If you’ve ever dreamed of the luxurious train travel depicted in “The Darjeeling Limited” or any of the litany of Agatha Christie film adaptations, you’re in luck: high-end rail travel is making a comeback, and this time with 21st-century perks. On Italy’s forthcoming La Dolce Vita Orient Express, for example, guests can choose from eight detailed travel itineraries that transport passengers to destinations including Tuscany, Sicily, and Rome in style. Each guest will be introduced to a private concierge before their journey begins, and while on board, they will have access to a private lounge for games of chess and backgammon.
In the evenings, guests can expect to receive handwritten notes to dine in the train’s restaurant, where a storyteller circulates through tables sharing “legends and fables.” Guests with questions about their evening attire can even receive clothing advice from the train’s attendants. Among the available journeys is the Truffle Route tour from Rome to Monferrato: on this particular trip, guests will begin their travels by dining on a meal prepared by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck while listening to performances by live musicians.
On the second day, the train stops in the village of Nizza Monferrato for a tour of a UNESCO World Heritage Winery and a truffle hunting expedition. The train’s exclusivity gives travelers “a chance to double down on the Italian experience and access parts of Italy that they might not normally consid.