Sunset in the Observation Car Bar is best accompanied by a botanical cocktail in hand as the bucolic expanses of Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District slide past. Departing from London, the Belmond Britannic Explorer serves culinary narratives by three-Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, whose farm-to-table menus turn regional ingredients into a reflection of the passing scenery.

To help guests truly unwind on this multi-night voyage, the Wellness Suite offers restorative treatments and eco-conscious rituals; while guided excursions include wild foraging expeditions and private, curator-led gallery previews.

Pairing this exquisite journey across the countryside with a sumptuous stay at either The Cadogan or Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons anchors this voyage in old-world charm.

Evoking the cinematic splendour of 1960s Italy, La Dolce Vita Orient Express pays homage to mid-century design by layering bold, geometric patterns with polished brass across its Deluxe and Suite cabins. Depending on the season, journeys begin in Rome and traverse Tuscany, Venice or the sun-drenched Sicilian coastline, encouraging the unhurried practice of il dolce far niente.

Beyond the windows, medieval stone villages, ancient ruins and languid coastlines delicately dissolve into the twilight. The train journey is just as much about indulging in delectable cuisine accentuated with rare regional vintages, as only the Italians know how.

The champagne-gold JR East Train redefines modern Japanese aestheticism with delicate washi paper panels, lacquerware and smooth bentwood furnishings found within Lounge Komorebi. The architectural centerpiece is the single split-level Shiki-shima Suite, where the platform transitions into a lower-level twin-bed room and a cozy upper loft. At either end of the elegant train, futuristic observatory cars offer panoramic, floor-to-ceiling perspectives of misty shorelines and ancient cedar forests across Honshu and Hokkaido islands.

This pilgrimage through Japan's cultural heartland is made even more rare by the fact that the train only undertakes a handful of trips each season; while securing a suite requires entering a lottery ballot months before departure.

Formal evening wear remains a celebrated tradition aboard South Africa's iconic Blue Train, where multi-course dinners pair beautifully plated wild game and line-caught fish with award-winning local wines and Méthode Cap Classique. Tracing its lineage back to the steam-powered grandeur of 1946, the Blue Train travels between Pretoria and Cape Town – and back again.

The 54-hour journey frames the dramatic semi-desert Karoo through its gold-tinted panoramic windows. Two stopovers, at Kimberley and Matjiesfontein, provide immersive tours to the historic diamond mines and a 19th-century health resort town, anchoring the luxury train journey to the country's storied past.

Back on board, quiet afternoons fade into evening between the observation, lounge, dining and cigar carriages, or within the privacy of a De Luxe or Luxury suite, where dedicated, round-the-clock butlers maintain a seamless onboard experience.

Cutting through the crimson, sun-baked interior of the Australian outback, The Ghan links the tropical north of Darwin with the coastal plains of Adelaide in the south. Named after the 19th-century Afghan camel herders who pioneered this seemingly impassable route, the legendary 3 000-kilometre transit takes guests on a four-day adventure through sandstone gorges to remote desert outposts and on scenic flights over Uluru.

The lack of Wi-Fi and cellphone reception in these remote parts of the continent encourages a deeper connection with the fluid landscapes.

Travelling Gold Premium offers access to exclusive-use carriages and all-inclusive wining and dining that showcases unusual Australian flavours like saltwater barramundi, kangaroo tenderloin, crocodile dumplings and buffalo curry.

Debuting in late 2026, the Dream of the Desert will introduce ultra-luxury rail travel to the Middle East. Running in the cooler months, between October and May, the 1 300-kilometre journey from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat will pass expansive dunes, pristine oases and the UNESCO-listed prehistoric rock art at Jubbah.

Conceived by renowned designer Aline Asmar d'Amman, the rolling stock fuses Italian craftsmanship with intricate hand-carved wooden elements, geometric plaster motifs and custom textiles. The restaurants will offer a duality of Saudi dishes and refined international fine dining, complemented by 24/7 room service.

Whichever horizon calls to you, let the ASMALLWORLD Bespoke Travel team meticulously line up every detail from the first whistle to the final stop.