ON LOCATION · ASIA BY RAIL
Explore Asia by Rail
Four Unforgettable Train Journeys
Journeys where the train is not simply transport, but the reason for travelling.
THE RAIL EDIT
The landscape arrives at a pace you can actually absorb.
Across Asia, a small number of rail experiences have earned a different kind of reputation—not simply for the landscapes outside, but for what the journey feels like from within.
The transition between places feels earned rather than abrupt. Dining, conversation and the changing view become part of the memory instead of time endured between two destinations.
Each train offers a distinct interpretation of luxury: tropical theatre, Indian grandeur, Japanese precision or a more exploratory view of the subcontinent.
MALAYSIA
Tropical Occasion
INDIA
Landmark Grandeur
JAPAN
Quiet Precision
INDIA
Deeper Discovery
SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA · SELECTED MULTI-NIGHT JOURNEYS
Eastern & Oriental Express
Few trains carry a sense of occasion quite like Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express. Departing from Singapore on selected journeys through Malaysia, it moves past jungle, plantations and small communities at a pace that allows the peninsula to reveal itself gradually.
Days gather around the observation car, regional dining and carefully chosen off-train experiences. Evenings belong to the bar car, where the atmosphere is social without feeling orchestrated.
Best for: a short, highly atmospheric introduction to luxury rail.
Consider: cabins are compact and itineraries vary; select the route and cabin together rather than treating either as an afterthought.
Wider journey: pair with Singapore, Penang, a Malaysian beach stay or a restorative island chapter.
INDIA · MULTIPLE FIXED-DEPARTURE JOURNEYS
The Maharajas’ Express
India can overwhelm the senses. The Maharajas’ Express offers one of the most considered ways to encounter its celebrated landmarks while returning each evening to a calm and richly appointed train.
Depending on the selected journey, the experience may connect palaces, historic cities, wildlife and the Taj Mahal. The service is attentive, the design deliberately grand and the daily rhythm structured around substantial off-train exploration.
Best for: first-time visitors who want headline India with continuity and comfort.
Consider: excursions can be full and early; this is not a retreat on rails. Route length and cabin category materially change the experience.
Wider journey: add unhurried time in Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan or a restorative final stay.
KYUSHU, JAPAN · LIMITED MULTI-DAY DEPARTURES
Seven Stars in Kyushu
Japan’s most exclusive cruise train carries only a small number of guests. Handcrafted wood, shoji-inspired detail and seasonal menus express the same precision and restraint found in Japanese hospitality at its finest.
Journeys through Kyushu connect local craft, food, hot-spring culture and changing landscapes. The luxury is quiet rather than performative; the sense of access comes from both scale and scarcity.
Best for: travellers drawn to Japanese design, service and regional culture.
Consider: access is limited and may involve an application process; current journeys and operating conditions can change. Plan the wider trip around the confirmed train departure.
Wider journey: extend through Kyushu, add Kyoto or Tokyo, or finish with an onsen stay.
INDIA · SEVEN-NIGHT EXPLORATORY JOURNEYS
The Deccan Odyssey
Where the Maharajas’ Express foregrounds India’s celebrated landmarks, the Deccan Odyssey offers several routes with a broader exploratory character—linking historic cities, cave temples, landscapes, wildlife and coastal culture.
The train is richly appointed, with suites, restaurant cars and an onboard spa. Its appeal lies in the range of possible itineraries and the ability to explore a substantial route without repeatedly packing and changing hotels.
Best for: curious travellers who want a longer and more wide-ranging view of India.
Consider: choose the itinerary for its places, not the train name alone. The programme is active, fixed and seasonal.
Wider journey: frame the train with Mumbai or Delhi and add a slower coastal, wildlife or wellness chapter.
Choose E&O
For tropical rail romance in a compact, sociable journey.
Choose Maharajas’
For landmark India, grandeur and a strong sense of occasion.
Choose Seven Stars
For scarcity, Japanese craft and understated precision.
Choose Deccan
For a longer route and a more exploratory view of India.
HOW THE TRAIN FITS
Build Around the Departure, Not Against It
Luxury trains operate on selected dates and fixed routes. The wider itinerary should protect arrival time before boarding, avoid risky same-day air connections and leave room to decompress afterwards.
Cabin dimensions, bed configuration, mobility, dress expectations, dietary needs and the intensity of excursions should all be discussed before choosing the train—not after the deposit is paid.
BEGIN A CONVERSATION
Make the Journey Part of the Destination
Each train can stand alone or become the central chapter of a wider Asian itinerary—paired with city stays, private touring, island time or a restorative retreat.
Travel, considered.
Routes, departure dates, application processes, excursions and train facilities can change. Current details and availability will be confirmed when planning.
