Romance on the Rails

Luxurious rail journeys chugging through off-the-beaten-path landscapes and across continents personify slow travel, none more so than India’s Maharajas’ Express and Australia’s Indian Pacific.

Coast to Coast on the Indian Pacific

Start – Perth | Finish – Sydney | Duration – 3 nights

This journey follows the longest section of straight railway in the world, from Perth on Australia’s west coast to Sydney on the southeast coast – taking passengers from the Indian to the Pacific oceans and vice versa. Passengers follow a southerly path on the Indian Pacific, an iconic train that glides through desert plains and lush jungle on a transcontinental adventure.

This extraordinary train is made up of 30 carriages, including guest cabins, a restaurant, a lounge and crew quarters. Food on board is outstanding, with menus featuring fresh local ingredients from Australia’s top producers.

Sleeper cabins are available in Platinum and Gold categories and there’s also the chic Chairman’s Carriage made up of eight cabins that can be privately booked out.

Gold Twin sleeper cabins are the most common cabin type, featuring a private bathroom; an upper and lower berth bed that is converted to a three-seat sofa during the day; in-cabin music channels and audio commentary, with all dining, drinks and off -train excursions included.

The heart of India on the Maharajas’ Express

Start – Mumbai | Finish – Delhi | Duration – 7 days / 6 nights

An archetypal luxury rail journey, the Maharajas’ Express has the feel of a decadent grand palace. This 24-carriage hotel on wheels comprises four sleeper cabin categories, including Deluxe, Presidential Suite, Suite and Junior Suite. The Presidential Suite, alone, takes up an entire carriage. The train’s décor reflects the lavishness of Indian Royal heritage, with plush tactile furnishings and rich colour schemes.

There are two lounge bars and two restaurants on board, serving the kind of exquisite Indian cuisine you would expect to find in a luxury five-star hotel.

The route takes in the rich cultural sights of Rajasthan, from Mumbai to Delhi, with calls in Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore National Park and Agra – making the Maharajas’ Express the most glamorous way to explore India’s famous Golden Triangle.

Off -train excursions are likely to create lifelong memories, featuring a boat ride on Lake Pichola, sunset spent in the desert and the chance to spot magnificent Bengal tigers.

As well as tours along the route, passengers also get half-day tours of Mumbai and Delhi included.