Palace on Wheels for Couples: Honeymoon & Anniversary Guide

Short answer: Yes — Palace on Wheels works well for couples who want a guided, all-inclusive week in Rajasthan, with two honest caveats: Deluxe cabins have twin beds, and alcohol and spa treatments cost extra. Two guests in a Double Occupancy Deluxe cabin pay $9,072 on a Companion Offer departure in April 2027, before 5% GST.

Many of the enquiries we receive as an authorized booking agent come from two adults travelling together — often for an anniversary, a honeymoon, or a long-planned "big trip." The questions repeat: What does it cost for two? Will we get a double bed? Is there a couples' discount? What's not covered? This guide answers each one with figures from the operator's tariff and the details on our own cabin and offer pages, including the parts that don't sound romantic.

Is Palace on Wheels Romantic? An Honest Answer

It is romantic in the way a shared journey can be: a fixed 7-night, 8-day route through Delhi, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra, with someone else handling every transfer, ticket and reservation. Meals are served in the train's two dining cars, Maharaja and Maharani, alongside other guests — so this is not a private retreat. The most private option is the Presidential Suite, where in-suite dining is available as an option.

If you want a heritage week where the two of you simply turn up and everything is arranged, it fits. If you want complete seclusion or a fully flexible schedule, a private tour will suit you better.

What Two Guests Actually Pay

Fares below are the 2026-27 tariff in USD for two guests, for the full 7 nights, before 5% GST. Deluxe cabins are priced per person, so a couple pays the per-person rate twice. Super Deluxe, Suite and Presidential Suite are priced per cabin, which covers up to two guests.

Two things to factor in: departures on 23 and 30 December 2026 carry a 10% Christmas / New Year surcharge, and lean season in 2026-27 now means April 2027 only, since September 2026 has passed. The full season-by-season breakdown is on our Price & Tariff page.

The Companion Offer: Second Guest at Half Price

For selected Wednesday departures, the first guest pays the full fare and the second guest pays 50% of the applicable fare. It only applies to Double Occupancy Deluxe cabins, and only to departures in April 2027, September 2027, October 2027 and April 2028 (the September and October 2026 departures it also covered have now gone).

The terms are strict: the offer is non-transferable, cannot be combined with any other promotion, and management can modify or withdraw it without notice. Standard payment and cancellation policies still apply. The exact eligible dates are listed on our Companion Offer page, and you can request one through the offer booking form.

The Bed Question: What Couples Should Know Before Booking

This is the detail most couples ask about, so here it is plainly. Our Deluxe cabins are 131 sq. ft. with twin sharing beds, an en-suite shower bathroom, and a large window beside the bed. If a double bed matters to you, tell us when you enquire and we will ask the operator whether a double-bed arrangement can be arranged for your departure. Please treat that as a request, not a guarantee.

If a larger bed is essential, the category decides it:

Suite. 180 sq. ft. with a queen-size bed. Only 2 cabins of this size exist on the train. Includes a private car and guide for sightseeing and 24x7 personal butler service.

Presidential Suite. A single cabin of 240 sq. ft. with a king-size bed, a jacuzzi and separate shower, a private in-cabin lounge area, a private car and guide, 24x7 personal butler service, and optional in-suite dining.

Super Deluxe. Priced per cabin like the Suite, with a private car and guide for excursions. Published descriptions of the Super Deluxe and Suite cabins differ between sources, so ask us to confirm the bed configuration for your departure date before you book. Our cabin guide compares all categories.

Moments Couples Remember on the Route

These are real parts of the itinerary, not extras. Everything marked included is covered in the ticket price.

Udaipur boat ride. One boat ride on Lake Pichola is included. Dinner is occasionally hosted at a heritage property overlooking the lake, depending on the day's schedule.

Jaisalmer camel ride and desert evening. One camel ride at Jaisalmer is included, and evenings there often include a cultural programme in the Thar Desert, with dinner served onboard or at a desert camp.

Ranthambore jeep safari. One shared jeep safari is included. Wildlife sightings can never be promised, so go for the experience rather than a guaranteed tiger.

The Taj Mahal at Agra. Day 7 combines Bharatpur and Agra, with a full day for the Taj Mahal before the train returns to Delhi.

An evening in the lounge. The Sitting Lounge and onboard bar are where most guests gather after a day of sightseeing, and the Spa Car offers Ayurvedic massage. See the Lounge & Spa page for the bar and spa menus.

What Is Not Included

Budget for these separately: alcoholic drinks, spa treatments, flights to and from Delhi, visa fees, 5% GST, and personal expenses. The ticket does cover accommodation for 7 nights, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, sightseeing at every destination, and monument entry fees.

Planning an Anniversary Date: Payment and Cancellation Rules

If your trip is tied to a specific date, the cancellation terms matter. A 25% deposit is due at booking, with guest names and passport scans. The balance is due 60 days before departure, and bookings made within 60 days need 100% upfront.

Cancellation deductions: 10% of ticket value at 120 to 90 days before departure, 25% at 89 to 60 days, 50% at 59 to 30 days, and no refund within 29 days. If the operator cancels the departure, the refund is 100%.

What We Can and Cannot Promise for a Special Occasion

Decorations, cakes, and private dinners are not listed in the operator's tariff, so we do not promise them. Tell us the occasion when you enquire and we will ask the operator what can be arranged, then tell you plainly what the answer is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palace on Wheels good for a honeymoon? Yes, if you want a guided, all-inclusive heritage journey with a fixed route. It is a shared train rather than a private retreat, so choose a Suite or Presidential Suite if privacy and bed size matter most.

Do Palace on Wheels Deluxe cabins have double beds? Our Deluxe cabins are listed with twin sharing beds. A double-bed arrangement may be possible on request, which we can ask the operator about for your departure. Suite cabins have a queen-size bed and the Presidential Suite has a king-size bed.

How much does Palace on Wheels cost for two people? For the 2026-27 season, two guests in a Double Occupancy Deluxe cabin pay $12,096 in lean season (April 2027) or $13,664 in peak season, before 5% GST. Suite is $18,403 to $19,236 per cabin and Presidential Suite is $22,561 to $24,570 per cabin.

Is there a discount for couples? The Companion Offer gives the second guest 50% off on selected Wednesday departures, for Double Occupancy Deluxe cabins only. On an April 2027 departure that brings two guests down from $12,096 to $9,072.

Are alcohol and spa treatments included? No. Alcoholic drinks and spa treatments are paid separately. Meals and non-alcoholic drinks are included, along with sightseeing and monument entry fees.

How early should we book for an anniversary? Dates are fixed weekly departures. A 25% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due 60 days before departure, so confirm your preferred Wednesday as early as you can, then check the departure calendar for the dates available.

Ready to Plan Your Journey Together?

Send us your preferred month, cabin and the occasion, and we will check the dates and the offer for you. Request a booking through our booking form or see whether your dates qualify for the Companion Offer.

Source: Fares are based on the RTDC official Palace on Wheels tariff; cabin details, offer terms and booking policies are from our own Cabins, Offers and Price pages. Palace on Wheels is operated by Indian Railways and the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC); Palace on Wheels Tour is an authorized booking agent.