Travelling by train is one of the most relaxing, slow-paced ways to see the world, especially if a little extra luxury is added. That’s why rail holidays are having a well-deserved renaissance, with demand surging and bookings well ahead of previous years.
Railbookers, a tailor-made rail holiday provider, recently reported a record-breaking year, with a 30% revenue boost and a significant rise in 2025 reservations — strong evidence that high-end train travel is firmly back on track. To narrow down the many bucket list options travel lovers have, analysts at Japan Rail Pass shared the top journeys that are captivating the world with their luxurious amenities. The experts compiled data on global search trends, social media mentions and traveller reviews in order to determine the most sought-after train experiences in 2025.
Leading the global rankings for most luxurious train rides is the Rocky Mountaineer, a premier rail journey based out of Vancouver, Canada, that operates across four unique routes that stretch through the Canadian Rockies, British Columbia, and into the American Southwest.
The train is famous for its glass-domed carriages that allow passengers a full, unrestricted view of lakes, glaciers and forests, as well as its locally inspired fine dining and impeccable, award-winning service.
Jetset Magazine referred to the journey through Canada’s Rocky Mountains as the “most beautiful train ride in the world” in a TikTok video that highlighted the GoldLeaf service,which includes gourmet meals prepared by Executive Chefs and panoramic windows of a bi-level glass-dome coach, as well as a larger exclusive outdoor viewing area.
Covering a distance of 2,800 miles over the course of ten days, it combines breathtaking scenery to grandiose mountains with some serious mileage — a rare mix that earned it an impressive score of 8.88 out of 10 in the study.
The train winds through snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, river canyons and lush temperate rainforests, with key sights on some itineraries including the Fraser and Thompson River canyons, the Spiral Tunnels, and Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Passenger reviews make the train’s popularity undeniable, with more than 60,000 Instagram hashtags mentioning it, an average TripAdvisor score of 4.4 and 48,000 global monthly searches.
Top 10 best luxury train rides across the world
1. Rocky Mountaineer
Vancouver, Canada to Utah, United States
2. Napa Valley Wine Train
California, United States
3. GoldenPass Express
Montreux, Switzerland
4. Rovos Rail
Pretoria, South Africa
5. The Ghan
Adelaide, Australia
6. Venice Simplon Orient-Express
Venice, Italy to Paris, France
7. British Pullman
London, England
8. The Canadian
Vancouver, Canada
9. Twilight Express Mizukage
Osaka, Japan
10. Belmond Andean Explorer
Cusco, Peru