In an era of cheap flights and fast trains, luxury rail travel represents something different entirely — the journey as the destination. These trains offer fine dining, elegant suites, curated excursions, and some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, all experienced at a pace that lets you savour every moment.
India's Luxury Trains
Palace on Wheels
India's original luxury train, running a 7-night circuit through Rajasthan. The route covers Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Ranthambore, and Agra (Taj Mahal), with guided excursions at each stop. Cabins are decorated in the style of former Rajput kingdoms, with en-suite bathrooms and personal attendants. The dining car serves Rajasthani and Continental cuisine, and the bar car features traditional music and dance performances. Cost: ₹4-8 lakh per person for 7 nights, all-inclusive. Season: October-March.
Maharajas' Express
The most luxurious train in India, operated by IRCTC. Multiple itineraries covering Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Goa. The Presidential Suite spans an entire carriage with a private living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Named "World's Leading Luxury Train" at the World Travel Awards seven times. Cost: ₹5-20 lakh per person depending on cabin and itinerary.
Deccan Odyssey
Covers western India — Mumbai, Goa, Sindhudurg (beaches), and the Ajanta-Ellora caves. Less focused on Rajasthan than the other two, making it ideal for travellers who want a different Indian luxury rail experience.
International Luxury Trains
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Belmond)
The most legendary train journey in the world. The original 1920s carriages — all wood panelling, brass fittings, and art deco design — run between London and Venice (or Paris and Istanbul on special journeys). The experience is a masterclass in vintage glamour: formal dress for dinner, champagne in the bar car, and scenery that rolls past like a European painting. Cost: €3,000-€10,000+ per person depending on cabin and route. The London-Venice journey takes 2 days with an overnight stop.
Rovos Rail (South Africa)
Often called "The Most Luxurious Train in the World," Rovos Rail traverses southern Africa in restored vintage coaches. Routes include Pretoria to Cape Town (2 nights), Pretoria to Victoria Falls (3 nights), and the epic Cape Town to Dar es Salaam journey (15 nights through 5 countries). Suites have full-size beds and Victorian-style bathrooms. Off-train excursions include game drives, historical tours, and golf. Cost: $1,500-$5,000 per person depending on route and suite.
Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)
A daylight-only train through the Canadian Rockies — no overnight travel, so you never miss the scenery. The route from Vancouver to Banff/Lake Louise passes through river canyons, tunnels, and mountain passes with regular wildlife sightings (bears, eagles, elk). GoldLeaf Service includes a glass-domed observation car and a dedicated dining car with locally sourced cuisine. Cost: CAD 2,000-5,000 per person for 2-day journey.
The Ghan (Australia)
Named after the Afghan cameleers who once traversed this route, The Ghan runs 2,979 km from Adelaide to Darwin through the red centre of Australia. The 3-night journey crosses the Outback, with off-train excursions at Alice Springs (desert walks), Katherine (gorge cruise), and optional helicopter flights over the landscape. Cost: AUD 2,000-6,000 per person.
Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia/Mongolia/China)
The longest railway journey in the world — 9,289 km from Moscow to Vladivostok (or the Trans-Mongolian route to Beijing). While not technically a "luxury" train in the Belmond sense, the private Golden Eagle or Tsar's Gold trains offer luxury cabins on this epic route with guided excursions at Lake Baikal, Ulaanbaatar, and the Great Wall. Cost: $15,000-$25,000 per person for the complete 2-week journey.
Why Luxury Train Travel?
- No packing and unpacking: Your cabin stays with you for the entire journey. Unpack once and enjoy.
- Scenery impossible from the air: Mountain passes, river valleys, and countryside that you simply cannot see from 35,000 feet.
- Social experience: The communal dining and bar cars create a social atmosphere that air travel cannot replicate. Fellow passengers tend to be well-travelled, interesting people.
- Sustainability: Rail travel produces a fraction of the carbon emissions of equivalent air travel.
- Romance: There is a reason train journeys feature in the most romantic films and novels. The rhythm, the scenery, the elegance — it is inherently romantic.
ZFORB luxury rail packages include premium cabin bookings, off-train excursion upgrades, and pre/post-train hotel stays in key cities. Explore membership and experience the golden age of travel.
