Luxury Rail Journeys in India & Southeast Asia
Luxury rail journeys across India and Southeast Asia offer some of the world’s most evocative long-distance train experiences, combining historic routes, refined onboard living and deeply immersive travel. From India’s palace-style trains exploring royal cities and ancient landscapes to Southeast Asia’s elegant rail journeys through rainforest, coastline and colonial-era towns, this region rewards travellers who value atmosphere, culture and unhurried discovery.
Our specialists curate luxury rail itineraries throughout India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, combining iconic trains with private touring, expert guides and seamless logistics. Each journey is designed to showcase the character of its destination while allowing the journey itself to become an essential part of the experience.
● Why Travel by Luxury Train
● Key Destinations & Regional Highlights
● Luxury Trains in India & Southeast Asia
● Compare Luxury Trains at a Glance
● Practical Information & FAQs
● Enquire About Rail Journeys in This Region
Why Travel India & Southeast Asia by Luxury Train
Luxury rail travel in this region allows guests to experience extraordinary distances and contrasts without the disruption of frequent flights. As landscapes shift gradually from cities to countryside, coastlines to jungle and deserts to fertile plains, the journey itself becomes an essential part of the narrative.
Life onboard is intentionally slow and refined, with days shaped by panoramic views, regionally inspired cuisine and guided off-train excursions. This style of travel appeals to those who value comfort, cultural depth and a sense of place, offering a seamless and elegant alternative to conventional touring across South and Southeast Asia.
Who Are These Journeys Best Suited To?
● Travellers seeking cultural depth without frequent flights
● Those drawn to historic routes, landscapes and immersive pacing
● Guests combining luxury rail with private touring and extensions
Luxury India & South & Southeast Asian Regional Highlights
The following highlights across India and South & Southeast Asia can be visited on our luxury rail journeys, offering world-class cultural, historical and scenic experiences by train.
India
Agra
Agra is best known as the home of the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most extraordinary architectural masterpieces.
India
Kolkata
Kolkata (previously Calcutta) is a largely British Raj creation and has some of the best architecture from this period in India.
India
Chennai
Chennai (formerly Madras) is the pleasant gateway to South India with a population in excess of 10 million and a vibrant culture.
India
Darjeeling
Nestled up in the cooler foothills of the Himalayas this colonial retreat is surrounded by tea estates and reached by the Toy Train.
India
Delhi
India’s capital is vast and sprawling city divided into Old and New Delhi and housing impressive Mughal and Colonial architecture.
India
Fatephur Sikri
Briefly the capital of Mughal India, this city was abandoned and the splendour of its architecture remains well intact.
India
Goa
The ex-Portuguese enclave of Goa is well known for its rich history and palm fringed beaches and has a visibly distinct feel to it.
India
Hyderabad
One of India’s tech hubs this city has a rich culture and history dating back to the 15th Century and offering a mix of the old and new.
India
Kochi
An important Port city in Southern India, Kochi has a rich history influenced by British, Arab, Dutch, Phoenicians, Portuguese and Chinese.
India
Mumbai
Formerly known as Bombay, vast Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and perhaps most known for being the home of “Bollywood” films.
India
Ooty
Ooty, short for Ootacamund, is a hill station 7,347 feet up in the Nilgiri mountain range. It has a year round cool climate.
India
Pondicherry
Pondicherry was the French foothold in India and so has a distinctive feel to it much in the same way Goa has a Portuguese feel.
India
Trivandrum
Near the southern tip of mainland India, Trivandrum is built on hills by the sea sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
India
Udaipur
Udaipur is justly known for its lakes, palaces, forts, temples and gardens and is one of the most romantic places in India.
India
Varanasi
Located on the revered Ganges river, Varanasi is one of India’s oldest cities and renown for its temples and religious culture.
Luxury Trains in India & Southeast Asia
Luxury rail travel in this region takes several distinct forms, reflecting the diversity of cultures, landscapes and travel styles found across South and Southeast Asia. The following luxury trains operate across India and Southeast Asia, each offering a distinct style of rail travel and itinerary.
Luxury Trains in India & Southeast Asia – At a Glance
| Train | Primary Region | Journey Style | Typical Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deccan Odyssey | India | Palace-style, long-distance luxury | Multi-night | Grand Indian rail journeys |
| Maharajas’ Express | India | Ultra-luxury heritage routes | Multi-night | Golden Triangle & North India |
| Palace on Wheels | India | Classic royal-era experience | Multi-night | Traditional Indian luxury rail |
| Golden Chariot | India | Southern India exploration | Multi-night | South India culture & landscapes |
| SJourney | Vietnam | Boutique contemporary luxury | 2–3 nights | Vietnam by rail |
| Eastern & Oriental Express | Singapore & Malaysia | Classic international luxury | 2–4 nights | Southeast Asia rail elegance |
India
Deccan Odyssey
This luxurious train offers a relaxing way to travel across India. It even has a spa, gym and hairdressers. Two restaurant cars serve Indian and international cuisines of the highest quality. Golden Eagle runs this as a private charter.
India
Palace on Wheels
Voted as the world’s 4th most upscale and opulent train, Palace on Wheels train tour packages provide passengers with the perfect way to enjoy all that this magnificent country has to offer in comfort and style.
India
Golden Chariot
The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that operates in the southern region of India, covering popular destinations in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa with frequent departures.
India
Maharajas’ Express
The Maharajas’ Express is a luxury tourist train that operates in India, covering popular destinations across North-West and Central India, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
Vietnam
SJourney
SJourney is a brand new luxury train in Vietnam running the route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh north and southbound stopping to explore many of the highlights of this fabulous country in comfort and style.
Singapore & Malaysia
Eastern & Oriental
Step aboard The Eastern & Oriental Express for luxurious train travel through Southeast Asia with elegant cabins, gourmet dining, and scenic excursions.
India : Palace-Style Luxury Train Journeys
India is home to some of the world’s most opulent and immersive luxury train experiences, inspired by the golden age of rail travel and the country’s royal heritage. Travelling by luxury train in India allows guests to explore vast distances in comfort while enjoying palace-inspired interiors, attentive service and carefully curated off-train excursions.
Journeys typically combine iconic destinations such as Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Hyderabad, Goa and Varanasi, with visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic forts, temples and wildlife reserves. Onboard life is deliberately unhurried, with spacious cabins, fine dining, lounges and wellness facilities designed to evoke a bygone era of elegant travel.
Among India’s luxury trains, the Deccan Odyssey stands out for its contemporary luxury, extensive itineraries and ability to be incorporated into wider tailor-made journeys across both northern and southern India. These journeys suit travellers seeking depth, cultural immersion and a strong sense of occasion.
Southeast Asia by Luxury Train
Luxury rail travel in Southeast Asia offers a contrasting but equally compelling experience, combining refined modern comfort with dramatic scenery and cultural encounters across Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
In Vietnam, the SJourney reimagines long-distance rail travel with elegant contemporary design, immersive regional dining and carefully paced off-train experiences. Running north–south between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, it offers a relaxed and atmospheric way to experience Vietnam’s coastline, countryside and historic cities without internal flights.
The Eastern & Oriental Express, operating between Singapore and Malaysia, is one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic luxury trains. Shorter in duration but rich in character, it combines classic colonial-era glamour with lush jungle scenery, refined service and sophisticated dining. These journeys are ideal as a standalone luxury experience or as part of a wider Southeast Asian itinerary.
Beyond India, our South & Southeast Asian luxury rail journeys also explore Vietnam aboard the SJourney and the storied rail routes of Malaysia and Singapore on the Eastern & Oriental Express, each offering a distinct cultural perspective on travel by train.
Practical Information & FAQs
Explore Luxury Rail Travel Worldwide
Looking beyond this region? Explore all our luxury rail destinations worldwide, from classic European routes to long-distance rail expeditions across Africa, Asia and South America.
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