If you are not in a rush to get to your destination and would like an experience of a different kind with more comfortable, relaxed, clean and green travel choice, take a luxury train! One of the best and most eco-friendly ways to get around the world, comfortable tourist trains offer fun and enjoyment keeping you in touch with the spectacularly beautiful nature!
Luxury trains provide private two-person overnight compartments, some with built-in showers, along with lavish service, onboard guides, and elaborate meals. Many also include a variety of day tours at stops along the way. Most carry passengers in vintage cars from the 1920s to 1950s that have been refurbished to modern standards or in newer cars designed to look like the classics.
Here’s a list of some of the Luxury trains around the world.
Simplon-Orient-Express
Made famous in the Agatha Christie’s story ‘Mysterious murder in the Orient Express,’ the legendary Venice Simplon is the world’s most celebrated and genuine luxury train, against which all other 5-star trains are measured. The Simplon-Orient-Express excursion train still makes the traditional run from Paris to Istanbul via Budapest and Bucharest once a year (local rail conditions permitting). Most trips are shorter two to four day links on varying routes connecting London, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest. The train uses original vintage coaches upgraded to operate on modern railroads and is hauled by modern and usually electric locomotives.
Rovos Rail
Africa’s pride Rovos Rail is a deluxe train and one of the most luxurious trains in the world, founded in 1989. Its rolling stock is made up of 75 vintage train carriages and 6 locomotives; many of which have been salvaged and later entirely overhauled. Carrying a maximum of 72 passengers, Rovos Rail boasts the most spacious and stunning accommodation options in the world designed with traditional furnishings and ensuring an atmosphere of extravagant elegance and unique splendor. Rovos Rail covers the sub-continent of Africa with a variety of journeys between Cape Town and Pretoria.
Belmond’s Eastern and Oriental Express
The Simplon-Orient-Express operators also run the Eastern & Oriental Express between Bangkok and Singapore. All accommodations are in two-person cabins, including a toilet and a shower, with upper/lower beds in Pullman Class and twin beds in State Class. As is standard with luxury trains, fares include meals, lots of personal attention, and sightseeing stops, including a side trip to the River Kwai bridge. The complete trip takes two to three nights, depending on the itinerary.
Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer runs excursion trains over several Canadian routes, but the most important is the classic run between Calgary and Vancouver. Operating on Canadian Pacific tracks, this train passes through Canada’s top mountain scenery, including Banff and Lake Louise—a better route than the alternate, between Vancouver and Jasper. This is the route once traveled by Canadian Pacific’s famed transcontinental train, the Dominion, which was discontinued when Via Rail Canada took over Canadian train travel. Unlike other luxury trains, the Rocky Mountaineer travels only during daylight hours, stopping for overnight hotel stays in Kamloops. Rates include meals and overnight accommodations in Kamloops.
The Royal Scotsman
The Belmond Royal Scotsman weaves its way around the picturesque Highlands and glassy lochs of Scotland. The luxury train The Royal Scotsman on a variety of two- to seven-night excursions around Scotland and England. As with the others, The Royal Scotsman features deluxe accommodations in single, double, or twin cabins; fancy meals; onboard service; and the rest. The Royal Scotsman’s name is a neologism of the former top two British intercity trains: the Royal Scot from London to Glasgow and the Flying Scotsman from London to Edinburgh. Trains on both routes now make the trip in about four and a half hours. You can also trace all of The Royal Scotsman’s routes on ordinary trains
Great Southern Rail
Although it’s the only through train on the route, Australia’s weekly transcontinental Indian Pacific, linking Sydney (Pacific Ocean) with Perth (Indian Ocean) now runs primarily as an excursion train. It’s run by private operator Great Southern Rail. The three-night trip features varied scenery, from the Snowy Mountains near Sydney to the desolate Nullarbor Plain near Perth, and includes the world’s longest stretch of perfectly straight rail track (297 miles).
If you want to learn more about luxury trains, check out The Society of International Railway Travelers site.
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Shaun
October 21, 2015 at 4:42 pmGreat list! I have traveled on Rovos and the Rocky Moutaineer and both are UNREAL. Love train travel. Even more so when it’s one of these!
Shaun
www.thislifeintrips.com
Carmen
October 22, 2015 at 5:22 pmHi Shaun, how exciting to hear that you’ve been on two of the trains. I’m sure you had an incredible experience.
Angie Silver (@SilverSpoonLDN)
October 21, 2015 at 6:18 pmA luxury train just seems so glamorous. I’m going to book on to the Belmond train from Cusco to Machu Picchu when I’m in Peru.
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Carmen
October 22, 2015 at 5:26 pmI’ve heard from many people who have been of some of the different trains that it’s quite the adventure. The compartments are large and the trains take you through some incredible scenic paths along the way. You’ll have to tell me all about your trip when you go.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
October 23, 2015 at 1:51 pmWhat a fabulous round up, Carmen! I would love to travel on all of these, I did have an amazing journey from London to Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons restaurant on board the Belmond British Pullman last year
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
Carmen
October 24, 2015 at 10:51 amThat’s wonderful Suze that you got to experience the Belmond British Pullman train. I’m sure the food was delicious and the scenery incredible.
Valerie Price
October 23, 2015 at 5:29 pmThis is such a great list! I have always wanted to take a trip on a luxury train…it sounds like it would be such an amazing experience!
http://roadesque.com
http://ourruins.com
Carmen
October 24, 2015 at 10:49 amIt’s a great way to travel and see the countryside. Train travel is becoming more popular these days.
Pinay Flying High
October 25, 2015 at 6:57 amI have sold a package for Rovos Rail when I was working as a travel agent and the couple who took it couldn’t thank me enough for arranging it for them when they came back. It was an outstanding experience they said.
Hoping I could do it as well. 🙂
Carmen
October 25, 2015 at 12:20 pmIt’s a great feeling when you hear positive feedback from customers on a trip you booked. I guess you aren’t working as an agent anymore? I’m actually looking into becoming a travel advisor now. Many people have asked me if I arrange travel.
Jolanta | Casual Travelers
October 25, 2015 at 8:20 pmAll of these trains sound like a great adventure! I hope my family and I can do at least one or two some day. I do like falling asleep to the sound of the train though my accommodations were never this nice!
Carmen
October 26, 2015 at 2:35 amI took the bullet train from Paris to Nice and my accommodations weren’t anything like these. I remember my husband and I fighting over which bunk beds we were going to sleep in. One of the nice things about these luxury trains is that most of them have actual bathrooms with showers in each room.
Eleanor Hardy
February 15, 2016 at 1:10 pmHi Carmen! Any time I see luxury trains posted anywhere I am thrilled because that is our speciality. Traveling by luxury train is a blast — as any of our guests can tell you. Just wanted to let you know that you might want to double check that pic of the lounge of the “Royal Scotsman.” That’s not the Royal Scotsman — it’s the Golden Eagle — another fabulous train! You can see on our web site: http://www.irtsociety.com. Our list of the World’s Top 25 Trains is there.. Check out the Golden Eagle. Thanks again for featuring luxury trains — a great way to travel! Sincerely, Eleanor, President, The Society of International Railway Travelers
Carmen
February 15, 2016 at 5:22 pmHi Eleanor, Thank you for pointing that out, I made the necessary changes on the photo. I also added a link back to your site. This way if my readers want to learn more about some of the other luxury trains that are available they can through your website.
Eleanor Hardy
February 15, 2016 at 5:37 pmThank you Carmen! We will be glad to chat with any of your readers!
Eleanor Hardy
March 23, 2016 at 5:00 pmHi Carmen:Just a note: we are thrilled to be the first agency in the Western world to charter the brand-new luxury train, Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan. Here is a link to IRT’s blog post about it: http://blog.irtsociety.com/2015/12/04/a-shining-asian-constellation-japans-seven-stars-in-kyushu/
And here is our fabulous Society of International Railway Travelers journey to Japan, including the Cruise Train Seven Stars. http://www.irtsociety.com/journeyDetail.php?id=230
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:45 pmSounds great!
sarah
May 5, 2016 at 7:42 pmThese look so cool. I saw the Royal Scotsman in the Highlands one time — on my list to go back there with my mom!
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:46 pmThey are definitely worth checking out!
Elizabeth @ Compass & Fork
May 6, 2016 at 6:05 amYou could book me on any of these. They are all quite well known for their luxury experience!
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:47 pmThey are luxurious for sure!
Taylor
May 6, 2016 at 11:06 amThis is how you travel in style! I love train travel…just not Via Rail in Canada between Ottawa and Toronto which is my usual route!
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:48 pmI also love train travel, and you should check these out sometime!
Patricia
May 6, 2016 at 12:00 pmThat’s traveling in style for sure! We traveled with trains several times, from 3rd-class in Thailand, open-sleeper wagon in India, to fancy bedding in China, glass-roofed Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver, pretty awesome way to discover a country.
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:49 pmThat’s great!
Tara
May 6, 2016 at 1:15 pmI would love to take advantage of rail travel. What a romantic way to go! I’d take a ride on any of these trains, but the Orient Express would be a dream.
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:50 pmRail travel is great for anyone, and it’s a great way to see a country!
Nancy
May 6, 2016 at 7:52 pmI love train travel and these sound like amazing experiences – thanks for sharing!
Carmen Edelson
May 7, 2016 at 1:51 pmNo problem! It is quite the experience to travel luxuriously in a train!
Sandy N Vyjay
February 19, 2017 at 8:31 amThe rumble of trains, the movement of wheels, the cradle like feeling topped with the finest luxury would make you feel like never returning home. These trains would give the most luxurious hotels in the world a run for their money. A great indulgence indeed.
Jemma
April 17, 2020 at 3:37 pmWow I didn’t know train travel could be so luxurious. I’ve been meaning to book the Mountaineer!
Carmen Edelson
April 25, 2020 at 9:23 pmBookmark and definitely travel with them in the future – I absolutely LOVED my experience!
Rifat
April 18, 2020 at 9:32 amTHIS IS A GOOD POST.
Carmen Edelson
April 25, 2020 at 9:24 pmThank you so much!
amari
May 7, 2020 at 10:57 amI have always wanted to travel on the Orient Express. It is a childhood dream. Dreams do come true -:)
Carmen Edelson
May 8, 2020 at 5:21 amIt’s such an amazing train!
Roshan
October 14, 2020 at 8:31 amwell done, such an interesting post. Thanks for making us aware of all the luxurious trains all around the world.
Carmen Edelson
October 19, 2020 at 6:07 pmYou’re very welcome!