Inspired by Michael Portillo and Chris Tarrant's recent TV programmes on rail travel? The Ultimate Travel Company can arrange journeys on many of the world's most famous, and luxurious, trains.

RUSSIA
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Russian Trans-Siberian link between Moscow and Vladivostok. The most luxurious way to experience the world's longest (9,288 kms) single service railway is aboard the Golden Eagle. From the moment passengers step on board this hotel-on-wheels, they can expect fine dining menus, a fully guided sightseeing programme, en-suite cabins, an elegant bar/lounge and a variety of on-board activities including Russian language classes, vodka tastings, lessons on improving photography skills and talks on local history. There's even an on-board doctor.

CANADA
Travel by Rocky Mountaineer on a two day, super scenic 'Journey through the Clouds' from Vancouver into the heart of the Rockies. The big carriage windows (and the observation car bubble if you are travelling in Gold Leaf class) offer a gently moving canvas of some of the most magnificent mountainscapes on the planet. Or consider a three day journey right across Canada on The Canadian which links Toronto with Vancouver.

AUSTRALIA
The legendary Ghan links Adelaide and the fertile countryside of South Australia, via Alice Springs and across the immense Red Centre, to Australia's tropical Top End at Darwin. Alternatively you may prefer to link the Pacific with the Indian Ocean by riding the aptly named Indian Pacific on a three night journey that starts (or ends) in Sydney, passes through the lush Blue Mountains and crosses the treeless plains of the Nullarbor desert (where's there's a 478 km dead straight stretch of track, the longest in the world) to Perth.

SOUTH AMERICA
The most luxurious rail trip in South America is undoubtedly Belmond's Hiram Bingham which carries passengers from Poroy, near the historic Spanish colonial city of Cusco, to Machu Picchu. Named after the man who rediscovered the ancient Inca city, the 1920s style train has two dining carriages and an observation bar car where you can sip pisco sours while gazing at dramatic Andean scenery.

In Ecuador you can tour aboard the vintage, part steam-driven Tren Crucero, its four carriages each styled to reflect Ecuadorian history and culture. With accommodation en route in hotels, the four day journey from Quito encompasses incredible volcanic landscapes, tropical rainforests and sugar cane, banana and cacao plantations as well as the 16th century Balbanera Church in Colta, the Indian market at Guamote and the impressive railway engineering feat at the 'Devil's Nose'.

AFRICA
The luxurious Rovos Rail will carry you in glamorous, painstakingly restored, colonial era carriages (including some with de luxe suites) from Pretoria to a number of destinations throughout southern Africa. These include Cape Town, the winelands and the rocky outcrops of the Western Cape, Durban and the vast open plains of the Karoo, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the Namibian coast and the Tanzanian capital of Dar Es Salaam (via Botswana and Zambia). An alternative African rail experience is offered by the historic Blue Train linking Pretoria with Cape Town.

ASIA
No trip to Japan would be complete without taking your seat on one of its Shinkansen, or Bullet Trains, with the super-fast ride between Tokyo and Kyoto, passing the distinctive cone-shaped Mount Fuji, the most popular. But you should also consider the super slow but highly glamorous Seven Stars which tours the southern, semi-tropical island of Kyushu. The four day tour includes local excursions, a stop at Nagasaki and an overnight stay in a traditional ryokan inn. But with just fourteen suites, you need to book many weeks ahead!

In Southeast Asia the Belmond E & O (Eastern and Oriental) offers passengers a behind-the-scenes perspective on village life and rural scenery as well as modern, cosmopolitan cities. The on-board looks and luxury are as superb as you'd expect from Belmond and there's a choice of itineraries, notably the two night journey between Bangkok and Singapore. You can also ride the train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur which takes in the Cameron Highlands, Penang and Huay Yang in Thailand.

EUROPE
Belmond, which operates some of the world's most famous trains including the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and the Belmond Royal Scotsman, is currently building its seventh luxury train in Ireland. With services planned to start in August, the Belmond Grand Hibernian will be the first luxury sleeper train to launch in Ireland with a programme of two, four and six night itineraries from Dublin. The train will have ten carriages, each with twenty luxury en suite cabins, plus two dining cars and an observation car.

For more details of any of these destinations, contact The Ultimate Travel Company (020 7386 4646; www.theultimatretravelcompany.co.uk).

For press information please contact Gloria Ward (020 7386 4646: e-mail gloria@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk)