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Getting to a destination is often seen as the least exciting part of a trip—but what if the journey itself was part of the magic? While planes and highways are the default for most travelers, some of the world’s most breathtaking places are best approached in ways that are slower, quieter, and far more memorable.
These underrated travel methods not only take you somewhere beautiful—they change the way you experience getting there.
Scenic trains that move with the landscape
High-speed rail might be efficient, but slow scenic trains offer something different: a front-row seat to the world unfolding outside your window. Routes like the Glacier Express in Switzerland or the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada wind through mountains, valleys, and untouched wilderness that you’d never glimpse from the sky.
You don’t just arrive—you witness the geography changing in real time. Meals are served, stories are told, and you’re invited to lean into the rhythm of the rails.
Some of the best views happen between the destinations. That’s the gift of train travel: it makes you present in the in-between.
River cruises and small-ship sailing
Ocean cruises are well-known, but river cruises and small-ship journeys are often overlooked—and they offer an entirely different kind of intimacy with the places you visit.
Whether you’re floating through the Douro Valley in Portugal or sailing among the limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay, water becomes a frame for beauty. You’ll dock directly in the heart of towns and villages, skip long travel days, and watch the world go by from the deck of your moving hotel.
Even traditional cruises can offer this feeling in certain regions. An Eastern Caribbean cruise, for example, gives you the chance to approach small islands by sea, where white-sand beaches and pastel towns rise up to meet you with almost cinematic serenity. The approach itself becomes part of the story.
Long-distance ferries that reveal hidden coasts
Ferries don’t just get you from point A to B—they connect communities and unveil coastlines that are often hidden to land travelers. In places like Norway, Croatia, or the Greek Islands, ferries glide past rocky cliffs, seaside monasteries, and villages you might otherwise miss.
Many of these routes are used by locals as everyday transport, giving you an authentic window into regional life. And when the schedule lines up just right, the ferry becomes more than transportation—it becomes a sunset cruise with real purpose.
Hiking into remote destinations
Some of the world’s most beautiful places can’t be reached by road—or at least not entirely. Think Machu Picchu, the villages of the Cinque Terre, or the refuge huts of the Dolomites. You get there by hiking, slowly earning each view with your steps.
Walking into a destination brings a deeper sense of arrival. You’ve worked for it. You’ve felt the terrain. You’ve had time to think and breathe and anticipate what’s waiting around the bend.
For travelers who want a full-body experience, there’s nothing quite like a journey that you walk into, trail by trail.
Riding the rails on local commuter trains
Not every beautiful journey requires a luxury train. Sometimes, it’s the quiet charm of local commuter trains that makes a trip feel special. In Japan, for instance, slow trains snake through rice paddies, forests, and coastal towns with a kind of graceful ease. You share the ride with schoolchildren, commuters, and grandmothers carrying vegetables.
These experiences may not be glamorous—but they’re rich in everyday beauty. They give you a sense of how people live, how the countryside stretches, and how space flows differently when you’re not rushing through it.
Arriving by bike, board, or horseback
For the truly adventurous, there are other ways to arrive: bikepacking to a mountain lake, stand-up paddleboarding into a hidden cove, or riding horseback into a desert canyon. These methods aren’t practical for every trip—but when they fit, they offer an unfiltered connection with the landscape.
There’s something unforgettable about gliding into a quiet bay under your own power, or watching a sunrise crest over hills you’ve climbed on two wheels. These aren’t just arrivals—they’re accomplishments.
Let the journey reshape your sense of place
The most beautiful places in the world aren’t just defined by what they look like—but how you feel when you arrive. And sometimes, how you get there is what creates that feeling. Whether it’s a ferry pulling into a sleepy port, a train carving through mountains, or a cruise ship approaching a turquoise shoreline at dawn, these journeys offer more than convenience.
They offer connection, curiosity, and awe.
So the next time you’re planning a trip, pause before you click “book flight.” Ask yourself—what if there’s a better way to arrive?
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