The World’s Best Luxury Train Journeys: Orient Express, Silk Road & Belmond Trains
Luxury train travel represents the golden age of exploration—reimagined for modern travelers. Over the years, I’ve had clients combine Belmond trains with extended European itineraries, pair Rovos Rail with safari camps, and integrate Peru’s Andean Explorer into Machu Picchu journeys. These trains aren’t simply transportation; they’re immersive experiences that elevate an entire itinerary.
There is something deeply seductive about train travel—the ceremony of dressing for dinner, watching landscapes unfold slowly beyond your window, and the feeling that the journey itself is the destination.
Luxury trains represent travel at its most intentional. No airport lines. No rushing. Just beautifully designed suites, impeccable service, and access to places few travelers experience this way.
From the iconic Belmond Orient Express to the 22-day Silk Road expedition across Central Asia, these are the most extraordinary luxury train journeys in the world—and how to choose the right one.
The Grand Silk Road Express: The Ultimate Rail Expedition
Route: Beijing → Xi’an → Kashgar → Samarkand → Bukhara → Tashkent
Duration: 21–22 days
Price: $30,000–$70,000+ per person
This is not just a train journey—it’s a transcontinental expedition.
Traveling across China and Central Asia, the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express recreates one of history’s most important trading routes. Along the way, guests explore ancient cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, once crossroads of culture, commerce, and empire.
Onboard, the experience rivals top luxury hotels: private en-suite cabins, fine dining, expert lecturers, and observation cars designed for taking in vast desert landscapes.
Best for: Serious travelers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime, culturally immersive journey.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: The World’s Most Iconic Train
Route: Paris, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Istanbul
Duration: 1–5 nights
Price: $5,000–$30,000+ per person
The Orient Express is the train that defined luxury travel.
Original 1920s carriages have been meticulously restored, preserving art-deco details, polished wood paneling, and vintage glamour. Guests dress for dinner, Champagne flows freely, and the atmosphere evokes another era.
Grand Suites include private marble bathrooms and dedicated butler service.
Best for: A classic luxury experience and bucket-list European journey.
Royal Scotsman: Scotland’s Most Exclusive Journey
Route: Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh
Duration: 2–7 nights
Price: $8,000–$20,000+ per person
This intimate Belmond train carries just a handful of guests through Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes—lochs, castles, and whisky country.
Days include private distillery visits, guided excursions, and evenings onboard featuring refined Scottish cuisine.
There’s even a spa carriage—the only one of its kind in the UK.
Best for: Scenic beauty, cultural immersion, and whisky lovers.
Andean Explorer: South America’s Most Scenic Luxury Train
Route: Cusco → Lake Titicaca → Arequipa
Duration: 1–3 nights
Price: $4,000–$10,000+ per person
The Andean Explorer traverses one of the highest rail routes in the world, crossing the Peruvian Andes and vast Altiplano landscapes.
This journey pairs beautifully with Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley itineraries, offering a seamless luxury experience across Peru.
Best for: Combining scenic rail travel with a broader Peru itinerary.
Eastern & Oriental Express: Southeast Asia in Style
Route: Singapore → Malaysia → Thailand
Duration: 2–4 nights
Price: $4,000–$12,000+ per person
This Belmond train blends colonial elegance with Southeast Asia’s vibrant landscapes—jungles, temples, and coastal scenery.
Expect exceptional cuisine, curated excursions, and beautifully restored vintage carriages.
Best for: Adding a unique luxury experience to Southeast Asia travel.
Rovos Rail: Africa’s Most Romantic Train
Route: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Namibia, Tanzania
Duration: 2–15 nights
Price: $3,000–$15,000+ per person
Rovos Rail offers one of the most atmospheric ways to explore Africa, combining safari destinations with vintage rail travel.
Observation cars open to the air, allowing guests to take in sweeping savannah landscapes.
Best for: Pairing luxury train travel with safari experiences.
Seven Stars in Kyushu: Japan’s Most Exclusive Train
Route: Kyushu Island, Japan
Duration: 2–4 days
Price: $5,000–$18,000+ per person
With only a few suites onboard, Seven Stars is among the most exclusive trains in the world.
Japanese craftsmanship defines the experience, from design to cuisine to service.
Best for: Design lovers and Japan enthusiasts.
Why Luxury Train Travel Is Having a Renaissance
Luxury train travel offers something increasingly rare: the ability to slow down.
It’s immersive, elegant, and deeply experiential—combining destination, accommodation, and journey into one seamless experience.
Many clients pair luxury trains with broader itineraries—combining the Orient Express with Paris and Venice, or the Andean Explorer with Machu Picchu.
Planning a Luxury Train Journey
The best luxury train journeys often sell out 6–12 months in advance, especially top suite categories.
Working with a travel advisor ensures:
Access to preferred cabin categories
Integrated itineraries with hotels and transfers
VIP amenities and added benefits where available
Luxury train travel is not simply about transportation—it’s about experiencing the world differently.
Considering a luxury train journey?
I work with clients to integrate these iconic rail experiences into fully customized itineraries, including preferred hotel partners, private guides, and seamless logistics.
