As the new year approaches, it bids a new era of luxury exploration, recasting the art of travel across continents, and leading this next chapter in opulent passage is the Dream of the Desert. Unveiling an inaugural milestone, it is the first-ever five-star rail service in the Middle East, a venture embodying Saudi Arabia’s mission of innovation and profound showcase of the culture’s animated grandeur.
A New Era of Luxury Rail Travel in Saudi Arabia
“This project reflects the Kingdom’s ambitious drive to develop world-class infrastructure while offering unparalleled travel experiences that reinforce Saudi Arabia’s status as a premier global tourism destination,” said Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways. Commissioned by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and developed in partnership with the Arsenale Group, the Dream of the Desert features 14 lavish carriages housing 34 luxury suites.
Photo: Arsenale Group
Designed to accommodate up to 82 guests, the train promises an experience of refined comfort, privacy, and indulgence, inviting travellers to prolong the tasteful experience of golden hues and endless horizons across the Arabian landscape. Departing Riyadh, the train journeys 1,300 kilometres north to Al Qurayyat, unfolding Saudi Arabia’s most arresting terrains. Along the way, it glides through Al Qassim, Hail, and Al Jouf, tracing the edges of King Salman Nature Reserve before nearing the Jordanian frontier.
Photo: Orient Express
“We are actively attracting global investments to introduce advanced transport solutions that support economic growth and regional connectivity,” Al-Malik added. “The Dream of the Desert is a prime example of this commitment, demonstrating how collaboration between the public and private sectors can create groundbreaking experiences in luxury transport. With this project, we are setting a new benchmark for service excellence — merging comfort, sophistication, and cultural authenticity to position Saudi Arabia among the world’s leading destinations for luxury rail travel.”
A Renaissance on the Rails
At the epoch of luxury travel emerges a wave that epitomises the elegant resurgence of slow travel, an immersive return to the art of journeying rather than arriving. It manoeuvres towards an old-world charm, one that deeply embraces the timeless ritual of traversing landscapes at an unhurried pace, cherishing a less digitised, more tactile expression of discovery. Inherently, this movement favours intimacy and expansiveness, journeys designed to connect, not consume.
Photo: Orient Express
Globally and by design, luxury modes of travel are deepening the experience, widening the scope, and reimagining what it means to explore in style. What remains certain is the enduring allure of rail travel, a distinguished expression of motion draped in nostalgia and cinematic splendour. Be it the fabled mysteries of the Orient or Christmas escapades through snow-clad terrains, the grand rail journey continues to captivate.
Across continents, rail travel has become cinematic by cultural design, weaving expansive experiences that transcend time and geography, an odyssey where sophistication meets story, and the voyage itself becomes the destination.
The S Journey Vietnam
A new chapter unfolds on the tracks of Indochina with the S Journey Vietnam, the country’s first-ever luxury train. Exuding authentic Indochine elegance, it pays homage to the sophistication of a bygone era while weaving in the endearing charm that defines the Vietnamese spirit.
Photo: S Journey Vietnam
Each carriage cultivates an enduring story of culture and craftsmanship whereby heritage is embellished by haute design. Inside, lavish cabins serve as tranquil sanctuaries, adorned with fine detailing, contemporary comforts, and subtle touches of Vietnamese artistry. And beyond the comfort of private suites, guests can indulge in soothing massages, or unwind within its stylish lounge, an intimate space designed for reflection and repose.
Photo: S Journey Vietnam
Gently rolling through Vietnam’s spectacular landscapes, the journey unravels a breathtaking tableau of emerald rice paddies, mist-cloaked mountains, and serene coastal panoramas. Complementing the visual feast is a rich gastronomic experience, embellished with the country’s culinary heritage, with each dish an illustration of local flavour elevated to modern refinement.
The Belmond Andean Explorer
Wandering across the profound regions of Cusco is a discovery of what was once a sweeping surface of an ancient empire, now veiled by diverse topographies of the modern world. And staying true to its heritage past, the Belmond Andean Explorer carries with it the traditional essences that mirrors the soul of the Andean landscapes.
Photo: Belmond Andean Explorer
Throughout this unforgettable voyage, the train makes several thoughtfully chosen stops, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in Peru’s lesser-known landscapes. From exploring the ancient Inca complex of Raqchi to witnessing the sunrise at over 4,000 metres above sea level, each moment has been meticulously curated to reveal the raw beauty and cultural depth of the Peruvian Andes.
Photo: Belmond Andean Explorer
Onboard, culinary artistry unfolds in motion, guests are treated to a three-course menu inspired by the regions the train passes through, crafted with fresh local ingredients and prepared to perfection by skilled chefs. As dawn breaks across the high plains, savour breakfast in bed while the train glides past shimmering lakes, rugged mountain ranges, and endless plateaus, a gliding panorama of Peru’s majestic soul.
The Blue Train South Africa
The route that winds through the stunning landscape of South Africa is a utopia unrivalled, unfolding past towering mountain sceneries, rolling farmlands, and the rugged beauty of semi-arid deserts. And the Blue Train in its wake, irrevocably mirrors the very soul of South African luxury travel.
Photo: The Blue Train
Aboard this “Blue Jewel,” the journey reveals tranquil dams shimmering under the sun, the verdant expanses of the Cape Winelands, and even the historic gold and diamond mining regions — a panoramic tableau best admired through the train’s sweeping windows. Along the way, sightings of pink flamingos at Kamfers Dam, one of only four breeding sites for the lesser flamingo in Africa, add a touch of rare wonder to the voyage.
Photo: The Blue Train
Dinner aboard The Blue Train is nothing short of an elegant affair, a curated silver-service adorning a five-course gourmet experience, encapsulating the spirit and sophistication of African hospitality. For those seeking something even more discerning, the train’s bespoke private and dinner charters preserve a more profound journey, irrespective of its business gatherings or leisurely gratification.
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