Which luxury tour operators are best for luxury rail journeys?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
These 19 luxury tour operators name a luxury train or rail journey they sell on their own websites. Of them, Metropolitan Touring, Natural Habitat Adventures and Audley Travel have the most Google reviews. Each card names the train or the kind of rail journey.
Which luxury tour operators are best for luxury rail journeys?
These 19 luxury tour operators name a luxury rail journey they sell on their own websites; Metropolitan Touring, Natural Habitat Adventures and Audley Travel have the most Google reviews. Choose by the train and route, then compare protection and reviews.
Who is on this page and why. The Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table holds 141 companies: the luxury and premium tour operators ChatGPT names most often when asked about tours. Their own websites were read on 3 November 2026, with their Google and Trustpilot listings matched by name. This page carries every company in the table whose own website, in the pages read that day, names a luxury train or rail journey it sells: 19 companies. Only companies that meet the Uncompromised Travel definition of luxury are on this page: they mainly sell private trips planned to order at a luxury standard, publish prices of about US$500 per person per day or more, run groups of 16 or fewer in luxury hotels, or run their own small expedition ships or yachts. Cards are in alphabetical order. Each line gives what the company's own website says, as read on that day, with a link to the page it came from; a second reader checked a tenth of the table's rows against the pages. No company paid to be on this page.
Abercrombie & Kent
- Best for
- Seven Stars luxury train in Japan
- Rail journeys
- Sells a luxury train journey on the Seven Stars in Kyushu in Japan.
- Money protection
- ATOL number 2881 covers flight-inclusive packages sold by its UK company; its US terms name no trust account or bond.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 20 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 795 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- abercrombiekent.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: booking-terms-and-conditions-for-journeys, terms-&-conditions-tailor-made-holidays-uk.
Aracari
- Best for
- Andean Explorer sleeper train
- Rail journeys
- Runs journeys on the Andean Explorer, a luxury sleeper train between Cusco, Puno and Arequipa.
- Website
- aracari.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: bespoke-journeys/trains-cruises-and-overlands.
Audley Travel
- Best for
- Indian Pacific train
- Rail journeys
- Sells a trip on the Indian Pacific train from Sydney to Perth.
- Money protection
- ATOL number 4817 covers its flight-inclusive trips and ABTOT covers trips that do not include flights. ATOL protection does not apply to all services; parts of a booking not listed on the ATOL certificate are not protected.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 288 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 from 5,084 reviews, newest 2 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- audleytravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: australia, about-us/financial-protection.
Brown + Hudson
- Best for
- Pretoria to Cape Town luxury train
- Rail journeys
- Suggests a classic overnight train journey in luxury from Pretoria to Cape Town.
- Limits it publishes
- Charges a minimum non-refundable retainer fee of £1,500 for a bespoke trip.
- Reviews
- Google: 3.0 out of 5 from 4 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 from 1 review, newest 2 January 2024. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- brownandhudson.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: where/country/south-africa, terms.
Cookson Adventures
- Best for
- Private jungle train in Indonesia
- Rail journeys
- Includes a private jungle train with afternoon tea and an anthropologist on its Ultimate Indonesia Phinisi trip.
- Limits it publishes
- Typically works with a minimum spend of £150,000 per journey.
- Money protection
- ATOL number 12608 protects flight-inclusive packages on certain bookings, usually where clients are based or book in the UK. It may not protect all services.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 13 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- cooksonadventures.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: trips/ultimate-indonesia-phinisi-private-villas, faqs, booking-conditions.
Elevated India
- Best for
- Private rail journeys in India
- Rail journeys
- Runs private rail journeys of 8 days and 7 nights and of 7 days and 6 nights.
- Reviews
- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- elevatedindia.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: journeys/collection/private-rail.
Enigma Peru
- Best for
- Belmond Andean Explorer charters
- Rail journeys
- Offers private charters of the Belmond Andean Explorer train.
- Website
- enigmaperu.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: private-travel.
Jacada Travel
- Best for
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Rail journeys
- Offers Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys, listed among trips to book a year ahead.
- Founded
- 2008
- Reviews
- Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 55 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,621 reviews, newest 2 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- jacadatravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: all/travel-guides/trips-you-need-to-book-a-year-.
Kada Travel
- Best for
- Andean Explorer rail journey
- Rail journeys
- Runs a Luxury Peru Rail Journey aboard the Andean Explorer train through the Peruvian Andes.
- Limits it publishes
- Bespoke journeys to Peru start from USD 1,200 per person per day.
- Website
- kadatravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: en/bespoke-journeys/luxury-peru-rail-journey-are, en/travel-wisdom/pricing-information.
Kuoda Travel
- Best for
- Luxury trains in Peru
- Rail journeys
- Offers Peru journeys that cross the Andes aboard luxury trains.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 44 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- kuodatravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: luxury-peru-travel.
Lightfoot Travel
- Best for
- Belmond Andean Explorer train
- Rail journeys
- Includes a ride on the Belmond Andean Explorer train to Puno.
- Money protection
- Says each sales location has the maximum level of industry bonding possible, including ATOL membership in the UK, with licensing in Singapore and Hong Kong; no ATOL number is given.
- Website
- lightfoottravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: travelbylightfoot/12-reasons-why-you-should-choo, faqs.
Metropolitan Touring
- Best for
- Belmond Hiram Bingham train
- Rail journeys
- Includes luxury train travel aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham on its Inca Trail tour.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.5 out of 5 from 549 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- metropolitan-touring.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: peru/tours/inca-trail-tour.
Natural Habitat Adventures
- Best for
- The Ghan train
- Rail journeys
- Includes a ride on The Ghan train through the Outback on its Australia and New Zealand trips.
- Limits it publishes
- Sets a minimum age of 18 on its Antarctica trip.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 299 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- nathab.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: home page, know-before-you-go/antarctica/faqs.
Southern Crossings
- Best for
- Australian rail journeys
- Rail journeys
- Offers Australian rail journeys, with new Aurora and Australis suites.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 30 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- southern-crossings.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: our-news/australia-and-new-zealand-what-to-book-.
Steppes Travel
- Best for
- Golden Eagle Danube Express
- Rail journeys
- Runs a trip on the Golden Eagle Danube Express across five Eastern European countries.
- Money protection
- ATOL covers its flight-inclusive packages; clients should check that everything booked is listed on the ATOL certificate. ABTOT covers non-flight packages (number 5488). Money for ATOL-protected bookings is held in an independent trust account managed by Serenity Trust; no ATOL number is given.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 23 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- steppestravel.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: group-tours/eastern-europe-on-the-golden-eagle-d, financial-protection.
The Luxury Holiday Company
- Best for
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Rail journeys
- Sells Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys to destinations across Europe.
- Money protection
- Holds ATOL and ABTOT licences, with ABTOT cover entered under Wexas Ltd number 52; no ATOL number is given.
- Reviews
- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 6 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- theluxuryholidaycompany.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: home page, financial-protection.
Voyageurs du Monde
- Best for
- Eastern and Oriental Express
- Rail journeys
- Sells a 10-day journey on the Eastern and Oriental Express from Singapore through Malaysia, priced from 8900 to 11200 €.
- Reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 from 793 reviews, newest 26 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- voyageursdumonde.fr
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: voyage-sur-mesure/idees-voyage/voyager-en-train/.
Walk into Luxury
- Best for
- Indian Pacific train
- Rail journeys
- Features the Indian Pacific, a rail journey across Australia from coast to coast.
- Limits it publishes
- The Cape to Cape walk needs a minimum of four guests to depart, unless a smaller number is allowed at the company's discretion.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 72 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- walkintoluxury.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: walks/6-day-private-cape-to-cape-walk, faq/what-booking-conditions-apply-to-the-cape-to.
Wexas Travel
- Best for
- Maharajas' Express rail holiday
- Rail journeys
- Sells a 10-day Indian Splendour luxury rail holiday on the Maharajas' Express from £8,905 per person including flights.
- Money protection
- Holds ATOL and ABTOT licences, but where it acts as agent protection comes from the tour operator or cruise line; no ATOL number is shown.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 61 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- wexas.com
Read on its own website, 3 November 2026: holiday-types/india-history-and-culture-holidays, why-wexas/financial-protection.
Which of these companies protect your money?
7 of the 19 name a scheme that protects guest payments on their own websites, such as ATOL for UK flight packages, ABTA or USTOA membership, or a trust account; the rest do not name one on the pages read.
- Abercrombie & Kent: ATOL number 2881 covers flight-inclusive packages sold by its UK company; its US terms name no trust account or bond.
- Audley Travel: ATOL number 4817 covers its flight-inclusive trips and ABTOT covers trips that do not include flights. ATOL protection does not apply to all services; parts of a booking not listed on the ATOL certificate are not protected.
- Cookson Adventures: ATOL number 12608 protects flight-inclusive packages on certain bookings, usually where clients are based or book in the UK. It may not protect all services.
- Lightfoot Travel: Says each sales location has the maximum level of industry bonding possible, including ATOL membership in the UK, with licensing in Singapore and Hong Kong; no ATOL number is given.
- Steppes Travel: ATOL covers its flight-inclusive packages; clients should check that everything booked is listed on the ATOL certificate. ABTOT covers non-flight packages (number 5488). Money for ATOL-protected bookings is held in an independent trust account managed by Serenity Trust; no ATOL number is given.
- The Luxury Holiday Company: Holds ATOL and ABTOT licences, with ABTOT cover entered under Wexas Ltd number 52; no ATOL number is given.
- Wexas Travel: Holds ATOL and ABTOT licences, but where it acts as agent protection comes from the tour operator or cruise line; no ATOL number is shown.
Which other companies on this page fit luxury rail journeys?
Metropolitan Touring has the most Google reviews of the 19; these 4 have the most Google reviews of the rest.
- Natural Habitat Adventures: The Ghan train
- Audley Travel: Indian Pacific train
- Walk into Luxury: Indian Pacific train
- Wexas Travel: Maharajas' Express rail holiday
Who to contact first
Start with the 7 companies on this page that name a scheme protecting your payments on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates.
- Abercrombie & Kent
- Audley Travel
- Cookson Adventures
- Lightfoot Travel
- Steppes Travel
- The Luxury Holiday Company
- Wexas Travel
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the price includes and excludes, line by line: stays, guides, transfers, internal flights, park or entry fees.
- The deposit, when the balance is due and what you lose if you cancel.
- Which scheme protects your money and the number to check it.
Luxury rail tour operators: the questions people ask
What should I ask a tour company before booking?
What the price includes, line by line; the deposit and when the balance is due; what you lose if you cancel; and which scheme protects your money.
Do these companies publish prices?
Some do on their trip pages and some quote only on request. The cards give what each company says; ask for a written quote with the same inclusions from each.
Which of these companies protect my money if they fail?
7 of the 19 name a protection scheme on their own websites: Abercrombie & Kent, Audley Travel, Cookson Adventures, Lightfoot Travel, Steppes Travel, The Luxury Holiday Company and Wexas Travel. Check the number with the scheme itself before you pay.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
5 of the 19: Abercrombie & Kent, Audley Travel, Brown + Hudson, Jacada Travel and Voyageurs du Monde. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 3 November 2026.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Metropolitan Touring, Natural Habitat Adventures and Audley Travel, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a company, not whether it fits your trip; each card gives the rating and count, read 3 November 2026.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the company's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these companies chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table, built from the luxury tour operators ChatGPT names most often; its own website names a luxury train or rail journey it sells. A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.