The Top Luxury Train Vacations

At JB’s World, we have prime seats to watch the continuously evolving landscape of travel trends. One is attracting notice: the art of slow travel, where it is often not the destination but the journey itself. We’re enjoying watching the resplendent return of glamour, romance, and just a hint of intrigue with unhurried journeys that unfold gracefully, revealing the soul of each destination with each passing mile. Some trains are old and lovingly restored, some are brand-new, and all promise the richness of authentic heritage in the lands explored and perhaps solve the mystery of why anyone would want to speed through their valuable vacation time.

1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express by Belmond
2. Seven Stars Kyushu (Japan)
3. Eastern & Oriental Express by Belmond (Asia)
4. Maharajas Express (India) 
5. The Ghan (Australia) 
6. Orient-Express La Dolce Vita (Italy)
7. Andean Explorer by Belmond (Peru)
8. Golden Eagle (Central Asia)
9. Blue Train (South Africa)

1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express by Belmond

Step into the golden age of travel aboard the legendary Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, where luxurious carriages adorned with Art Deco elegance whisk passengers away to a bygone era of glamour and intrigue. The hospitality company formerly known as Orient Express is now Belmond and owned by LVMH. 

This rail service resumed in the 1980s with restored Pullman carriages from the 1920s resplendent in Art Deco décor. These include formal dining cars featuring Lalique glass panels and floral marquetry, as well as sleeping cars in which guests will nap in another era of sophistication. Formal attire is required at dinner; some guests even don tuxedos, and jeans are just…no. 

New for the 2024/25 season is the Observatoire carriage, designed by the artist known as JR, with an interior that itself transports two lucky guests through several environments, featuring a bedroom with double bed, bathroom, wardrobe, reclining day bed, lounge area, library, and secret tearoom. The most frequently run itineraries are 2-day/1-night journeys from Paris or another great European capital (i.e. Venice or Amsterdam).  

Longer 4- and 5-night journeys, such as roundtrips Paris to Vienna or epic one-ways Paris to Istanbul, are very infrequent; all journeys, however, are undeniably memorable, especially in the Grand Suites — where handcrafted interiors, 24-hour butler service, and private in-cabin dining with free-flowing champagne are simply a way of life. Elegantly restored Suites (with double or two twin beds) are no less luxurious; note that historic cabins, while fabulous and featuring sinks, are not en suite.

2. Seven Stars Kyushu (Japan)

Discover the captivating beauty of Japan’s third-largest island, Kyushu, considered the gateway to Asia and the closest island to the continent. While not as well-known as Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, Kyushu is famed for hot springs, dramatic mountains, and peaceful beaches that provide an authentic Japanese experience, perhaps only as exceptional as aboard the Seven Stars Kyushu. 

Considered a “cruise” train, the Seven Stars boasts stops highlighting the best this island offers and on which traditional handcrafted artisanship is showcased as it melds with modern luxury. Cars are replete with intricate woodwork and sumptuous textiles. 

The limited 4-day/3-night journeys through mesmerizing landscapes and cultural treasures will typically include a night in a traditional ryokan. There are also limited 2-day/1-night journeys. With just 12 Suites (108 ft ² and all en suite) and 2 Deluxe Suites (183 ft² and 226 ft² en suite), there are a maximum of 26 passengers per journey. 

Tickets are not easy to come by and involve an application/lottery system. But once onboard, guests are well-rewarded for their patience. The Jupiter Dining Car features a menu of seasonal ingredients from the countryside and seas of Kyushu. Passengers also have opportunities to dine in selected restaurants along the route.

3. Eastern & Oriental Express by Belmond (Asia)

After a four-year hiatus, the legendary Eastern & Oriental Express returns to traverse the landscapes of Malaysia in unparalleled and timeless elegance, luxury, and style in a series of 4-day/3-night journeys. 

The Wild Malaysia itinerary departs Singapore and takes guests to Taman Negara (“National Park” in Malay), a vast tropical rainforest covering three states along the Malay peninsula that formed 130 million years ago and is home to endangered Malayan tigers, the country’s national animal, as well as Asiatic elephants, enormous flowers, and exquisite birdlife. 

The journey then crosses to Penang Island for a choice of immersive expeditions that make the most of Malaysia’s cultural melting pot and vibrant beauty. The train offers three types of cabins, including 2 Presidential suites, each taking up half a train car at 125 sq. ft. and State and Pullman Cabins, for a total capacity of 64 guests.

All cabins are air-conditioned, have Wi-Fi, are en suite, and have feature-rich cherry wood panels with beautiful elm burr touches decorative marquetry, and intricate inlays. Each features 24-hour steward service. 

Daily continental breakfast and afternoon tea are served in-cabin. The table d’hôte 4-course dinner menus change seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients, including house wines, spirits, and local beer. They are served in any of the three exquisitely furnished dining cars. Evening entertainment is a not-miss in the lounge car with traditional local dance performers. 

The train runs during optimal weather: from January to April and September – to December.

4. Maharajas Express (India) 

India’s most luxurious train experience, the Maharajas Express, recalls the opulent era of the Raj. Operating since 2010, its custom-built cars infuse every moment with regal grandeur amidst the breathtaking landscapes of 4 different circuits and 10 fascinating destinations across northwest and central India, mainly centered around Rajasthan on 7-day/6-night journeys connecting Delhi and Mumbai. 

The train has five carriages for Deluxe cabins (110 sq. ft.), six for Junior Suites, two Suites, and one entire car for the grand Presidential Suite (comprising two bedrooms/two baths/one sitting room). Every cabin has individual temperature controls, a butler for each carriage to look after guests’ needs and large panoramic windows. 

Two fine-dining restaurants serve delicious gourmet fare with options including Indian, Western, and vegetarian, and there is a lounge and bars to unwind each evening with fellow guests. Suite and Presidential Suite passengers get a private car and guide at each stop, although this can be an optional cost for any passenger to arrange along the way. 

The off-train excursions enhance the maharaja feeling, including sipping champagne while watching the sunset on the Taj Mahal. Guests also have the option to visit spas or golf courses in some locations. All drinks are complimentary during the journey, and guests can dine anytime they wish when on board. Snacks are also offered in the bar, a nice touch with an evening drink.

5. The Ghan (Australia) 

Traverse the heart of Australia aboard The Ghan, a legendary train — and the world’s longest sleeper train — that takes passengers from the lush tropics of the north through the red desert landscapes of the Outback to the parklands and cultural capital of the south, immersing them in the soul-stirring beauty of the continent. 

Most journeys range from one to two 2-nights, but the 3-night Expedition honors the train’s 95-year history. Beginning in Darwin, this 4-day, 1,851-mile all-inclusive journey whisks guests to the most remote and captivating parts of Australia in style and comfort. 

Operating from April to October, this adventure through the country’s vast and captivating interior is the ultimate Australian Outback experience. From world-class food on regionally-inspired menus paired with selections of local wines and fascinating off-train experiences like the dinner under the stars spectacular at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs, the hardest decisions to make will be what to have for lunch and which experiences to join. 

By day, cabins are configured as a private lounge with deluxe seating, a table, and two ottomans. By night, guests enjoy a deep, comfortable sleep as the lounges convert into a cozy bedroom. 

The stylishly-appointed 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 for meals, relaxation, and socializing. Add to that the luxe linens, French Champagne, a nightcap at turndown, and more, and guests will be in for an exceptional experience.

6. Orient-Express La Dolce Vita (Italy)

While the name sounds familiar, this is an entirely new venture with re-styled 1950’s and 1960’s train cars that will operate under the Orient Express brand now owned by Accor (which encompasses Fairmont, Raffles, and Sofitel brands, among others). 

The newly re-named brand will enable the incorporation of new Orient Express hotels in a range of increasingly international destinations like Paris or Split along the Adriatic Coast. 

Surrounded by splendid contemporary Italian design, guests will embark on voyages of indulgence and romance aboard the Orient-Express La Dolce Vita, which draws its inspiration from the eponymous Fellini film. The 11-carriage train will accommodate 62 guests in 12 wood-lined cabins, 18 suites, and one La Dolce Vita Suite. Cabins will all feature double beds, a sofa, armchairs, and a private en suite. All cabins will have room service. 

A restaurant car will offer lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. The Bar Car will feature live music, snacks, and drinks and will be the place for the refined pursuit of gaming, including the beloved Italian card game Scopa, plus chess and backgammon. 

Most departures will leave from Rome’s Ostiense Station on one- or 2-night trips, including destinations like Milan, Florence, Venice, as well as Sicily via the only passenger rail ferry in the world. Guests will traverse enchanting Italian landscapes, savoring the finest cuisine and Italian, of course, wines along the way. Formal attire will be encouraged at dinner, and flip-flops will be a no-no. Some 2025 voyages are available to reserve right now. 

7. Andean Explorer by Belmond (Peru)

The 20 gleaming carriages of the Andean Explorer, South America’s first luxury sleeper train, travel the world’s highest rail route, taking guests on a voyage of discovery through the majestic landscapes of Peru, where ancient civilizations meet breathtaking natural wonders. 

A choice of one- or two-night journeys depart from Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, traversing the majestic Andean Plains before arriving at the reflective beauty of Lake Titicaca, with a continuation on towards Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the dining car, a seasonal menu is as colorful as the scenery speeding past, with dishes prepared using fresh local ingredients and paired with Peruvian wines, making it clear why Peru is fast becoming a foodie capital of the world. 

Onboard, there’s even a spa car to relax in before heading to a lush en-suite cabin to prepare for the next day’s new adventures. This is simply the best Peru has to offer in terms of trains, accommodation, guides, and sightseeing, with Belmond’s iconic properties from the capital of Lima and all along the route to enhance the journey and unveil the spirit of Peru. For a truly epic adventure, pair the Andean Explorer with the Hiram Bingham train from Cusco or the Sacred Valley (depending on the time of year) up to Machu Picchu.

8. Golden Eagle (Central Asia)

Unravel the allure of ancient Silk Road routes aboard the Golden Eagle, a touring train that delivers an unprecedented level of luxury on journeys of a lifetime through Central Asia. 

These excursions are aboard the same cars that formerly plied the Trans-Siberian railway, and many incorporate the -stan countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union. 

Imperial Suites are the most spacious cabins onboard the Golden Eagle, measuring 120-sq. ft. with a luxurious king-sized bed, lounge area, dressing table, and private en suite with underfloor heating and power shower. There are five per train. Guests in these cabins are welcomed with a bottle of Dom Perignon, free laundry service, and private guide and driver service in selected destinations for excursions. 

The smaller Gold Class cabins are extremely well-proportioned at 77-sq. ft. with a large picture window and a double lower bed (with a single upper bed) to sleep two guests. They feature a private en suite with a separate power shower, cubicle, and underfloor heating—a staff of 64 caters to the needs of up to 75 passengers. 

Along the journey, the Bar Lounge and Restaurant Cars host a variety of entertaining and engaging activities, including lectures on local history and culture from expert guest speakers, and, as evening falls, the resident pianist plays the baby grand; the bar stays open until the last person leaves. 

But guests will want to be bright-eyed for these journeys, especially on the once-yearly Caspian Odyssey, a 16-day/15-night odyssey transporting guests from Armenia to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and ending in Kazakhstan, along with a private jet and road journeys.

9. Blue Train (South Africa)

The Blue Train traverses the Cape Town and Pretoria route for 3-day/2-night journeys on a plush 54-hour route of 994 miles through the heart of some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery in the world. 

There are two types of Suites, Deluxe, and Luxury, both of similar size. Although the Luxury Suite features bigger en suite baths, guests have a home-away-from-home in the wilds of Africa. 

By day, the elegantly furnished suites offer generous lounge chairs affording unequaled views of African plains passing by. Still, as night falls, the suites transform into sumptuous bedrooms with either two single beds (twin) or a double bed fitted in the finest linen and down duvets as guests are lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of the rails. Suites also feature individually controlled air-conditioning, safe, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a TV with onboard movie and music channels.  

The sumptuous dining car features two dinner seatings for 42 guests each. Discerning diners can enjoy the best silver and crystal service, where formal dinner attire adds to the grandeur. A choice of entrees, soups, fish, meat dishes, desserts, coffee, and cheese platters are beautifully presented with dishes including Karoo lamb, Knysna oysters, snoek, crayfish, and impala. An abundance of fruit, vegetables, and the finest South African wines from boutique vineyards make dining aboard a magnificent experience. 

Now, the Blue Train adds a new route to another South African iconic site, the Kruger National Park in the Hoedspruit region, once previously available only by private charter. The Blue Train will travel from Pretoria and stop at Hoedspruit Station, where guests will then be transferred to their preferred lodges in and around the Kruger National Park, as per their previously selected itineraries.

VIP Contact

Contact Jack Bloch of JB’s World Travel Consultants at jackb@jbsworld.com.