DTH Travel has collaborated with the State Railway of Thailand to offer something completely new for the Thailand travel industry – a tourist train travelling to less well-known destinations, showcasing the country’s scenery and culture.
This is the first time the Asia-based destination management company has chartered a train in Thailand. “We are redefining train travel with the Blue Jasmine, offering a journey unlike any before,” Thailand general manager Stefan Bruns tells TTG.
He continues: “The Blue Jasmine will embody slow travel at its finest – offering passengers the luxury of unhurried discovery, shifting landscapes and deeper cultural connections.”
The programme lasts nine days, with two overnights on the train and the rest spent in hotels in the areas the train is travelling through. The first charter is scheduled to depart on 16 November 2025, with subsequent dates on sale thereafter.
Bruns explains it was during Covid that the team at DTH started thinking how they could modify their round trips in Thailand. “We wanted to offer something exclusive, something off the beaten track. First, we created our Heritage Collection, showcasing the culture of Thailand, and when we saw the customer response to these itineraries, we knew we were on the right track.”
Full steam ahead
There’s strong Swiss representation on the board of DTH Travel and Bruns himself is a Swiss native so it’s not surprising that conversations evolved to journeys by rail. The right product was found – heritage trains that had been used as long-distance sleeper trains in Japan from the 1960s and were later gifted to the Thai government.
It took two years to sort out the paperwork with the authorities – then DTH had to source a hospitality partner and come up with a name.
“The train exterior is painted blue, but of course we couldn’t use the name The Blue Train, because that already exists in South Africa,” says Bruns. “So, we decided to combine the blue with jasmine, a special flower for Thailand.”
Onboard the Blue Jasmine
Although the trains have been restored, Bruns is careful how he pitches the intimate experience, which will accommodate 37 passengers. “We are not the Eastern & Oriental Express [a Belmond train],” he explains. “We are not that level of luxury. We are a premium train product with specially created excursions. We have three categories of cabins – classic, premium and premium suite, which vary in size and amenities.
“During our charters, the cabins have premium bedding, there’s a chef onboard preparing locally sourced meals, and there’s a butler team taking care of all customers throughout the journey.”
Classic cabins have cosy seating that transforms into bunks, along with shared bathrooms. Premium cabins have shared bathrooms and access to a panorama lounge, with its picture windows,and an open-air balcony, plus private dining in a separate coach. Premium suites have double beds, en-suite bathrooms with separate toilet and shower, and dedicated butler service.
“The decor is more vintage in style, paired with modern aspects such as in-train WiFi and air conditioning,” says Bruns. “Our guests will be here for the experience: slow travel in a very comfortable premium train.”
The route less travelled
Guests will start their journey with a welcome dinner and an overnight in Bangkok. The following day, the Blue Jasmine departs for Ayutthaya, where lunch is taken in a lakeside garden setting.
“We ride in tuk-tuks past the ancient capital’s most revered temples and storied ruins,” says Bruns. “What is very important to understand about this journey – it’s not temple in, temple out. We are selective with the number of temples. We really want to focus more on local experiences, to fit with our theme of an authentic journey.”
The next stop is Uthai Thani, “not really well known, but I think it’s one of the most fantastic areas I know in Thailand”, says Bruns.
“Here, we have an exclusive contract with a beautiful boutique hotel, Uthai Heritage, which used to be a school, and it still has the classrooms. We use these for a small language course with our guests, to share a few phrases they can use while shopping in the local markets.”
He continues: “The next morning, we bring our guests to the morning market. It’s one of the most authentic – the whole town buys breakfast there. The alms giving is different here, because there’s a monastery along the river, and the monks come by boat, and all the people fill the boat with their offerings. I’d not seen that before in Thailand, and it’s a very nice atmosphere.
“We also visit the Crystal Temple. This is one of the few we choose to visit because the decoration is unique. There are only mirrors in the temple, and it’s shining and glittering, creating a mesmerising play of light.”
After a scenic lunch cruise on the Sakae Krang River, guests spend their first night on the train, travelling to Chiang Mai and arriving early morning in the surrounding foothills so they can enjoy the scenic views while eating breakfast.
While in Chiang Mai there’s a visit to the ethical Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and guests are also taken by coach to a mountain retreat with far-reaching views across a sea of evergreen peaks all the way to Myanmar.
A musical interlude
“We’ve transported a grand piano up there so we can stage classical music concerts, while serving a picnic with champagne,” explains Bruns.
“We did this last year for the first time, arranging an opera concert for a special group. This particular group was very well travelled, they had seen the world, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – it was very emotional with the view and the music coming together, capped off by a beautiful sunset.
“It’s not possible to book these experiences online on GetYourGuide or Viator, whatever booking platform, you name it. These are unique experiences that we can offer because of our connections and knowledge about the country. And you would never expect an experience like this in Thailand – listening to opera singers with incredible voices – that’s usually in Italy!”
The final stop, Sukhothai, incorporates a barbecue dinner with traditional music and dance in a garden setting. There’s also a chance to explore the region’s artistry through local handicrafts, by taking part in a pottery workshop and visiting a goldsmith shop.
After a second night on the train, the Blue Jasmine arrives back in Bangkok, and that evening, there’s a farewell dinner. Bruns says: “Blue Jasmine meets The White Lotus in a riverside venue that appeared in the TV series. We bring our customers by boat for a sunset cruise and we eat an amazing dinner here.
“Many travellers buy a ticket for the night train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai – or they fly – and so they miss out on a lot of this,” he says. “And you just wouldn’t be able to organise this yourself, using regular rail services. All accommodation, transfers, meals and excursions are included. Only alcoholic beverages are not included.”
