Top Luxury Train Travel Excursions

World's Top 25 Luxury Trains

The Orient Express is still
the "grande dame" of all the
world's top luxury trains.

What are the world's best train rides?

From Europe's venerable grande dame, the "Venice Simplon-Orient-Express" to India's wheezing geezer, the 100-year-old "Toy Train," the Society of International Railway Travelers anointed the world's 25 top trains in celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2008.

Some on the list are over-the-top luxury, such as the all-first-class Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Rovos Rail's "Pride of Africa" and India's "Deccan Odyssey."

Others offer the most stylish and comfortable way to see less-developed regions, such as the world's newest private train, the Danube Express, which offers week-long, rail-based "cruises" through Central Europe.

Per-person prices for these mostly private-train tours range from $2,895 for a week in Mexico's Copper Canyon aboard the "Sierra Madre Express" to $26,500 for a 16-day Vancouver-Montreal excursion aboard the exclusive "Royal Canadian Pacific," which hosted the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Bill Gates.

Following, in geographical order, are the winning trains and countries or areas of operation:

North America
1) Canadian (Canada)
2) Royal Canadian Pacific (Canada)
3) Canadian Rockies Steam Express (Canada)
4) Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)
5) GrandLuxe Express (US)
6) Sierra Madre Express (Mexico)

South America
7) Andean Explorer (Peru)
8) Hiram Bingham (Peru)

Africa:
9) Blue Train (South Africa)
10) Pride of Africa (Rovos Rail) (South Africa)

Asia/Indian Subcontinent
11) Palace on Wheels (India)
12) Eastern & Oriental Express (SE Asia)
13) ShangriLa Express (China/Tibet)
14) Toy Train (India)
15) Deccan Odyssey (India)

Europe
16) Danube Express (Central Europe, Turkey)
17) Al Andalus Express (Spain)
18) El Transcantabrico (Spain)
19) Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express (Russia)
20) Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe)
21) Glacier Express (Switzerland)
22) Royal Scotsman (Scotland)

Australia
23) Ghan (Australia)
24) Indian Pacific (Australia)
25) Sunlander (Australia)

"The World's Top 25 Trains are based on our own experience and that of our writers, editors, members and staff," said Eleanor Hardy, Society President.

"The trains met stringent standards for service, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, off-train experiences and passenger enjoyment. Trains cannot pay to be included in this book: we choose them," Hardy said.

The Society of International Railway Travelers