Scenic trains in 2026: which ones are worth the ticket and which ones are photo traps
Of the world's five best-selling scenic trains, only two are worth the full price: Norway's Flåm Railway, and the Bernina Express itself when booked without the panoramic car. On the Chur–Tirano stretch, the Bernina Express charges up to CHF 145 with a mandatory reservation, while the regional train (RegioExpress) runs the same UNESCO line, through the same curves, for under CHF 30 — no reservation, no glass roof, and the same open window. The Glacier Express and the Rocky Mountaineer, by contrast, charge a real premium for a service the scenery alone can't justify. Here's what pays off, which seat to book, and when to skip the luxury car.
Curadoria Voyspark · Aug 12
Luxury Trains 2026: Orient Express, Rocky Mountaineer, Shongololo, Maharajas
The 8 most relevant luxury trains in the world in 2026 are Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Belmond (London-Venice, USD 5,500-12,000 per cabin, 2 nights), Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver-Banff, USD 2,500-5,000 GoldLeaf, 2 days), Shongololo Express (Pretoria-Victoria Falls, USD 8,000-15,000, 16 days), Maharajas Express (Delhi-Mumbai, 8 days), Eastern & Oriental Express (Bangkok), Trans-Siberian Golden Eagle (14 days), Royal Scotsman Belmond, and Glacier Express (St. Moritz-Zermatt). Each has a tight booking window and a specific cabin that changes the entire experience.
Curadoria Voyspark · May 24
2 articles · #rocky-mountaineer