11 Luxury Train Trips to Book Right Now

It’s easy to stress when traveling from point A to point B, whether dealing with traffic on road trips or airports when flying. Take a train, however, and the time in-between your departure and arrival becomes the point of the journey. On luxury trains, especially, idle moments are anything but a waste, because there’s so much take in: opulent interiors of vintage Pullmans, Michelin-crafted meals, and, of course, scenic landscapes outside panoramic windows. If you want to truly enjoy every moment of your travels, leave behind the chaos of modern transport, and instead unwind on one of these luxury train trips.

Train Suite Shiki-Shima, Japan

Book now: From $3,713 for a one-night package

Although Japan is best known for bullet trains, the country’s national railway, JR Group, operates a series of specialized trains for tourism collectively called the Joyful Trains. Among the offerings are Pokemon-themed cars, lines with cars for footbathing, ones dedicated to fine dining, and one featuring an astronomy library. The crowning glory of the Joyful Trains is the ultra-modern, ultra-luxe Train Suite Shiki-Shima. The Shiki-Shima (which means “island of the four seasons”) travels through eastern Japan out of Tokyo, visiting culturally significant sites (villages, museums, temples, markets, restaurants, and natural wonders) on its one- to three-night excursions.

The walls of the observation cars (called terraces) at the front and back of the train are cut away in abstract patterns, leaving windows that extend views almost from the hand-loomed carpet to the curved molding of the ceiling. The 15 sleeping quarters onboard vary from elegantly simple accommodations with en suite bathrooms all the way up to washi-papered two-level suites with cypress-lined soaking tubs, traditional tatami mat floor coverings, and working fireplaces.

As one would expect on such a lavish train, the dining car offers extraordinary seasonal meals prepared by a team of chefs who travel the whole trip; in addition, guest chefs board the train to prepare special dishes from the regions visited along the itinerary. Crewmembers even wear smart uniforms designed by Issey Miyake’s former creative director.

Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe

Book now: From $5,219 for the one-night Venice to Paris

The legendary Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express hardly needs an introduction: Its gleaming wood-paneled interiors, dining tables set with crisp linens and crystal, and extravagant sleeping quarters have come to symbolize a time when travel was sophisticated and passengers came first.

The train, made up of vintage carriages from the 1920s and ’30s refitted with modern amenities, runs regular itineraries to a wide range of European destinations, including a once-a-year, deliberately slow five-night transit between Paris and Istanbul. Berths for these classic runs sell out fast, and Belmond has sweetened the ride further by adding six Grand Suites, each named for a legendary city and styled in an Art Deco tribute to that city.

Those Grand Suites feature private bathrooms, double beds, and underfloor heating in the living area. When you factor in a private steward (in a snappy uniform with shiny buttons) and complimentary champagne on demand, this train wouldn’t even have to leave the platform for your ride to qualify as a trip of a lifetime. The other accommodation classes, while less over-the-top, still offer comforts and design details that elevate a sleeper car to something more like a dream state. In short,this icon of the golden age of travel shows no sign of tarnish.

Rocky Mountaineer, USA

Book now: From $2,886 for the two-day, one-night Rockies to Red Rocks package

One of the very few downsides of traveling by train through spectacular scenery is that when the sun sets, you lose all the views, with the windows revealing only the reflection of the bright interior of the train. The Rocky Mountaineer solves this problem by plotting its scenic routes to include overnight stops at fine hotels along the way.

Historically, this train rode only Canadian rails, following mountainous routes that terminated in Vancouver and either Jasper or Banff. But in August 2021, the company launched a journey between Denver and Moab, Utah, stopping overnight at Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The luxury train, purpose-built for landscape viewing, offers unparalleled vistas of the Rockies (watch for bighorn sheep in the high passes) and the sandblasted canyons and surreal rock formations of the Utah desert. While you look out the panoramic windows, the staff’s focus is on serving you fine wines and freshly prepared food (sorry in advance to fans of Amtrak’s prewrapped tuna sandwiches). In Glenwood Springs, passengers disembark to spend the night at their choice of one of three hotels before reboarding in the morning to finish the trip to Moab.

Hiram Bingham, Peru

Book now: From $504 for one-way journey from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (excludes Machu Picchu entrance fee) (Note here: Price from Machu Picchu Train Ticket website)

Some hike several hours and even multiple days to reach Machu Picchu, while others arrive well-rested and in style aboard Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train. The high-end day train takes guests on a scenic voyage, available one-way (3.5 hours) or roundtrip (about 7 hours), from historic Cusco through the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley, ending at the train station of Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu.

Guests embark the Hiram Bingham Train at the Poroy Station in Cusco, where they’re greeted with a traditional Peruvian blessing ceremony, dance performance, and a welcome glass of champagne before boarding. Onboard, live music continues in the observation car and passengers can freshen up with Pisco Sours and other included signature cocktails served in the bar car. A multi-course lunch is served on the way to the Incan citadel, whereas a sumptuous dinner, plus afternoon tea service with light sandwiches and biscuits, is served after visiting the historic site.

Rovos Rail, Southern Africa

Book now: From $1,916 for the three-day, two-night Durban Safari package

Bush planes are fine, but traveling by air-conditioned luxury train on routes that zigzag the southern third of the vast African continent has a strong slow-travel appeal. The unhurried schedule means time is factored in to stop at sidings for wildlife viewing, at vineyards for wine tastings, and in reserves for game drives. Various Rovos itineraries follow the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley or traverse the red deserts of Namibia.

Depending on which you choose (or which you create; the company will also plan custom trips), your trip can include golf courses, stays in luxury lodges or safari camps, or excursions around Victoria Falls. The packages run from two-night jaunts to 15-night adventures (including the 14-night Copper Trail voyage that encompasses Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola, on which you’ll see an elephant sanctuary and visit a copper mine).

Not only are the trips exciting, the train itself is pretty dreamy—its vintage passenger carriages have been restored and upgraded with modern plumbing and air-conditioning (though they still have working windows). In addition to the private suites, the train’s public spaces include an observation car with sofas and an open balcony platform, lounge and club cars, and a dining car. Polished wood paneling, tufted leather chairs, and picture windows create a visual style that evokes an era when travelers packed formal wear and hats for different occasions. While you won’t get a sense of the African lives and cultures you’re passing by, you will never forget the ride.

Maharajas’ Express, India

Book now: From $4,890 for the four-day, three-night Treasures of India package

The 23 carriages of these luxury trains travel mostly by night, allowing passengers plenty of time during waking hours to disembark for visits to UNESCO World Heritage landmarks, take game drives, and dine in fine hotels and palaces. The price tag matches the fit-for-a-royal experience, of course, but a shorter journey, like the three-night Treasures of India package, is less expensive and no less glamorous.

The itinerary includes excursions to iconic sites of the Golden Triangle—the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan (tigers!), the Amber Fort in Jaipur—as well as spa treatments and lavish meals. The train includes two restaurants and a bar car, and the modern en suite accommodations range from a deluxe double cabin up to a Presidential Suite.

Britannic Explorer, England & Wales

Book now: From $8,463 for three-night itineraries to Wales and from $16,926 (£12,600) for six-night itineraries to the Cornwall and Wales.

Britain’s first luxury sleeper train has finally arrived, offering travelers a front-row seat to the splendor of the idyllic English countryside. The new Britannic Explorer, A Belmond train, launched in summer 2025, kicking off half a dozen three- and six-night itineraries that will visit the Lake District, Cornwall, and Wales, with a number of stops at scenic towns in between.

Curated experiences both onboard and off-train aim to showcase the art of slow travel. Guests on a three-night Lake District itinerary begin their journey with afternoon tea and a multicourse dinner fromMichelin-starred chef Simon Rogan and executive chef Sven-Hanson Britt. The next day unfolds upon arrival at Workington, gateway to the Lake District, where guests have options to canoe or paddleboard on Derwentwater Lake, meet friendly alpacas, or play classic lawn games at the Lingholm Estate, which is open exclusively to Britannic Explorer guests. After a leisurely morning and brunch in the dining car, day three winds down with a scenic journey through the bucolic countryside and over the famed Ribblehead Viaduct, and a gala dinner at the two-Michelin-star restaurant at Oxford’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons hotel.

Alaska Railroad, USA

Book now: From $1,915 for the eight-night The Borealis

Alaska Railroad offers a way to see the natural beauty of the state—from orcas breaching in icy bays to majestic Denali—that doesn’t require roughing it or traveling by cruise ship. One of the railroad line’s wintertime offerings, the eight-night The Borealis package, passes through some of the darkest corners of the Last Frontier, between Anchorage and Fairbanks, to hunt for the northern lights.

Guests will stay at Borealis Basecamp, an off-the-grid resort in a remote forest, where they’ll lodge inside a geodesic dome with a see-through ceiling for the night, or a private “Cube” with floor to ceiling windows for cozy night-sky viewing. Off the train, passengers can visit sled dog–training facilities and Main Streets in charming small towns such as Talkeetna, join a float trip down a glacial river, or take guided hikes. Onboard the Aurora Winter Train, which travels on the same track as the summer Denali Star Train, passengers can gaze upon the snowy winter landscapes of Alaska’s pristine backcountry from the comfort of a warm railcar, with comfortable seating and onboard dining. Trips aboard the Aurora Winter Train run from mid-September through mid-May.

Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, Central Asia

Book now: From $18,500 for 12-day Ancient China by Train

Trace the ancient Silk Road (or Silk Routes, as some scholars prefer to call the network) through Central Asia aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express. This decadent train currently runs one route from Beijing to Lhasa, but is launching three new itineraries in 2026 (including Ancient China by Train) and two more in 2027.

One of next year’s maiden voyages is the 22-day Grand Silk Road journey, which takes guests on a whirlwind trip from Beijing, across the westernmost reaches of China and several of the ’Stans—including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan—before ending up in Tashkent. April 2026 brings the new 14-day Treasures of the East itinerary from Vietnam to Shanghai, a ride that includes stops to see the dramatic karst landscapes of Ninh Binh and the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, as well as the chance to sample the famous dim sum of Guangzhou’s historic Shamian Island.

The accommodations onboard exude opulence. The top-tier Han Dynasty Suite, featuring marble, gold trim, and even a bathtub, comes with a private guide and chauffeured car service in many of the destinations visited on the journey. The bar car is adorned with elegant antiques, while the observation car is flooded with natural light from the panoramic windows lining the carriage.

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Book now: From $939 for the one-day Excellence Class itinerary

Switzerland’s rail system is widely considered one of the best in Europe, so it’s no stretch to call the Glacier Express, also known as the “window to the Swiss Alps,” the best of the best. With cars that are almost entirely glass, the train makes sightseeing easy—and there’s a lot to see. The full eight-hour journey between St. Moritz and Zermatt covers 180 miles, 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, remote valleys, idyllic villages, and two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Although there’s no bad seat in the house, spring for one of the 20 seats in Excellence Class, which has access to a private bar, dedicated concierges, and a five-course menu with wine pairings that’s included with your reservation.

Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia

Book now: From $4,650 for three-night Wild Malaysia voyage

Bullet trains aren’t the only railways worth traveling on in Asia, especially where Belmond is concerned. The Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond train that relaunched in 2024 after a four-year pause, whisks travelers away on grand journeys through the heart of Southeast Asia—specifically, Malaysia and Singapore.

There are currently five itineraries available, with focuses ranging from cuisine and wellness to festive season celebrations. The trips begin and end in Singapore, making stops in Malaysian destinations such as capital city Kuala Lumpur, Taman Negara National Park, and the island of Penang. Each departure includes three nights aboard a Pullman, State, or Presidential sleeper car, all of which are brimming with lacquered-wood-paneled finishes and colorful silk furnishings. The Pullman cars offer bunk bed–style sleeping arrangements, while the State and Presidential cabins include twin beds and more spacious settings, and all have en suite bathrooms. There’s also a lively piano bar car and an open-air observation car for breezy immersion into the surrounding jungle.

Guests can go on land excursions like Old Quarter tours with cooking lessons in Penang, yoga and a sound bath on a Langkawi beach, or an adventure at Perlis Geopark.

This article originally appeared online in 2021; it was most recently updated on August 26, 2025, to include current information.