Imagine traversing across a vast expanse, gently being rocked to sleep in a luxury train suite. Now, that I have your attention, let’s explore the wonderful world of luxury train vacations around the world.
Firstly, discard all your preconceptions about train or railway travel. Think about huge glass windows, 5-star meals, fully stocked bars and more, just as they show you in the movies. You can make your trip to Europe or cross country voyage in the US an experience in its own right. How often have you said you enjoyed the actual trip more than the destination? Well, this just might be that chance for you.
READ MORE: We speak to global traveller Sheena Seah from Scott Dunn about travel experience
Travelling by luxury train means that you get to enjoy the joy of watching hills, meadows, castles and artsy cities roll by, as you sit tucked in delightfully comfortable cabins is the experience of a lifetime. If you are aiming for a blend of comfort, luxury and excitement, our friends from Scott Dunn have been kind enough to share their top 5 luxury train rides that they have specifically curated for you. They can be booked through their curated and personalised travel experiences.
- Belmond Andean Explorer
- Trans-Siberian Express by Golden Eagle
- The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Ski Switzerland by Glacier Express Train
Still not convinced, here are our 5 reasons why you should consider luxury train rides for your next trip.
5 reasons to consider luxury train vacations
- As we restart travel, it might actually be nicer to take in the experience of actual trip to our destination. Nowadays, we all get so caught up with rushing that we fail to remember that the experience is also in the journey. So, maybe it’s time to drop everything, hop on a luxury train for a ride that will give you the opportunity to feel like royalty and actually enjoy the trip.
- Nothing beats the views from a luxury train as it cruises across vast expanses. How much do we actually miss when we get on a plane and wake up when the plane hits the tarmac.
- Save the planet folks. Trains are the greenest and most cost-efficient way to travel around the world. They actually use less energy and generates lower emissions compared to airplanes and cars, so it just might be the better choice after all.
- Make your entire trip a luxury experience. First class is great, but a few hours and a couple of glasses of champagne are no match for a luxury train experience that will knock your socks off with amazing amenities that cannot be matched on a plane.
- Last, but not least is the less stringent rules with trains. Arrive a few minutes before the departure time and there’s no problem, so your relaxation can start even before you get on the luxury train because you don’t have to be rushing to arrive a couple of hours before.
Here’s a bit more about the luxury train experiences that you should know.
Belmond Andean Explorer
The route: Cuzco, Peru
Belmond Andean Explorer is one of the world’s highest luxury train rides, exploring the highlights of Southern Peru such as crossing the Peruvian Altiplano and reaching the dizzying heights of Lake Titicaca from the comfort of the luxurious Belmond Andean Explorer.
Experience the drama of the Peruvian Andes as you sweep past breathtaking scenery and explore ancient kingdoms from aboard the luxurious Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train, the first exclusive sleeper train in South America.
The Belmond train offers a selection of one and two-night journeys, each taking in the absolute highlights of the regions, passing jaw-dropping landscapes and stopping at particular points of interest on a series of scheduled excursions. Observe condors in the Colca Canyon. Admire traditional rock art in the Sumbay caves and explore the charming streets of Arequipa with its pretty plazas, stunning white buildings and fascinating museums.
Reminisce the golden-age of glamour onboard the Andean Explorer with luxurious cabins decorated with refined hand-woven fabrics in neutral tones, reflecting the colours of alpaca wool and slate greys synonymous with the Andes.
A separate lounge car provides the perfect space for relaxation with large windows, comfortable seating and a bar, situated around a baby grand piano for some evening entertainment. Guests may also opt to unwind in the separate observation car, complete with an outdoor deck for the best views of the ever-changing scenery. The train accommodates 68 guests in 34 ensuite cabins.
There are two dining cars on board the Andean Explorer, each serving up menus using fresh, local ingredients. The lounge car and observation car are the perfect areas for socialising with your fellow guests or enjoy sipping a freshly prepared Pisco Sour.
Explore the streets of picturesque Arequipa, a beautiful town at the base of the snow-capped El Misti volcano and gateway to the impressive Colca Canyon where you can disembark and observe Andean condors in their natural habitat.
To find out more about the luxury train experience, visit their website.
Trans-Siberian Express by Golden Eagle
The route: Moscow, Russia
The Golden Eagle brings unprecedented luxury to, quite possibly, the ‘world’s greatest rail journey’! This itinerary offers the freedom of movement and capability to explore a wide range of destinations in a shorter time period from the magnificent Russian capital of Moscow, passing through historic cities and villages, countless lakes and mountains, attractive orthodox churches and Buddhist temples, endless forests and great Eurasian rivers, and finally to the unbounded steppes of Mongolia.
The journey onboard the Trans-Siberian Express lasts for 12 nights and will take you across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok with stops along the way in Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Mongolia.
Typically, the train will travel through the night, as the gentle chugging of the tracks lulls you into a deep sleep, so you can wake up each day rejuvenated with a new destination to explore.
The Golden Eagles offer three classes of Cabin; the Silver class, Gold class and the Imperial suites. The cabins are skillfully designed to maximise the available space to provide a seating area by day which converts to a bedroom by night.
Each cabin has a private en-suite bathroom with exclusive Natura Siberica toiletries. There will also be a team of dedicated carriage attendants, who are on call 24 hours a day, to ensure every need of the guests are attended to.
With beautifully decorated designs, enjoy mealtimes at the restaurant cars and be amazed at the standard of fine dining available during your journey. The Golden Eagle strives to serve the best of Russian cuisine onboard the Trans-Siberian Express, including fish only found in the local area.
You’ll have the chance to sample some extra-special dishes such as black sturgeon and red salmon caviar. All guests are also entitled to a generous wine allowance with lunch and dinner. For guests staying in the gold class cabins or Imperial suites, enjoy additional benefits such as complimentary drinks in the Bar Lounge Car. In the evening, there are live musical performances and a resident pianist at the bar lounge.
Throughout your journey with the Golden Eagle, you will enjoy a packed schedule of activities such as exploring the historic city of Kazan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the Opera House in Novosibirsk, seeing the classic wooden architecture in Irkutsk and experiencing the natural beauty of Lake Baikal with a delicious BBQ.
The Golden Eagle offers their guests the freedom of choice as all tours can be booked onboard and you can therefore choose to participate in as much, or as little, as you like. The well-versed resident tour managers onboard are always on hand to advise the best excursions to do in each area.
There is also a range of activities available onboard such as board lectures, Russian language lessons and talks on the history and culture of the area.
At the end of your journey, you’ll enjoy a final farewell dinner on board before arriving in Vladivostok.
To find out more about the luxury train experience, visit their website.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
The route: From London to Venice, Italy
Hark back to the glory days of the roaring 1920s as you aboard the opulent Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, part of Belmond Collection. Steeped in history, the train has been beautifully restored with stand-out 1920s features, and each carriage oozes the glamour and sophistication of the era thanks to the authentic Art Deco style.
An incredible journey to or from Venice by luxury train is perfect for those who yearn for the golden age of travel. One can never be overdressed with guests encouraged to don their finery as they dine in the Cote d’Azur carriage or unwind in the Champagne Bar.
Guests can relax in their own beautifully appointed private cabin, which by day is set up as a lounge with a plush sofa, footstool and table, and in the evening is transformed into a bedroom with upper and lower beds. A dedicated steward looks after each carriage and ensures your every need is attended to. Breakfast can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own cabin or in one of the restaurant cars.
Dining on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is an unforgettable experience, offering exquisite European cuisine, using the freshest local ingredients picked up at stops along the route, and a fantastic list of wines to be enjoyed in sumptuous surroundings. Dinner is an elegant affair, with guests encouraged to wear tuxedos or glamorous dresses to experience an authentic 1920’s evening on board the train.
Sip on champagne at the bar, before dinner or even a little digestif after dinner whilst enjoying the pianist and listening to other travellers’ tales. Brunch, lunch, supper and afternoon tea are all served as you journey from the heart of London to the heart of Venice.
The three restaurant cars on board are each refined and sophisticated, from the black lacquer-clad L’Oriental to the René Lalique-inspired Côte d’Azur. The Art Deco champagne bar makes for the perfect place to relax after dinner, and sip the finest champagnes from sparkling Lalique crystal.
To find out more about the luxury train experience, visit their website.
Rocky Mountaineer
The route: British Columbia, Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer has long been an iconic and stunning rail journey, transporting guests in grandiosity and total comfort between Vancouver and Jasper or Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains.
For guests who love to travel by train, this has got to be one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. As you aboard the legendary train, The Rocky Mountaineer, into the Canadian Rockies. You will be travelling in the GoldLead Carriage, the most luxurious option from which expansive views through the panoramic windows look over the impressive scenery.
Indulge your senses with gourmet meals prepared by Executive Chefs, as delicious hot meals are served along the way so you can simply relax and enjoy fine dining with the best view in the house!
The journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer will wind through the lush green scenery of Fraser Valley, passing by the dramatic waters at Hell’s Gate and the Coast and Cascade Mountains in the distance. Eventually, you will reach desert-like landscapes by the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers upon which Kamloops sits.
With a stop overnight in Kamloops en route, Guest will begin the final leg of Rocky Mountaineer journey to Jasper, travelling from the rolling hills of the Thompson River Valley to the snowy peaks of the Monashees, taking in jaw-dropping views of the Icefield Glaciers and the majestic peak of Mount Robson, the highest in the Canadian Rockies.
To find out more about the luxury train experience, visit their website.
Ski Switzerland by Glacier Express Train
The route: Switzerland
A unique and thrilling itinerary taking you from Zermatt to St Moritz via Andermatt on the famous Glacier Express. Travel in style through some of the Alps’ most dramatic scenery, staying at exclusive hotels and skiing three of Switzerland’s best resorts.
The Glacier Express winds its way between Zermatt – one of the best ski resorts in the world and St Moritz – home to the legendary Cresta Run at such a sedate pace, it’s billed the slowest express luxury train in the world, taking eight hours from beginning to end.
It travels through some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable – through the Rhine Gorge, known as the Swiss Grand Canyon, over the mighty Landwasser Viaduct, past ancient villages, monasteries and abbeys, and at its highest point, 2,033m across the Oberalp Pass. The entire length of the line is narrow gauge and is surely one of the most dramatic ways of arriving at your destination.
Sit back in comfort in spacious carriages, enjoy freshly prepared lavish meals in the dining car and drinks served at your seat. Vast panoramic windows from table level to over the ceiling above you, allow the spectacular views to roll past, whilst friendly and attentive staff look after you.
To find out more about the luxury train experience, visit their website.
