Take a night train

Taking a night train means boarding in the evening, sleeping in a bunk while the country slides past, and waking up somewhere new. It saves a night's hotel and a day of travel, and it's the calmest way to cover a long distance: no airport security, no hurry, and a window seat for the sunrise.

Where to do it

The Caledonian Sleeper, United Kingdom

From London Euston to the Scottish Highlands (Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen) and to Edinburgh and Glasgow. On the Fort William route you wake to the empty moorland of Rannoch. It runs Sunday to Friday nights only, and the private rooms on this United Kingdom sleeper sell out first.

Nightjet, Austria

Austria's railway runs sleepers across Europe from Vienna and Munich, including Vienna to Amsterdam and Munich to Rome. Choose a seat, a couchette or a sleeper cabin; there are women-only couchettes too. Routes from Austria change each December, so check the current timetable before you plan around one.

Stockholm to Narvik, Sweden

A long night north through the forests of Sweden, across the Arctic Circle, to Abisko's mountains and the fjord town of Narvik in Norway. Get off at Abisko for the Arctic Circle line and northern lights. In winter, delays are part of the trip.

Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto, Japan

Japan's last regular sleeper train leaves Tokyo late in the evening and splits in the night, one half for Izumo, the other for Takamatsu on Shikoku. The cheapest places are open carpeted berths; the cabins are small and private. Tickets in Japan go on sale a month ahead and often sell out in minutes.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Thailand

A classic first sleeper: in second class, seats fold into curtained bunks after dinner, and you wake to green hills in the north of Thailand. Lower berths are a little wider and have the window. Expect it to run late.

Hanoi to Huế, Vietnam

The north-south railway of Vietnam has four-berth soft-sleeper cabins, with Huế reached the next morning. Carry on to Da Nang by day for the coast at the Hải Vân pass. Bring snacks: food on board is basic.

Cairo to Aswan, Egypt

A sleeping-car train runs along the Nile overnight, with dinner and breakfast served in the cabin and a stop at Luxor on the way. It's the easy way to start a Nile trip in Egypt without an early flight.

Delhi to Mumbai, India

The Rajdhani Express trains link Delhi with Mumbai and other big cities overnight, in air-conditioned sleeper classes, with meals usually included in the fare. Book early on the official IRCTC site; India's railways also hold a small quota of seats for foreign tourists.

How to make it happen

• Know your berth. A seat is cheapest and hardest; a couchette is a shared compartment of four or six bunks; a sleeper is a private cabin for one to three people with a washbasin or even a shower.
• Book early for privacy. Shared bunks are usually still free near the date, private cabins rarely are.
• Pick the lower bunk if you want the window and easy access, the upper if you want privacy from the corridor.
• Pack a small night bag: earplugs, an eye mask, water, slippers, a warm layer and a charger, so your big bag can stay closed.
• Keep valuables with you. Lock the compartment door at night and sleep with your phone and passport inside your berth.
• Cross a border while you sleep. Many sleepers are international; see our border-crossing line.