The World’s 6 Most Incredible Luxury Train Trips

There’s something timeless about traveling aboard a high-end train: the white-glove service, the unique landscapes rushing by, the rhythm of the rails rocking you to sleep in your own comfortable personal berth. While luxury train trips operate all over the world, just a few rise to the top as being truly unforgettable.

High-end Train Trips

Listed below I have actually chosen the six best luxury train trips, taking you to locations as far-flung as Bangkok, Cape Town, and Moscow. These trains offer all accommodations in private compartments for 2 or more, plus inclusive dining and other onboard services.

Legendary: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Quickly the top of the top, this modern version of the world’s most popular train, the Orient Express, evokes images of the vibrant Middle East, strange Eastern Europe, and, obviously, timeless secret with Agatha Christie character Hercule Poirot. Just recently resumed rail connections enable the train to complete its initial itinerary in between Paris and Istanbul, which it does once a year; overnight stops include Budapest and Bucharest. The base rate for Paris-Istanbul is about $20,300 (per person, double tenancy). Unlike other luxury trains, the Orient Express does not have onboard showers, so the five-night schedule involves 3 nights on the train and two in hotels along the method.

The train is owned and run by Belmond; it includes historic cars restored to contemporary requirements. Twin cabins, with upper and lower berths, consist of washbasins; lavatories are at either end of the cars and truck.

If you do not wish to reach Istanbul, Belmond offers dozens of paths around Europe and the U.K., on itineraries lasting from over night to 6 days. Prices usually begins around $3,500 per person for a two-day, one-night journey, although Belmond offers periodic promotional deals.

Distance Champ: The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

Eight times each year, May through September, this high-end train journey takes you in between Moscow and Vladivostok over 12 nights by method of Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, and Ulaanbaatar. The train picks up local sightseeing at numerous locations along the way. The base cost in 2020 starts at $16,995 per person, double occupancy.

The Golden Eagle train consists of modern devices with three cabin classes, all including private toilets and showers. Silver cabins provide either little double beds or bunks; greater categories are larger with full beds.

The Golden Eagle folks run four various trains over a series of other travel plans, including numerous through the “Silk Road” locations of main Asia. They also run a separate Danube Express on a broad range of European schedules. As with Belmond, rates typically begins at around $1,000 per individual, each day. Some journeys include usage of steam engines over part of the journey.

Many Varied Destinations Along the Way: Pride of Africa

On the Pride of Africa train, Rovos Rail supplies 5 high-end train trips a year on a 15-day schedule from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam or the reverse, going through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania, and including stops at a video game reserve and Victoria Falls. Rates for the trip start at $12,820 per person (double occupancy).

The Pride of Africa uses generally older equipment upgraded to existing standards. All compartments include double or twin beds, toilet, and shower. Some journeys are pulled by steam engines.

Rovos Rail runs the Pride of Africa on a large range of other schedules in South Africa and nearby countries, some consisting of safari stops.

High Elevation: The Andean Explorer

The Andean Explorer, another Belmond operation, runs weekly two-night trips connecting Cusco with Arequipa through Lake Titicaca, with a lake expedition consisted of. Rates begin at around $2,100 per person for the two-night, three-day journey. This is actually the highest of the deluxe trains, reaching elevations approximately 14,000 feet along the way, however, so you may wish to skip this one (or bring medications) if you have problems with elevation.

The Andean Explorer train includes three levels of cabin, all with personal shower, plus an observation lounge, and health spa cars. Belmond also runs the deluxe day train Hiram Bingham between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Exotic Asia: Eastern & & Oriental Express

Belmond’s East Asian high-end train takes a trip in between Bangkok and Singapore twice monthly. The two- and three-night schedules run through some of Thailand’s top scenic locations and take a detour to the popular River Kwai bridge. Prices start at $3,630 per person for the trip. You can likewise start or end the trip in Kuala Lumpur instead of Singapore.

The Eastern & & Oriental Express train consists of modern-day cars and trucks developed to high-end standards. It uses three levels of cabin, all of which include personal shower and lavatory, plus dining and observation cars. Belmond likewise runs other local adventures with the train.

A Lot Of Prudent: Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels and its four brother or sisters cruise through northern and southern India. The Palace on Wheels, Maharaja’s Express and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels cover mainly seve-day loop travel plans to and from Delhi, with a few Delhi-Mumbai journeys; most consist of a stop at Agra for the Taj Mahal. The Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot operate similar patterns fixated Bangalore and Mumbai.

Rates is seasonal, starting at $500 per person, per night, on the Palace on Wheels. The a number of trains likewise run occasional promotions, such as 7 nights for the cost of 5 and half buddy discounts.

Deluxe Indian trains use modern devices, generally with decor motivated by Bollywood’s finest extravaganzas. All cabins consist of a personal toilet and shower.