There is a journey that Jules Verne’s novels would have struggled to imagine. A new train service has created the longest train route in the world: 21 days, 13 countries, for a total of about 11,600 miles — almost 19,000 kilometers. All made possible by a new railway connection between Laos and China, which finally allows you to travel from Lisbon to Singapore entirely by rail.
A slow, conscious and extraordinarily rich alternative to the plane. Exactly the type of trip that, in an era in which sustainable tourism is no longer a niche option but a necessity, deserves to be told.
From Lisbon to Singapore: the route
The journey starts from Lagos, in southern Portugal, and ends in Singapore. In between, a whole world to slowly cross.
From Lagos, the route reaches the Portuguese capital Lisbon, then moves to the Basque region of Spain, passing through France, Russia, China, Vietnam and Thailand, before arriving in Singapore. Along the way, some of the most iconic cities on the planet: Paris, Moscow, Beijing and Bangkok.
The longest stretch is the one from Paris to Moscow: 40 consecutive hours, an immersion in the European and Russian landscape that is difficult to forget. The journey includes 11 stops in total, giving passengers the chance to disembark, explore and catch their breath.
It is worth pointing out that this is not a single train: the route is operated by multiple railway companies and requires a good deal of organisation. In some sections, such as between Vietnam and Cambodia and between Malaysia and Singapore, it is necessary to complete the connection by bus.
Slow, but not expensive
One of the most surprising aspects concerns the price. The overall cost of the trip is around 1,200 euros, a figure comparable to that of a direct flight from Portugal to Singapore.
The economic savings compared to the plane are therefore minimal, but the added value is incalculable: landscapes that change hour after hour, encounters, cultures, gradual transitions between one world and another. Along the route you can stop for overnight stays at intermediate destinations, get off the train and explore.
The only bureaucracy to take into account: seven separate visas are required to complete the entire process. A detail that requires advance planning, but is part of the adventure.
Why this journey makes sense today
At a time when the environmental impact of aviation is in the global spotlight, such a trip represents a radically different choice. The train emits on average between 70 and 90% less CO₂ than a flight of the same distance. Of course, 21 days is not a weekend, and not everyone can afford a month off from work. But for those who have the time and desire, this is probably the trip of a lifetime.
The route was made possible by the opening of the Laos-China railway, an infrastructure that has been awaited for years and which should also contribute to the economic development of Laos by allowing the transport of people from China across the country. A network that is expanding, an alternative to the plane that is becoming more and more concrete.
The previous record, it must be said, belonged to the rail link from London to Singapore. Now the record moves even further west, towards the Atlantic. The train, once again, beats everyone.
