I spent a night on the ultimate luxury train and saw that high-end travel doesn't have to harm the planet

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a luxury train, is a sustainable option for travelers looking to splurge.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

• I recently spent one night on a luxury train in Europe, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
• It's made up of preserved carriages from the iconic Orient Express fleet of the 1920s and 1930s.
• The train features several sustainability practices designed to conserve energy and reduce waste.

A luxury vacation doesn't have to come with a huge carbon footprint — especially if you travel by train.

I learned that firsthand on a recent train trip in Europe aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. With rooms starting at $9,000 a night (including tax), it's the ultimate luxury train and a fine option for travelers looking to splurge while being mindful of their impact on the environment.

Traveling by train is typically more sustainable than flying or driving. The US Environmental Protection Agency has said 2% of transportation greenhouse-gas emissions in 2021 came from trains while 8% came from planes. "Light-duty vehicles," or passenger cars, were responsible for 58% of emissions, the agency said.

"As a traveler, you have the economic power to adopt a 'vote with your dollars' mindset and consciously choose to support local businesses that are aligned with community and environmental impact," Jessica Blotter, the CEO and cofounder of the public-benefit corporation Kind Traveler told Business Insider in October.

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, I got a taste of a high-end sustainable travel experience that wealthy vacationers are splurging on. And I can see why.