey in Thailand, starting from £2.45 for an adult single ticket (22,818) posts. As longer days and sunshine give way to amber hues and crisp air, travellers’ are struck with a sense of wanderlust for the autumn/winter season.
With interrailing being one of the most popular ways to travel and see sights at the same time, Rant Casino analysed Instagram hashtag volumes to reveal which luxury train journeys around the world are most sought after this autumn/winter.
| Luxury Train Journey | From | Destination | Average Price (1 Adult Single) | Total Number of Instagram Hashtags |
| Bernina Express | Chur, Switzerland | Tirano, Italy | $68.39 | 96,691 |
| Jacobite | Fort William, Scotland | Mallaig, Scotland | $68.92 | 67,168 |
| Bergen Line | Bergen, Norway | Oslo, Norway | $111.24 | 53,254 |
| Rocky Mountaineer | Vancouver, Canada | Lake Louise, Canada | $1285.35 (Round trip only) | 52,508 |
| Glacier Express | Zermatt, Switzerland | St Moritz, Switzerland | $183.79 | 45,710 |
| The Blue Train | Cape Town, South Africa | Pretoria, South Africa | $22.89 | 43,439 |
| Trans Mongolia | Moscow, Russia | Beijing | $648.24 | 33,142 |
| The Death Railway | Bangkok, Thailand | Nam Tok, Thailand | $2.96 | 22,818 |
| Flam Railway | Flam, Norway | Myrdal, Norway | $28.08 | 21,229 |
| White Pass and Yukon | Skagway, Alaska | Yukon, Canada | $139.58 | 14,500 |
*Instagram hashtag numbers collected on 2nd October 2023.
The most Instagrammed luxury journey is Switzerland’s Bernina Express, which takes you on a winter wonderland through the Swiss Alps into Italy. With windows spanning the entire walls of this train, there is no missing the picturesque views of snow-capped mountains. There are a total of 96,691 hashtags for this icy journey. Despite this, a single adult standard ticket will only set you back approximately £68.39.
In second place is Scotland’s Jacobite train journey, made famous as the train that transported Harry Potter to Hogwarts. Perfect for a cosy autumnal ride, there are currently 67,168 documented hashtags for this journey, and an adult standard ticket will set you back £68.92.
The Bergen Line journey is in third place; the luxury train even seeks out the northern lights on long arctic nights whilst taking you from Bergen to Oslo, with 53,254 hashtagged posts to capture the magic.
Taking the next spot is The Rocky Mountaineer. Canada’s most scenic train ride boasts 52,508 related hashtags, taken through its panoramic windows of the unparalleled beauty of Canada’s highest peaks.
Rounding off the top 5 is the Glacier Express, which offers breathtaking views of Switzerland's snow-capped mountains, deep valleys and sparkling lakes. The luxurious journey through the alps has been captured 45,710 times on Instagram with fares of approximately £183.79 per journey.
Travelling from Alaska to Canada, the White Pass and Yukon ranks 10th, with a total of 14,500 posts on Instagram. With fares starting at £139.58 per passenger, this journey is the one of the pricier on the list. This train covers a non-stop journey through glacial rivers, waterfalls and wildlife if you’re lucky.
Other popular train journeys include Thailand’s Death Railway, the ideal train journey this spooky season (22,818), The Blue Train (43,439) for some winter sun, and Norways’s Flam Railway (21,229).
