Belmond Luxury Trains in 2027: Orient-Express, Royal Scotsman or Eastern & Oriental?
Belmond runs three of the great sleeper trains, and their 2027 journeys could not be more different: five nights across Europe from Istanbul to Paris, a week through the Scottish Highlands and three nights in the Malaysian rainforest. Here is how to choose.
- The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express runs Istanbul to Paris over five nights, with departures on June 7 and October 8, 2027.
- The Royal Scotsman's Grand Tour of Scotland is the longest of the three: seven nights, with departures through June 18, 2027.
- The Eastern & Oriental Express is the shortest and the easiest to add to an Asia trip: three nights through Malaysia, through December 13, 2027.
- Choose by the trip around the train: Europe's capitals, the Highlands and islands, or Southeast Asia.
The short answer
Choose the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for the grand European crossing, the Royal Scotsman for landscape, whisky and a week at a slow pace, and the Eastern & Oriental Express for a short rail chapter inside a longer Asia journey. All three are Belmond trains with private cabins, a dining car and a small number of guests; what changes is the country outside the window and how many nights you spend on board.
The three journeys side by side
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Istanbul to Paris. Five nights. Departures June 7 and October 8, 2027. Overnight stops in Bucharest and Budapest, a visit to Peleș Castle and a cruise on the Danube.
- Royal Scotsman, Grand Tour of Scotland. Seven nights. Departures through June 18, 2027. Distillery visits, golf at St Andrews, and the islands of Orkney and Skye.
- Eastern & Oriental Express, Essence of Malaysia. Three nights. Departures through December 13, 2027. George Town in Penang, the Perlis Geopark, a Dior Spa on board and menus by chef André Chiang.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Istanbul to Paris
This is the longest route the train runs and it operates only a few times a year. In 2027 it leaves Istanbul on June 7 and October 8 and takes five nights to reach Paris, with two of those nights spent off the train, in Bucharest and Budapest. On the way there is a visit to Peleș Castle in the Carpathians and a cruise on the Danube. It suits travelers who want the train to be the trip, not a transfer. If this is a first sleeper train, the classic one-night run between Paris and Venice is the gentler introduction; our guide to luxury train travel in Europe compares the routes.
Royal Scotsman: the Grand Tour of Scotland
Seven nights make this the slowest of the three, and the most complete way to see Scotland without driving. The route takes in whisky distilleries, a round of golf at St Andrews and the islands of Orkney and Skye, with departures through June 18, 2027. The train carries few guests, so the observation car feels like a private house party. Pair it with nights in Edinburgh or London; see our United Kingdom guide.
Eastern & Oriental Express: Essence of Malaysia
Three nights through the Malaysian peninsula, with a stop in George Town, the old trading port of Penang, and a visit to the Perlis Geopark near the Thai border. On board there is a Dior Spa and the kitchen is led by chef André Chiang. Departures run through December 13, 2027. Because it is short and starts from Singapore, it fits neatly between a city stay and a beach: see our Singapore guide and Thailand guide.
How to choose
- For a first luxury train: the Eastern & Oriental, or the Orient-Express on its one-night Paris and Venice route.
- For a milestone trip: Istanbul to Paris. Five nights is long enough to feel like a voyage.
- For scenery and the outdoors: the Royal Scotsman.
- For food: the Eastern & Oriental under André Chiang, or the three dining cars of the Orient-Express.
- For rail in Asia beyond Malaysia: see luxury train travel in Japan.
When to book
These trains have very few cabins and the long routes run only a handful of times a year, so the top cabin categories are usually the first to go. If you want a specific departure in 2027, start the conversation as soon as your dates are firm. Dates here are the ones Belmond has published as of November 2026; your advisor confirms availability, cabin and current terms for your departure.
What it starts from
As a planning guide, a private journey at this level starts from around US$1,000 per person, per night, and the long routes and the grand suites sit well above that. Your advisor confirms the fare for your cabin and date. Where a departure qualifies, Virtuoso privileges are added to the booking; they differ by train and date, so they are confirmed for each booking, not assumed. Forest Travel's planning fee is US$250 per itinerary.
Start the conversation
Tell a Forest Travel advisor which train appeals and what you would like around it, and they will build the hotels, transfers and guides on either side. Request your private consultation →
Questions, answered.
The Eastern & Oriental Express, at three nights through Malaysia, is the easiest to add to a longer trip. In Europe, the one-night Venice Simplon-Orient-Express between Paris and Venice is the classic first journey; the five-night Istanbul to Paris route is better as a milestone trip.
Five nights. In 2027 the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express departs Istanbul on June 7 and October 8, with overnight stops in Bucharest and Budapest, a visit to Peleș Castle and a cruise on the Danube before arriving in Paris.
Seven nights. The Grand Tour includes distillery visits, golf at St Andrews and the islands of Orkney and Skye, with departures through June 18, 2027.
The Essence of Malaysia journey is three nights through the Malaysian peninsula, with stops at George Town in Penang and the Perlis Geopark. Departures run through December 13, 2027.
As early as your dates are firm. These trains have few cabins and the long routes run only a few times a year, so the top cabins sell first. Your advisor confirms availability and terms for each departure.
As a planning guide, journeys at this level start from around US$1,000 per person, per night, and the longest routes and grand suites cost considerably more. Your advisor confirms the fare for your cabin and departure.
![Belmond Royal Scotsman crossing a viaduct in the Scottish Highlands [j27:tr-hero]](https://d244q4odvshuum.cloudfront.net/media/images/j27-tr-hero-d61ee544.2e16d0ba.format-jpeg.fill-768x432.jpg)
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