3 of the World’s Most Luxurious Train Journeys
Some journeys are just as memorable as the destination itself. Luxury train travel offers a rare kind of experience—slow, cinematic travel where the scenery unfolds outside your window while impeccable service and beautifully restored carriages evoke the golden age of exploration.
From legendary European rail routes to exclusive journeys through Japan and the Andes, these luxury trains combine extraordinary landscapes with world-class hospitality.
Here are three of the most remarkable luxury train journeys in the world.
Courtesy of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express | Europe
Few travel experiences carry the mystique of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, widely considered Europe’s most legendary train journey.
Operated by Belmond, the train transports guests back to the glamour of the 1920s with meticulously restored Art Deco carriages, white-glove service, and candlelit dining.
Routes typically connect iconic cities such as Paris and Venice, crossing alpine landscapes while guests enjoy champagne in elegant lounge cars and multi-course meals in ornate dining carriages.
It’s a romantic, nostalgic journey that feels closer to stepping into a classic film than modern transportation.
Courtesy of Seven Stars in Kyushu
2. Seven Stars in Kyushu | Japan
One of the most exclusive train journeys in the world, Seven Stars in Kyushu offers an intimate and deeply refined way to explore southern Japan.
Reservations are so limited that bookings are awarded through a twice-a-year lottery system, adding to the mystique of the experience.
Inside, the train resembles a rolling luxury ryokan, with beautifully crafted wood interiors, serene lounges, and panoramic windows designed to showcase Kyushu’s landscapes—from volcanic mountains to coastal villages.
The journey blends Japanese hospitality, regional cuisine, and thoughtful design into one of the most coveted rail experiences in the world.
Courtesy of Belmond Andean Explorer
3. Belmond Andean Explorer | Peru
Traveling through the dramatic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes, the Belmond Andean Explorer is South America’s first luxury sleeper train.
The journey connects destinations such as Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa while guests glide through high-altitude plains framed by snow-capped peaks.
Elegant cabins, sophisticated dining, and observation lounges create a serene environment to enjoy the scenery—but one of the train’s most unique features is its onboard spa car, where guests can unwind with treatments while the Andes roll past the window.
