Sometimes, the journey matters more than the destination — especially when it includes exceptional food and drink. Luxury rail trips are now blending culinary experiences with scenic travel, creating unforgettable adventures that celebrate both cuisine and stunning views.
This trend of culinary rail tours features guest chefs, fine dining, and local drinks that match the beauty outside your window. Here are some journeys worth exploring, including those in National Geographic’s 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime, coming October 2025.
Great Journeys New Zealand: Signature | Flavours of Aotearoa New Zealand
This new 18-day rail adventure runs from Auckland to Queenstown, taking you aboard New Zealand’s most scenic trains:
— Northern Explorer
— Coastal Pacific
— TranzAlpine
The trip also includes a scenic Cook Strait ferry crossing between the North and South Islands.
You’ll enjoy curated experiences highlighting:
— Marlborough vineyards
— A Māori herbal medicine tour
— High tea at Zealong Tea Estate
— Christchurch Food Walking Tour
All focused on showcasing local produce, wines, and cultural traditions.
Price starts at NZD 16,499 ($9,656) per person, based on double occupancy.
Ready to experience this unforgettable journey? Book your vacation now with MWR LIFE: Coastal Pacific train, part of Great Journeys New Zealand’s new Signature | Flavours of Aotearoa New Zealand. Explore the best of New Zealand’s landscapes and flavors like never before!
Whiskey Galore on The Royal Scotsman
The Royal Scotsman offers a four-night scotch whisky tour aboard its luxury train. It features 24-hour steward service and all meals, including full Scottish breakfast, multi-course lunches and dinners, plus all drinks, alcoholic or not.
Whiskey takes center stage on this trip. Guests visit the Benromach distillery for a private tour, explore the Rothiemurchus Estate, and enjoy a single-cask whisky tasting with an expert. They also receive a one-year membership to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and go to their headquarters.
A highlight is an exclusive whisky nosing and tasting with Charles MacLean, a renowned whisky expert and author. The journey is lively, with traditional ceilidhs on board and evening entertainment in the Observation Car.
Starting from Edinburgh, the trip includes visits to Glenmorangie House and Distillery, Tomatin Distillery, and Tullibardine Distillery. Adventure options include wild swimming, archery, or fly fishing.
Prices start at £9,100 ($11,980).
Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train is a six-hour excursion that travels from Napa to St. Helena. It features refurbished antique train cars, capturing the luxury of early 20th-century rail travel. The train cars are century-old Pullman cars, beautifully restored with etched glass dividers and polished wood.
As the train moves through 43,000 acres of vineyards, passengers can admire the scenic landscape and taste wines like cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and zinfandel.
The most popular route, The Legacy, is a round-trip journey from Napa to St. Helena. It includes:
— Wine tasting in an open-air railcar.
— A multi-course lunch featuring local wine-country cuisine.
— Visits to two top wineries in St. Helena: Charles Krug and V. Sattui, with seated tastings.
Pricing starts at $514.80.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
La Dolce Vita Orient Express, the first Italian-made luxury train, debuted in April 2025. The train’s inspiration is La Dolce Vita, “The Sweet Life,” a phrase synonymous with the country’s design and cultural flair in the 1960s.
The train has several themed trips, and The Truffle Route, from Rome to Nizza Monferrato and back to Rome, is a three-day journey that includes an on-board dinner under the direction of 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, followed by live music and entertainment.
Nizza Monferrato. Piedmont is famed for its UNESCO World Heritage vineyards and its truffles. There’s an optional experience at a local winery and a truffle-based lunch. In the afternoon, the train departs for the overnight trip back to Rome. Priced from €8,320 ($9,210.
Eastern & Oriental Express: A Culinary Journey with Chef André Chiang
The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury train journey between Singapore and Malaysia, offering an exclusive culinary experience called Tastes of Tomorrow. Hosted by Chef André Chiang, this unique trip features nightly dinners prepared by him and Michelin-starred guest chefs like Vicky Cheng, Jason Liu, Jungsik Yim, and Shelley Tai, an acclaimed bartender and mixologist.
During the trip, guests will visit stunning destinations like Taman Negara National Park, where they can explore the Malayan tiger habitat or enjoy an afternoon in the jungle with a nature photographer and conservationist. On Penang Island, experience the charm of George Town Old Quarter and discover Peranakan cooking with the chefs.
This extraordinary journey is available starting from $7,350.
Book your vacation now with MWR LIFE and immerse yourself in this luxurious culinary adventure!
