Dream journey: Thailand by rail on the Orient Express

Right up there with Abercrombie & Kent and Silver Seas, Orient Express is one of a select few travel brands whose very name provokes visions of shameless luxury.

Sure its train journeys are clichéd, old school and likely full of snooty, pretentious passengers who aren’t all that keen on mingling with the locals or sampling the road side culinary delights. But frankly, I don’t give a damn.

The Eastern & Orient Express trains are renowned for their gourmet cuisine, impeccable service and luxurious cabins. In fact I’ve long dreamed of taking a trip on one. Once, in the Thai resort of Hua Hin, I saw an Orient Express parked at the town’s historic rail station at 5.30am, the morning mist hanging heavy in the air. Even through my rather fuzzy-headed vision (I was on my way home from a night out on the town), it was something to behold. 

“It's glorious!” I shrieked, probably a bit too loudly.

Five years, one marriage and two kids later I’ve yet to see an Orient Express train again. But that’s ok because I wouldn't dare bring my children aboard. Toddlers and expensive crystal go together like breast milk and fine wine. When they're in college I'll reconsider.

For those of you lucky enough to book a ride now, there are several Orient Express routes that go through Thailand.  The longest is the Chiang Mai-Bangkok-Singapore route, which is eight days/seven nights and includes two nights accommodation at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok in a standard room. The itinerary includes stops in Kanchanaburi, Lampang and Penang. Prices start at US$3,240 per person.

Shorter journeys include the two-night Singapore-Bangkok route, which starts at $2,210 per person and stops in Penang and Kanchanaburi. There's also a Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok trip for $1,880 per person. 

Have you ever rode the Eastern & Orient Express? Tell us about your experience below.