In an effort to “recapture the romance and atmosphere of a bygone era of travel,” Rovos Rail features elegantly decorated, authentically refurbished antique carriages and five-star meals paired with South Africa’s finest vintages. With its Edwardian design and superlative service, a ride aboard Rovos is as much about being transported into the past as it is about travelling across South Africa’s most breathtaking vistas. 
Tip: Though the journey from Pretoria to Cape Town is the most popular, the one offering the most stunning scenery and exciting excursions is actually the Durban Route.
Visit the Rovos homepage


This most fabled of trains was described by Vanity Fair as “the train against which all other luxury trains are measured.” The overnight journey from London to Venice in refurbished, stylised art deco carriages encapsulates Old World elegance and glamour. The bespoke bar car is the heart of the train and comes complete with baby grand and pianist. 
Tip: The motto of the Venice Simplon Orient-Express is that you can never be overdressed, so pack something special (some gentlemen have been known to show up for dinner in a tuxedo).
More about the Venice Simplon Orient-Express

No other voyage captures Canada’s vastness and rugged beauty as does the Rocky Mountaineer’s 'First Passage to the West' route. The train hits all of Western Canada’s high points as it travels from Vancouver through the Rocky Mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage site) to Calgary. In order not to miss a second of the dramatic countryside, passengers travel in unique, glass-domed coaches with full length windows. 
Tip: Pay special attention when going through the regions around Banff and Jasper – sightings of elk and eagles are plentiful, but sharp-eyed passengers might even spot a black bear or two.

More at the Rocky Mountaineer homepage

One of Scotland’s least known but most coveted of treasures, there is no better – or more luxurious – way to journey through the rarely seen vistas of the legendary Scottish Highlands. Hosting just 36 passengers, this intimate, indulgent journey features off-board excursions designed to immerse passengers in Scottish history, while in the evenings a clansman recounts local lore over a dram of fine whisky. 
Tip: After dinner be sure to grab a place on the open-air veranda of the observation car; you will never see a more star-studded sky than in the Highlands, and paired with the rush of the air, the site is guaranteed to take your breath away.
Visit the Royal Scotsman website