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6 Luxury train journeys launching in 2026
Saudi Arabia’s first upscale rail experience leads the lineup
Rail travel remains one of the most evocative ways to explore the world, offering a slow, scenic and nostalgic passage through landscapes where the journey is every bit as rewarding as the destination. In 2026, the golden age of rail enters a new chapter with the launch of several ultra‑luxury train journeys across the globe, from the deserts of Saudi Arabia and the Silk Road’s storied cities to the vineyards of France and sun‑soaked coasts of southern Europe.
Here are six of the most anticipated new routes inviting travellers to rediscover the romance of the rails.
1 Dream of the Desert, Saudi Arabia
Set to become the Middle East’s first ultra-luxury train, Dream of the Desert will debut in late 2026, introducing a 14-car, 33-suite train – including two presidential suites – that accommodates up to 66 guests. Designed in collaboration with Italian artisans, the interiors blend Saudi heritage with contemporary elegance. Highlights include desert-view suites, two fine-dining cars serving Saudi- and Italian-inspired cuisine and a Majlis-style lounge.
One- and two-night journeys will connect Riyadh to Qurayyat near the Jordanian border, tracing 1,300km of existing tracks through Unesco-listed heritage sites, sweeping dunes and lush oases. Expect curated excursions, from cultural performances to private guided tours that spotlight the kingdom’s evolving tourism landscape. Fares have not yet been released. dreamofthedesert.com
2 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris to the Amalfi Coast
From 4 May 2026, Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will embark on a new three-night journey linking Paris to the Amalfi Coast — the first direct luxury rail connection between the two glamorous destinations. Travellers will ride in meticulously restored 1920s and 1930s Art Deco carriages, accompanied by live piano music, champagne cocktails and views of French and Italian Rivieras.
The itinerary includes one night aboard and two nights at the 11th-century Cruso Hotel in Ravello, complete with a gala dinner and open-air musical performances. Optional experiences include Italian cooking or painting classes, guided tours of Pompeii and leisurely boat trips along the Amalfi coastline. Prices start from £8,000 (AED40,155) per person, with bespoke extensions available. venice-simplon-orient-express
3 Golden Eagle Luxury Trains: Grand Silk Road (Beijing-Tashkent)
Launching in September 2026, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains is partnering with GeoEx on a 22-day expedition aboard a brand-new train following one of history’s most storied trade routes. The 2,400-mile journey runs from Beijing to Tashkent, crossing six countries – China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – and tracing a rich seam of history through Unesco World Heritage sites and fabled Silk Road cities.
Travellers will visit Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang and the dunes of the Gobi Desert. Onboard, opulent en-suite cabins with picture windows and dedicated butlers evoke Belle Époque style, complemented by fine dining, a piano-bar lounge and an observation car. Fares for the journey start at US$50,700 (AED186,200) per person.
Shorter 12- and 13-day variants through China and Tibet are also available as part of the 2026 programme. goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
4 Al Ándalus, Spain: Seville to Madrid
A refurbished vintage train, Al Ándalus returns to the rails in April 2026, offering a new seven-day, six-night luxury roundtrip from Madrid through Andalucía’s sunlit south to Seville. Running until October, the 1930s-era convoy of 14 restored Wagons-Lits carriages will carry up to 64 guests on a 480km route through Córdoba, Seville, Cadiz, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha.
The experience combines culinary indulgence with cultural immersion: flamenco evenings, palace visits, Roman ruins and Unesco towns. Four lounge cars serve Andalusian dishes and regional wines, while Grand Class and Deluxe suites come with private lounges and hydromassage showers. Fares start from €6,600 (AED28,840) per person. eltrenalandalus.com
Al Ándalus train, Spain
5 Le Grand Tour, France: Paris to Puy de Fou
Departing June 2026, Le Grand Tour by The Luxury Train Travel Company offers a six-day journey across France aboard a Belle Époque-style train. Priced from £6,210 (AED27,140) per person, the 4,000km route begins in Paris and sweeps through Burgundy, Bordeaux and Provence, with vineyard tastings at the Perrier-Jouët Champagne House and the Grands Crus châteaux of Saint-Émilion, plus lake cruises, château visits and a Provence-style lunch in an olive grove, before culminating at the French historical theme park Puy du Fou.
With just 18 cabins accommodating 36 passengers, the experience includes butler service, Michelin two-starred cuisine by chef Alexandre Couillon and a bar car with a resident pianist. A shorter two-day Autre Spectacle itinerary is also available for those seeking a taste of the experience. le-grand-tour
Le Grand Tour
6 Railbookers: Around the World by Luxury Train 2026
Capping the year’s launches, Railbookers has unveiled a 60-day round-the-world rail journey departing 2 September 2026, stringing together some of the world’s most luxurious trains, including Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer, Belmond Royal Scotsman, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Maharajas’ Express, Rovos Rail and the Eastern & Oriental Express, alongside five-star hotels and guided touring.
The multi-continent route spans Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, linking London, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Delhi, Cape Town and Singapore in a single, seamless itinerary designed for dedicated rail connoisseurs. Priced at US$125,000 (AED459,000) per person. railbookersgroup.com
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