16 Great luxury train journeys (>1 day)

This 6-night journey across Andalusia starts in Seville and visits Cordoba, Baeza, Granada, Ronda, Jerez and Cadiz. It threads the deep and palpably arid valleys of Andalusia, where there can be olives from one horizon to the other.

Among its highlights are excursions to historic Seville, the riding school and sherry bodegas of Jerez, the salt marshes of the Donana National Park, Ronda’s breathtaking gorge, the Alhambra in Granada and the stunning Mezquita in Cordoba.

The lounge, bar and restaurant carriages, dating from 1928–30, have been beautifully restored, giving a feeling of timeless elegance as well as spacious comfort thanks to the wider Iberian track gauge. The sleeping cars are more recent, with generous-sized en suite cabins. The restaurants are of a high standard.

Belmond has become a byword for luxury train travel, and South America’s first luxury sleeping-car train has become the way to explore the austere beauty of the altiplano south of Cusco.

The two-night tour between Cusco and Arequipa takes in the journey takes in the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca, cave art thousands of years old, and the World Heritage Site of Arequipa. Wild grasses cover the hillsides rising up to snowy summits until the train descends to more fertile country dotted with adobe villages.

As a new train, it’s beautifully designed and has every amenity, but it inevitably lacks that sense of authenticity from times gone by.

This all en-suite train with lounge car, dining cars and butler service has been a byword for luxury travel since 1946.

Linking Cape Town to Pretoria, the 31-hour journey crosses the wide-open landscapes of Orange Free State and the coastal mountains of Cape Province. At select times, you can continue a further 19 hours to the Kruger National Park.

This 1,377-mile, overnight journey along the Pacific Ocean between Seattle and Los Angeles is a dramatic journey of almost unsurpassed scenery.

South of Tacoma the coastal scenery has views across Puget Sound of the Olympic Mountains, while inland rises the volcanic peak of Mount Helens. The frequent rattle of carriage wheels over iron bridges testifies to the many river crossings before they meet the sea.

Landscapes range from soft-fruit farms to buttes, before the train winds into the Cascade Mountains, clothed in Douglas firs and streaked with waterfalls. White pelicans may be seen in the vast Upper Klamath Lake as the train drops towards the Californian border with views of the highest peak, Mount Shasta, at 14,1600 feet.

This luxury train journey began operating through the state of Maharashtra in southern India in 2005.

Densely forested hills are a common backdrop to areas of coarse grasses and scrub edging areas of cultivation. The richness of post-monsoon colours gradually give way to ochres and browns as memory of the rains fades.

Six different itineraries, all lasting eight days, encompass a variety of bucket list experiences, though some are weighted towards wildlife or heritage, for example. Highlights include the 5th-century Ellora Caves, maharajas’ palaces, the Konkan coast and Sindhudurg Fort, and Asiatic lions in Gir Forest National Park.

India’s luxury trains benefit from the country’s wider track gauge, meaning more space for the 80 passengers. All sleeping cars are en suite. Besides lounge and bar cars, there is a spa car with sauna and a small gym. Among the gastronomic delights onboard are a wine tasting at one of India’s top vineyards and a Goan feast, and the cuisine on the train encompasses Maharashtrian, Goan, Chines and continental dishes.

Introduced in 2008, the Danube Express is your introduction the cities and sights of eastern European countries: Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey.

The varied itineraries range from 7–13 days, some with a night in a hotel en route. Off-train excursions include cultural sites, caves, boat cruises and heritage railways.

The train is not as luxurious as others, and lacks the period charms of the Orient Express, but the en-suite cabins are a generous size and well designed. Regional specialities are served in the three-course meals with free-flowing house wine and beer, and there is a lounge/bar car with piano.

Since its green and cream carriages took to the tracks in 1993, the Eastern & Oriental Express has become the ultimate introduction to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos.

Exquisitely finished local wood veneers and lacquered Chinese panels evoke the Orient, and the dining cars are inlaid with wood and finished with antique brass fittings. The bar car is the social hub, and the observation car allows one to feel part of the steamy and exotic jungle landscapes as the train crosses from the peninsula’s west to east coast.

The itineraries range from 2–4 days and include adventurous excursions: a raft river cruise, hill trek, bike tour through paddy fields and even a Thai cookery course. Cultural and historical sites include the majestic Ubudiah Mosque, the treasure-filled Sultan Shah Gallery and the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre beside the River Kwai.

Inaugurated in 2008, this purple-liveried train was refurbished for a relaunch in 2020 for travel through Karnataka in south-west India.

It’s one of the most elaborately and imaginatively decorated luxury trains, with hand-carved wooden panels on roof and wall panels, furniture inspired by the architecture of Mysore and Hoysala, and hand-woven silk bed sheets emulating those for the Maharajas of Mysore. The dining cars have interiors inspired by historic temples.

There are three alternative itineraries. The figure-of-eight ‘Pride of Karnataka’ offers a broad-brush introduction to the varied highlights of the state by covering a national park, Mysore’s royal heritage, the evocative ruins at Hampi, Goa and other cultural sites.

‘Jewels of the South’ focuses on cultural monuments to give an insight into pre-colonial history and architecture – Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Kochi and Mysore – while ‘Glimpses’ visits Bandipur, Mysore and Hampi.

Crossing Australia east-west from the Indian to Pacific oceans, this is a 4,352km four-day journey in a modern train with period design touches. It links Perth, Adelaide and Sydney and provides a perfect introduction to the country’s variety of landscapes – and its size.

Among the scenic highlights of the journey are the wheatfields of Western Australia, the flat expanse of the Nullarbor Plain, the sand dunes around Menindee Lakes, the hills of the Great Dividing Range and the Blue Mountains near Sydney.

There are stops to explore Broken Hill’s mining history, the world-class Barossa Valley wine region, regional art galleries and even a notorious drag show in Adelaide.

Locally sourced ingredients are used in the art deco Queen Adelaide dining car to produce such sumptuous dishes, such as saltwater barramundi and kangaroo, served with excellent Australian wine.

Evoking the era of the British Raj, this ‘hotel’ train is a fabulously luxurious way to discover some of the highlights of Rajasthan. There are currently four different itineraries namely ‘Heritage of India’, ‘Treasures of India’, ‘The Indian Panorama’ and ‘The Indian Splendour’.

Among the places visited for excursions are the palace cities of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Gwalior and Jaipur, Agra for the Taj Mahal, and the reserve at Ranthambore for tiger safaris. One tour strays into Uttar Pradesh for Varanasi and Lucknow. Musicians and dancers are often laid on at stops.

It’s a journey for those who want to see the best of India’s ‘Golden Triangle’ in cocooned comfort, and to experience it in true British Raj style.

Since its inauguration in 1990, there has been no better way to enjoy the fabulous mountain landscapes of the Rockies in British Columbia and Alberta than from the three Rocky Mountaineer trains.

The sheer scale of the Rockies never fails to impress. Mountains are never out of view, and often the train hugs a water course which the railway builders chose to follow. On sighting wildlife, the engineer obligingly slows and radios the train crew to tell them to look out for a bear on the right, an elk on the left.

The modern, casual train has been designed to maximise window area and provide space enough for people to move round and chat with others. The whole experience is greatly enhanced by the convivial atmosphere, but also the knowledge and passion of the train crew in relaying stories and information.

It’s the endlessly fascinating South African scenery that sets the train apart, with exciting excursions into Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe to see some of Africa’s top sights, like the Cape Winelands, Victoria Falls, Etosha National Park and the massive ochre dunes of Sossusvlei.

The carriages have a period feel with wood panelling throughout and no TVs or radios, which maintains the time-warp atmosphere and encourages sociability – a hallmark of Rovos Rail. The atmosphere is enhanced by formality (jacket and tie required for dinner).

Admirable attention to detail and an emphasis on top-notch food and wines are key elements of the Rovos Rail experience. Fresh local ingredients are used to produce meals to a very high standard, with an emphasis on traditional dishes such as game (springbok carpaccio salad) and excellent South African wines.

Europe’s most luxurious ‘hotel train’ offers various itineraries around Scotland – all of which depart from Edinburgh Waverley station – to appeal to those interested in country houses, castles, gardens, fine Scottish whisky and spectacular highland landscapes.

The train has been constructed from modern carriages to mimic the ambience of a country-house hotel, with marquetry panelling and high-quality fabrics throughout. Cabins are unusually spacious, and there’s an observation car with open verandah, armchairs and sofas for unparalleled comfort.

Expect excellent fine dining onboard using local ingredients to produce sophisticated French-leaning cuisine. Angus cattle are behind outstanding signature fillet steaks. There’s a good selection of wines and malt whiskies.

This half-mile-long air-conditioned train travels from Darwin, in Australia’s far north, to Australia’s south coast at Adelaide, via Alice Springs. A modern train, it’s comfortable rather than luxurious – more like a four-star hotel on wheels – but provides a convenient way to get in to see Australia’s famed ‘Red Centre’.

Once the fertile areas north of Adelaide are left behind, the landscape becomes progressively more empty and harsh, with long gently undulating vistas to the horizon across ranches the size of Belgium – one wonders how livestock can find any sustenance in such sun-baked country.

Stops en route provide visceral experiences of life in places at the limits for human habitation. On the (recommended) longer Ghan Expedition route, there are stops at Katherine for a river cruise to the Nitmiluk Gorge, the underground opal mine at Manguri, and a longer stop with various options at Alice Springs; a scenic flight to magnificent Uluru, the Flying Doctor Service Museum, Anzac Hill, the Women Pioneers’ Hall of Fame, a reptile centre and the wonderfully atmospheric Telegraph Station. Options on the three-day option are naturally more limited.

Adding to the experience, dishes onboard use regional ingredients to produce such dishes as Maggie Beer ‘Pheasant Farm’ Pate from the Barossa Valley or Kangaroo Tenderloin.

This classic journey offers an unrivalled insight into Russia’s vastness, and this particular train the best way to travel it in style.

The 15-day journey begins in Moscow and ends in Vladivostok, stopping en route at Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude and Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia.

Highlights along the way include St Basil’s Cathedral, the fortress in Kazan – the spot in Ekaterinburg where the Romanovs were murdered – the classic wood buildings of Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’, and ancient Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. A BBQ is held by the lake followed by a visit to a typical lake settlement.

Another good option is through an untouched part of Siberia on the Baikal-Amur Magistral (BAM) route north of the classic route, leaving it at Novosibirsk. The train winds through the Abakan and Sayan mountains to join the BAM at Taishet. Off-train excursions are made to a monumental hydro-electric dam, museums, incongruous sand dunes and an enclave of Soviet architecture.

Facilities onboard are plentiful (including showers with underfloor heating), while the wider Russian track gauge creates space for generous sofas in the lounge car. Meals are served in the two elegantly appointed dining cars; the food is of a high standard, based on Russian cuisine, and infused where possible with local ingredients such as fish unique to Lake Baikal, caviar and Borsch.

The Orient Express is the most iconic, romantic and historic of tourist trains – and a sumptuous way to combine visits to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Verona and Venice.

The original began its service between Paris and Istanbul in 1883 and ran that route for nearly a century before changing its final destination to Vienna. The last service ran in 2007. Today the name has become synonymous with the luxury private operator, whose services and routes hark back to the original line.

The superbly restored period carriages offer an authentic experience of inter-war rail travel at its best. Indeed, it’s the quality of the decor that distinguishes the Orient Express from the competition: exquisite art deco marquetry and glass panels, and generous armchair seats in the three dining cars.

Known for its exceptional onboard cuisine, the food is to Michelin-star standard. The supremely elegant dining experience with silverware, crystal glass and starched napery is the highlight of the train for many guests.