When most travelers think of a Belmond train, one name comes to mind: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. And rightly so. It is one of the most iconic travel experiences in the world. But Belmond’s collection of luxury trains reaches far beyond that single legendary route, with journeys across Europe, the United Kingdom, South America, and Southeast Asia. Some run for a single afternoon. Others span a full week through some of the most remote and beautiful landscapes on earth.
Whether you are planning a milestone trip, looking for an exceptional day experience, or weaving rail into a larger international itinerary, this guide walks through every train in the Belmond collection, what to expect onboard, and how to decide which route fits your travel goals.
A Belmond train is less a way to get somewhere and more a reason to go.
What Makes a Belmond Train Different
Before getting into specific routes, it helps to understand what ties the collection together. Belmond is a luxury hospitality brand whose properties span hotels, river cruises, and rail. Across every train, the same four things show up consistently.
Design that rewards attention
Restored carriages, original marquetry, handwoven textiles, and lighting that flatters both the interiors and the people in them. These trains are photographed constantly for good reason, but the craftsmanship holds up just as well when you put the camera down.
Dining as the centerpiece
Menus are built by accomplished chefs, often Michelin-starred, with regional sourcing where the route allows. Wine programs are taken seriously. Service in the dining cars is formal in the best sense: attentive and unhurried, not stiff.
The dining standard aboard a Belmond train rivals the best restaurants in any city you pass through.
Service that anticipates
Cabin stewards learn preferences quickly. Drinks appear before you ask. The friction of travel quietly disappears, which is the entire point of traveling this way.
Destinations worth the route
Belmond trains move through some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, and the off-train excursions are often as memorable as the carriages themselves.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Routes and Length
London, Paris, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Florence, Rome, Istanbul, and seasonal special journeys. Most itineraries run one to two nights, with extended routes available.
The most iconic of all Belmond trains, and the one most travelers picture when they think of luxury rail. Restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s carry guests across Europe with a level of theater that exists nowhere else on rails.
Cabin options range from classic twin sleepers, which convert from a lounge during the day to beds at night, to the Grand Suites. Grand Suites feature private bathrooms with showers, double beds, and city-themed interiors designed around Venice, Paris, Istanbul, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. They are the first cabins to sell out on any departure.
Dining unfolds across three restored restaurant cars, each with its own character. The dress code at dinner is formal, and the experience is built around it. After dinner, the Bar Car runs late with a resident pianist and cocktails worth staying up for.
Best For
Milestone trips, honeymoons, anniversaries, and bucket list travel. The experience pairs naturally with a few days in Venice, Paris, or another European city on either end of the journey.
British Pullman, A Belmond Train
Routes and Length
Day journeys from London Victoria through the English countryside and back. No overnight required.
The British Pullman is the ideal introduction to the Belmond experience for travelers who want an exceptional day without committing to multiple nights, or who want to add something genuinely unforgettable to a London-based trip. Each carriage is a restored 1920s Pullman, individually named and historically significant, with original marquetry and brass fittings that give every one its own personality.
Lunch service aboard the British Pullman, A Belmond Train.
The day includes a multi-course brunch with champagne on the outbound journey and a full dinner with wine on the return. Themed journeys vary throughout the year: murder mystery afternoons, Sussex vineyard visits, Goodwood Races packages, garden tour days, and Golden Age of Travel experiences designed around classic glamour.
The Celia carriage: each British Pullman carriage has a name and a history of its own.
The Cygnus carriage interior: restored 1920s Pullman design at its best.
Best For
First-time Belmond travelers, milestone celebrations, special occasions, and anyone building a London itinerary who wants one genuinely unforgettable day. Themed journeys sell out well in advance, particularly for events like Royal Ascot and the Chelsea Flower Show.
Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train
Routes and Length
The Scottish Highlands, the Hebrides, and the borders. Journeys run two to seven nights depending on the route.
The most intimate train in the collection, with just 40 guests at full capacity. The Royal Scotsman feels less like a train and more like a private country house on rails: tartan upholstery, polished mahogany, an observation car at the rear, and a dedicated spa carriage with two treatment rooms, something you will not find on any other luxury train in the world.
Off-train experiences are exceptional throughout. Private castle visits, whisky distillery tours with master distillers, falconry, clay shooting, and stops at historic estates not open to the general public. The observation car at the rear becomes the natural gathering place at golden hour, drinks in hand, watching the Highlands move past.
Best For
Travelers drawn to Scotland’s landscape and heritage, smaller group dynamics, and a slower pace. The Royal Scotsman pairs well with a few days in Edinburgh or a Highlands property on either side of the journey.
Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train
Routes and Length
Peru: between Cusco, Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa. One to two nights, with journeys climbing above 14,000 feet through the altiplano.
South America’s first luxury sleeper train, and one of the most distinctive rail experiences in the world. The Andean Explorer crosses Peru at some of the highest altitudes any luxury train reaches, through landscapes that shift from highland plains to glacial lakes to volcanic peaks. The air is thin, the light is extraordinary, and the sense of remoteness is real.
The design blends Peruvian textiles, craftsmanship, and color with a contemporary lounge feel. Onboard there is a spa car, two dining cars serving elevated Peruvian cuisine, and an open-air observation deck that is one of the best vantage points in all of luxury rail. Excursions include private visits to Lake Titicaca’s floating Uros islands, the Sumbay caves, the Sillustani burial towers, and the colonial city of Arequipa.
Best For
Travelers building a Peru itinerary who want something beyond the standard Cusco to Machu Picchu route, or anyone drawn to high-altitude landscape travel and real cultural depth. It pairs naturally with a few days in Lima and Cusco on either end.
Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train
Routes and Length
Malaysia and Singapore, through rainforest, fishing villages, heritage towns, and colonial architecture. Multi-night journeys, typically three to four nights.
Recently relaunched with reimagined routes, the Eastern and Oriental Express brings the Belmond standard to Southeast Asia. The carriages move through jungle, rice paddies, and storied colonial towns, with itineraries built around the craftsmanship, biodiversity, and culinary depth of the region.
Cabins feature handwoven textiles and inlaid wood detailing inspired by Malaysian craftsmanship. Dining draws on regional ingredients prepared by a culinary team that treats Southeast Asian cuisine as the destination food it is. Excursions include rainforest walks, heritage town visits in Penang, and cultural experiences with local hosts.
Best For
Travelers who have already explored Asia and want to experience it through a different lens, or those building a longer itinerary around Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Singapore frames the journey beautifully on either end.
The observation car becomes the social heart of every Belmond overnight journey.
How to Choose the Right Belmond Train
The right route depends entirely on the traveler. Here is how I help clients think through it.
If this is your first Belmond experience
The British Pullman day journey is the natural starting point. Full Belmond standard, no overnight commitment, and easy to build around a London stay. It is also a good way to understand whether multi-night rail travel is something you want to pursue further.
If you are planning a milestone trip
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the obvious answer. Honeymoons, anniversaries, significant birthdays, retirement celebrations. It is the train people remember for the rest of their lives, and the Grand Suites are worth the investment for the right occasion.
If you are drawn to landscape and slower travel
The Royal Scotsman in Scotland and the Andean Explorer in Peru offer something more remote and intimate. Both are exceptional for travelers who want the destination itself to shape the experience.
If you want to layer rail into a larger itinerary
Every Belmond route works beautifully as part of a broader trip. A few days in Lima and Cusco before the Andean Explorer. Singapore framing the Eastern and Oriental Express on either end. Venice at the back of the Orient Express after Paris. This is where the planning conversation gets interesting, and where working with an advisor who knows the trains makes a real difference.
A Few Planning Notes
Booking windows for the most sought-after cabins open further ahead than most travelers expect. Grand Suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and peak-season departures on the Royal Scotsman commonly require twelve to eighteen months advance planning for the best availability.
Themed journeys on the British Pullman sell out quickly, especially murder mystery dates and event packages tied to Royal Ascot and the Chelsea Flower Show.
The Andean Explorer and Eastern and Oriental Express have shorter peak seasons than European routes, and weather windows shape the best months to go. This is where working with an experienced advisor matters most: knowing which months offer the right combination of availability, weather, and overall experience.
Let’s build your Belmond journey.
A Belmond train is one of the few travel experiences that delivers exactly what it promises. The booking windows open further out than people expect, and the best cabins move quickly.
Start the Conversation
COMMENTS