The allure of luxury train travel can excite the most jaded of jet-setters. It's not merely about getting from point A to B. It's all about the in-between! It is an extravagant, meticulously curated experience where every detail, from the plush upholstery to the exquisite dining, is a nod to a bygone era of glamour and sophistication. Something we could all do with a dollop of. Think The Lady Vanishes, Some Like it Hot, and The Murder on The Orient Express; the glamour of the train has been a staple in Hollywood, and now let's make it a staple in our lives.
We write this knowing full well these are out of reach for many of us, but as with everything in Tat we do like to think above our means. If you are interested in some lower-cost train journey options, have a gander at our Substack, Our top picks for the ultimate holiday destinations by train.
Departs From: Calgary, Alberta
Stops: Through British Columbia
Duration: 4 Nights, 5 Days
Price From: $14000 CAD / person
Facts: Built between 1916 and 1931. With guests such as King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh, US President John F Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Winston Churchill.
Accommodation: All guest rooms are equipped with modern conveniences, including a private three-piece en-suite, plush bathrobes, luxury amenities and an in-room safe.
Departs From: Quy Nhon
Stops: Straight to Nha Trang
Duration: 6 hours
Price From: $420 per person
Facts: Tickets include a luxury afternoon tea experience with local caviar, Vietnamese artisanal cheeses and a selection of cold cuts, free-flow selected wine, cocktails, mocktails, teas, coffee and soft drinks, plus a 15-minute head and shoulder treatment.
Accommodation: Includes a sit-up bar, a designated area for head and shoulder treatments, restroom facilities, six private booths with two comfortable seats per booth, including power outlets, charging stations, amenity baskets featuring pillows, blankets and additional essentials, plus complimentary Wi-Fi, and a ‘Discovery Book’. Depending on the journey route, there is an option for a sleeper booth. (Quy Nhon to Da Nang.)
Departs From: Dar es Salaam
Stops: Selous Game Reserve, Makambako, Chisimba Falla, Victoria Falls, Madikwe Game Reserve, Pretoria, Kimberley, Matjiesfontein, Cape Town
Duration: 15 Nights
Price From: $25,950
Accommodation: Royal Suites - The wood-panelled sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. The Royals each take up half a carriage with their own private lounge area and en-suite bathroom with Victorian bath, separate shower, toilet and basin. They accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily.
Departs From: Venice
Stops: Venice, Trieste, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Skopje, Sofia, Plovdiv, Istanbul
Duration: 11 Days
Price From: $18,495
Facts: Originally founded as GW Travel Ltd in 1989, with Tim Littler as their President & Founder.
Accommodation: Each deluxe sleeper carriage has just five spacious yet intimate en-suite cabins offering every convenience and comfort so you may sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as it rolls by. The Bar Lounge Car and Restaurant Cars will host an entertaining and enlightening range of activities, such as language lessons and engaging talks by expert lecturers on local history and culture. In the evening, enjoy the sounds of the resident pianist playing in the Bar Lounge Car. Every night, the bar stays open until the last person leaves.
Departs From: Delhi
Stops: Sawai Madhopur, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Ellora Caves and Mumbai
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Price From: £5,174
Facts: While the Ranthambore National Park will thrill you, the Taj Mahal will soothe your senses. On one hand the streets of Udaipur and Jaipur will fill your sight with hues, and then the rusty rugged landscape of Ellora Caves would pick your collar-backs and slowly land you on the land of history. That is just a glimpse of all that Indian Odyssey holds for you. Deccan Odyssey with its luxurious amenities and gracious services is reminiscent of the lifestyle lived by the Maharajas.
Accommodation: All the cabins are spacious enough where guests can roam freely. The decoration of each coach reflects a particular era of the Deccan milieu and is creatively outfitted with facilities like personal safe, telephone, attached bathroom, air-conditioning and a personal attendant on the round the clock service of the guests.
The Orient Express - Beginning in 2025
Facts: Beginning in 2025, The Orient Express will invite travellers to relive the legend aboard 17 original Orient Express cars dating back to the 1920s
and 1930s, adorned with exceptional
décor – a set of cars formerly known
as the ‘Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express.’ Reimagined by architect Maxime d’Angeac. An original design inspired by the 1920s, created with the codes of contemporary luxury.
Accommodation: The partitions are covered with precious wood and a leather wall that reinterprets Suzanne Lalique’s famous “rail” motifs. The headboards are covered with wooden embroidery with mother-of-pearl and bronze beads. A carpet “comet” is an invitation to reverie. The nooks are adorned with Lalique’s original “Blackbirds & grapes” panels, recovered from the original Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient Express car. By “Day”, the sofa and settee invite you to rest, relax and read. A 2 x 1.40-meter bed invites travellers for a night of deep sleep. Distinctive and surprisingly comfortable, the bathroom with sliding doors is adorned with marble, and the toilets and dressing room complete the beautiful layout.
Departs From: Edinburgh
Stops: Glenfinnan, Mount Stuart, Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh, Boat of Garten, Rothiemurchus, Edinburgh
Duration: 7 Nights
Price From: £4,000
Facts: Their luxury train first swept across the rails in 1985. Originally composed of sleeping cars and three dining carriages, its lacquer-polished wooden panels and warm tonal fabrics perfected the Edwardian country-house appeal and the birth of an opulent legend.
Accommodation: Step into a timeless retreat of folkloric symbols and sophisticated tweeds, where privacy, comfort and indulgence await. Personal butler service, Indulgent cabin amenities, in-cabin private dining on request, one complimentary spa treatment per guest, and private arrival and departure transfers.
Departs From: Pretoria
Stops: Kimberley, Upington & The Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Kolmanskop & Luderitz, Keetmanshoop & Garas Park, Sossusvlei, Windhoek, Cheetah Conservaion Project, Etosha
National Park and Walvis Bay
Duration: 11 Nights
Price From: R165 000
Accommodation: Includes: Double or twin beds, Daytime sofa setting, En-suite with shower, toilet and basin, Fold-up writing desk, Luggage shelf, Cupboards, Safe, Air conditioning, Tea facilities, Bespoke amenities, Robes and slippers, Hairdryer (fixed or plug-in), Shaver plugs (2-pin), USB ports, Safety glasses, Emergency torch, Fire extinguisher, Laundry bag, Shoe bag, Internal telephone system and Room service.
Departs From: Bengaluru
Stops: Nanjangud, Mysore, Halebidu, Chikamgaluru, Hospet, Goa, Bengaluru
Duration: 5 Nights/6 Days
Price From: $3560
Facts: Destinations on the Golden Chariot route have been chosen to showcase the architecture, culture and history of this region.
Accommodation: Accommodation in double/ twin bedded cabins with en suite bathrooms, all meals, soft beverages, house brands of Indian wines, beer and spirits, butler service, guided off-train excursions as illustrated in the journeys inclusive of entrance fees, still camera fee, transport and services of a guide. complimentary tea, coffee, packaged drinking water on board, and porterage at stations.
Departs From: Rome
Stops: Portofino & Venice
Duration: 3 Days/ 2 Nights
Price From: Deposit of 500€ per cabin, contacting them via the website.
Facts: Almost 140 years ago, Georges Nagelmackers made his dream come true by launching the first luxury Orient Express trains throughout Europe. Today, the legend has been reborn in Italy and you are in- vited to embark on a fascinating journey aboard the La Dolce Vita trains.
Accommodation: True master bedrooms with a bedroom (with the option of a twin room) equipped with a sofa, a table, two armchairs and a private bathroom. The cheerful design alternates shades of orange, terracotta and purple, and the brass finishes make for an authentic touch. The smoked mirror walls, the glossy lacquered “burnt sienna” ceiling, the carpets and curtains in precious fabrics signed by Dimorestudio, as well as the lighting fixtures by the great masters of twentieth-century design, add an extra touch of soul to the decor.
Departs From: Singapore
Stops: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, West-coast line, Butterworth, Johor and Singapore.
Duration: 3 Nights
Price From: $4,150 per passenger
Facts: A story 30 years in the making, the Eastern & Oriental Express has been narrating adventures since its inaugural journey from Bangkok to Singapore in 1993. After American businessman James B Sherwood purchased the luxury train carriages in Japan, these were remodelled in Singapore with elegance, echoing the spirit of ancient Indochina. Today, the sister of the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient Express, A Belmond Train, takes you on a grand journey in Southeast Asia to capture the heart of Malaysia.
Accommodation: (State Cabin) The light, airy State Cabins of the Eastern & Oriental Express connect you to the passing landscapes outside. Recline in spacious elegance by day; toast the day’s adventures with a nightcap before settling into two single beds at floor level at night. Marvel at the unique designs of the State Cabins, as Malaysia rushes by.
Rocky Mountaineer - Journey Through The Clouds Classic
Departs From: Vancouver
Destinations: Kamloops and Jasper
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Price From: £1,814
Facts: 1990 Founded by Peter Armstrong. In 1995, it featured bi-level rail cars with dome windows, stunning panoramic views on the upper level, and large windows in the lower-level dining area where meals are freshly prepared from a selection of regionally inspired dishes.
Accommodation: National Parks Pass, five-night hotel with two breakfasts and two lunches onboard.
Departs From: Darwin
Destinations: Katherine, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and Adelaide
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Price From: $3,705 PP
Facts: Based in Adelaide, South Australia, we have owned and operated The Ghan (Adelaide-Alice Springs-Darwin), the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Adelaide-Perth) and The Overland (Melbourne-Adelaide) rail journeys since 1997 when they became the first transcontinental passenger rail business to be privatised in Australia.
Accommodation: Enjoy hearty breakfasts, two-course lunches and four-course dinners, all regionally inspired and paired with champagne and premium wines. Platinum cabins offer luxe extras, like a full-size en suite, expansive window views from the train, and exclusive use of the Platinum Club carriage. Add to that the luxurious linen, French Champagne, Bracegirdle’s chocolates, a nightcap at turndown and more, and you’re in for an exceptional experience.
Departs From: Mumbai
Destinations: Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Fathehpur Sikri, Agra and Delhi
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Price From: £5304
Facts: The Heritage of India start the journey with the the bustling commercial city of Mumbai and end in the national Capital Delhi. During the journey you visit the shimmering Lake City of Udaipur and the majestic fort at Jodhpur , enjoy sundowner on the sand dunes at Bikaner. Soak in the colourful Pink City of Jaipur. You get an opportunity to see from close quarters the legendry tigers at Ranthambore and one of the Seven Wonders of the World ‘The Taj Mahal’ all this and more in utmost luxury.
Accommodation: 18 Junior suites of which 12 are twin bedded and 6 double bedded. All the suites have large panoramic windows, so that you can savour every bit of magnificent India on your train journey. All passenger carriages come with airconditioning, the first of its kind in India and have state-of-the-art facilities like Live Television, DVD players, Wi-Fi Internet to name a few to keep you entertained through the royal train journey. Each coach of the train has a mini-pantry and manned by a valet to provide a lavish & personalized service during the tour packages. Cabin Area : 150 Sq. Ft, Double Bed Dimensions : 80 x 60 (In), Twin Bed Dimensions : 80 x 33 (In), Writing Table with two chairs and Luggage Hold underneath the bed.
Non-cabin Based Trains Journeys
Journey: Montreux and Zweisimmen
Length: 2 Hours 7 Mins
Price From: CHF 44
Journey: Guadalajara, Tequila, Centro Cultural Juan Beckmann Gallardo, La Rojeña and Casa Cuervo - EDISA
Length: 11 Hours
Price From: MX$2,995
Journey: Osaka-umeda, bound for Kyoto-kawaramachi
Price From: No additional charge (Standard fare only)
Journey: Tōkyō → Itō
Length: 1 hour 36 mins
Price From: ¥8,470
Journey: Montreux to Interlaken
Length: 3 Hours 15 Mins
Price From: CHF 17
Journey: Zermatt - St. Moritz/Davos
Length: 8 Hours 15 Mins
Price From: CHF 159
Journey: McKinstry Street Station - Rutherford
Length: 2.5 Hours
Price From: $245
