A peek inside 'Dream of the Desert': Saudi Arabia's first ultra-luxury sleeper train opens for bookings - featuring historic castles, mountain views and lavish suites

Forget sweeping by the French Riviera or trundling past the Scottish Highlands. Located in the heart of the Middle East, a new lavish train has opened for bookings.Passengers can now glide across northern Saudi Arabia on board Dream of the Desert, the country's first ultra-luxury sleeper train.The unique locomotive will initially offer two routes – The Desert Kingdoms and Shadows of Aja – each departing from Riyadh and offering a different perspective on Saudi Arabia's landscapes, heritage and traditions.The Desert Kingdoms consists of a three-night journey that allows guests to explore Al-Jouf Province, in northern Saudi Arabia, and Hail, a city in north-western Saudi Arabia.In Dumat Al-Jandal, travellers will experience the Legends of Marid Gala Dinner and Signature Show which will see the historic Marid Castle transformed into an immersive, theatrical performance. The journey will finish in the Aja mountains, where passengers will be hosted at a private wilderness escape with Arabian horses, fire, music and poetry. Dream of the Desert is the first luxury sleeper train in Saudi Arabia The indulgent locomotive boasts 24 beautifully decorated suite cabins Initially, it will offer two routes - The Desert Kingdoms and Shadows of Aja. Pictured: Marid Castle, which features on the itinerary As for the two-night, 'Shadows of Aja' voyage, travellers will be treated to the sights of Hail and Al Qassim through the 'wilder side of northern Arabia'.Passengers will explore the mountains, dine under the open sky with specialist astronomers before finishing up with a trip to an immersive farm-to-table experience in Al Qassim. Depending on the season, the journey may also extend to the striking white salt landscapes of Al-Awshaziyah. Bookings are open now and prices start at £17,250 per suite for two nights, including all meals and excursions.The first departures are scheduled for October 2027. Aside from passing through exciting destinations, passengers will have plenty to enjoy inside the train too, where they will find an intimate and highly personalised world of its own.In its first phase, Dream of the Desert will feature 24 suite cabins as well as a dedicated restaurant carriage which offers a culinary experience shaped by the flavours and traditions of the Kingdom.There is also a Majlis Carriage, a designated social hub for passengers to mingle and relax, inspired by Saudi Arabia's tradition of gathering and hospitality. On board, passengers will have exclusive access to a range of amenities There is a dedicated restaurant carriage which offers a culinary experience shaped by the flavours and traditions of the KingdomAgeel Al-Shaibani, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: 'Dream of the Desert is another important milestone in Saudi's tourism journey, bringing together our rich heritage, extraordinary landscapes and world-class hospitality in an entirely new travel experience. 'Through the world's first ultra-luxury desert journeys by train, we are bringing Saudi's northern regions to broader global audiences and showcasing the diversity of its destinations and experiences. 'As Saudi continues to invest in world-class tourism destinations and expand its appeal on the international stage, we invite our global travel trade partners to be among the first to discover these opportunities and bring them to travellers around the world.'Meanwhile, Raffaele Breschi, CEO of Arsenale International and general manager of Dream of the Desert, added: 'We are not simply creating a train journey; we are building a new way to experience Saudi Arabia, connecting rail, hospitality, culture and destination discovery into one carefully orchestrated experience. 'It reflects our long-term commitment to the Kingdom and to the regions we will explore, while contributing to the continued evolution of its tourism offering. We look forward to welcoming our first travellers in October 2027.'