Palace on Wheels Cost Guide
Published tariffs for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, across every cabin class.
Pricing Notice: Rates below reflect published Palace on Wheels tariffs for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, covering the full 8-destination itinerary. 5% GST is charged extra, as applicable, and the operator reserves the right to revise the tariff without prior notice — contact us to confirm the exact current rate for your dates before booking.
Full Season Pricing
Select the season and currency that applies to you. Peak and Lean season rates are shown together below.
This page covers the full Palace on Wheels price, cost, fare, and train ticket price for every cabin class — Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Suite, and Presidential Suite — so you can compare rates before booking. As the authorized booking agent, we keep these tariffs current with the operator's published rates.
Rates last verified: September 2026 — per the RTDC official Palace on Wheels tariff.
Estimate Your Palace on Wheels Cost
Peak Season (October 2026 – March 2027)
$976/ night
$6,832 total for 7 nights · Per Person
Estimate only, based on published tariffs. Rates are subject to revision by the operator — confirm the exact current rate for your dates before booking.
Peak Season (October 2026 – March 2027)
| Occupancy Type | Basis | Per Night | Total (7N/8D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Suite | Per Cabin | $3,510 | $24,570 |
| Suite | Per Cabin | $2,748 | $19,326 |
| Super Deluxe | Per Cabin | $2,500 | $17,500 |
| Single Occupancy Deluxe | Per Person | $1,501 | $10,507 |
| Double Occupancy Deluxe | Per Person | $976 | $6,832 |
Lean Season (September 2026 & April 2027 only)
| Occupancy Type | Basis | Per Night | Total (7N/8D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Suite | Per Cabin | $3,223 | $22,561 |
| Suite | Per Cabin | $2,629 | $18,403 |
| Super Deluxe | Per Cabin | $2,350 | $16,450 |
| Single Occupancy Deluxe | Per Person | $1,328 | $9,296 |
| Double Occupancy Deluxe | Per Person | $864 | $6,048 |
"Per Cabin" rates apply to the full cabin regardless of how many of the two permitted guests occupy it. "Per Person" rates are charged individually — a double-occupancy Deluxe booking for two guests is charged at the per-person rate twice.
How Your Ticket Price Is Calculated
Four variables combine to determine what you'll actually pay — understanding each one makes the tables above easier to read.
Unlike a hotel room with a single nightly rate, the Palace on Wheels ticket price depends on four separate factors, and each one moves the final number independently. Getting familiar with all four is the fastest way to read any price table on this page correctly the first time, rather than comparing two figures that aren't actually measuring the same thing.
Cabin class is the single biggest driver of cost. Deluxe is the entry point; Super Deluxe, Suite, and Presidential Suite each add more space, more privacy, and a meaningfully higher rate. Season is the second factor — Peak season (October through March) carries the standard rate, while Lean season (September and April) is priced lower to reflect warmer weather and lighter demand. Occupancy changes the math differently depending on cabin type: Deluxe cabins are priced per person, so a solo traveler pays more per head than a couple sharing, while Super Deluxe, Suite, and Presidential Suite cabins are priced per cabin regardless of how many of the two permitted guests are inside it.
The fourth factor, nationality, determines which currency applies. Foreign passport holders are quoted in USD; guests with a valid Indian passport or OCI card qualify for the INR rate instead. None of these four factors change what's included in your trip — the itinerary, meals, and guided excursions are identical regardless of cabin class, season, or currency. They only change the price you pay to book it.
Per Cabin vs. Per Person — Read This Before Budgeting
Presidential Suite, Suite, and Super Deluxe rates are charged per cabin — one price for up to two guests sharing. Deluxe cabins are charged per person— a couple booking a double-occupancy Deluxe cabin pays the per-person rate twice. Always check the "Basis" column in the tables above before comparing totals.
Peak vs. Lean Season Rates
The same cabin costs a different amount depending on which week of the year you travel.
Peak season rates apply from October through March, covering the cooler, more comfortable months in Rajasthan and the busiest stretch of the operating calendar — this is when the majority of departures run, and where the standard rates shown in the tables above apply.
Lean season rates apply only in September and April, the shoulder months either side of Peak season. Weather is warmer, availability is typically easier, and the rate for every cabin class is discounted accordingly — roughly 11% lower than Peak for a comparable Deluxe cabin, and proportionally lower across Super Deluxe, Suite, and Presidential Suite as well. If your travel dates are flexible, choosing a September or April departure is the single most direct way to reduce your ticket price without changing cabin class.
One exception sits inside Peak season itself: departures over the Christmas and New Year period carry an additional 10% surcharge on top of the standard Peak rate, reflecting the higher demand for that specific window. Every other Peak season Wednesday is priced at the standard rate.
What's Included in the Fare
The Palace on Wheels fare is comprehensive by design — once you're aboard, nearly every cost of the trip is already covered, rather than billed separately as you go. That's a meaningful difference from booking a hotel room alone: the fare below bundles accommodation, dining, guided sightseeing, and monument access into a single price you've already paid before you board.
- Accommodation aboard the Palace on Wheels for 7 nights
- All meals and non-alcoholic drinks
- Sightseeing tours at every destination
- Entrance fees for monuments and palaces
- One camel ride at Jaisalmer
- One shared jeep safari at Ranthambore
- One boat ride at Udaipur
- One rickshaw ride at Bharatpur bird sanctuary
Feature Comparison
Deluxe Cabin
The Classic Royal Experience
- Twin or Double Beds
- En-suite Shower Bathroom
- Air Conditioning
- Personal Butler
- 24-hr Room Service
Suite
Elevated Space & Refinement
- Larger Suite Format
- Separate Sitting Area
- Upgraded Bathroom Fittings
- Priority Boarding
- All Deluxe Features
Presidential Suite
The Pinnacle of Palace on Wheels
- Two-Room Suite
- Separate Living Room
- Luxury Bath with Tub
- Exclusive Dedicated Butler
- All Suite Features
Terms & Conditions
- 5% GST charged extra, as applicable
- A 10% surcharge applies on Christmas / New Year period departures
- Children up to 5 years: complimentary, sharing a cabin with an adult, no extra bed
- Children 5–12 years: charged 50% of the adult tariff, sharing accommodation with an adult
- One cabin accommodates 2 adult guests; an extra mattress may be arranged for an infant or child under 12
- INR pricing applies only to guests with a valid Indian passport or OCI card — the USD rate applies otherwise
- The operator reserves the right to revise the tariff without prior notice
Booking Policy
- 25% deposit required at time of booking, along with the guest list and passport scans
- Balance payment due 60 days before departure
- Late balance payment (paid within 60 days of departure): a 12% interest penalty applies
- Bookings made within 60 days of departure: 100% payment required upfront
Cancellation Policy
Refunds are scaled by how far in advance you cancel before departure.
| Cancellation Window | Deduction |
|---|---|
| 120 – 90 days before departure | 10% of ticket value |
| 89 – 60 days before departure | 25% of ticket value |
| 59 – 30 days before departure | 50% of ticket value |
| Within 29 days of departure | No refund |
| If the operator cancels the departure | 100% refund |
Travel insurance is strongly recommended to protect against cancellation deductions and unforeseen changes to travel plans.
Is the Palace on Wheels Price Worth It?
The fairest way to judge the cost is against what an equivalent independently-arranged trip would take, not against a single hotel night.
Because the price above covers accommodation, every meal, guided excursions, and monument entry for all 7 nights, comparing it to a single hotel rate misses most of what it's actually paying for. A more useful comparison is against the total cost of independently booking hotels, guides, transport, and entry fees across the same 8 destinations — a version of the trip that also costs meaningfully more of your own time to plan and coordinate.
That said, the price genuinely isn't the right fit for every traveler. It tends to suit guests who want the full 8-destination circuit covered efficiently on a fixed schedule, and it's a harder case to make for anyone who'd rather spend the same budget lingering in one or two cities instead of covering the full route.
Common Pricing Questions
It depends on the cabin type. Presidential Suite, Suite, and Super Deluxe cabins are priced per cabin — the rate covers the full cabin regardless of occupancy. Deluxe cabins are priced per person, with separate single- and double-occupancy rates. Every table on this page marks each rate clearly as "Per Cabin" or "Per Person."
Go Deeper on Pricing
Palace on Wheels Fare Guide
How the fare structure actually works — cabin class, season, and occupancy.
Palace on Wheels Cost in India: INR & USD Guide
Who qualifies for INR pricing, and who pays the USD rate.
Palace on Wheels Ticket Price 2026-27
A season-by-season breakdown across the full operating calendar.
Is Palace on Wheels Worth the Cost?
An honest look at what the price buys you, and who it suits.
Start Your Journey
The Palace on Wheels Awaits.
When Will You Board?
2026 and 2027 departures are available. Demand from international travelers peaks 6 to 9 months before each departure. Secure your cabin now.