Two quaintly decorated restaurants on board serve an array of Continental, Western and Indian cuisine. One of the dining cars can be converted into a conference room that accommodates 18 people. And it is the sightseeing that makes this seven-day journey so unique. The Royal Orient travels through the diverse and culturally fascinating states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Diu, stopping for a safari at a lion sanctuary, a Hindu prayer service and a visit to the late Mahatma Gandhi's ashram. Most of the traveling is done at night, leaving the days for sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and cultural programs that provide a taste of the country's rich heritage.
Local transport is organized in air-conditioned luxury coaches with trained guides as escorts.
All meals outside the train are arranged at top hotels. The train departs on Wednesday evening and runs weekly from September to April. The service is suspended between May and August because of extreme heat conditions and the monsoons, providing time for maintenance and refurbishing at the workshop. A diesel locomotive pulls the Royal Orient for most of the trip. But, on one leg of the journey, a steam engine is attached to give the travelers a feel of a bygone era once enjoyed only by Indian royalty.