From sleds pulled by dogs to boats driven by singing gondoliers, there are many cool and interesting ways of getting around all over the world. For travelers, these unique means of transportation offer a distinctive way to see a destination. Many of these unusual journeys provide an unforgettable experience that ordinary buses, planes, trains and cars just don’t cut it!
Japanese Speed Trains
Japan is home to some of the fastest trains in the world! Up and running from 2027, the Linear Chuo Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka will reach speeds of up to 505 kilometres per hour. With the fastest speeds of any train in the world, the maglev line will connect Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes and Tokyo and Osaka in 67 minutes.
Suspension Railway
Opened in 1901, the Wuppertal Schwebebahn is the oldest elevated railway with hanging cars in the world. Covering more than 13 kilometres, more than 80,000 people use the railway every day to get around this German city. Wuppertal is renowned for its many greenspaces, and the Schwebebahn is a great means to get to many of the city’s woodland paths and parks.
Gondola
Venice’s canals are best explored on wood-carved gondolas propelled by singing gondoliers. These black boats that are instantly associated with this Italian city. If you are travelling on a budget but still want to experience Venice from the water, considering taking a ferry or waterbus. These water taxis are a favorite among locals and they also link many of the city’s legendary attractions.
Dogsledding
Imagine leading your own team of four or six dogs across scenic routes close to the Arctic Circle. Dogsledding is an extraordinary opportunity to go through wintery landscapes. Enjoy scenic trips in Norway’s Svartisen and Jotunheimen national parks while spending the night in a wooden lodge nestled in the forest. Or glide across snow and ice along historic routes in Alaska and the Yukon, including the 1,770-kilometres Iditarod Trail between in northwestern Alaska.
Felucca
With its laten-rigged sails rising above the water, a felucca slowly sailing down the Nile is an iconic image seared in our imagination when we think of Egypt. These traditional sailboats have transported people up and down the river for centuries, even during the time of the Pharaohs. A multi-day journey between Luxor and Aswan is a relaxing and memorable way to explore Egypt and the many temples between the two cities.
There are thousands of unique forms of transportation around the world. Some have been around for centuries, while others use the latest technology to move people as quickly and comfortably as possible. Whether you take a boat trip on vessels that have sailed rivers for centuries or on an ultra-modern bullet train that speeds between cities in minutes, each of these transport options offers an exceptional way to visit a city or experience a landscape.
