The World’s 11 Most Luxurious Train Journeys

Imagine sipping champagne as the Swiss Alps glide past your panoramic window, or drifting through the Rajasthani desert inside a suite that feels more palace than carriage. Around the world, a select set of trains combine old-world opulence with landscapes so cinematic they deserve their own soundtrack. From Japan’s rarest tickets to Peru’s sky-high sleeper, here are the journeys worth boarding just for the bragging rights.

1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe)

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The grand dame of luxurious train travel, this Art Deco masterpiece serves meals by skilled French chefs on crisp linens while whisking you between Paris, Venice, and beyond. Cabins transform into plush bedrooms by night, and the bar car offers champagne for sipping while enjoying the view.

2. Maharajas’ Express (India)

Think rolling royal residence: silk upholstery, carved wood panels, and butler service. Over its itineraries, the train glides past the Taj Mahal, Jaipur’s pink palaces, and the desert forts of Rajasthan, turning each journey into a cinematic tapestry of India’s grandeur. Luxury and adventure merge seamlessly on rails here.

3. Palace On Wheels (India)

One of India’s pioneering luxury trains, it channels splendour with lavish cabins and multi-course feasts. Rajasthan’s forts and palaces unfold outside the window, but inside, it’s all crystal glasses and gilt-edged glamour.

4. Royal Scotsman (Scotland)

Whisky tastings, Dior spa treatments, and Highland castles make this train more of a private club than public transport. With just 40 guests onboard, the experience feels exclusive, intimate, and decidedly Scottish.

5. Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)

Glass-domed coaches give uninterrupted views of snow-dusted peaks, turquoise rivers, and elk grazing at dawn. The pace is leisurely, the storytelling onboard is rich, and meals highlight Canada’s bounty.

6. Belmond Andean Explorer (Peru)

At over 3,800 metres above sea level, this is the world’s loftiest sleeper train. Interiors echo Incan textiles, the open-air observation car lets you breathe in Andean air, and the Puno-to-Cusco journey is as breathtaking as the altitude.

7. The Blue Train (South Africa)

Running between Pretoria and Cape Town, this cobalt-clad beauty delivers marble bathrooms, luxurious dining, and a lounge car that feels straight out of a Bond film. The Karoo Desert and Table Mountain make for a beautiful scenery.

8. Eastern & Oriental Express (Southeast Asia)

A floating ode to colonial romance, this green-and-gold train meanders through Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Expect teak interiors, Malaysian curries served in silverware, and jungle views interrupted by temple spires in the eastern & oriental express.

9. Seven Stars in Kyushu (Japan)

Japan’s most coveted ticket, this seven-car jewel is part ryokan, part gallery. Limited to just 20 passengers, it treats guests to tatami-inspired suites, kaiseki cuisine, and views of volcanic peaks and hot springs.

10. El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo (Spain)

This Spanish gem feels more boutique hotel than train. Running along the northern coast, it offers gourmet Basque dining, live music, and excursions into medieval towns, all while you lounge in wood-panelled suites.

11. Glacier Express – Excellence Class (Switzerland)

Often dubbed the world’s slowest express, it’s also the most indulgent if you book Excellence Class. Picture a seven-course wine-paired menu, a personal concierge, and glass-roofed views of the Matterhorn and Rhine Gorge.

When the landscapes outside are as much a part of the experience as the chandeliers and caviar within, consider this list a reminder: sometimes, it’s not where you’re going that matters, it’s how fabulously you get there.