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Luxury Train Journeys: The Best Routes, With Fares From the Operators

Luxury train journeys by route, from the Orient Express to Rovos Rail and Rocky Mountaineer, with published fares, cabins and how to choose.

By Wijet Editors

At a glance

Luxury train journeys at a glance

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
From €4,510 per person one way (2027)
Luxury Trains, Paris to Venice, two sharing a historic twin; confirm with Belmond
VSOE journey time
About 24 hours London to Venice
One night on board (Seat61)
Included on VSOE
Meals and onboard service
Drinks extra on the Continental train (Seat61)
VSOE launched
1982
After James Sherwood bought Wagons-Lits cars in 1977 (Seat61)

The most famous luxury train in the world is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and the cheapest way to ride it is a one night run between London or Paris and Venice or Verona. Luxury Trains, a UK seller, lists the 2027 fare from €4,510 per person one way for a historic twin, based on two people sharing, with meals included and drinks extra. Most luxury trains sell out months ahead, so the dates are the first thing to settle.

This guide starts with the Orient Express, then covers the best luxury train journeys elsewhere, from Scotland and South Africa to Canada and Japan. It ends with a price table and advice on choosing a cabin. Fares come from operators or from named trade sources, and each one says which.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Routes and Nights

The VSOE’s main service runs between Paris or London and Verona or Venice, in both directions. Since 2024, London passengers take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and board at Gare de l’Est, according to Seat61. The journey takes about 24 hours from London to Venice, with one night on board. Occasional special trips go to Florence, Rome, Krakow, Budapest, Stockholm and Istanbul.

Cabins: Twin, Suite and Grand Suite

There are three levels of cabin. The historic compartments, from 1929, are two-berth rooms that turn from a sitting room to beds at night, with a washstand but no private toilet or shower. The suites are modern conversions with twin or double beds and a private bathroom. The three Grand Suites add a parlor area and a double bed.

Fares and What Is Included

Luxury Trains lists one-way fares per person, twin share, for the Paris to Venice run. For 2027 they are €4,510 for a Historic Twin, €10,500 for a Suite and €14,070 for a Grand Suite. Its 2026 fares in pounds run lower: £4,275 for a Historic Twin Paris to Venice and £3,885 Venice to Paris, with Suites at £9,660 and £8,785 and Grand Suites at £13,530 and £12,300. The Luxury Trains fares do not include the Eurostar from London to Paris. Confirm the current price with Belmond before budgeting.

Per Luxury Trains, the fare includes breakfast and afternoon tea in your cabin, lunch and dinner in the restaurant cars, a personal steward, and bathrobes and slippers. Seat61 says drinks on the Continental train cost extra.

How It Differs From La Dolce Vita Orient Express

La Dolce Vita Orient Express is a different train, run under the Orient Express brand by Accor. It operates scenic routes in Italy rather than the classic Paris to Venice run. Routes and fares change by season, so check orient-express.com for current itineraries.

For history, Seat61 says the original Orient Express began in 1883 as a service using changing sets of coaches, the plain Orient Express was withdrawn on December 12, 2009, and the VSOE started in 1982 after James Sherwood bought classic Wagons-Lits cars at a Monte Carlo auction in 1977. Seat61 calls today’s VSOE the true descendant of the original 1883 Orient Express.

The Best Luxury Train Journeys in the World

Each pick below says what the journey is and who it suits. Published fares are in the price table; where an operator quotes only on request, we say so.

Belmond Royal Scotsman (Scotland)

A small sleeper train through the Scottish Highlands. Seat61 puts fares at about £4,500 per person for a 2-night tour, rising to over £13,000 for 7 nights. Belmond applies dynamic pricing, so published “from” fares change as departures fill. Who it suits: travelers who want a house-party feel with castle visits. Seat61 lists tours of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 nights, all starting and finishing at Edinburgh Waverley between April and October, with a maximum of 36 passengers. The price covers all meals, drinks, on-board accommodation and off-train excursions, and at least one dinner per tour is formal, so pack a dinner jacket.

Belmond British Pullman (England)

A day-trip train from London in restored 1920s and 1930s Pullman cars. It is one of the few luxury trains you can do in a day. Belmond’s page lists themed day journeys, including a Christmas lunch trip from London Victoria into the Kent countryside, with menus curated by chef Jon Freeman. The page shows no fare, so check Belmond for the date you want.

Eastern & Oriental Express (Southeast Asia)

A Belmond train that has run between Singapore and Bangkok. Seat61’s 2024 guide says it resumed operation in February 2024 but ran only tours within Malaysia, not Thailand. Routes have changed since the relaunch, so check Belmond’s current itineraries before you plan around it.

Rovos Rail (Southern Africa)

Rovos Rail runs the Pride of Africa between Cape Town and Pretoria and other routes. Fares are set per person sharing in rand, change each season and differ by suite class, so take the figure from Rovos or its agent for your departure date. Seat61 describes it as a 5-star cruise train on a regular schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria and on to Victoria Falls, with meals included in the tour price. Who it suits: travelers who want to combine rail with a safari, see our guide to luxury safari lodges.

Belmond Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham (Peru)

Belmond runs the Andean Explorer, an overnight sleeper in the Andes, and the Hiram Bingham, a day train to Machu Picchu. Belmond’s Andean Explorer page lists a two-night Peruvian Highlands journey from Cusco to Arequipa via Lake Titicaca, on a train with 35 sleeper cabins in Twin and Bunk Bed types. The page shows no fare.

Maharajas’ Express (India)

Seat61 says the train runs 3- or 7-night tours from Delhi back to Delhi, or between Delhi and Mumbai, via places such as Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi and Khajuraho. It is run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Seat61 gives no fare, only that such trains are not cheap, with prices in the thousands of dollars, and that tour companies often quote per night.

Seven Stars in Kyushu (Japan)

JR Kyushu’s cruise train around the island of Kyushu. Fares vary widely by course and year, so ask JR Kyushu or an authorized agent for the present price.

The Ghan and Indian Pacific (Australia)

Journey Beyond runs the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin and the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth. Journey Beyond’s site announces a new four-day extended Ghan itinerary from 2027 and says bookings for 2027 are open. Fares vary by cabin and season, so check the operator.

Luxury Train Journeys in North America

Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer runs daylight-only journeys through the Canadian Rockies. Two service levels, SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf, run on its routes. Canadian Train Vacations, a seller, lists a two-day Vancouver to Banff trip at about CAD 2,289 per person in SilverLeaf and CAD 3,109 in GoldLeaf for 2026, based on double occupancy before tax; other sellers quote higher GoldLeaf figures, so treat these as indicative. Seat61 lists First Passage to the West (Vancouver and Banff) and Journey through the Clouds (Vancouver and Jasper), both with an overnight stop in Kamloops and both offered in SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf, and Rainforest to Goldrush as a GoldLeaf-only route with overnights in Whistler and Quesnel. It describes GoldLeaf as double-deck cars with a downstairs restaurant and an open-air viewing platform.

Is it worth it? The train stops overnight at hotels rather than sleeping you on board, so you are buying scenery and service, not a cabin.

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Alaska

The Alaska Railroad’s site lists five routes: Coastal Classic, Glacier Discovery, Denali Star, Hurricane Turn and Aurora Winter. It also lists GoldStar Service and Adventure Class among its onboard options. GoldStar prices vary by route and season, so check the operator.

If you want a rail-and-air trip in the same region, see our guide to the Grand Canyon helicopter tour.

What Luxury Train Travel Costs

OperatorRouteNightsFrom fareSource
Belmond VSOEParis to Venice, Historic Twin, 20271€4,510 per personLuxury Trains (UK seller)
Belmond VSOEVenice to Paris, Historic Twin, 20261£3,885 per personLuxury Trains (UK seller)
Belmond Royal ScotsmanHighlands tour from Edinburgh2About £4,500 per personSeat61
Rocky MountaineerVancouver to Banff, SilverLeaf, 20261 (hotel)CAD 2,289 per personCanadian Train Vacations

Price depends on cabin, season and currency, and most lines apply dynamic pricing. A cabin with a private bathroom usually costs the most of the entry options. Compare a night on a luxury train with a night at a top hotel: the train fare buys transport, meals and a bed in one price, which explains why the number looks high.

Getting to the station is its own cost. For the flight, see our guide to the best business class airlines.

How to Choose

Day Trip vs Multi-Night

A day trip such as the British Pullman is the cheapest way to try a luxury train. A multi-night journey is a holiday. Decide whether you want the train as an event or as the trip itself.

Cabin With a Private Bathroom

Historic cabins on the VSOE have a washstand but no private toilet or shower, according to Seat61. Suites do. If you do not want to walk to a shared bathroom, pay for the suite.

Dress Codes

Several lines, including the VSOE, have an evening dress code. Seat61 says a dark suit is essential for men on the VSOE and that jeans and trainers are not allowed. On the Royal Scotsman, Seat61 says at least one dinner per tour is formal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cost?
Luxury Trains lists a 2027 Historic Twin from €4,510 per person one way for two sharing, and a 2026 fare from £3,885 on the Venice to Paris run. Suites and Grand Suites cost more. Confirm with Belmond for your dates.
How much is Rovos Rail?
Rovos Rail prices its journeys per person sharing, in rand, by suite class and season, and the fares change each year. Ask Rovos or a licensed agent for the fare on your departure date, and add flights to Pretoria or Cape Town.
What is the most luxurious train in the world?
There is no official ranking. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the best known, and the Royal Scotsman, Rovos Rail and the Seven Stars in Kyushu are often named alongside it. Choose by route and cabin.
Is the Rocky Mountaineer worth it?
It is worth it if you want daylight views of the Canadian Rockies and service in the glass-domed cars. Fares are high, and you sleep in hotels rather than on board. Compare the SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf prices.
Can you do a luxury train day trip?
Yes. The Belmond British Pullman runs day trips from London in restored Pullman cars, and Peru's Hiram Bingham carries passengers from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Check the operator for current fares and menus.

Sources

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