The world's most rewarding rail journeys
There's a particular pleasure in travelling slowly when you could easily fly. The world's great luxury trains turn the journey itself into the destination, pairing impeccable service with dining that rivals fine restaurants, beautifully crafted interiors, and scenery that shifts hour by hour outside your window.
Here, we’ve taken a look at six of the most memorable rail journeys on the planet, from regal progress through India to the remote drama of the Australian outback. Each offers something distinct, whether you're drawn to old-world glamour, contemporary Italian design, or daytime travel through the Canadian Rockies. What they share is a sense of occasion and a level of attention that suits travellers who value privacy, comfort, and genuine craftsmanship. Here's what makes each one worth considering, and who it tends to suit best.
Maharajas' Express, India
Named ‘World's Leading Luxury Train’ at the 2025 World Travel Awards, the Maharajas' Express delivers exactly the kind of regal experience its name suggests. This works well if you want to see India's most celebrated sights, including Rajasthan's forts and palaces, without compromising on comfort between them. The interiors lean into palatial grandeur, with richly furnished cabins and suites that feel more like rooms in a heritage hotel than train compartments. Two dining cars serve Indian and international cuisine, and there's a lounge and bar for unwinding after a day of touring. A typical itinerary might include guided excursions to Agra, Jaipur, and Ranthambore, with private vehicles and expert local guides arranged throughout.
Rovos Rail, South Africa
Known as the ‘Pride of Africa’, Rovos Rail is built around a slower, more romantic style of travel. With a maximum of 72 guests across 36 wood-panelled suites, it feels genuinely exclusive, and the absence of televisions encourages you to focus on the landscapes and the company. Journeys range from 48-hour trips to epic 16-night adventures that cross several African countries. The suites are spacious and elegant, with the largest occupying half a carriage and including private lounge areas. On board, you'll find observation cars, fine South African wines, and excursions to highlights such as game reserves and historic towns, making it perfect for those who want safari romance combined with the unhurried pleasure of long-form rail travel, and who appreciate tradition done properly.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Italy
The newest name on this list, La Dolce Vita Orient Express takes its inspiration from Italy's golden era of glamour and style. It's a good option if you want something fresh, design-led, and distinctly Italian, with itineraries that explore the country's regions, culture, and gastronomy. Routes weave through the Italian landscape, from rolling countryside to characterful towns, with carefully curated stops along the way. The food celebrates regional Italian cooking, prepared with the care you'd expect from a country that takes its cuisine seriously. This appeals to design-conscious guests and anyone who loves Italy and wants to experience it from a fresh, chic vantage point.
Eastern & Oriental Express, Malaysia
The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond train, returned in February 2024 with two seasonal round-trip journeys from Singapore. It's one of the most evocative options here, blending restored glamour with tropical scenery and the polished service Belmond is known for. The journeys travel through Malaysia, taking in lush landscapes, plantations, and rainforest as you move through the region. The carriages carry a sense of restored heritage, with elegant cabins, fine dining menus that draw on Southeast Asian flavours and ingredients, and an open-air observation car that lets you take in the passing scenery and warm evening air.
The Ghan, Australia
For something a little different, The Ghan offers an alternative to the jewelled trains mentioned previously. Its appeal lies in scale and remoteness: a 2,979km all-inclusive journey through the heart of Australia, running between Darwin and Adelaide over three days and two nights. This is experiential luxury rather than ornate grandeur. Premium cabin categories offer comfortable, well-designed accommodation, and the all-inclusive nature means meals, drinks, and off-train excursions are taken care of. The real draw is the landscape. You'll cross vast desert plains, the red centre, and tropical north, watching the country's interior unfold in a way few travellers ever experience. Off-train excursions might include visits to remote towns and natural landmarks you simply couldn't reach otherwise.
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
One of the most popular train journeys on this list, Rocky Mountaineer feels less like a traditional luxury train and more like a moving viewing gallery. Its bi-level glass-dome coaches give expansive views of the Canadian Rockies, and because all journeys travel by daylight, you won't miss a moment of the scenery. GoldLeaf Service is the premium choice on board, offering a spacious seat on the upper level and meals served in a dedicated lower-level dining area. The cuisine is elevated and locally inspired, and the onboard hosts share stories and insights as you travel. You can easily combine the journey with stays at luxury lodges, private touring experiences, or an Alaska cruise to extend the trip.
Your handcrafted stay starts here
If one of these journeys feels right for your next trip, your Travel Counsellor can shape the wider itinerary around it. That might mean pairing the Maharajas' Express with a broader India itinerary, combining Rocky Mountaineer with luxury lodges or an Alaska cruise, or extending Rovos Rail with time on safari elsewhere in Africa.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
