These Are the World’s 10 Most Luxurious Train Journeys

Japan’s first luxury sleeper train was launched in 2013. Seven Stars just has seven carriages for 30 people and booking a journey on this requires a bit of work—there’s an application and lottery process. So, what’s so special about this?

Colored a deep wine red, Seven Stars cruises through the island of Kyushu. Inside, the interiors celebrate Japanese artisans with rich colors, wooden paneling, and lattice screens. Everything has been designed by Japanese artisans. On board, you have a piano in the bar. Meals are thoughtfully crafted with seasonal ingredients. Suites have their own en-suite bathrooms. There’s no TV because what’s happening outside the window is much better than a screen. The multi-day itineraries help passengers explore the best Kyushu has to offer: onsens, mountains, shrines, and gastronomic indulgences.

Price: $3,000 for one including all meals.

The Blue Train has been operating since the 1920s. It got a facelift in the 1970s and now it’s one of the best ways to see South Africa. Passengers can choose between the two-night Cape Town to Pretoria (or vice versa) and the 19-hour Pretoria to Hoedspruit (and return) journeys. From its large windows, you can watch the changing landscapes, flatlands to mountains to national parks and vineyards. 

Have you ever imagined sinking into a bathtub on a train? Here, you can. All suites also have a writing desk and a butler. It also features a dining car, where passengers can feast on local delicacies with jazz and classical tunes playing in the background. Have a pre-meal drink at the Club Car, or relax in the Lounge Car with a book. This is how dignitaries have traveled too, including Nelson Mandela.

Price: Starts at $1,560 for one person including meals and excursions.

Running for 30 years, Rovos Rail takes up to 72 guests on two-day to 15-day itineraries across Africa. The 14-day Dar es Salaam journey through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe involves bush walks, off-board excursions to historic towns and falls, and stays in a game reserve. Of course, the sights of the bush, valleys, winelands, and arid deserts are part of the package. A short, three-day ride from Pretoria to Cape Town opens your eyes to the mining past of the country, while mountain ranges and winelands play like a movie on the windows.

Interiors are old school and vintage. The suites are wood-paneled and equipped with writing desks, luggage shelves, and robes and slippers. The Royal Suite features a bathtub and a small lounge area. The train has dining cars, a lounge, a gift shop, and an observation deck to take in the views. Dress in smart casuals and formals as you dine on fine china and sip South Africa’s finest wines. You’ll also get safety glasses, in case you want to feel the wind in your air at the open-air balcony of the observation deck. 

Price: $1,788 upwards for short journeys; $13,200 upwards for 14-day Cape Town to Dar es Salaam.

Travel like royalty on India’s glitzy Maharajas’ Express. The train tries to illustrate an era when kings and queens traveled the country. It has 43 cabins and suites that can accommodate up to 88 passengers. If you’re willing to splurge a little, the Presidential Suite is the best on board with a living room, two bedrooms, and an en-suite bathroom. Passengers also get their own private butler. The train is wifi-enabled and also features two restaurants and two bars.

The journeys give you a glimpse into the heritage of India and the off-shore excursions are insightful. Book the Indian Splendour—a six-day journey from Delhi to Mumbai that stops at Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Udaipur—to get guided cultural tours and sample local cuisine.   

Price: The Indian Splendour tour starts at $5,980.

The name says it. This train used to transport kings, presidents, and heads of state in the 20th century, but retired after almost a century of operations in 1970. In 2010, it was restored and was resting in the railway museum, from where it was rescued by a businessman who brought it to the tracks again. Now, the Presidential Train—maintaining its royal glory—takes passengers on gastronomical journeys with Michelin-star chefs pairing dishes with fine wines from Portugal’s wine region. 

The train pulls out of the 100-year-old São Bento station in Porto and slowly chugs along the Douro River and wine estates. Sitting on plush, velvet seats, you sip the wines from the Douro region and feast on a multi-course menu in the dining cart all through the round trip. The Presidential Experience is 10 hours long, but you can also book two- and three-day journeys with hotel stays.

Price: $878 per person for the Presidential Experience.

From Adelaide to Darwin, The Ghan covers 2,979 kilometres (1,851 miles), cutting through the dramatic and daunting Red Centre of Australia. This train is named after the Afghan camel drivers who transported goods to the remote towns and helped construct the railway lines in the indomitable Red Centre. In 1929, The Old Ghan made its maiden journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs (it took 50 years to slowly construct the rail line). This train was irregular and unreliable; it was once stranded for two weeks! It was only in 2004 that Darwin was connected to the network and the spectacular cross-country journey came to life.

The Ghan Expedition is much more reliable and comfortable now. This is a grand way to see the remote interiors of the nation and learn a little about its history and Indigenous culture. The three-night journey on The Ghan starts in Darwin with stops in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy, before it pulls up at Adelaide. The scenery changes: hills and the inky night sky; red rocks and vegetation. While you’re star-struck by what’s happening outdoors, take delight in fine wines and a gourmet menu with regional fare (grilled kangaroo fillet and saltwater barramundi are on offer). You’ll also love the off-shore excursions, including a visit to the magical Uluru.

Price: $1,392 per person for three-night The Ghan Darwin to Adelaide. More itineraries and packages are available.