Thomas Cook-SOTC offers luxury travel with premium rail packages across iconic global routes
Mumbai, July 29
Thomas Cook Limited and its group company SOTC Travel have expanded their international holiday portfolio by introducing premium rail-led holiday experiences across destinations including South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt, targeting the growing demand among Indian travellers for experiential and luxury vacations.
The companies said the new offerings combine iconic train journeys with curated land itineraries, enabling travellers to experience destinations through immersive and slow-paced travel.
The expanded portfolio includes journeys aboard globally renowned trains such as South Africa's Rovos Rail, Canada's Rocky Mountaineer, Australia's The Ghan, New Zealand's Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine, and Egypt's overnight sleeper train, integrated with sightseeing, premium accommodation and curated excursions.
According to the company, the premium packages are priced from Rs 4.5 lakh per person, depending on the itinerary and travel period.
Thomas Cook India and SOTC said they have procured seats and cabins on these premium trains to ensure availability for customers, offering fully packaged land-and-rail holidays.
The companies have been offering rail holidays through partnerships such as Swiss-Euro Rail and Spain's Renfe for several years and have now expanded the portfolio in response to rising demand for premium experiential travel.
Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head - Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said Indian travellers are increasingly looking for holidays that offer deeper and more meaningful experiences.
"As demand for Europe continues to revive, we are seeing Indian travellers increasingly gravitate towards premium holidays that go beyond sightseeing to offer richer, more meaningful ways to explore a destination," Kale said.
The company said the portfolio features an 11-night South African itinerary with three nights aboard Rovos Rail, a 10-day Canadian Rockies journey on the Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service, a 10-day Australian holiday aboard The Ghan Expedition, a 14-day New Zealand self-drive holiday incorporating the Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains, and a seven-day Egypt itinerary featuring an overnight sleeper train and Nile cruise.
SD Nandakumar, President and Country Head - Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, said travellers are increasingly seeking personalised and experience-driven holidays.
"Travelling by rail offers a more authentic, local perspective of a destination while also providing a more environmentally conscious way to explore. From luxury rail safaris in South Africa and the Canadian Rockies to Australia's legendary Ghan and New Zealand's scenic rail routes, these holidays offer an exceptional way to discover the world at a relaxed pace,"Nandakumar said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I wish they'd also focus on reviving India's own luxury train circuits like the Palace on Wheels or Deccan Odyssey. We have the scenery, we have the heritage, but the marketing and maintenance lag behind. Meanwhile, our corporates are packaging foreign trains beautifully.
The Ghan in Australia and Coastal Pacific in NZ are incredible trips 🚂 Already done Rocky Mountaineer last year with a local agent. Thomas Cook is late to the party but at least they've secured seats. Hope the curated itineraries include Indian meal options too!
Environmentally conscious travel? That's a stretch. Luxury trains have high carbon footprints between the private cabins, dining cars and support vehicles. But yes, trains are better than flying short distances. I'm cautiously happy that more Indians are exploring premium travel rather than just sticking to Thailand or Dubai.
Simple question: Why is Thomas Cook pushing foreign luxury while our domestic tourism struggles to get basic rail upgrades? Indian Railways can barely keep toilets clean. Let's first make our own premium train experiences world-class before sending everyone abroad.
As an expat living in Bangalore, I'm thrilled Indians are exploring these routes. I've done Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town - it's pure magic. The wine, the scenery, the service. At ₹4.5L it's competitive with what Western agencies charge. Smart move by Thomas Cook.
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