Honeymoon by rail

There’s something romantic about trains. Perhaps it’s the slow pace of travel, the tranquillity, the beautiful views passing by outside the window. Or the time you have for each other. Time to talk, read, eat or simply do nothing. It’s perfect for a honeymoon.

So why not celebrate your honeymoon in style on one of the world’s most luxurious trains? Take the Orient Express through Asia, Rovos Rail through Africa or the Palace on Wheels through India’s most colourful state, Rajasthan. Feel the breath of history from a time when the world was more unexplored, more exotic and perhaps a little more romantic. Experience breathtaking landscapes and exciting new surroundings in Europe or on distant continents. (In April 2013, the Orient Express is set to arrive in Sweden for the very first time.)

High-class comfort

The train itself is, of course, a major part of the travel experience. Most luxury trains feature newly refurbished classic carriages, many hauled by steam locomotives. The comfort is first-class, the service impeccable. Precious woods, brass, sparkling crystal glassware, heavy French silver cutlery and your very own butler. Monogrammed dressing gowns, beds made up with crisp linen. On board, there are lounges for relaxation and meetings, and panoramic carriages offering views of the most breathtaking landscapes. There are intimate dining carriages for exquisite five-star meals and pleasant conversation. The bar serves champagne, and in the evening there is live music. In the library, you can sit back with a good book, play cards or chat about the day’s experiences. Does it sound like a dream? Well, it certainly is a luxury and a balm for the soul, if nothing else.
Many luxury trains also operate as excursion trains, offering daily trips to exciting attractions. Meanwhile, other trains choose to combine the train journey itself with a longer stay at the destination.
It’s not cheap; a day on board can cost anywhere between 1,000 and 15,000 kronor. But if you choose to have a less lavish wedding, you can spend the money on a fantastic honeymoon and create wonderful memories for the rest of your life together.

A journey through Europe

The Orient Express is perhaps the world’s most talked-about and legendary train, not least thanks to crime writer Agatha Christie’s famous novel *Murder on the Orient Express*. The Orient Express was originally an international rail service between Paris and Istanbul, but the train was by no means as luxurious as its name now suggests. Luxurious, on the other hand, is the privately owned Venice Simplon Orient Express, which runs a fixed route between London and Venice – a two-day journey. During the summer months, special trips are also organised, for example to or from Istanbul and between the beautiful Italian cities of Venice and Rome.
The carriages are beautifully restored original Pullman and Wagon-Lits carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. Lunch and dinner are, of course, served with polished silver cutlery on white tablecloths in one of the three dining carriages, whilst breakfast and afternoon tea are served by your personal butler in your very own compartment. In the evenings, you’ll enjoy a drink whilst listening to live piano music in the train’s bar carriage. A 20-hour journey from Paris to Venice, including an overnight stay on board, costs around 20,000 SEK.

Through mountains and rainforests

The Orient Express has also lent its name to the Asian Eastern & Oriental Express, which runs from Singapore through Malaysia and Thailand, or from Bangkok to Laos. A train journey through mountain ranges, lush rainforests and along stunning coastlines. The most popular route is Singapore–Bangkok.
The train has 22 air-conditioned carriages, including three dining carriages and a viewing carriage. The combined sleeping and seating compartments all have a shower and toilet. The train stops for guided tours, for example at the famous River Kwai and in charming Georgetown on the island of Penang. You can travel the entire route or just part of it – the journey can begin at a number of different locations. The Eastern & Oriental Express also offers special honeymoon packages. The Singapore–Bangkok journey costs around 18,000 kronor.

The Scottish Highlands or the Spanish coast

Perhaps a little less well-known is The Royal Scotsman, Scotland’s very own Orient Express, which actually belongs to the same company as both the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the Eastern & Oriental Express. However, all routes on this classic train start and end in Edinburgh. The journeys through the beautiful landscape of the Scottish Highlands include stops in small picturesque towns, at whisky distilleries and Scottish castles.
The luxury train carries just 36 passengers and offers a variety of routes, ranging from two to seven nights’ duration. One of the two dining carriages, dating from 1891, is the world’s oldest of its kind still in service. The food on board is, of course, five-star, and the restaurant is regarded as one of the best in the whole of Scotland. The trips are all-inclusive, and the train stops for the night to ensure a good night’s sleep. A round-trip tour of Scotland with three nights’ accommodation, food, drink and excursions costs around 40,000 kronor.
El Transcantábrico, Spain’s first luxury train, offers journeys between the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela and León. Over eight days and seven nights, the train takes you along Spain’s green northern coast. Sightseeing is included in the price of the trip, and a coach follows the train, providing transport for excursions to places such as Bilbao and Santander, as well as many other destinations along the Atlantic coast. This train also stops at stations overnight, so if you’d like to leave the train in the evenings for a tour of the local bars, that’s perfectly fine too. El Transcantábrico has been named one of the world’s best luxury train journeys by The International Railway Society in the USA, in terms of both cultural and gastronomic experiences. Prices start from 28,000 Swedish kronor per person in a twin room for a seven-night trip, but this includes most things, including guided excursions.

Eco-friendly travel in India

Naturally, India – the world’s largest and most rail-intensive country – also boasts several exciting luxury trains that are perfect for romantic honeymoons. The Palace on Wheels is India’s most famous historic train. An eight-day round trip on this royal luxury train begins in Delhi and travels through the colourful and exciting state of Rajasthan, home to the maharajas, with its fantastic cities and fairytale palaces. The train also stops in Agra so that passengers can visit the truly unique Taj Mahal. Even on board, you’ll feel transported back to the era of the maharajas; the train is truly a palace on wheels, both in terms of its interior and the service, with liveried attendants and velvet-upholstered compartments. Accommodation is in twin-bed cabins with shower and toilet. Each carriage has four twin-bed compartments, its own bar and lounge. Full board – breakfast, lunch and dinner – is included in the price. The Palace on Wheels has two restaurants serving continental, Indian and Chinese cuisine. A 7-night, 8-day trip through Rajasthan costs from 17,000 kronor.
India has several luxury trains; the very latest addition is the Maharajas’ Express, a train with 7-star ambitions that began operating in January this year. The Maharajas’ Express offers four itineraries, all lasting between 7 and 8 days. The train is not only luxurious but also eco-friendly, featuring, amongst other things, environmentally friendly toilets and waste recycling. A 7-day journey costs around 40,000 kronor. The Deccan Odyssey also offers a week-long round trip, but from Mumbai to Goa. The Deccan Odyssey can accommodate as many as 122 passengers and even has its own spa carriage. Prices start from 2,000 SEK per night.

The most luxurious in South Africa

But the world’s most luxurious train is perhaps South Africa’s Rovos Rail – “The Pride of Africa”. Travelling on “The Pride of Africa”, you’ll experience first-class luxury in 100-year-old refurbished carriages in a style that evokes the colonial heyday. On routes where it is possible, the locomotives are steam-powered, but otherwise diesel or electricity is used. On board, a lavishly luxurious lifestyle awaits, with complimentary champagne and gourmet-quality dining. The interior features brass and polished mahogany, but with modern amenities such as air conditioning, a private bathroom and a minibar. The most basic compartments measure seven square metres and feature a sofa that converts into a bed. The largest ones take up half a carriage and include a lounge area as well as both a Victorian-style bath and a shower. Each carriage has its own host or hostess who will look after you 24 hours a day. At the very back of the train is a panoramic carriage with extra-large windows and a longitudinal balcony on the outside. With Rovos Rail, you can travel between Cape Town and Pretoria, or further north in Africa to Victoria Falls and all the way to the Indian Ocean coast in Tanzania. Another route runs up to Namibia. A two-day journey costs around 6,000 Swedish kronor, whilst a nine-day journey between Pretoria and Cape Town starts from 36,000, including excursions and meals.
South Africa is also home to the famous Blue Train, which runs between Cape Town and Pretoria. A journey on the Blue Train is considered one of the most exclusive experiences one can have on the rails. The journey takes 27 hours, covers 1,600 kilometres and makes just one stop along the way. The train is modern and well-equipped, with compartments in various price ranges fitted with beds that convert into sofas during the day, as well as CD and DVD players and either a bath or a shower. Whichever compartment you choose, you’ll have a 24-hour butler at your service. The Blue Train has two saloon carriages. One features panoramic windows from which you can enjoy the beautiful African landscape outside; the other is a Gentlemen’s Club with tables for card games, a small library and a bar where you can enjoy a cognac and a fine cigar. A journey from Cape Town to Pretoria costs around 10,000 kronor, and this does NOT include the French champagne or the Russian caviar. “Trains are wonderful… to travel by train is to see nature and people, towns… and rivers; in fact, to see life”

Railway companies, websites:

Venice Simplon Orient Express and Eastern & Oriental Express: www.orient-express.com
The Royal Scotsman: www.royalscotsman.com
El Transcantábrico: www.eltranscantabricogranlujo.com/en/
Palace on Wheels: www.palacesonwheels.com
Maharajas’ Express: www.themaharajasexpressindia.com
Deccan Odyssey: www.deccan-odyssey-india.com
Rovos Rail: www.rovos.com
Blue Train: www.bluetrain.co.za

Swedish travel agencies offering some of these train journeys:

www.globetrotter.se www.escapetravel.se

www.indienresor.se
www.sydafrikaresor.se
www.jambotours.se
www.africantours.se

Business directory

Do you need help finding suppliers for your wedding? Take a look at our business directory.

CLICK HERE