ARE TRAINS THE NEW CRUISE SHIPS?
For many years, cruise passengers have relished the idea of being able to visit numerous destinations without the need to pack and unpack luggage. Now a new breed of luxury sleep-onboard train journeys is offering the same benefit and with some amazing experiences not available to cruise passengers. Here’s a sample of what’s luxury train journeys are on offer.
Africa
If you’re looking for something extra-special, South African company Rovos Rail has eleven luxurious and stunning itineraries ranging from two nights to a couple of amazing two-week holidays, and both journeys can be done in either direction.
The 15-night Trail of Two Oceans runs east–west between Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Lobito in Angola, but the star of the show is the 16-night Dar Es Salaam which sets out from Cape Town at the southern tip of South Africa. Heading north through South Africa, it journeys into Botswana, then into Zimbabwe and Zambia, before crossing into Tanzania and traversing the Rift Valley, ending its adventure on the coast of Tanzania at Dar Es Salaam. Highlights include the diamond town of Kimberley, South Africa’s capital Pretoria, a sunset cruise and overnight stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel, plus the tunnels, switchbacks and viaducts as the train crosses the escarpments of the Rift Valley.
UK
Belmond’s popular Royal Scotsman offers a number of itineraries allowing guests to explore the best of the Highlands. From stunning glens to scenic fishing ports and famous distilleries, the train delivers everything you could want from a Scottish tour.
Launching in July 2025, Belmond’s new Britannic Explorer will depart from London, offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales. The routes are scheduled to allow travellers to combine two regional journeys into one trip: the Cornwall and Lake District routes run from Friday to Monday, while the Wales route runs from Monday to Thursday.
Mainland Europe
There are a number of European options and one of the best is Spain’s El Transcantábrico, with a complete package offered by Great Rail Journeys. Spain’s oldest tourist train runs from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela. Guests can explore unspoilt beaches and historic towns and cities such as Santander, Gijón, and Santiago de Compostela. During the night the train remains stationary to allow for a peaceful night’s rest, and the cuisine on board is considered among the best in Spain.
Asia
The new kid on the block is the Jibek Joly. Launched in early 2025, this five-day Silk Road tour starts and finishes in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and former capital. The trip takes in Turkistan, plus Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. Kazakhstan’s Khan Turan Travel (khanturan.com) can take bookings. Almaty also has much to offer, and it’s probably worth spending a few extra days there to explore this unique, modern city. There are non-stop flights between London and Almaty by award-winning national carrier Air Astana, whose President and CEO, Peter Foster OBE, hails from Skipton in Yorkshire.
India
See the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, the Amber Fort and tigers in Ranthambore National Park on a five-day tour of India’s Golden Triangle on the Maharajas’ Express from Tropical Sky. With luxury accommodation for 88 guests, the journey offers extravagant feasts and champagne brunches, plus unique experiences that make this a truly memorable journey.
Australia
Journey Beyond has two famous trains that criss-cross the country. The Ghan has been running its four-day journey north–south between Adelaide and Darwin since 1929. Off-train experiences include a cruise on the Katherine River, tours in and around Alice Springs, and a visit to Coober Pedy, the home of Australian opals, where a number of buildings are underground to help residents avoid the intense heat.
The Indian Pacific does what it says on the tin: a five-day journey east–west between Perth on the Indian Ocean and Sydney on the Pacific. On the way, explore Adelaide, the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie, the vineyards of the Barossa Valley and the ghost town of Cook for a nightcap and a late-night BBQ.
North America
In the USA, Amtrak offers sleeper facilities on a number of longer rail journeys. These are not set organised trips and passengers join and leave the train at stops along the way. You can travel from New Orleans to San Antonio and Tucson going west on the Sunset Limited route. The City of New Orleans route runs between New Orleans and Chicago, travelling through Mississippi and Memphis, and features a sleeper train between Memphis and Chicago. The Crescent service connects New Orleans to big cities like New York, with many small towns along the way.
North of the border, ViaRail offers The Canadian – a four-day crossing between Toronto and Vancouver. Along the route you’ll visit Winnipeg, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Jasper, as well as a host of smaller, attractive locations.
All these unique luxury train journeys offer great scenery, convivial company, top-class food and drink, and life-long memories.
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