Fair value measurements - Estimated Fair Value of Non-financial Assets (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 8,216,000	$ 0
Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets			8,216,000
Reported Value | Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value	14,173,000		14,173,000
Fair Value | Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value	5,955,000		5,955,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value	5,955,000		5,955,000
Impairment of property, plant and equipment and other assets			8,216,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, fair value	$ 5,955,000		$ 5,955,000