The Ghan is arguably the most famous train route in Australia because it traverses the country's enormous outback from east to west. As it makes its way through the center of Australia, it takes the same path that was traveled by early Afghan cameleers some 150 years ago.
Train travel affords passengers an experience that cannot be replicated in an airplane: a genuine appreciation of the vastness of the landscape as seen from the ground.
The Ghan, often regarded as one of the best train excursions in the world, travels the length of Australia, from the sophisticated city of Adelaide to the crocodile-infested waterways of Darwin.
Enjoying the creature luxuries of The Ghan while traveling across the vast bush is the best way to get an authentic experience of the Australian outback. It's been called the 'legendary and opulent' Australian equivalent of the 'Orient Express.'
In January 2019, I embarked on a journey around the entirety of Australia on The Ghan.
The railway was at first known by its current name, the Afghan Express, in honor of the pioneering Afghan cameleers who explored the outback.
It is appropriate that The Ghan, which is one kilometer in length, is considered to be one of the longest passenger trains in the world.
The journey of 2,979 kilometers requires 54 hours of travel time (1,851 miles). You make a few stops along the road and wander around the remote communities.
On The Ghan, there is no such thing as roughing it. This is a luxury train that goes out of its way to pamper its passengers by including all meals and tours as part of the package at no additional cost.
Day 1
My trip started at the city of Darwin, which is located in the most northern part of Australia.
Every passenger will have their own private cabin, which during the day can function as a sofa and transform into a bed during the night. Bathrooms are en suite.
The Outback Explorer Lounge offers the finest view and is the ideal location for getting to know the other passengers on the transcontinental flight.
The unlimited wine and beer is, however, the highlight of this experience.
You did indeed read that correctly. The news quickly spread throughout the community.
There were termite mound towers just outside of Darwin, and they had been ingeniously constructed on a north-south axis in order to avoid the sun's beams.
A dinner on the train is always a chance to meet new people, as you rotate tables with other passengers.
The dishes that are provided are traditional specialties from the area that you are currently traveling through. I decided to go with buffalo curry while we were in the tropical Northern Territory.
The menus provide delectable three-course meals that come complete with wine pairings.
Katherine is served by the railway when it gets to town early in the afternoon.
While everyone is enjoying their meal, the chairs in the cabin magically transform into cozy beds. My head had hardly touched the pillow when the steady beat and rocking motion of the train began to lull me to sleep. It could have been the wine, too.
Day 2
When I woke up in the morning, it appeared as though someone had changed the channel on the television that was visible through the window.
I was welcomed by a breathtaking panorama, which consisted of a crimson desert that was completely parched.
I was surprised to see that we have arrived in the Outback, which is the Australia that I had imagined.
We have reached the town of Alice Springs.
It is the quintessential outback town because of its location in the center of Australia and its distance of 1,500 kilometers from the nearest large metropolis.
The MacDonnell Ranges can be seen in the background of the town. It appears as though a massive angle grinder was used to cut through the mountain when viewed from a distance.
I went on a tour to see the Simpsons Gap, which is a magnificent chasm that has been sculpted out of the rock by water rushing across the desert.
After you've been on the Ghan for a while, you may start to have the impression that the train itself is remaining still while the scenery outside the windows continues to change.
It has an otherworldly appearance, with its blue sky and orange ground, as if one were riding a train across the surface of Mars.
A few of hours later, we made our way through the border into South Australia, which is the driest state on the driest continent on the entire planet.
During the evening of that day, we had a sandstorm, which was then followed by a thunderstorm.
Day 3
The distant outpost of Manguri is going to be visited by the train on some of its journeys. You will view the Milky Way in a way that you have never seen it before if you go far enough away from any city lights.
I was met by views of the Flinders Ranges in the morning when I was having breakfast, just in time for my arrival in Adelaide in the late morning.
The train rumbles through the countryside, passing by sheep farms and vineyards on its way to the suburbs. We have finally made it to civilized territory!
The train has arrived at the beautiful and contemporary city of Adelaide, which is the capital of the Australian state of South Australia.
Bon Voyage!
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