Is this the most glamourous train ride ever? The desert sleeper railway with beautiful bar lounges and onboard suites
TRAIN travel is on the up and what could be more glamorous than a train that travels through the desert with stops to stargaze?
A new luxury train experience is being launched in Saudi Arabia called Dream of the Desert.
Across different journeys, the train will travel through breathtaking Saudi landscapes.
Due to launch in late 2026, the rail experience will carry 66 passengers on each journey and travel across a 807 mile network.
The train will feature 14 carriages with 33 suites, two restaurant cars and a traditional Arabic-inspired lounge.
In the two restaurant cars, there will be a rotating menu that celebrates both local and international chefs.
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One of the restaurants will focus on Saudi flavours and regional ingredients and the other restaurant will use Italian techniques.
Meals are all included as part of the journey, as is the onboard programme and off-train experiences.
Inside, the Italian-built cabins will boast a design that reflects Saudi traditions, such as carved wood, woven textiles and a desert-inspired colour scheme.
According to Globetrender, the interior designer, Aline Asmar d’Amman, said: “The desert’s palette of earthy tones, and sandy browns are balanced with a zest of lavender, oasis green and burnt oranges, infusing each space with a sense of culture and serenity.
“From the reception lounge to the restaurant, the interiors become a continuous meditation on presence and place in motion.”
So far, five different journeys have been announced, which will run between October and May.
Though, there will be two seasonal routes.
The journeys include a two-day return between Riyadh and Jubbah and a longer route that travels to Al Jouf and AlUla.
Each journey is expected to have its own unique experiences – for example, on the Ramadan Nights itinerary passengers will experience a stargazing stop in Qassim.
Then on the Summer Mirage route, passengers will stay entirely on board during the hotter months.
Other experiences include desert camps, guided heritage tours and hosted outdoor meals.
On some routes, accommodation off of the train is included as well.
Prices don’t come cheap though, start at SAR 30,000 (about £6,000) per cabin per night.
The train is being developed by Italy-based Arsenale Group and follows the launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy.
The chief executive of the group, Paolo Barletta, also commented that the Dreams of Desert train marks the company’s first overseas luxury train.
In other rail news, here’s the UK train journey that feels like the Hogwarts Express with stunning views along the way.
Plus, one of the UK’s most beautiful train journeys runs right across the beach and it costs less than £20.