Have you ever wanted to travel across the globe by railway? Whether you’re planning an extended bucket list break or a holiday when you retire, we explore seven great train journeys worldwide. We’ll also share tips on what to consider from a financial perspective.
Travel the world by train
From famous luxury trains to adventurous routes, we’ve listed a variety of railway journeys below:
- Orient Express, Europe
Let’s start with the most famous one – the Orient Express. This luxury train once enabled passengers to travel from London to Istanbul via Paris, Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest. Nowadays, you can still catch the Venice Simplon- Orient-Express train from Paris to Istanbul. For a cheaper option, you could use the Eurail website to recreate the original route by linking up the other connections. - Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia
The E&O Orient Express takes you from Singapore to Penang Island, Malaysia or Bangkok, Thailand. This train journey offers colourful scenery and is a real feast for the eyes. From tropical landscapes to rice plantations and beautiful coastlines, this is an Insta-grammable adventure that you won’t forget. - Maharaja’s Express, India
The Maharaja’s Express in India is a luxury train that provides your own butler! With spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and onboard bars, lounges and restaurants, passengers are given the five-star treatment. There’s a choice of routes across India, from historic palaces to the Taj Mahal and tiger-spotting to ancient temples. This all-inclusive train journey is a good option if you want to explore India in complete comfort. - Golden Eagle – Silk Road, Central Asia
As the most extended rail network in the world, the famous Trans-Siberian railway connects European Russia to the Far East. At the time of writing, British citizens are not advised to travel to Russia, but there are alternatives. The Golden Eagle offers various Silk Road train journeys through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. These less explored train routes will introduce you to rich heritages, beautiful temples, natural wonders and stunning landscapes. The train offers five-star, all-inclusive luxury accommodation and dining experiences. - Andean Explorer, South America
Explore the Andes mountains by taking the luxury Andean Explorer from either Puno to Cusco or Arequipa to Cusco. This train route through Peru is an incredible 14,000 feet above sea level. If you plan to visit South America, this luxury train enables you to see breathtaking landmarks such as Lake Titicaca and ancient Inca Empire ruins. - Rocky Mountaineer, North America
Whether you choose Canada or the USA, the Rocky Mountaineer offers breathtaking views of North America’s landscapes. Typical travel routes include Vancouver to Calgary in Canada and from Las Vegas to Denver, USA, past the Rockies mountain range. The large windows and glass-domed ceilings of the train carriages allow passengers to look up at the towering mountain ranges above. - British Pullman and Britannic Explorer, UK
If you’d rather stay a bit closer to home, there are some great train journeys within UK shores. The British Pullman is a restored 1920s train that enables you to travel through historic towns such as Canterbury, Bath and York. From July 2025, you can also catch the new luxury Britannic Explorer, which offers 6-day excursions across Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District. With curated menus and a farm-to-fork approach, passengers can dine on delicacies prepared by a Michelin-star Chef.
Holistic financial planning, Nottingham and Derby
When it comes to planning your bucket list break, you’ll want to get it right, especially if it’s a long-held dream to travel the world by train. So, make sure you are financially prepared. As well as budgeting for the train journey itself, you might need to factor in extra costs to cover excursions and spending money when you’re not on board. A little financial planning can go a very long way.
At Balance: Wealth Planning, our holistic approach to financial planning is focused on supporting you to achieve your aims and aspirations. We will look at your current financial position and help you create a financial plan to get you to where you want to be. There might be different options available to you, which will depend on your age and circumstances.
Using sophisticated cash-flow planning software, we’ll give you a view of your current and future financial position. We will also review your savings, investments and pensions to find sensible ways to make your money work harder so you can achieve your goals.
A financial plan will help you achieve your bucket-list dreams. Get in touch to speak to our financial planning team.
Sources:
https://www.belmond.com/trains/asia/eastern-and-oriental-express/
https://www.rockymountaineer.com/
https://maharajas-express.com/
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/readers-favourite-train-journeys-in-world-2024
https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/
https://www.belmond.com/trains
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer/journeys
