As much about the journey as the destination, these iconic luxury rail journeys perfectly combine incredible sights and scenery outside the train with memorable and lavish experiences inside the train. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll find yourself basking in sheer elegance as you’re transported back to the golden age of travel.
Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer is a luxury train that ventures through Canada’s majestic Rockies. With multiple routes available, one of the most popular options is the breathtaking Journey through the Clouds, travelling from Vancouver through Kamloops to Jasper. This route takes you through some of Canada’s most remote and stunning vistas.
Travel through scenic valleys, the Coastal Mountain Range and the Fraser Canyon with its spectacular white water and dramatic landscape. Follow the route of the Fraser River, home of British Columbia’s largest salmon fishing run, pass by the Albreda Glacier and magnificent Pyramid Falls, and see wildlife on the way. The highlight of this route is imposing Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
For incomparable luxury and comfort, travel in GoldLeaf and enjoy deluxe hotel accommodation, gourmet meals and complimentary beverages, and witness panoramic views and awe-inspiring scenery through full length, glass-domed windows.
Belmond Hiram Bingham
Discover magical Machu Picchu in unforgettable style on the luxurious Hiram Bingham train. Named after the explorer who rediscovered the ‘Lost City’ in 1911, it’s one of South America’s finest rail journeys.
The epitome of elegance, the journey on the 1920s Pullman-style train makes for an incredible day trip. Depart Poroy (near Cusco) in the morning, admiring some of the Andes’ most breath-taking scenery, through mountain passes, thick jungle and the tumbling rapids of the Urubamba River, while dining on brunch. Return transfers and a guided tour of the ancient citadel will educate you on the history of this awe-inspiring Incan settlement, ensuring you see the best of the ruins, with plenty of free time to explore the area on your own and afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Pre-dinner cocktails, live musical entertainment and a sumptuous 4-course dinner is served on the 3-hour journey back to Poroy.
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express
Undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest railway journeys, the Trans-Siberian runs like a steel ribbon connecting east and west (or vice versa) from Moscow through the Ural Mountains, alongside the shore of Lake Baikal - the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake, and across Mongolia’s endless green steppes. By the time your journey ends in Vladivostock, you will have passed through eight time zones, and travelled nearly 11,000kms – approximately one-quarter of the way around the world.
Taking a leisurely two weeks in total, the lavish Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express includes a full off-train excursion programme in towns and cities enroute including Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude and Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia.
The Golden Eagle, an exclusive private train, brings unprecedented luxury and style to this epic journey with well-appointed ensuite cabins featuring state-of-the-art amenities, fine dining and elegant surroundings.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the world’s most famous luxury train lines. On board you will experience old world elegance and timeless romance on this iconic Art Deco train that travels to some of Europe’s finest cities including London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Berlin and Budapest.
Taking the name from the original Orient Express, which journeyed from Paris to Istanbul between 1883 and 1977, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express uses luxurious antique carriages from the 1920s and ‘30s to recreate the classic era of train travel – made famous by Agatha Christie’s 1934 mystery, Murder on the Orient Express.
Its most popular leg is from London to Venice, where guests can enjoy gastronomic cuisine, fine wines, exceptional service and opulent cabins with a dedicated steward to attend to your every need on the 2-day, 1-night journey.
The Blue Train
Luxury takes on a new dimension on South Africa’s Blue Train. You will feel it the moment you step into the pre-departure lounges in Pretoria or Cape Town. A warm-hearted South African welcome begins a journey that is defined by personal attention and dedication to detail. The 27-hour journey from Pretoria to Cape Town travels for 1,600kms, taking guests through some of the most diverse and breathtaking scenery found in Africa.
Kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. Its very name has become synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and personal service. The Blue Train features Deluxe and Luxury Suites, and includes meals, drinks including alcohol, a high tea and some off-train excursions. By day, the elegantly furnished suites offer generous lounge chairs, which afford unequalled views of Africa. By night, they convert to a sumptuous, subtly-lit bedroom.
