For travelers seeking the ultimate in epic luxury train travel on some of the world’s greatest railways, the list below may provide enough inspiration to ignite the imagination.
Lhasa to Hong Kong aboard the Shangri-La Express
Train tours between the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, and Hong Kong offer an impressive tour of natural wonders and culture. The Shangri-La Express is a luxury first class locomotive and is well equipped for that type of journey.
The journey is full of contrasts: travelers not only have the opportunity to visit Xian’s 6,000 terracotta warriors, but also to witness giant pandas in the wild in Yunnan Stone Forest, the ‘First Wonder of the World’.
The experience begins in Lhasa, where travelers have the opportunity to explore the Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibet. On the third day, travelers take a tour of Norbu Lingka, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama.
For four nights, travelers can stay on a luxurious river cruise as it glides through the world-famous Three Gorges.
The Silk Road aboard the Trans Siberian Express
Traversing one of the most important trade routes of ancient civilization, this tour follows in the footsteps of legendary figures such as Alexander the Great and Marco Polo.
Traversing Russia and China, as well as some of the former Soviet republics, this journey includes countless sights of the ancient world. The Trans-Siberian Express is the ultimate in luxury transportation.
The journey begins in Moscow, then on to Volgograd for fabulous sightseeing opportunities.
The Kara Kum desert is followed by the amazing 2500 year old cities of Khiva and Bukhara, and then on to Samarkand, ‘Rome of the East’. Samarkand is home to Registan Square, a space considered one of the most inspiring places in Central Asia.
After crossing the Chinese border, the tour overlooks the Thousand Buddhas of Magao cave complex, Jiayuguan Fortress, and the Terracotta Warriors, an army of 6,000 statues.
The Arctic Circle on Steam
The Arctic Circle by Steam is an incredible 7,000 km, 13-day steam voyage from Moscow to St. Petersburg and on to Murmansk, inside the Arctic Circle. Fans of luxury rail travel will delight in the sights and sounds of steam engines juxtaposed with all the conveniences of modern travel.
The journey begins in Moscow, where travelers spend a day touring Russia’s vibrant capital, including Red Square and the Kremlin. At Leningradsky station, guests take a private train.
The train is then hauled from Moscow by Europe’s largest working steam locomotive, GWT’s P36.0032. The train heads north towards St. Petersburg and the Arctic Circle.
Then continue to Pavlovsk, where the itinerary includes a visit to the Catherine Summer Palace in Pushkin. The next day, travelers are given a guided tour of the ancient city of Pskov.
The highlight of the trip is in Kem, where guests are transferred to a small boat bound for the Solovetsky Monastery on the beautiful Solovetsky Island in the White Sea.
The Canadian Rockies aboard the Royal Canadian Pacific
Climb aboard a Canadian Pacific Railway vintage commercial car for the ultimate in luxury rail vacations. The spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies, five-star hospitality and comfortable accommodations aboard the Royal Canadian Pacific guarantee the trip of a lifetime.
The National Geographic Traveler agrees with this sentiment, as in 2008 this tour was recognized by them as the “Tour of Life”.
The quintessential Canadian Rockies train tour is unique in that it focuses on the heritage and culture of the Canadian Rockies, while accompanying passengers through some of the most spectacular terrain in the world along the historic Canadian Pacific rail lines. Tour highlights include: Banff and The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Lake Louise, Kicking Horse Pass, and the Columbia Valley Wetlands.
Beijing to Moscow aboard the Trans-Siberian Express
This trip is more adventure-driven and activity-packed than most tours. The tour begins in Beijing, where guests board the train bound for Ulanbaatar.
Travelers then have a couple of days of free time before boarding the Trans-Siberian Express train bound for Irkutsk. Upon arrival in Irkutsk, guests proceed to Listvyanka Village on the shore of Lake Baikal for a selection of activities such as: dog sledding, snowshoeing and many others.
Several days later, the train heads for Novosibirsk. Upon arrival in Yekaterinburg, guests are treated to a city tour, followed by an exciting selection of day trip options: from a trip to the Romanov Tombs to mountain biking in the Ural Mountains, from ice fishing to Siberian husky dog sledding.
