Luxury holidays tend to be all about the destination and not the journey, but what if the ‘getting there’ part of the booking involves a high-end experience too?
Anxiety around rising air fares, dwindling aviation fuel reserves, potential queues linked to the Entry/Exit System (EES), and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have all contributed to rising demand for flight-free travel options, according to luxury operators.
Kirker Holidays said it had seen a noticeable shift towards European rail travel. Senior Manager and Head of Marketing Patrick Millar said: “Concerns about airport disruption, carbon footprint and the introduction of the EES have encouraged more clients to consider train-based itineraries. Paris via Eurostar has been particularly popular, with bookings boosted by major spring exhibitions featuring Renoir, Matisse and Rousseau.”
He added that short-break rail destinations such as Ghent, Bruges, Amsterdam and Lyon are performing strongly, with Antwerp emerging as a standout due to demand for a featured hotel offer combining Eurostar travel with a stay at the Botanic Sanctuary, known for its Michelin-starred dining and spa facilities.
The specialist is offering three nights for the price of two at the Botanic Sanctuary from £994 per person, including Eurostar travel to Brussels, onward rail to Antwerp, accommodation with breakfast, and entry to the Museum of Fine Arts.
Patrick noted that longer rail itineraries can deter some clients. “Fully rail-based journeys can take longer, for example, two to three days to reach Sicily can put clients off so they may opt to travel by train to Rome and on to Sicily but then fly back. The complexity of these trips is also increasing demand for specialist operators who can manage multi-leg journeys and accommodation.”
He added that demand for southern Europe remains strong, particularly Spain, Portugal, southern Italy and Vienna, alongside longer-haul rail journeys to Athens and Istanbul.
Kirker has seen interest in the ultra-luxury end grow too, particularly La Dolce Vita Orient Express (pictured above), which launched last year. “With 1950s and 60s-inspired interiors, en-suite cabins and curated off-train excursions – effectively a cruise train – focused on food, wine and culture, the train offers a more contemporary take on classic rail cruising,” said Patrick.
Routes include Rome to Venice, Rome to Sicily – where the train crosses the Strait of Messina by ferry – and journeys through Tuscany and Umbria on reopened historic lines with themed departures centred on truffles, golf and cultural events such as Siena’s Palio.
Kirker offers a four-night package with two nights on board La Dolce Vita Orient Express from Rome to Sicily, travelling via Maratea and Taormina before ending in Palermo. The experience includes gourmet dining by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, curated excursions, hotel stays in Rome and Palermo, flights, transfers and selected onboard drinks, from £7,907 per person, a saving of up to £1,517.
UK travellers are increasingly willing to travel further without flying, often combining rail and ferry options, according to Byway Travel. Interest is rising for destinations including Sicily, Türkiye and Albania, with growing interest in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Founder and CEO Cat Jones said: “We’ve seen strong demand for flight-free travel, particularly in the past month, driven by flight cancellations and wider aviation disruption. Last-minute bookings are up 85% year on year, and many enquiries are from travellers seeking alternatives after losing confidence in short-haul air travel.”
She added that disruption and rising costs are expected to further boost demand for rail and multi-modal journeys, with travellers prioritising reliability and ease.
Byway’s seven-day Alsace Escape (pictured above) offers a rail round trip from London to Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar and Dijon from £904 per person, including selected first-class rail travel. Its 16-day Europe’s Imperial Cities itinerary links Brussels, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam entirely by rail from £2,477 per person.
Other luxury operators who go big on train travel include Expressions Holidays, which offers a wide range of rail-based itineraries, including luxury train journeys such as the Al Andalus and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Its Glacier Express Excellence Class holiday includes three nights in Switzerland and a full-day panoramic journey through the Alps, from £5,200 per person.
The operator also features a five-night La Robla train journey from Bilbao to León, returning via Bordeaux, from £3,500 per person.
Great Rail Journeys reports strong demand for Swiss rail holidays, including an eight-day Glacier Express and Bernese Oberland itinerary (pictured below) featuring panoramic Alpine routes, glacier visits and mountain railways, from £3,399 per person.
Fred. Holidays says luxury rail continues to perform well, particularly for experiential travel. Head of Product Simon Chambers said: “Rail travel is a standout, especially for couples looking to make the journey part of the holiday. There’s strong appeal in slow travel, scenic routes and the comfort rail offers compared with short-haul flying.”
He added that airport processes, including the EES, are encouraging some travellers to explore alternatives, with rail offering a more relaxed and streamlined experience.
Demand is strongest in Europe, including a 13-night Scandinavia to Baltics itinerary combining rail and ferry travel from Bergen to Tallinn, priced from £2,599 per person.
Fred. Holidays also offers a Venice Simplon-Orient-Express package combining an overnight journey with a stay in Venice, from £4,499 per person.
Beyond Europe
Vision Holidays Product Development and Sales Manager Alan Garner said the luxury specialist had experienced growing demand for rail journeys worldwide. Its 22-day Rovos Rail itinerary (pictured below) runs from Dar es Salaam to Cape Town, crossing five countries in restored 1920s-style carriages with safari excursions, game drives and luxury hotel stays, from £31,600 for two.
First Class Holidays Head of Product Lorna Curry said rail is reshaping long-haul travel experiences. Its Rocky Mountaineer Passage to the Peaks itinerary through the Canadian Rockies in the glass-domed carriages of the Rocky Mountaineer includes glacier views, national parks and mountain railways, from £5,505 per person.
Luxury tailor-made specialist Transindus reports strong growth in rail bookings, particularly in Asia. It creates itineraries across India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore, including luxury trains such as the Deccan Odyssey (pictured below) and Maharajas’ Express.
A typical 11-day Indian rail journey includes Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and the Ellora Caves, combining wildlife, heritage and luxury rail travel.
