This 59-day Train Journey Passes Through 12 Countries — and Includes Legs on 7 Iconic Luxury Locomotives in the World

A luxury train journey that takes travelers through four continents and 12 countries is back, and accepting reservations for 2025. The around-the-world train trip, which garnered a waitlist of more than 500 people before expanding into 2025, went on sale this month.

It is, in short, a train trip to end all train trips. Over 59 days, guests travel across four continents on seven of the world’s most iconic trains, while getting the chance to experience life in 12 countries and over 20 popular cities. Several UNESCO Heritage Sites are on the itinerary, along with game drives in Zimbabwe and private tours of the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. 

The trip — aptly named “Around the World by Luxury Train” — is organized by Railbookers, a specialist travel agency. It departs from Vancouver on Sept. 3, 2025, and ends 59 days later in Singapore.

The lucky few who secure a spot on this once-in-a-lifetime excursion will ride, sleep, and eat aboard the world’s most luxurious trains. There is plenty of time on the ground in cities like Paris, Edinburgh, Cape Town, Singapore, and Rome. Guests are treated to overnight lodging at some of the best hotels in the world — including Fairmont properties across Canada, Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, The Imperial in Delhi, Queen Victoria Hotel in Cape Town, and the Intercontinental hotels in Paris and Rome. 

The journey begins in Canada on the Rocky Mountaineer train that runs from Vancouver to Jasper, Alberta. After visiting Banff National Park and the neighboring communities of Lake Louise and Banff, guests will fly from Calgary to Scotland where they’ll take the Belmond Royal Scotsman through the Scottish Highlands. 

Following a short flight from Edinburgh to Rome, travelers will explore much of Europe by train. The journey begins on the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which runs from Rome to Venice to Portofino, and back again. Guests will then board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to Paris before departing for Istanbul. From there, the journey continues into Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria before returning to Istanbul.

After returning to Turkey, the scenery shifts dramatically. A flight drops passengers in India, where they’ll board the Maharajas’ Express Indian Panorama, which departs from Delhi and travels to Jaipur, Rajasthan; Ranthambore National Park (known for its Bengal tigers) in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan; the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh; and the spiritual city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (among other stops) before returning to Delhi.

The tour of India is followed by a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, where guests will spend a couple of days before embarking on a game drive through Pilanesberg National Park. After witnessing the Big Five in the wild, travelers will hop aboard the Rovos Rail, which runs from Pretoria, South Africa, to Zimbabwe. Here, guests are treated to a second game drive and a visit to Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. Following a flight back to South Africa via Cape Town, train travelers will get to explore the cape and take a wine tram through the surrounding vineyards.

The journey through Africa ends with a flight to Singapore, where travelers can explore the “Garden City” with a visit to their iconic Gardens by the Bay and a trip to the hawker stalls. From the stunning metropolis, guests hop aboard the final train, the Eastern & Oriental Express – Wild Malaysia, which travels deep into the neighboring Malaysian jungle before returning to Singapore. From here, travelers can board the final flight home, unless, of course, they decide to extend their trip.

Railbookers’ “Around the World by Luxury Train” journey starts at $124,150 per person. The rate includes all lodging and most food (typically all onboard meals). It also includes private airport and hotel transfers and private tours in each location. However, other than the flight between Victoria Falls and Cape Town, guests are responsible for paying for their flights. 

If you can’t make the September 2025 departure, Railbookers is accepting future trip requests through their website at railbookers.com.