Slow Travel: Luxury Trains

“A journey by train is an adventure in itself”.

Train travel evokes nostalgia from the children’s book The Polar Express to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Even the pitch of the conductor’s whistle can conjure an emotional response. Adventurous, mysterious, and romantic vibes are waiting for you at the platform. After all, life is a journey, not a destination, and train travel embodies that philosophy.

Slow down and savor onboard luxury … formality from a bygone era is embraced with black-tie fine dining, craft cocktails, fantastic views, and company with like-minded explorers. The pace of your ground-level journey provides a glimpse into everyday life that is missed when traveling 30 thousand feet above ground. Here are a few of our favorite luxury train experiences:

The art of train travel is perfected in Peru. Take the path once traversed by foot on Belmond’s Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham delivering epic journeys from Cusco to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Local touches are seen in the form of live entertainment, rich textiles made from luxe alpaca wool, and a skilled barman serving frothy pisco sours.  

Africa’s diversity is demonstrated and highlighted by a journey on Rovos Rail. The classic old-stream train cars are packed with living history amid timeless elegance. Your route allows for the Rainbow Nation’s trifecta: safari in the Bushveld, the rolling hills of the Winelands, and its beating heart, Cape Town.

Scotland is a medley of legend and lore, home to Nessie, the famed Loch Ness Monster, and magical cities showcasing medieval architecture and castles. Belmond’s Royal Scotsman train allows front-row seats to the spectacular raw coastline peppered with fishing villages. Cozy up with a Scotch Whisky and tartan blanket to the bagpipes ceòl mór.