This article offers the reader useful information about some of the best luxury train holidays on the planet.
If you have yet to experience a luxury train journey, some would say you haven’t lived. Luxury trains were built for royalty with splendid décor and 5-star amenities. These days, there are many luxury train routes for you to choose from.
Here is our top 5 list of luxury train journeys.
Trans-Siberian Express
You can travel across Russia, from West to East, or the other way round, starting at St. Petersburg and finishing at the Eastern port of Vladivostok. There are extensions on the route that takes you through the Mongolian Steppes and onto Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. This luxury train is really the pinnacle of rail travel and you can take another journey to Beijing, extending the trip by 2-3 days.
Golden Danube Express
This iconic locomotive is used to see Central Europe in a unique way. The Grand Alpine route departs from Budapest and stops at Vienna, Lake Achen, Innsbruck, Zurich, Milan, Verona, Trieste, spending time on the shores of Lake Bled, before heading to Ljubljana and finally arriving in the beautiful city of Vienna. Spend a total of 10 nights and 11 days on the luxurious Golden Danube Express enjoying the scenic Alpine vistas. This is one of the most beautiful regions of Europe, hence Danube Express train packages are very popular. Avoid disappointment by booking your cabin early.
Venice To Istanbul
This journey takes 11 nights and 12 days to complete. Setting out from Venice, where you spend a day at the major attractions of this unique city. The first stop is the northern Italian city of Trieste, then you meander through stunning countryside and experience Lake Bled. Take a cruise for 4-5 hours on one of the largest bodies of freshwater on the planet. The amazing city called Ljubljana is next, the capital of Slovenia, which has a long and colourful history, while Zagreb and Sarajevo are further down the line, each with its own unique ambience. Further stops include Mostar, Belgrade, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Sofia and finally arriving at Istanbul.
The African Explorer
See the wonders of the African continent from the plush African Explorer, which whisks you into another world for 13 nights, as you go from Cape Town all the way across Africa to Windhoek. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, Cape Town is well worth a visit and your English-speaking guide takes you on an interactive tour of the city. The train meanders through South Africa’s green valleys, with many tunnels along the way before arriving at Matjiesfontein, a quaint colonial town with period architecture. Upington is the next stop and you travel through Augrabies National Park, home to many wildlife species. Namibia is an enchanted land with stunning beaches, deserts and prairie lands. Traverse the Namibia Desert in 5-star luxury and spend the night in a 5-star desert lodge, where you can stargaze and take in the breath-taking views.
The Darjeeling Mail
The mysteries of India await those that book a cabin on this epic 14-night experience, which begins in Mumbai, a city like no other. Take in Udaipur, where you will tour the incredible Lake Palace and Jaipur is an assault on the senses. Agra Fort and the majestic Taj Mahal are next on the menu. Taj Mahal is the best place for Instagram shots; everyone needs to see mausoleum before they leave this earthy plane. Spend time in Darjeeling before the journey ends in Kolkata.
If you would like to learn more about any of the above packages, Google can take you to a leading luxury train tour operator.
