Ride through the shifting sands of Morocco, the holy cities of Saudi Arabia, and the dramatic mountains of Turkey. These five train journeys offer the most spectacular scenery in the MENA region.

Scene Traveller

Apr 01, 2025

Rolling In the Region: Five Stunning Train Journeys You Need to Take

In the Middle East and North Africa, where deserts roll endlessly, mountains rise like ancient guardians, and history whispers from every station, a train journey can be something close to magic. From the golden dunes of Morocco to the frost-laced peaks of Turkey, these five train rides serve as reminder that often times the journey matters so much more than the destination.

Oriental Desert Express, Morocco

There is no rush in the desert. No urgency, only the slow and steady movement of time. The Oriental Desert Express embraces this rhythm, rolling through Morocco’s remote eastern deserts between Oujda and Bouarfa. This is not your ordinary train ride—it is a passage through an ocean of golden dunes, jagged canyons, and forgotten outposts.

Winding through a 305 km stretch of unspoiled wilderness, the train crosses landscapes so cinematic they were chosen as a backdrop for Spectre, the 2015 James Bond film. The only interruptions? The occasional Berber village, where children chase the train as it rumbles past.

Haramain High-Speed Railway, Saudi Arabia

There is something surreal about moving at 300 km/h through a land that has been traversed by caravans for centuries. The Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Mecca and Medina, a 449 km stretch of Saudi Arabia’s most sacred terrain.

In just two hours, this sleek, modern train blurs past desert plains, rugged plateaus, and the Red Sea coastline, offering a rare glimpse into a landscape that few outside the region ever witness. This is more than just a train ride—it is a connection between past and present, between faith and movement, where the rhythm of the rails feels almost meditative.

Hejaz Railway, Jordan & Syria

The Hejaz Railway is more than a train ride—it is a relic of history, a track first laid down in 1908 to connect Damascus to Medina. Though much of the original route has fallen to time, portions of it still run in Jordan, offering a journey through canyons, desert cliffs, and the ruins of ancient civilizations.

Riding through this landscape is like flipping through the pages of a century-old travel diary. The train snakes past the rose-red cliffs of Petra, crosses the vast Wadi Rum desert—made famous by Lawrence of Arabia—and cuts through landscapes where Bedouin tribes still move with the seasons. It is a route soaked in history, where the past lingers at every stop.

Dream of the Desert Train, Saudi Arabia

Set to launch in 2026, the Dream of the Desert is not just a train—it is a moving five-star hotel. This 1,300 km journey from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat will redefine luxury train travel in the Middle East, blending Arabian heritage with modern elegance.

Think lavish suites with panoramic windows, a dining car serving locally inspired cuisine, and an onboard experience designed to immerse passengers in the vast, ever-changing desert scenery. As the train winds through Al Qassim, Hail, and Al Jouf, passengers will witness the raw beauty of Saudi Arabia—where endless dunes meet rock formations shaped by time itself.

Doğu Express, Turkey

Snow-covered mountains. Rushing rivers. Villages that feel untouched by time. The Doğu Express, a 26-hour journey from Ankara to Kars, is arguably the most breathtaking winter train ride in Turkey.

The route, stretching over 800 miles, crosses Eastern Anatolia’s dramatic landscapes—deep canyons, frost-kissed valleys, and rugged cliffs—where each sunrise paints the scenery in shades of gold and blue. In winter, the train glides through a fairytale landscape of white-draped peaks and frozen lakes, offering an intimacy with nature rarely found in modern travel.

For those who believe the best way to see a country is through a train window, this is one for the bucket list.

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