There was a time when train travel meant simply getting from one point to another. Today, it represents one of the most refined ways to see the world — slow, cinematic, and steeped in history. From Europe’s Belle Époque carriages to Japan’s minimalist cabins, luxury trains are redefining how travelers experience distance and time.
A Return to the Journey Itself
As air travel becomes faster and more functional, the romance of the train has found new relevance. It’s not nostalgia—it’s pace. Onboard these journeys, travelers rediscover what it means to move through a place rather than past it. From private suites and curated dining to lounges where conversations last hours, the focus isn’t on arrival but immersion.
Modern Icons on Rails
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
Few names carry as much legacy as the Orient Express. Today, Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express continues to define luxury rail travel with itineraries connecting Paris, Venice, and Istanbul. The train’s restored 1920s carriages, Lalique panels, and legendary service evoke the golden age of travel without feeling outdated—proof that classic elegance still endures.
Orient Express La Dolce Vita, Italy
Launching in 2025, La Dolce Vita marks the return of the Orient Express to European rails under Accor’s HERA program. Designed in collaboration with Dimorestudio, it captures the cinematic glamour of 1960s Italy, crossing Rome, Venice, and Palermo in interiors that fuse vintage charm with contemporary design. For travelers seeking the next great journey before it becomes impossible to book, this is the one to watch.
Rovos Rail, Southern Africa
Crossing the landscapes of South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, Rovos Rail offers the grandeur of exploration at a slower rhythm. Suites rival boutique hotel rooms, and the open-air observation car reveals Africa’s wilderness in a way no lodge can replicate. For travelers drawn to movement, light, and horizon, it’s an experience that transcends destination.
Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan
Japan’s answer to the Orient Express is intimate, poetic, and deeply cultural. With only a handful of cabins, Seven Stars weaves through volcanic mountains, coastal villages, and tea fields—an experience shaped by Japanese craftsmanship and quiet precision. Each detail, from the woodwork to the gastronomy, feels intentional and deeply personal.
Andean Explorer by Belmond, Peru
The first luxury sleeper train in South America, the Andean Explorer connects Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa across some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes. Designed by Inge Moore of MUZA Lab, its interiors blend soft Andean textiles with contemporary comfort. From sunrise over the altiplano to dinners paired with Peruvian wines, it’s a journey that turns geography into art.
Why Now
The new wave of luxury trains aligns perfectly with the global shift toward slow travel. It’s less about checking boxes and more about embracing movement itself—watching light shift across mountains, feeling landscapes unfold, and realizing that time can still be a luxury.
For U.S. travelers, these journeys combine nostalgia, access, and comfort. Through NUBA’s partnerships with Belmond’s Bellini Club and Accor’s HERA Program, clients gain priority access and exclusive benefits aboard some of the most iconic trains in the world—proof that the art of travel isn’t disappearing; it’s simply returning to its rails.
Luxury trains have evolved from relics of a bygone era into moving hotels that capture the essence of discovery. They remind us that true travel isn’t about speed—it’s about rhythm, anticipation, and the privilege of seeing the world as it passes by your window.
