16 Great luxury train journeys (>1 day)

A 6-day, luxurious introduction to the rich culture, history and rolling landscapes of Andalusia, plus an insight into the region’s often turbulent history, its cuisine and the architectural influences on its buildings.

South America’s first luxury sleeping-car train offers a two-night tour between Cusco and Arequipa, taking in the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca, cave art thousands of years old, and the World Heritage Site of Arequipa.

This all en-suite train with lounge car, dining cars and butler service has been a byword for luxury travel since 1946. Linking Cape Town to Pretoria, the 31-hour journey crosses the wide-open landscapes of Orange Free State and the coastal mountains of Cape Province. At select times, you can continue a further 19-hours to the Kruger National Park.

A fantastic way to experience West Coast USA, this epic 35-hour journey from Los Angeles to Seattle in modern coaches takes in the snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range, forests, valleys and stretches of Pacific Ocean. Wine and cheese tastings complement the fresh cuisine, and there is a cinema and arcade room for children.

The most relaxing way to explore southern India in unrivalled comfort, with a rich variety of off-train excursions to give an insight into the lands and history of the Maratha Empire.

A great way to explore the cities of Central and Eastern Europe, with escorted cultural visits included on a wide selection of itineraries. Stops include Budapest, Bratislava, Prague and Vienna. Cabins are all en suite and the restaurant car serves high-end regional specialities. The lounge car includes a piano, making for convivial evenings with dancing.

Sister train to the Orient Express, the Eastern & Oriental offers similar standards of luxury and styling, with en-suite cabins and dining cars inlaid with wood and brass. The train stops during its exotic three-day journey for a tour of George Town, Penang, and a cruise along the River Kwai, bookended by Singapore and Bangkok.

This beautifully appointed train travels three different routes through the south-western Indian state of Karnataka, visiting historic and cultural sites that deserve to be better known.

Crossing Australia east-west from the Indian to Pacific oceans, this 4,352km four-day journey linking Perth, Adelaide and Sydney is a perfect introduction to the country’s variety of landscapes – and size. Highlights include a stop at enigmatic Uluru.

Evoking the era of the British Raj, this ‘hotel’ train is a fabulously luxurious way to discover the highlights of Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, from the Taj Mahal and the magnificent royal palaces, to tiger safaris in Ranthambore. It will appeal to those who want to experience India in cocooned comfort.

The best way to experience the Rockies of British Columbia and Alberta, with four different routes and exceptional levels of service. In Gold Leaf class, expect gourmet cuisine and double-decker dome cars with reclining seats that offer unbeatable mountain views. Overnight stops are in hotels.

Admirable attention to detail and an emphasis on top-notch food and wines are key elements of this luxury journey. The atmosphere is enhanced by formality (jacket and tie required for dinner), but it’s the constantly fascinating South African scenery that sets the train apart. Starting in Cape Town, there are stops at the giant dunes of Sossusvlei in Namibia, Tanzania and Victoria Falls too.

Europe’s most luxurious hotel train has been created from modern carriages to give the ambience of a country-house hotel, with marquetry panelling and high-quality fabrics in cabins and public cars. Starting in Edinburgh, you journey into the magnificent landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Day excursions include country houses, castles, gardens, whisky and natural history.

Australia’s most spectacular and luxurious train journey (including private Platinum Carriage) cuts north from the plains of Adelaide through the ever-changing scenery of Australia’s vast interior, via the mountain peaks of the Flinders Ranges and the central desert around Alice Springs to the lush rainforests of the north. There’s an optional visit to enigmatic Uluru.

This luxury train is the best way to travel the Trans-Siberian Railway in style. Offering an unrivalled insight into Russia’s vastness, the journey is bookended by a night each in Moscow and Vladivostok, with excursions along the way to great sights such as Lake Baikal and Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’.

The Orient Express is the most iconic, romantic and historic of tourist trains. The superbly restored period carriages offer an authentic experience of inter-war rail travel at its best. Known for its exceptional onboard cuisine, this is a formal experience and a great way to combine visits to Paris, and Venice, with options for Amsterdam, Budapest and Prague.