Roomette Price: What You Really Pay for a Luxury Train Sleep in India
When you hear roomette price, a private sleeping cabin on a luxury train with en-suite amenities and included meals, you might think of Europe’s Orient Express. But in India, the Palace on Wheels, a seven-night luxury train journey through Rajasthan with royal suites and guided heritage tours sets the global standard. This isn’t just a train ride—it’s a moving palace. And yes, the roomette price reflects that. You’re not paying for a bed. You’re paying for history, service, and access to places most tourists never see.
Most people assume luxury train travel means flying first class. But in India, it’s different. The Palace on Wheels, a restored 19th-century royal train with brass fittings, marble bathrooms, and butler service offers private cabins called roomettes—each one designed like a Rajput palace suite. The luxury train journeys, high-end rail experiences that combine accommodation, dining, and curated excursions here include all meals, guided visits to forts and palaces, and even camel safaris. That’s why the roomette price isn’t just a cost—it’s a package. A single roomette on the Palace on Wheels runs between $1,800 and $3,500 per person for the full trip, depending on season and cabin type. That’s more than a flight to India, but less than a week at a five-star resort in Goa. And unlike hotels, you wake up in a new city every morning, with no packing, no check-ins, no traffic.
There are cheaper options, like the Golden Chariot, a luxury train covering South India’s temples, beaches, and heritage sites with similar service, but the Palace on Wheels remains the most iconic. It’s the one featured in travel magazines, the one that makes foreigners book months ahead. The roomette price includes everything: wine with dinner, spa treatments onboard, and private access to royal palaces after hours. You won’t find that on a budget tour. And if you’ve ever wondered why someone would pay so much for a train ride, just think about this: you’re sleeping where maharajas once walked, with a view of Jaipur’s Amber Fort from your window at sunrise.
What you won’t find in the price? Hidden fees. No extra charges for tipping, excursions, or meals. That’s rare. Most luxury experiences nickel-and-dime you. Here, it’s all included. The staff know your name by day two. They remember if you like tea with milk or black. That’s the kind of detail that turns a trip into a memory.
Below, you’ll find real stories from people who’ve taken the ride—the ones who cried at the Taj Mahal from the train, the ones who swapped stories with local artists in Jaisalmer, the ones who came back just for the roomette. This isn’t just about cost. It’s about what you get when you stop thinking of travel as a checklist and start treating it like an experience.
