All Aboard: The World's Most Luxurious Train Journeys for 2026

From the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to Japan's Shiki-shima, these rail journeys prove that the destination is secondary to how you get there.

Why Are Luxury Train Journeys Making a Comeback?

In an age of supersonic ambition and four-hour transatlantic flights, the luxury train journey is a deliberate act of deceleration — and that's precisely why demand has surged. Rail travel's carbon footprint is a fraction of aviation's, but the real draw is experiential: these journeys aren't about efficiency, they're about the quality of hours spent watching landscapes unfold through panoramic windows, dining in restored carriages with starched linens and crystal glassware, and sleeping to the gentle rhythm of the track. The market has responded — new routes, renovated carriages, and entirely new luxury trains have launched in the past three years across Europe, Asia, and South America.

What Is It Like to Ride the Orient Express in 2026?

Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express remains the gold standard of luxury rail, and the experience begins the moment you board at London's Victoria Station — champagne in hand, a pianist playing in the British Pullman carriages that ferry you to Folkestone for the Channel crossing. The Continental train, assembled from original 1920s and 1930s carriages, runs through the French countryside, climbs the Swiss Alps, and descends into the Veneto over two days and one night. The Grand Suite, unveiled in 2023, represents a genuine first for the train: a private bathroom with marble surfaces and mosaic flooring, a living area that converts to a bedroom at night, and 24-hour cabin steward service. Dinner in the three art deco dining cars — Lalique, Étoile du Nord, and Côte d'Azur — is a multi-course affair with Champagne, fine wine, and cuisine that has evolved from traditional French to a more modern seasonal approach. The London-to-Venice journey starts from approximately £3,500 per person; the Grand Suite from £8,000.

What Is Japan's Most Exclusive Train?

Train Suite Shiki-shima, operated by JR East, is arguably the world's most exclusive rail experience. Carrying just 34 guests in ten suites through northern Honshu and Hokkaido, it operates as a mobile five-star hotel with a design pedigree that reads like a who's who of Japanese craft: suites by Ken Okuyama (designer of the Ferrari Enzo), cypress-wood communal baths, and a lounge car with floor-to-ceiling windows, a hinoki wood bar, and a grand piano. Itineraries run two to four days and include private excursions to temples, artisan workshops, and gardens not open to the general public. The cuisine, prepared in a glass-walled kitchen car, showcases regional ingredients from each area the train passes through — Tohoku rice, Hokkaido seafood, and wagyu from specific, named farms. Booking requires a Japanese travel agent and is allocated by lottery due to extreme demand — success rates hover around 5% for peak dates.

Which Other Luxury Trains Are Worth Considering?

The Belmond Royal Scotsman offers a two- to seven-night journey through the Scottish Highlands in Edwardian-era carriages, with whisky tastings, guided walks, and visits to private estates. Rovos Rail in South Africa runs the 'most luxurious train in the world' from Pretoria to Cape Town over two nights, with Royal Suites larger than many hotel rooms. The Belmond Andean Explorer traverses the Peruvian Andes between Cusco and Lake Titicaca at altitudes exceeding 4,000 metres, with oxygen enrichment in every cabin. For a shorter experience, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian offers the world's longest rail journey in luxury compartments across Russia, Mongolia, and China over 15 days.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Luxury Train Journey?

The Orient-Express sells out 6–9 months in advance for standard cabins, with the annual Paris-to-Istanbul special (running once per year) selling out within days of release. Shiki-shima requires a Japanese travel agent and operates a ballot system — apply 6–12 months ahead. The Royal Scotsman's peak summer departures sell out by January. For all luxury trains, the shoulder seasons offer the best landscapes — spring cherry blossoms for Japan, autumn colours for the Orient-Express through Switzerland — and slightly better availability. Travel agents specializing in luxury rail (like Luxury Train Club or Red Savannah) can access allocations not available to direct bookers.