Trains aren’t always easy to love. Ask someone on a packed BTS carriage what word first springs to mind when you say “railway” and chances are it’ll be anything except “adventure.” But some people appreciate that there’s something rather special about railways; something about their gloriously straight lines and the private path they carve, something that captures the imagination like no other form of transport can.
Asia actually offers some of the world’s most exciting train journeys; whether it’s taking a Shinkansen through the heart of Japan, or peering out from a pressurized cabin as you’re whisked up to Lhasa. Here, though, are three rather more unusual railway adventures, by turns romantic, remote and mysterious. All of them offer a perspective on the final destination that you simply won’t find by any other means.

The Eastern & Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok

One glimpse of the teakwood-panelled, open-air observation car at the back of the train and you’ll realize there’s still nothing else quite like this. Actually though, it’s not the luxury that impresses (though it certainly helps) or the cozy twin bed cabin (we barely spent any time there), so much as just how darn fun the whole thing is.

Like food? Like making new friends? Th­en you’re in luck. You don’t have to interact with anyone other than your travelling partner, but if you’ve any sense you’ll welcome the opportunity to dine with different people at every meal. And boy, are there a lot of meals­—rich, three or four-course fine dining affairs that fill half the day (and that’s not counting breakfast in bed). The rest of the time is best spent in the observation car, drinking gin and channelling your best Somerset Maugham. At Butterworth, and again at the River Kwai, you disembark for a short tour of the sights, but frankly you’re all too conscious that this is time you’re not spending in the piano lounge with a glass in hand. And the scenery? That’s pretty good, too, especially once you cross the Thai border; if you’re lucky, the train slows down for a better view of the sunset. As you’d imagine, it’s mostly couples on board, and the average age hovers around 50, but younger folk and even solo travellers won’t find themselves short of conversation (or food)—we certainly didn’t. It’s not cheap, but if money’s no issue (or you’re looking to break the bank for a once-in-a-lifetime trip), it’s unforgettable for all the right reasons.

Essentials

Singapore-Bangkok on the Eastern & Oriental Express is a three-day/two-night trip. Prices start at US$2,320 (B72,000) per person (based on sharing a cabin) and include all meals and tours. Doing the journey in reverse takes four days/three nights (same prices). Log on to http://tiny.cc/4a7ag for scheduling info and more.

The 10.10 from Pyongyang to Beijing

Boarding the train in Pyongyang is a rather special moment. For the first time since entering North Korea several days earlier, you’re separated from your escort and reunited with your mobile phone. You can also look forward to the best part of a day taking in the countryside all the way north to the border, with a quick stop at a railway station microbrewery (yes, seriously) along the way. The train rattles through largely undeveloped countryside, criss-crossed by footpaths and ordinary people doing ordinary things in this extraordinary country. All in all, it’s by far the most satisfying part of the trip, since you’re free to just watch the world go by, freed from the tour bus commentary and the need to have every photo you take pre-approved.

It’s pretty comfortable on board, too (though if you come to North Korea expecting fine Egyptian cottons and ensuite showers, you’re either deluded or else good friends with Kim Jong-Il). If you’ve ever travelled hard sleeper in China you’ll know what to expect: Narrow, but comfy bunks and a lively dining car (a good chance to share the dubious grain alcohol you bought on a whim in Pyongyang; the one with a snake carcass coiled at the bottom of the bottle).

It’ll be getting dark by the time you reach the border, and you have the option of getting off and spending a night or two discovering the charms of Dandong, on the Chinese side of the Yalu River. Think Kim Jong-il memorabilia, a Museum to Commemorate Aiding Korea against US Aggression, and a Canadian-run cafe serving “The Best Coffee This Side of the Border.” Or else you can sleep through the night and wake up the following morning in Beijing. Compared to where you’ve just come from, it’ll seem like the most liberal city on Earth.

Essentials

Koryo Tours (www.koryotours.com) can solve all your North Korean needs (there’s no such thing as independent travel there). Their last tour of 2011 runs from Nov 19-23/24 and costs €990 (B41,850)—it’s the cheapest one of the year—including an air ticket from Beijing and the train journey. Stop-overs in Dandong cost extra. Thai Airways (www.thaiairways.com) flies direct to Beijing, where the tour starts, from around B22,205.

The Only* Railway in Laos

The train that’s left is a rusting wreck, but the 7km of abandoned track that runs across the tranquil islets of Don Det and Don Khon in southern Laos’ 4,000 Islands archipelago (yes, it’s just as amazing as it sounds), is still quite an adventure, even if you’re no rail buff. Built by the French in the late nineteenth century and abandoned around the time of WWII, it stands testament to their attempts to transform the Mekhong into a navigable waterway. They were ultimately defeated by the nearby Khone Pha Pheng waterfall (Asia’s largest), a still awe-inspiring sight, all the better appreciated if your plans for imperial expansion don’t hang on it.

Nowadays the erstwhile rail line is a pleasantly sedate place to stroll or cycle (no rails remain) amid rice fields and jungle, with the chance to peer across to Cambodia at the southern end, and the arched viaduct connecting the two islands making for a popular photo spot. “Popular” is a relative term though; this southern section of Laos sees far fewer visitors than Luang Prabang and the like; even if the three-way draw of the railway, the falls and the (unlikely) prospect of catching sight of an Irrawaddy dolphin guarantees a good number of Thai day-trippers mingling with the backpackers.

Essentials

Lao Airlines (www.laoairlines.com) flies direct to and from Pakse for around US$300 (B9,000, including taxes). From Pakse it’s a 2.5-3hr bus ride (B250) to Ban Nakasang, which is a quick boat ride from Don Det.

Once you’re finally there, stay at the Sala Don Khone (www.saladonekone.com), a restored French dispensary building a short walk from the viaduct, offering suites, converted outhouses and even floating bungalows, from US$35 (B1,085) per night. It sure beats slumming it in a fanless, one-room hut like the gap year kids.

* Since 2009, there’s been a short section of track from the Thai border towards Tha Na Laeng in Vientiane. But there’s not a whiff of romance to it; and it’s over before you’ve even begun. So we’re ignoring it. Fun fact: The only other Asian country without a railway is Bhutan.