Embarking on a luxurious train journey is a timeless way to experience the world in style, elegance, and comfort. From traversing scenic landscapes to enjoying fine dining and impeccable service, luxury train journeys offer a unique and unforgettable travel experience. Let’s explore some of the world’s most renowned and opulent train routes that promise to transport you to a bygone era of travel indulgence.

Rocky Mountaineer: A rail excursion across the Wild West

According to Ed Grenby of The Daily Telegraph, there are few more pleasant ways to experience Utah and Colorado’s magnificent vistas than on the Rocky Mountaineer. After three decades of operation in Canada, this “gleaming” royal-blue train recently began its second season in the United States, offering two-day, 356-mile travels between Moab and Denver, with a night at a hotel in Glenwood, a town famed for its hot springs and “raffish frontier feel”.

Carriages are mostly made of glass, and seats may be adjusted to face forward, making it easier to take in the “epic” views, which include “scale-defying” deserts, sunlit prairies, and the “towering” gorges of the Colorado River. The speed is often leisurely, allowing you to get a good look at passing wildlife like coyotes and bald eagles. The tour costs from £1,270 per person, including full board.

Orient Express: Retracing the Original Route from Paris to Istanbul

The Orient Express service from Paris to Istanbul, founded in 1883 by a Belgian entrepreneur named George Nagelmackers, reached its peak popularity in the 1930s before dying slowly. Today, Belmond operates an infrequent premium service along the same route, and Accor plans to introduce another in 2025. According to Monisha Rajesh of the Financial Times, there are more cheap ways to undertake this “nostalgia-laden” journey provided you’re ready to change trains a few times. Indeed, doing so is an authentic decision – the original service had various revisions before 1889, and stopping in places along the way enriches the experience.

I visited Vienna, Bucharest, and Sofia before ending my trip at Nagelmackers’ own Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, which has hosted Greta Garbo and Agatha Christie. However, the greatest pleasure is the journey itself. You pass through gorgeous landscapes, but as “romantic” is the experience of gliding through cities at night, “watching curtains being drawn, hair being brushed loose, late dinners being eaten, and holding the gaze of smokers in the dark”.

The Southwest Chief, Los Angeles–Chicago, USA

The Southwest Chief is an outstanding journey across the United States’ ‘old west’, stopping in a number of key famous tourist places such as Los Angeles (California), Flagstaff (Arizona), Albuquerque (New Mexico), Kansas City (Missouri), and Chicago (Illinois).

A portion of its path follows the ancient Santa Fe Trail, which is abundant with mountains, canyons, deserts, pueblos, and ranches. You’ll even travel in comfort via the famed Cajon Pass, a mountain pass between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, as well as through the Mojave Desert, North America’s driest desert. Enjoy the vistas from your train compartment during the 43-hour voyage, which currently lacks Wi-Fi, allowing you to be fully absorbed in your surroundings.

First Passage to the West, Vancouver-Banff, Canada

The sumptuous Rocky Mountaineer operates three spectacular routes: the ‘First Passage to the West’ between Vancouver and Banff, the ‘Journey Through the Clouds’ between Vancouver and Jasper, and the ‘Rainforest to Gold Rush’ between Vancouver and Jasper.

The ‘First Passage to the West’ path is our top choice. The Rocky Mountaineer is the only passenger train that travels from Vancouver to Banff via three stunning national parks (Glacier, Yoho, and Banff). It passes through pristine lakes, remote plains, snow-capped mountains, and the Continental Divide of Americas, which follows the ridge of the Rockies.

Rocky Mountaineer’s large glass-dome windows are a unique feature; they give the best link between you and the spectacular Canadian landscapes around you, so keep an eye out for bears, elk, and deer roaming the vast countryside. The train travel takes two days, including an overnight stay at a motel in Kamloops.

Central Andino Railroad, Lima to Huancayo, Peru

Prior to the opening of the line from Beijing to Lhasa in 2006, the Ferrocarril Central was the world’s tallest railway. Despite losing this status, it has maintained its extraordinary appeal. This high-altitude mountain railway route is an excellent achievement in railroad engineering.

The line began construction in 1870 under the auspices of US railroad entrepreneur Henry Meiggs, but was not completed until 1908 due to a shortage of funds during the Peruvian-Chilean war. After falling into chaos during nationalisation, the line was privatised in the 1990s and has since been continuously improved by the Ferrocarril Central Andino consortium.

The single-gauge railway runs over 320 kilometers (200 miles), taking passengers across precipices, gorges, and into the Peruvian Andes. It connects Lima, Peru’s capital, with Huancayo in the Peruvian highlands. For anyone concerned about the altitude, the train conveniently includes a nurse and oxygen masks.

Chepe Express Creel-Los Mochis, Mexico

The Chepe Express travels over the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, often known as El Chepe, and is widely regarded as one of the best rail experiences in Latin America. The main distinction between Chepe Express and other trains on the same railroad is luxury. Chepe Express has reclining seats, a viewing terrace, a bar and lounge, and a double-story restaurant car supervised by acclaimed chef Daniel Ovadia. You will be well-fed by the time the train arrives in Los Mochis at 3:05pm, 9 hours after leaving Creel.

Blue Train, Pretoria-Cape Town, South Africa

The renowned Blue Train is one of the most luxury modes of transportation in South Africa. It connects Pretoria in the northeast to Cape Town in the southwest. The Blue Train, the nation’s oldest luxury train (launched in 1923), preserves an antique appearance and fixtures that have just been updated to meet modern standards.

The carriages are soundproofed and carpeted, there is a butler service, dining cars, and en-suite bathrooms in each compartment. It is essentially a mobile five-star hotel that has temporarily hosted world leaders and royalty over the years.

As a result, many travelers include it on their bucket lists. While more slower than taking a flight between the two cities, it is unquestionably the most fashionable method to travel across the nation, and you will be treated to a magnificent moving image of South Africa’s terrain. Remember that the dress code is smart casual throughout the day and smart for evening.

The Rauma Line, Dombås-Åndalsnes, Norway

This unique railway provides a spectacular journey via rivers, bridges, tunnels, and even the largest vertical rock face in Europe. The Rauma Line, which runs from Gudbrandsdal Valley’s mountain station in Dombas to the picturesque fjord town of Andalsnes, provides breathtaking views. It runs along and across the magnificent Rauma River, which is surrounded by lush foliage and snow-capped mountains, and will make a brief stop at Trollveggen, giving keen photographers the opportunity to capture some outstanding photos. The sightseeing season runs from May 30 to August 30.

Glacier Express, Zermatt-St Moritz, Switzerland

The Glacier Express, the most well-known Alpine train, takes passengers on a scenic ride through the heart of Switzerland’s Alpine region. The Glacier Express, as the name implies, will transport you along the glaciers, as well as via nearly 300 bridges and nearly 100 tunnels. It’s also an easy route to get from the Western to the Eastern Swiss Alps. The Glacier Express is a convenient, gorgeous, and peaceful way to experience this lovely corner of the world.

Inlandsbanan, Kristinehamn-Gällivare, Sweden

This magnificent 1,363-kilometer (847-mile) railway route connects Sweden’s central and northern regions. Our favorite package tour is the “Discover Inlandsbanan” program, which includes visiting bear forests, cycling in Östersund, visiting the arctic circle, and taking a guided midnight-sun tour to Malmberget and Mount Dundret.

The longest days are from June 4 to July 9. The train also has helpful hosts who are quite educated about the nearby places. Ideal for backpackers, the line is only available from June to August, so prepare accordingly.

Flamsbana, Myrdal-Flam, Norway

The Flåmsbana railway is not just one of the world’s steepest, but also one of the most beautiful. As you go through snow-capped mountains, you’ll be astounded by the vistas, including farms that appear to be about to disappear down the cliff’s edge, as well as the many waterfalls and waterways.

The train even makes its way through an extraordinary spiral tunnel. At the bottom of the mountain, you’ll find the picturesque Flåm Valley and one of the world’s longest fjords, Aurlandsfjord. The trek concludes at the high mountain station of Myrdal. It’s only around an hour long and covers about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles), but it’ll leave an impression.

Bernina Express, Chur, Switzerland – Tirano, Italy

The spectacular Bernina Express travels 55 tunnels and 196 bridges in just 4 hours, transporting you from the grandeur of the Swiss Alps to sunny Italy. For the majority of its route, the Bernina Express follows the UNESCO-listed railway line Thusis – Valposchiavo – Tirano. Keep an eye out for the iconic Brusio Spiral Viaduct between Poschiavo and Tirano, as well as vineyards and orchards all the journey to Italy.

Beijing to Lhasa Express: China to Tibet

The Beijing to Lhasa Express, which began service in 2006, is becoming increasingly popular among travelers looking to travel through China into the mountains of Tibet. It takes approximately 40 hours to finish the 3,757km (2,334 mile) trek, which covers eight provinces from Northern China Plain to the world’s highest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The train does not allow hop-on/hop-off unless you purchase separate train tickets for each section. The route between Xining and Lhasa is especially beautiful, bringing you through the sparkling Qinghai Lake and the snow-capped Tanggula Mountains before reaching highs of 5,072m (16,640ft) on the Lhasa side of the Tang La Pass.

Kandy to Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most beautiful countries, and traveling the train is a cheap and convenient way to explore the country.

The Kandy to Colombo line takes you from Sri Lanka’s largest metropolis to the UNESCO-listed Kandy. You will go through the picturesque hills of ‘Tea County’. Kandy offers beautiful local markets, a promenade along Kandy Lake, the spectacular Temple of the Sacred Tooth, and the Royal Botanic Gardens (a remnant of British administration). In truth, it was the British that introduced railway networks to Sri Lanka, primarily to move coffee and tea on the same train route to Colombo for international trade.

Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia

The Trans-Siberian Railway, maybe the most famous railway in the world, is almost a century old, and there is a reason why it has persisted and continues to be prominently included on people’s bucket lists. The Trans-Siberian train is the world’s longest train route, stretching 9,289 kilometers (5,772 miles) and affording breathtaking views across seven time zones.

Highlights include Yaroslavl (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the Ural Mountains, the breathtaking peaks around Krasnoyarsk, Lake Baikal (the world’s deepest lake), and many other views as you journey across Russia. There are other secondary routes on the way, such as the Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian trains, which are also worth taking.

The Ghan, Adelaide-Darwin, Australia

Last but not least, we come to Australia and The Ghan, a magnificent rail journey that begins in Adelaide, South Australia and concludes in Darwin, Northern Territory. This 90-year-old service travels 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) in 54 hours, passing through some of Australia’s most remote areas, including the magnificent Red Centre and Alice Springs. There are a range of packages and journeys available here, ranging from a near-direct journey over a few days to trips spanning three weeks.

Conclusion

Embarking on a luxury train journey is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s an immersive and unforgettable travel experience that allows passengers to discover the world in style, comfort, and elegance. Whether traversing the scenic landscapes of Europe, exploring the majestic wilderness of Canada, or experiencing the rich culture and heritage of India, these great luxury train journeys promise to transport travelers to a world of opulence, indulgence, and adventure. So, sit back, relax, and embark on an opulent adventure aboard one of these iconic trains, where every moment is a celebration of luxury and refinement.