My Top 5: Iconic and Luxurious Train Journeys

There is something irresistible about train travel. Perhaps it is the soothing click of the tracks, the scenery slipping past like the world's most elaborate moving wallpaper, or the sheer joy of not having to wrestle with airport security while half-dressed. Trains remind us that travel is not just about getting somewhere; it is about the pleasure of moving through the world at a civilised speed. Now take all of that charm and add luxury. Think world-class dining, elegant cabins, and views that make you question whether your own life is interesting enough. Here are five of the finest luxury train journeys to ignite your wanderlust.

1) Belmond’s Exquisite Elegance

Belmond trains are the A-list celebrities of the railway world. They glide rather than rumble, they host rather than transport, and they somehow make you feel both adventurous and incredibly well looked-after at the same time.

One of the brightest stars is the Andean Explorer, which drifts through the Peruvian Andes as if it owns the place. Onboard, you will enjoy the highest rail route in the world, which sounds terrifying until you realise how beautiful it is. You move between icons like Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa, with opportunities to hop off and explore Sumbay Caves or Taquile Island before returning to hot showers and warm alpaca blankets. It is the sort of journey that has you quietly Googling "cost of living in Peru" by day three.

Closer to home is the brand new Britannic Explorer, which launched this July and feels like a greatest hits tour of England and Wales. Expect Cornwall’s dramatic coastline, the Welsh valleys glowing in late afternoon sun, and the Lake District doing its usual thing of looking so pretty it feels personally offensive.

2) Rocky Mountaineer’s Majestic Canadian Adventures

Canada does landscapes like it invented them, and the Rocky Mountaineer is determined to show you all of them in broad daylight. This train does not bother with overnight travel, which is ideal because you do not want to miss a single waterfall, canyon, glacier, or mountain that looks suspiciously like it should be on a biscuit tin.

The routes sound like movie titles. First Passage to the West meanders between Vancouver and Banff, sweeping through the historic Spiral Tunnels. Journey Through the Clouds takes you to Jasper, delivering views of the Rockies and Mount Robson that may cause you to gasp dramatically even if you are not usually that way inclined.

Onboard, the glass-domed coaches give you panoramic views and excellent lighting for photos that will make your friends resent you. GoldLeaf Service means gourmet meals in a dedicated dining area. SilverLeaf still gives you exceptional comfort and the sort of scenery that makes your phone storage cry.

3) Golden Eagle’s Luxury Across Europe

If you want Europe but with the glamour turned up, the Golden Eagle Danube Express is your train. It is marketed as a luxury hotel on wheels. They mean it. This is the kind of train where you casually sip coffee while gliding past centuries of history, thinking, "Yes, this suits me."

The Eastern Europe Discovery itinerary rolls through Budapest, Krakow, Berlin, and Vienna, which is basically a cultural highlights reel. If you want a story to trot out at dinner parties, the Castles of Transylvania route takes you from Istanbul to Budapest and straight into the misty legends of Romania. Do not be surprised if you suddenly develop strong opinions about Gothic architecture.

4) Northern Belle’s Timeless British Luxury

The Northern Belle is British nostalgia at its absolute finest. Once part of the Orient Express family, it now tours the UK with restored 1930s-style carriages so beautiful you may briefly forget how expensive your home heating bill is.

This train specialises in day trips and short escapes to places like Bath, Edinburgh, and Sandringham. You can expect castles, stately homes, the occasional race day at Goodwood, and enough afternoon tea to make you reassess your relationship with scones.

If Downton Abbey did a rail special, it would look suspiciously like this.

5) Rovos Rail’s African Grandeur

Step onboard the Rovos Rail, and the first thing you will think is, "Oh, so this is how royalty travels." Often voted the most luxurious train in the world, it glides across southern Africa with a sense of quiet confidence, as if it knows you have never seen landscapes like these before.

Highlights include the Victoria Falls journey between Pretoria and one of the natural wonders of the world, the Namibia Safari, which tackles deserts and coastlines with cinematic flair, and the epic Dar es Salaam route which covers eleven countries-worth of scenery in fifteen days.

The carriages are restored to Victorian grandeur, complete with en-suite bathrooms and soft detailing that makes you want to stroke the furniture. With space for just 72 guests, the atmosphere is intimate, the service exceptional, and the meals paired with South African wines that are a little too easy to enjoy.

Get in touch today to make a luxurious train journey part of your next trip.