Luxury sleeper trains bringing back the romance of rail travel

Slow travel is one of the fastest-growing tourism trends – and it’s not slowing down. More than just easing back on the accelerator, the concept is about taking the time to learn, experience and really immerse yourself in a destination.

While rail travel is generally seen as a way to get from A to B, the upper end of the spectrum is a perfect opportunity to ‘take it slow’. Add in gourmet cuisine, stylish interiors and a few late-night martinis in the lounge car, and you have a holiday that feels out of time yet exactly what we need right now.

From Venice to London, Cusco to the Outback, these luxury rail trips are worth slowing down for.

The Blue Train – South Africa

South Africa is synonymous with luxury safari lodges – the kind where waking up to spy a curious kudu or giraffe strolling past your window is a daily occurrence. Yet it’s also home to one of the world’s greatest sleeper train experiences: the Blue Train.

The Blue Train allows you to sit back and soak up the beauty of South Africa.

Weaving from the veld to the sea, the 54-hour journey from ‘Pretoria to Cape Town’ passes through an incredible array of landscapes, while the 19-hour ‘Pretoria to Kruger’ route is like a safari by rail. An off-train game safari is included as part of the latter’s experience.

The gourmet menu is complemented by an extensive South African wine list.

On board? That’s no less impressive. The timber-clad suites – available as Luxury or De Luxe – feature a comfy lounge to settle in and admire the ever-changing view, together with a plush fold-out bed and private bathroom housing a tub. 

Luxury Suites come with personalised butler service.

Public cars are tailor made for socialising, whether it’s the bar cart stocked with South African wines and spirits or the dining room plating up local fare from Karoo lamb to ostrich and venison.

Belmond Royal Scotsman – Scotland

Self-described as a “grand highland fling”, Belmond Royal Scotsman invites guests to get swept up in the wild romance of the Scottish landscape, taking in soaring peaks and deep valleys, mirror lochs and crumbling castles that could look right at home in Game of Thrones (BYO dragons).

Step aboard the Royal Scotsman and rekindle the romance of travel

Comprising ten exquisite carriages, its mahogany-rich interiors mix Edwardian elegance with the pomp of a country manor. However, it isn’t purely reliant on historic charm – a freshly-debuted Dior Spa places it firmly in the 21st century.

Three pampering treatments available while whizzing through the highlands.

As you’d expect, cabins feature liberal use of tartan, giving them an authentic Scottish atmosphere. Arriving in May 2024, Grand Suites are the newest and most lavish offering, with butler service and one complimentary spa treatment per guest included.

The Grand Suites will make their debut in May 2024.

Instead of just admiring Scotland through a window, each day presents chances to hop off and explore, from visits of Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield to wild swimming and enjoying a dram or two at some of the country’s world-class distilleries.

The Canadian – Canada

When you think of luxury rail travel in Canada, it’s more than likely the Rocky Mountaineer is the one that springs to mind. Yet there’s another option worth considering, and this one allows you to sleep on board.

The view is worth the price of admission alone.

By day, The Canadian is all about celebrating natural beauty as its winds through stunning landscapes from Vancouver to Toronto. But at night, in Prestige Class, it’s a chance to settle down and indulge with gourmet meals and a cosy bed angled to the view outside.

Prestige Sleeper class by day.

And what a view. Over a distance of more than 4,400 kilometres you’ll pass from urban sprawl to gentle prairie fields, rugged lake country and quaint towns framed by the snowy peaks of the Rockies.

The four-day journey allows plenty of time to dine and indulge.

Prestige Sleeper Cabins (of which there are just six onboard) are twice the size of the standard Sleeper Plus and also come fitted with a private washroom and L-shaped lounge. The finish is decidedly modern too, swapping heritage charm for a contemporary edge.

The Ghan – Adelaide to Darwin

This experience requires little introduction. The Ghan is the grand dame of the Australian luxury rail scene; an icon that has invited curious travellers to explore the beating heart of Australia in style since 1929.

The Ghan with the MacDonnell Ranges in the distance

Originally just from Adelaide to Alice Springs, it was extended to Darwin in 2004 and is now a truly transcontinental experience. Travelling amid fiery desert sands and remote townships, it’s a journey that gives passengers a greater appreciation for the wonders of the outback.

Platinum cabins include full-size ensuites and views from both sides of the train.

Choose Gold Service to enjoy all-inclusive dining and drinks, with an ensuite cabin that features upper and lower berth beds, or dial up the indulgence with Platinum Service and enjoy a cabin that converts from lounges by day to beds by night.

Platinum guests also have access to the exclusive Platinum Club bar and restaurant.

Off-train experiences, such as dinner at Alice Springs Telegraph Station, add to the Outback adventure.

Rather than just watching the landscape pass by from your window (or the dining cart) you can get amongst it, with included off-train experiences such as a Nitmiluk Gorge cruise or walking tour of Simpsons Gap, as well as exclusive off-train dinners under the stars on select trips.

Belmond Andean Explorer – Peru

Another feather in Belmond’s cap is the Andean Explorer – a sleek, midnight-blue train which stands out amid the rugged scenery of the Andes. But what it lacks in the ability to blend in, it makes up for with immersive experiences and opulent interiors.

The Andean Explorer houses 35 sleeper cabins.

Travellers are presented with a mix of four unforgettable one- or two-night journeys between Cusco and Arequipa, each one including all onboard meals and drinks as well as off-train excursions.

Peruvian flavours are front and centre in the two dining cars: Llama and Muna.

Belmond has taken great care in adding Peruvian design elements to its cabins, including soft hand-woven textiles and artworks. Ensuite bathrooms also come as standard, as do built-in oxygen tanks for those having trouble acclimating to the high altitudes.

Suites feature a double bed and seating area with two chairs.

As it snakes through the Andes you’re treated to close-up views of rolling grasslands and rugged peaks from the large windows, along with visits to majestic Lake Titicaca – home of the famous Uros floating islands – and Sumbay Caves, filled with rock art.

Train Suite Shiki-Shima – Japan

The Japanese are renowned for their flair for innovation and technology – but even they have outdone themselves with the Champagne-gold Train Suite Shiki-Shima.

Debuted in 2017, the exclusive JR East train which operates throughout central Honshu (the main island of Japan) is a thing of rare beauty.

The Champagne-gold train carves an exquisite path through the landscape
© East Japan Railway Company

Acclaimed Japanese industrial designer Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama, known for his work with the Ferrari Enzo supercar, brought his signature style to the 10-car sleeper train, giving it the feel of a luxury vehicle or yacht. With just 34 guests onboard, there's plenty of space for passengers to relax.

The first and last carriages on the Shiki-Shima train are observation cars
© East Japan Railway Company

Cypress wood bathtubs, floor-to-ceiling windows, working fireplaces… it's like no idea was off-limits, yet it remains a masterclass in restraint and subtlety too.

Colour and texture abound in the Deluxe Suite Room
© East Japan Railway Company

Each cabin, from the slate-grey and timber Suite Room to the two-floor Shiki-Shima Suite with tatami mat floors, is finished to an exceptional level of detail.

And, with menus designed by a Michelin Star chef, you’re in for an experience that tastes as good as it looks too.

Treat your tastebuds to Michelin-quality cuisine
© East Japan Railway Company

Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Venice to Paris

Created in 1883 by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL), the original Orient Express once operated luxurious rail journeys through Europe and Asia between London and Istanbul. It ceased operations in 2009. However, its spirit lives on.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express preparing to leave the station

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express by Belmond – which utilises some of the original CIWL carriages from the 20s and 30s – transports guests back to an age of glamour and nostalgia, with spellbinding one to five-night itineraries visiting Paris, Venice and Istanbul. 

London is another port of call, though Brexit-related issues will see a temporary pause on the route from March 2024 until a faster border processing system is introduced. 

The aptly-named Grand Suite onboard the VSOE

Featuring grand single, twin, double and interconnecting suites, as well as a dining car serving exceptional local produce, there’s no better place to try out your Hercule Poirot impression.

Enjoy impeccable service and attention to detail

Seven Stars in Kyushu – Japan

Another Japanese train worth travelling for is the Seven Stars in Kyushu. Yet most travellers outside of Japan have no idea it even exists. But exist it does – and it is striking.

Impressive views require an equally impressive observation window

Launched in 2013, the seven-car JR Kyushu passenger train is like the golden age of travel reinvented for the modern era.

The Blue Moon dining car is a lavish affair.

Travelling along the 3,000km Hisatsu Orange Railway line, the port-red train takes guests on a four day round-trip through the seven prefectures of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands. Lush forest, scenic coastline, and historic cities are just a few of the trip highlights.

And on board? That’s the real star. The train blends elements of Japanese and Western design to create a timeless and elegant meeting of the old and new.

The Deluxe Suite features a blend of Western and Japanese design

Think delicately-carved timber and polished brass, nightcaps in the Blue Moon lounge car, a pianist tickling the ivories in the background, and the starry night sky viewable through panoramic windows overhead. And that’s before we even get to the fine details.

Because, in order to keep traditional craftsmanship alive, Seven Stars features bespoke architectural and design features including Kumiko – small, thin pieces of wood fitted together by hand to create elaborate designs – and Arita ware pottery. Every item is breathtaking in its detail.  

Maharajas’ Express – India

There’s something about India that fires the imagination. Historic gardens, jewelled palaces, and towering hillside forts, and that’s just what you can see in a five minute rickshaw ride.

Now imagine witnessing these captivating sights from the comfort of one of the world’s most awarded luxury trains: Maharaja’s Express. That’s a holiday you won’t forget in a hurry.

The 23 carriage-long Maharaja's Express is your ticket to the heart of India

Ranging from three to seven nights, its itineraries are mainly centred around the royal state of Rajasthan, with stops including the famous tiger-spotting destination of Ranthambore; Udaipur, known for its artificial lakes and elaborate City Palace complex; and the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur.

With cabins ranging from Deluxe through to a spacious Presidential Suite, two decadent dining venues – Mayr Mahal and Rang Mahal – and two classic bars to relax and recount the day's adventures, this is a rail journey that’ll take you right to the very heart of India.

After that, all that’s left to do is relax, order another cocktail and enjoy the views that unfold.