Train by train

Luxury trains: Where the journey becomes the destination

They have illustrious names and immediately bring back memories of the glamorous days of travel: we are talking about luxury trains such as the Orient Express, the Royal Scotsman or the Belmond Andean Explorer. Apart from the fact that this type of "slow traveling" is extremely comfortable, the journey becomes the destination. It's all about the journey itself. Rail travel also offers the advantage of particularly environmentally friendly transportation. Ever since the American industrialist George M. Pullman put the first luxury train on the rails, rail travel in carriages equipped with every amenity has been the epitome of luxury travel. Which trains particularly catch the eye:

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

This train brings times long past back to life. While you watch the passing scenery from the comfort of the benches during the day, the cabin crew transforms the cabin into a cozy bedroom in the evening. Elegant furnishings, heavy fabrics and beautiful details such as wood paneling and embroidered blankets make a journey on perhaps the most legendary train of all time a real experience. The travel experience is particularly luxurious in the Grand Suites. The menu features gourmet specialties from local travel stops. www.belmond.com

Belmond Royal Scotsman

On five-day round trips, the Belmond Royal Scotsman takes a maximum of 40 guests through the wild and romantic Highlands of Scotland. Those on board enjoy their afternoon tea in the saloon car, while large panoramic windows provide a view of the varied landscape. In the evening, there are cocktails and candlelit dinners just like in the old days. Each cabin has its own bathroom and is elegantly furnished. www.belmond.com

Al Andalus Express

Five of the seven sleeping cars of the Spanish luxury train date back to 1929, as do the bar car, the lounge and the bar itself. This makes every journey on the Al Andalus a little trip back in time. Although the old carriages have been renovated, they still exude the classic style of the Belle Époque. Originally designed for the English royal family and their journeys from Calais to the Côte d'Azur, today up to 64 guests can experience the royal feeling on the journey through Andalusia. www.eltrenandalus.com

Glacier Express

As the "king of panoramic trains", it winds its way through remote valleys, past rugged rock faces, through idyllic mountain villages and the famous Rhine Gorge. The journey reaches its high point at 2,033 meters. The concierge fulfills all guests' wishes. www.glacierexpress.ch

Pride of Africa

Although the supposedly most luxurious train in the world has only been in service since 1990, it is also designed in the historic style of the 1920s. The train does not run very frequently, which is why it is not easy to get tickets. And even if you do get one, you have to follow a few rules. For example, casual clothing is frowned upon. Night trips are often omitted so that guests can enjoy interesting places for longer and travel through particularly beautiful sections in daylight. All of the cabins have their own bathroom, and the four Royal Suites have a Victorian bathtub. The Pride of Africa sails on various routes across the continent. www.rovos.com

Maharaja's Express

Traveling across India by train: what sounds challenging is an incredibly luxurious undertaking on the Maharaja's Express. The furnishings are extremely opulent; the spacious layout of the guest cabins is also part of the train's generosity. There is space for a total of 88 passengers per journey. Unlike the nostalgia trains, there is WLAN and television here. The Maharaja's Express went on track for the first time in 2010 and is correspondingly modern. www.the-maharajas.com

Luxon by Geisel/Geisel Hotels

Traveling by private train is a highly individual experience. Because the guest decides on the route and schedule. The Luxon by Geisel takes travelers to any location with a train station throughout Europe on request. There is hardly a more stylish way to get to your final destination. www.geisel-privathotels.de

The Vietage/Anantara Hotels

Outside, the coast of central Vietnam glides past, while inside you dine on gourmet menus in an exclusive ambience or retreat to the private twin cabins. There are only twelve passengers on board per trip, making the experience not only quite unique, but also intimate. www.thevietagetrain.com

Belmond Andean Explorer

The train, which runs on one of the highest railroad lines in the world, is one of the newest luxury trains in the world. A maximum of 48 guests travel in it from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, enjoying the elegant double cabins with their tasteful colors and textures as well as the magnificent panorama outside. Snow-capped mountains, tranquil lakes, herds of alpacas and llamas form the backdrop against which passengers enjoy first-class Peruvian cuisine. www.belmond.com