Luxury rail tour operator Adventures By Train has designed an epic 100-day journey that travels across four continents and 14 countries. Olivia Palamountain reports

Adventures By Train, a new tour operator specialising in extraordinary rail journeys, has launched with an ambitious flagship offering: a 100-day trip around the world by rail.

Bookings are now open for its inaugural "Around the World by Train in 100 Days" tour, which departs London on March 17, 2026.

Limited to just 12 passengers, the journey combines first-class rail travel with luxury hotel stays and sea voyages across 14 countries.The eastward route traverses Europe, Asia and North America, taking in France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Canada and the USA.

Passengers will experience some of the world's most celebrated rail journeys, including Swiss and Austrian panoramic routes, overnight sleepers through Central Asia, China's high-speed network to Xian, Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains and America's California Zephyr through the Rocky Mountains.The itinerary incorporates numerous cultural experiences, from front-row seats at a Viennese classical concert to a Turkish marbling workshop, Georgian wine tasting, and a walking tour of UNESCO-protected Khiva in Uzbekistan. Other highlights include street food tours in Tashkent and Kyoto, a private viewing at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and visits to landmarks such as China's Terracotta Warriors and Istanbul's Hagia Sophia.Two luxury sea voyages are also featured: a 23-day North Pacific cruise aboard the Viking Venus from Tokyo to Vancouver, and a seven-night Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2 from New York to Southampton. Additional sea journeys include a Caspian Sea ferry from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan and an overnight ferry from Shanghai to Osaka.Accommodation is primarily five-star, with stays at iconic properties including Istanbul's Pera Palace - where Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express"- along with The Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Shangri-La in Vancouver and The Langham New York Fifth Avenue.

Given luggage constraints on most trains, Adventures By Train will allocate $100 per person per hotel stay for laundry services to help travellers pack lighter.Jim Louth, director at Adventures By Train, says: "The launch of Adventures By Train is the result of many years spent fine-tuning the very best rail journeys globally. Our new Around the World in 100 days trip provides the perfect mix of world-class rail travel with hand-picked immersive experiences in optimum comfort. With a departure date of 17 March 2026, and just 12 spaces available, we are already seeing unprecedented demand."The full tour costs £112,900 per person, with a reduced rate of £89,950 per person available for couples sharing. This price includes a dedicated tour leader throughout the rail portions of the journey, most meals, all accommodation, first-class rail travel, luxury cruises, private transfers, and entry fees to listed attractions.For travellers seeking shorter experiences, Adventures By Train also offers several other itineraries with departures in 2025 and 2026, including a 13-day Jakarta to Bali trip, a 16-day Shanghai to Bangkok Rail Adventure, an 18-day London to Malta via Sicily route, and a 25-day Buenos Aires to Lima journey.