It is decorated, literally, everywhere on this train: the uniforms of the flight attendants, the beautiful napkins, the tables and even the plush robes in your marble bathrooms. Otherwise, muted chic dominates the palette. The food cars – Llama and Muña – are bright and stylish. The lounge car is a happy mix of old and new, with a quaint little bar and a grand piano, made for pisco-fueled midnight singalongs. There is even a spa on board. You wouldn’t think it, but seeing all this scenery from the plush observation car works up an appetite – thankfully, as executive chef Diego Muñoz makes sure passengers are soon well-acquainted with Peru’s culinary delights. When dinner rolls around, expect everything from freshwater prawns to hearty filets on a menu set to the sounds of ancient Incan feasts. But Belmond saves the best for last. At the edge of Saracocha Lake, passengers enjoy a magnificent sunrise and are then transported to the Sumbay Cave, filled with incredible Paleolithic paintings. The train then begins to twist and turn back through the desert and grasslands of the plains and continues towards Arequipa. It’s a trip you won’t forget. Andean Explorer, a Belmond Train (0845 077 2222; belmond.com) offers sleeper cabins from £1,100pp. The price includes 24-hour flight attendant service, all meals on board, canapés and drinks, entertainment and excursions on board.
Four more ways to do it
The Rocky Mountaineer
Canada
After a day or two of being unapologetically pampered as you thunder from the deep blue shores of Vancouver to Banff, you’ll find that there’s really only one way to sum up a ride on the Rocky Mountaineer: sheer luxury. The interiors are sleek and minimalist, the seats spacious, the windows huge – and the views from the massive viewing platforms are nothing short of epic. It’s all very luxurious, but not at all stuffy, with an ethos of relaxed North American comfort that trumps all the millennial modcons (no Wi-Fi here). When it comes to Mother Nature, you’re in for a real treat. Expect mammoth grassy plains branching off into the country’s ice-laden mountains with avalanches, turquoise rivers that transform into wild rapids in a heartbeat, and if you look really hard, the occasional grizzly bear – the train stops if the driver or host you spots one – and moose along the way. Meals include an array of local classics, from prime cuts of Alberta beef to grilled snapper sourced along the trail. You won’t actually sleep on the boat, but rather spend the night in Kamloops, Banff and Jasper, where accommodation comes in the form of rustic alpine chic or cozy ski-focused lodges. Rocky Mountaineer (0800 195 01950; rockymountaineer.com) offers two-night trips from £1,050pp, based on two sharing, including meals, drinks, snacks, service and sightseeing.
