Train travel is one of the defining Asia experiences, and often not in a good way. Toilets of horror, bunkmates who snore, the incredible mafan of organizing the next leg—all are part of the fun. But on these luxury trains, the journey is a destination you’ll remember forever.

First up is the Tangula Express, which runs 4,064km between Beijing and Lhasa. When it launched in 2008, the Kempinski-managed train set a new standard for steel wheel luxury in the motherland. It holds a grand total of 96 passengers split between 15 sleeper cars, four of which are palatial suites. A butler is assigned to every car. There are also two dining cars and an observation car in the middle so you can stick your head out the window when you go over one of those terrifyingly beautiful Himalayan chasms. Along the way, you get a bit of shore leave to explore a sacred lake, an ancient Silk Road city and the highest train station in the world at Tanggula Pass (the namesake of the train). Foreigners need to join a package tour for this one.

The Eastern & Oriental Express may sound like the perfect setting for a murder mystery, but this train, which runs between Singapore and Bangkok, has little to do with Agatha Christie’s Orient Express. It runs over a thousand miles through some of Southeast Asia’s most entrancing scenery. You’ll pass by verdant, rolling hills and through gleaming, water-logged rice fields. The train experience is a bit of an anachronism these days, and the Eastern & Oriental plays with the nostalgia of the golden age of train travel. The interiors are dressed in high colonial style. The staff are all in starched white collars. Lounge in one of the rattan chairs on the viewing verandah with a volume of Somerset Maugham and you’re there. Country Holidays has a January 22 departure which, for the first time, sees the train venturing into Laos (RMB31,880, www.countryholi days.com.cn).

India’s Palace on Wheels likewise taps into colonial nostalgia. Each of the 14 coaches are named after Rajput states with matching interior décor to complete the conceit. You’ll be made to feel like a maharaja as you spend a week winding through India’s magical northwest province, which is home to the Desert of Thar, the world’s oldest mountain range and spectacular architecture dating back to the era of kings and princes. One major highlight is tiger watching in the wilds of the Ranthambhor National Park. Trips packages start at US$2,500 (www.palaceonwheels.net).

India has a couple more truly astounding train journeys, but for our money the most unique of the lot is the Darjeeling Himalayan (www.darjnet.com). Nicknamed “the Toy Train”, this throwback steamer only travels 86km, but as it does it climbs from near sea level to a towering 2,200 meters into the Himalayas via an improbable array of switchbacks. The route went into operation over a century ago and has been the subject of numerous documentaries.