A luxury train experience is a mix of the best elements of travel—beautiful scenery, rich cultures and high class amenities. Train travel is a classic way to see the sights while enjoying a hassle-free trip. Whether you’re taking a trip into history through the castles of Scotland or a sightseeing tour through exotic Singapore, train trips are a great way to find the perfect curated experience for you.

In a luxury train trip, the romance of a bygone era mixes with modern luxuries to create a truly once in a lifetime vacation. Here are the most luxurious train trips in the world.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the classic train trip for a romantic experience in to Old World style. The railway that inspired Agatha Christie’s famous Murder on the Orient Express, it stretches from London to Venice with stops in Paris and Verona. While famous for its Art Deco style and fictional intrigue, the real appeal of the Venice Sampling-Orient-Express is the food. Star chef Jean Imbert sources local food along the route, creating unique gourmet menus served in the extravagant dining car or ordered in to your own private car.

The Canadian Rockies are some of the most scenic mountains in the world, and a luxury train that takes you in and around these mountains is truly a once in a lifetime trip. Starting in Vancouver by the Pacific coast of Canada, the Rocky Mountaineer will take you past Banff National Forest, Lake Louise and Jasper National Park. The line even has a route through the U.S. Rockies with trips past Denver and the Red Rocks of Moab. The panoramic windows on each train car and the secluded routes through protected national forests make this route one of the most special train trips in the world. The train experience captures the adventure of exploring the stunning mountains and glittering, untouched lakes for the very first time.

Based out of Edinburgh, the Royal Scotsman travels through the Scottish Highlands, into the former Kingdom of Fife and the Rothiemurchus Forest. The train travels past lochs, castles and countryside, filled with the wild moors, rugged castles and rich culture that define the Highlands. The Belmond Royal Scotsman combines touches of Edwardian glamour with the ease of a Scottish country home, finished with tartan blankets and a bar car stocked with some of the best scotch available. Pampered travelers can immerse themselves in Scottish culture by visiting local castles and lochs as well as relax in travel luxury in the world-class onboard spa.

One of the most luxurious train routes in the world, The Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan, is also one of the most technologically advanced. The train takes multi-day trips around the island of Kyushu, with stunning vistas of mountains on one side and ocean on the other. 

Passengers can expect a peaceful, comfortable trip through some of the most beautiful scenery in Japan, stopping to connect with the local culture and cuisine. The exclusive Cruise Train only carries seven passengers and tickets are so sought after that would-be travelers have to enter a lottery just for the chance to purchase them.

One of the most popular luxury train routes in the world, the Maharaja’s Express seamlessly blends traditional Indian culture with modern amenities. The Maharaja’s Express runs through a vast rail network throughout India and offers trips from Delhi, past Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur and Mumbai. The definition of luxury, each car on the trains has its own butler, and with world-class cuisine and panoramic views, travelers will not want to leave the comforts of the Express. Excursions, however, are just as luxurious, with trips to the best spas in India, the Taj Mahal, Orccha Fort and Villa, the Sarnath ruins and more. 

Operating from Singapore to Bangkok, the Eastern & Oriental Express is a train experience unlike any other. Luxury touches like an open-air observation car and a resident pianist performing in the bar car create an elevated trip for train passengers. The amenities of the Eastern & Oriental Express may be unmatched, but the real star of the experience is the location. The train travels through glittering cities like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, to the lush rainforests of Bukit Merah and the ancient temples of Kuala Kangsar, offering cultural experiences like tours of the rice paddies and cooking classes along the River Kwai.