Thomas Cook India & SOTC Travel Launch Premium Rail Experiences, Expanding International Holiday Portfolio
Mumbai : Indian travellers are increasingly seeking once-in-a-lifetime holidays that combine luxury, slow travel and immersive destination experiences, with growing interest in journeys where the travel itself becomes as memorable as the destination. Responding to this evolving trend, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have expanded their international holiday portfolio with premium train journeys spanning South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and more.
The Companies’ have been offering train holidays to Indian travellers for several years through long-standing partnerships, including Swiss-Euro Rail, Spain’s Renfe, etc. Building on the success of these offerings and the growing demand for premium experiential holidays, the Companies have broadened their portfolio to include some of the world’s most iconic rail experiences across global destinations.
To ensure availability on these highly sought-after journeys, Thomas Cook India and SOTC have procured seats and cabins on premium trains, enabling customers to enjoy these exclusive packages as curated fully packaged land + train holidays.
Premium packages start from ₹4.5 lakh per person, depending on the itinerary and travel period. The expanded portfolio features some of the world’s most celebrated rail experiences, including Rovos Rail in South Africa, Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, The Ghan in Australia, the Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine in New Zealand, and Egypt’s iconic overnight sleeper train. Seamlessly integrated into curated land holidays, these rail experiences combine premium accommodation, sightseeing and destination highlights with exceptional onboard hospitality, gourmet dining and curated off-train excursions. From traversing the majestic Canadian Rockies and South Africa’s dramatic landscapes to crossing Australia’s vast Outback, these once-in-a-lifetime journeys transform travel itself into an unforgettable part of the holiday, allowing travellers to discover each destination at a relaxed and immersive pace.
Key Premium train journeys
Rovos Royale – South Africa | 11 Nights / 12 Days
• Route: Johannesburg → Greater Kruger → Pretoria → Rovos Rail → Cape Town
• Train Experience: 3 nights aboard Rovos Rail
A luxury South African holiday featuring three nights aboard the iconic Rovos Rail, complemented by wildlife experiences at Kapama River Lodge, curated excursions, and sightseeing across Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula.
Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Banff – Canada | 9 Nights / 10 Days
• Route: Vancouver → Whistler → Quesnel → Jasper → Banff → Calgary
• Train Experience: 3-night Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service
A spectacular rail holiday through Western Canada aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, paired with iconic experiences including Jasper, Athabasca Glacier, Glacier Skywalk and Banff, showcasing the breathtaking Canadian Rockies.
The Ghan Expedition – Australia | 9 Nights / 10 Days
• Route: Darwin → Adelaide
• Train Experience: 3 nights aboard The Ghan Expedition
An iconic Australian rail experience travelling through the country’s tropical north, Red Centre and South Australia, complemented by curated off-train experiences, premium hospitality and sightseeing.
New Zealand Odyssey – Self Drive Edition | 13 Nights / 14 Days (for the upcoming 2027 travel season)
• Route: Auckland → Rotorua → Christchurch → Glacier Region → Queenstown → Mt. Cook → Christchurch
• Train Experience: Coastal Pacific & TranzAlpine
A premium self-drive holiday combining New Zealand’s two iconic scenic rail journeys with highlights including Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook and Queenstown.
Explore Egypt | 6 Nights / 7 Days
• Route: Cairo → Overnight Sleeper Train → Nile Cruise
• Train Experience: Overnight sleeper train
A unique holiday blending Cairo, an overnight sleeper train and a three-night Nile Cruise, offering a memorable way to discover Egypt’s rich history and timeless landscapes.
Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “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. Building on our long-standing expertise in rail holidays, including our partnerships with Switzerland’s iconic rail network, we have expanded our portfolio to include some of the world’s most celebrated train routes. By seamlessly combining these iconic rail experiences with thoughtfully curated land itineraries, we are enabling travellers to discover Europe and other destinations at a more immersive pace—where comfort, luxury and authentic local discoveries come together.”
Mr. SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, said, “Today’s travellers are seeking holidays that are personalised, enriching and designed around memorable experiences. Our premium rail holidays bring together some of the world’s most iconic train journeys with destination highlights, allowing customers to experience the best of both the rail journey and the destination in one seamless itinerary. 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.”
About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:
Set up in 1881, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) is the leading omnichannel travel company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services including Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel and Value-Added Services. It operates leading B2C and B2B brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied TPro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited (TCI 勝景遊), Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Go Vacation, Private Safaris East & South Africa.
As one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, The Thomas Cook India Group spans 28 countries across 5 continents.
TCIL has been felicitated with ET Edge’s Best Organizations for Women (BOW) 2026, MICE Powerhouse at MaxiiiMICE Awards 2025, Outbound Travel Operator of the Year (2024) and MICE Travel Operator of the Year (2024 & 2023) at The Economic Times Travel & Tourism Annual Awards, MICE Travel Agency (Outbound) at the Economic Times MICE & Wedding Tourism Awards 2024, ‘Masters of Risk – Travel & Hospitality’ at India Risk Management Awards 2024, MICE Tour Operator of the Year – Outbound at SATTE 2024, Best Tour Operator at India Travel Awards North 2023, winner of the Corporate Citizen Award (Travel Tourism & Hospitality) at the Corporate Citizen Conclave & Award 2023, The Outbound Tour Operator of the Year 2022 at the SATTE Awards, IAMAI India Digital Awards 2022, CNBC-TV18 & ICICI Lombard India Risk Management Award – Travel & Leisure Category 2022 & 2021, CIO100 Award for digital innovation 2022.
CRISIL has reaffirmed the rating on debt programs and bank facilities of TCIL – ‘CRISIL AA/Stable’ on the long-term bank facilities of TCIL and ‘CRISIL A1+’ rating on the short-term bank facilities and short- term debt of the company. The highest rating for a travel & tourism company in India.
For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in
Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, is the promoter of TCIL with a shareholding of 63.83% of its paid-up capital.
About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. Founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. V. Prem Watsa, the company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FFH and in U.S. dollars under the symbol FFH.U.
