Luxury Rail
Belmond, Rovos, the Eastern & Oriental. The long way around, by choice, and by far the more interesting way.
There is a particular kind of traveller who, having done the great hotels of the world, decides next to do the great trains. I love that traveller. The pace is different, meals are events, the view is the entire afternoon, and the trip ends having actually felt long.
I work most often with the same three or four operators. Each has a different temperament, the British discipline of the Belmond, the South African warmth of the Rovos, the cinematic strangeness of the Eastern & Oriental. The right one is a question of mood, not status.
Train trips travel best in pairs and small parties. The carriages are intimate, the dining cars sociable. Bring the books you've meant to read.
A working list, not a checklist.
Every trip is bespoke, the items below are typical of how this kind of journey takes shape. Yours will differ.
- A specific suite category secured well ahead
- Pre- and post-trip nights in the right small hotels
- Excursions handled by the operator's best local guides
- A discreet word with the chef about dietary preferences
You might also be drawn to
A conversation begins every journey.
Maryann reads every enquiry herself. Most are answered the same day.