15 of the Most Luxurious Train Rides Around the World

The Rocky Mountaineer

The Gold Leaf Service on this Canadian excursion has earned bragging rights in the world of luxury train travel. Most notable are the breathtaking panoramic views from your seat, thanks to a glass-dome bi-level coach that brings the outside inside, along with five-star treatment that includes gourmet meals and award-winning service. With a top-tier train conductor at the helm, you have your choice between multiple routes ranging from unparalleled Pacific Ocean views to voyages through the Canadian Rockies.

The Belmond Andean Explorer

Billed as South America’s first luxury sleeper train, but also one of the most adventurous, as it follows the highest rail lines in the world, Peru’s Belmond Andean Explorer deserves a spot on your travel bucket list. You can take a one- or two-night journey to experience the region’s highlights, from Cusco to Arequipa, with phenomenal views of Inca ruins. Each of the 24 cabins is decorated with handwoven fabrics and alpaca-style textures. Also, on a practical note, each cabin has its own bathroom, shower and built-in oxygen tanks and masks, should the altitude start to get to you. There’s even an onboard spa!

Seven Stars in Kyushu

Considered one of Japan‘s most luxurious trains, this boutique-like service accommodates just 10 pairs of guests at a time. The significance of the train name, Seven Stars, is a representation of the seven most important aspects of a visit to Kyushu: hot springs, nature, power spots, history and culture, food, the friendliness of the people and the train system. Choose from a one-night jaunt or a four-day journey that does a loop of the island in southern Japan. Expect elegant interiors with shoji paper screens, walnut floors and sliding glass doors etched with flowers and birds—all of it putting the luxury in luxury train travel.

The Maharajas’ Express

There’s not a more luxurious way to take in the Taj Mahal than on the Maharajas’ Express. Each of the 14 guest carriages is named after a legendary jewel of the various Maharajas, with options including the Presidential Suite, Suite, Junior Suite and Deluxe Cabin. The Presidential Suite spans an entire carriage, while all cabins and suites feature panoramic windows. There are four journeys throughout India to choose from, and each of the three- or seven-night trips will feel like a dream when you’re in a cabin thoughtfully designed in classic Indian style.

Rovos Rail

This safari train serves destinations across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tanzania, and offers journeys ranging from 48 hours to 15 nights. (One of its most popular routes is the two-night trip between Cape Town and Pretoria.) Expect sensational scenery—the train never goes more than 37 mph, so passengers can take clear photos of the landscape and wildlife, even using the provided goggles to avoid dust. Guests can also enjoy a range of modern luxury amenities in their en-suite cabin.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Luxury train rides and the Orient Express are virtually synonymous. Meant to take you back to the golden age of travel, the cars are meticulously designed with antique fixtures, polished woo and plush upholstery that oozes glamour and elegance in 1920s-style Art Deco. The plush carriages run from London to Paris, Venice and Istanbul, with luxuries including a resident pianist and a bar car where the champagne always flows.

Golden Eagle

If spanning eight time zones on a train is what it takes to fulfill your wanderlust, hop aboard the Golden Eagle. This luxury version of the Trans-Siberian (one of the longest train rides in the world) has everything you need to make it from Moscow to Vladivostok, including en-suite cabins, fine dining, a personal cabin attendant, a resident pianist and state-of-the-art amenities.

The Ghan

In operation since 1929, the Ghan continues to serve as one of the most sought-after luxury train travel expeditions in the world. The four-day, three-night journey traverses Australia from north to south, beginning in Darwin and ending in Adelaide. The trip has a comprehensive itinerary, from experiencing the real Australian Outback and the inner workings of life on a cattle station, to venturing into the tunnels and caves of the underground town of Manguri.

The Canadian

The Canadian takes you on a four-night escape from the city life in Toronto through prairie fields, rugged lake country and quaint towns, on to the snowy peaks of the Rockies, all before pulling to a stop in Vancouver. Choose the Panorama Car for seating with panoramic dome windows and breathtaking views, or if you want the roomiest of rooms, rest your head in Prestige, the train’s first-class option.

El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

This five-star hotel on rails celebrates the best of Spanish culture, gastronomy and landscape on eight-day excursions from Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastián (or vice versa). Enjoy onboard music and live performances, parties in the pub car, cooking demonstrations, dancing and more. There are also plenty of off-board excursions, including the Lakes and Sanctuary of Covadonga. As for service, well, the crew will gladly unpack and repack your suitcase for you, which says it all.

Belmond Britannic Explorer

England and Wales are beaming with fairy tale lands, and a trip on the Belmond Britannic Explorer—opened in July 2025—will make those lands seem even more fantastical. The luxury train travel service is a dream all on its own, featuring recently refurbished cabins with a botanical design and rich historic flair. From exploring the beautiful rolling hills of Wales to setting your sights on the sparkling blue waters of Cornwall and the jagged mountains of the Lake District, this luxury train takes you through an intriguing journey.

Eastern & Oriental Express

You can choose from 19 journeys on the Eastern & Oriental Express, all of which whisk you off your feet and take you on an enchanting journey through Malaysia. There are five different three-night itineraries to choose from, ranging from explorations through the Taman Negara National Park to cultural centers such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Three-course lunches, four-course dinners, afternoon tea and glamour galore make this train a showstopper.

Blue Train

This luxurious South African adventure on the Blue Train offers two itineraries: a 54-hour ride from Pretoria to Cape Town, and a 19-hour journey from Pretoria to world-famous Kruger National Park. Take in the ever-changing vistas of the countryside as you relish your luxurious suite, which shifts from a swanky lounge in the daytime to a cozy bedroom at night. Your own AC system, goose-down bedding, under-floor heating and a marble-and-gold-fitted bathroom make for the most opulent of digs on this luxury train travel trip. With past passengers including Nelson Mandela, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Mia Farrow, Margaret Thatcher and Kylie Minogue, you know it’s worth every penny.

Presidential Train

Portugal’s Presidential Train dates back to 1890, when it operated as the Royal Train for King Dom Luis I. Now it serves as his love letter to Portugal, with full-day journeys through the Douro Valley. The excursion is a gastronomical event for enthusiasts of luxury train travel, with Portuguese culinary indulgences to the brim and wine constantly flowing. Each weekend, a different Michelin-caliber chef is brought on to please your palate, while a stop at a winery ensures there’s plenty of vino to wash it all down.

Belmond British Pullman

Who needs a luxury resort when you have high-end slow travel? Glamour takes on new meaning on the Belmond British Pullman, which has been delightfully restored to mimic the golden age of train travel in the 1920s. Various British journeys take you to some of the best of Great Britain—including Oxford, Blenheim Palace and historic Bath—while you enjoy a classic afternoon tea or a relaxing glass of bubbly. Try the Golden Age of Travel by Steam itinerary, which includes a fine-dining experience in beautiful vintage carriages.

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Sources:

• Rocky Mountaineer: “GoldLeaf Service”
• Belmond Andean Explorer: “An Odyssey Above Peru”
• Cruisetrain Seven Stars: “Trip on the Seven Stars in Kyushu Luxury Sleeper Train”
• Maharajas’ Express Journey
• SA Rail: “Train Tours South Africa”
• Belmond: “Venice Simplon-Orient-Express”
• Golden Eagle Luxury Trains
• Great Southern Rail: “The Ghan”
• Via Rail Canada: “The Canadian: Toronto to Vancouver”
• El Tren Transcantabrico
• Belmond: “Britannic Explorer”
• Belmond: “Eastern & Oriental Express”
• The Blue Train
• Comboios de Portugal: “Presidential Train”
• Belmond: “British Pullman”