The 15 Best Three-Day Rail Trips Worldwide

1.3-Day Isle of Skye, ‘Hogwarts Express’ Train and Highlands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 972 reviews · from $926Our pick

Review of a 3-day Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh with the Jacobite steam train, Portree stays, Highland scenery, castles, and Loch Ness.

“The scenery was spectacular, but it was our driver/host Mark who made the trip especially enjoyable. He had the best mixture of storytelling, interesting facts and activities and challenges that kept all of us engaged and connected to the experience while spending so much time on a bus. And he managed to do all of this while navigating narrow roads and passing lanes to keep us all safe. Bravo!”

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2.3-Day Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, & Cliffs of Moher Rail tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 211 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $1,254

Review of the 3-day Ireland rail tour from Dublin to Blarney, Cobh, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty, and the Cliffs of Moher.

“NEVER book through Viator. Book straight through the actual company giving the tour-Rail Tours. We paid more than others and received less. Viator refused to do anything about our unacceptable bed-n-breakfast. Had we booked through Rail Tours we would have been in a hotel and been given additional perks. Tour itself is pretty good-lots of tour buses on the same tour and it sometimes felt like herding cattle.”

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3.Isle of Skye & Optional Jacobite Train 3-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 191 reviews · 2.5 days · from $473

Review of Edinburgh’s 3-day Isle of Skye tour, with Loch Ness, Eilean Donan, Portree, and optional Jacobite Steam Train.

“We can't control the weather but otherwise it was lovely.”

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4.3 Day Isle of Skye and Jacobite Steam Train Tour from Inverness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews · 3 days (approx.)

Review of the 3-day Isle of Skye and Jacobite Steam Train tour from Inverness, with castles, fairy pools, whisky, and practical tips.

“Excellent guide, Torquil, who was friendly and helpful and went out of his way to keep us safe and happy. The accommodation at The Skye Inn was comfortable and the staff friendly and happy to help in any way.”

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5.Colombo/Negombo: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella 3-Day Trip with Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 93 reviews · 3 days · from $250

Review of a 3-day Sri Lanka tour from Colombo covering Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, the scenic train, and Udawalawe safari.

“My communication started with Jeev, who patiently and wordy answered all my questions and tried adapt the program to my needs. Then Aaron took care of us during 3 days. All was as sharp as said in the program, we did not miss anything and everything went smooth. Aaron was kind, well-mannered and made sure all the time about us being comfortable. Special thanks for nice and comfy car. Despite long hours of driving 3-4+ hours - we felt very well. In the end, Jeev gave us a complimentary lift to airport. Which was quite nice. I think this tour company is reliable and does best for client. The tour…”

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6.Sapa: 3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 64 reviews · from $212

Trek Sapa’s Muong Hoa Valley, stay with a Dzay family, sleep on an overnight train, and explore Hmong and Red Dao villages.

“What a truly amazing trip, the memories and photos will last a life time. The 2 guides (Su Su and Ai) were fantastic, very friendly, chatty and knowledgeable. All the transport, accommodation and meals were perfect.”

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7.Edinburgh, Loch Ness, The Highlands from London – 3 Day Rail Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 40 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $1,235

Review of the 3-day London to Edinburgh and Loch Ness rail tour, with castle entry, hotels, train tips, Highland highlights, and honest drawbacks.

“Trip if a lifetime! Loved it! Everything went great and couldn't have picked a better tour!”

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8.From Inverness: 3-Day Isle of Skye & Optional Steam Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 3 days · from $403

Explore Skye, Loch Ness, Culloden, and the Jacobite Steam Train on a three-day Highlands tour from Inverness with small groups.

“Donnie our driver/guide was so much fun and really informative. Helpful and friendly, he made sure my friend and I got on and off the bus safely (we both have slight mobility issues). The Isle of Skye is so beautiful, the mountains and Fairy Pools are breathtaking! Every place we went was so amazing. Our stay at the Skye Inn was so enjoyable and the food was delicious! I highly recommend their dinners!”

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9.Hakone and Kamakura: 3-day Rail Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 24 reviews · 3 days · from $54Best value

Review the Hakone and Kamakura 3-day Rail Pass for transport coverage, savings, sightseeing stops, limits, and practical Shinjuku pickup advice.

“Malheureusement, ce pass ne nous donne pas accès à tous les transports de la région, seulement ceux d' une seule compagnie.”

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10.Uzbekistan 3 Day Private Tour Tashkent-Bukhara-Samarkand Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · from $500

A fast-paced private journey from Tashkent to Bukhara and Samarkand, with bullet trains, expert guides, hotels, and Silk Road sights.

“I had an absolutely incredible trip! There was an abundance of fascinating history to explore and numerous amazing places to discover. The itinerary was meticulously prepared, allowing us to see an impressive amount in just three short days. I want to express my utmost appreciation for our tour guides, Beck and Dilshod, in both cities. They were truly exceptional. Not only did they possess a strong command of the English language, but they also shared a wealth of valuable insights about the various places we visited. Their knowledge and expertise enhanced our experience greatly, and their kindness and willingness to accommodate our needs were remarkable. I would also like to…”

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11.3-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Aran Islands Rail Tour from Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $1,134

Review of a 3-day Ireland rail tour from Dublin to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, and the Aran Islands.

“excellent. we like the excursions the best. staff were also excellent. there was a moment of some confusion the bus driver, Mick, made sure everything was ok before he dropped us off.”

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12.3 Days Sapa Tour with Night Train from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $189

Review of a 3-day Sapa tour from Hanoi by night train, with guided trekking, village visits, meals, train tickets, and practical booking advice.

“The sights are amazing. It is not a 2 day tour, though. First day was great. A full day trekking. The second day is a gentle stroll for around 1 hour. Feel a bit short changed because of that.”

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13.3-Day Cork, Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula Rail Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 7 reviews · from $1,196

Review this 3-day rail and coach tour from Dublin to Blarney, Cork, Cobh, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, and Dingle.

“We loved this trip. Our guides were continually checking on our needs and travelled on the trains with us at all times. I would definitely suggest this as an awesome tour. We stayed in the bed and breakfast which was a four star beautiful guest house and was within walking distance to Killarney.”

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14.3 Days / 2 Nights Mikumi Safari by SGR Train from Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 3 days · from $700

Review of a 3-day Mikumi safari from Zanzibar by ferry and SGR, with game drives, local guides, lodge stay, price and practical tips.

“En résumé, si vous cherchez un safari où vous vous sentirez en sécurité, où vous apprendrez une foule de choses sans jamais vous ennuyer, et où l'équipe vous chouchoutera comme si vous étiez de la famille, n'hésitez pas une seconde ! Choisissez cette compagnie et demandez surtout cette équipe de choc Mussa et Saloniki! Ce fut bien plus qu'une simple excursion, c'est un souvenir qui restera gravé à jamais. Merci kihindo tours!”

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15.Rail Tour from Thessaloniki to Meteora 3 Days – 2 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $1,261

Review of the 3-day Thessaloniki to Meteora rail tour, with monastery visits, hotel stays, guided activities, train tips, and value advice.

“This company provides excellent service we took a package that included some tours, rail,accomodation ,transfers and meals at good restaurants. All excellent and highly professional. The staff were outstanding the drivers Satos and Yannis ensured our safe travels and boRead more”

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