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Join us on the Orient Express to Venice taking the Classic Route over the Alps: Experience the world’s most romantic train journey: Enjoy luxury, beauty, history, fine dining and the spellbinding sights of the Alps in Spring: enjoy exclusive best rates
Dec
Join us on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, to Venice: Experience the world’s most romantic train journey: Enjoy luxury, beauty, history, fine dining and spellbinding sights of Venice and the scenic Classic Route over the Alps, and all at our exclusive best rates.
Here it is, the Venice of our dreams, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For details, please read on!
THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AWAITS
The first Orient-Express pulled out of Paris for Istanbul in 1883 for the 1,700-mile trip across Europe and thus began a love affair we are experiencing to this day. It is, and will always be known as ‘The King of Trains and the Train of Kings’. We shall step inside those palatial legendary original rail cars with their inlaid marquetry, polished brass, sumptuous upholstery and antique fixtures, to make our way across Europe in a frisson of excitement—everybody stops to look as the Orient-Express pulls into a station, or glides under a bridge. It is simply the most famous, most fascinating train in the world.
The mystique, the opulence and glamour of the Orient-Express linger on, from the genuine carriages to the silver and crystal, the personal stewards and the white-gloved service, as faultless as one would expect of this grand hotel on wheels. Carriages are meticulously maintained to ensure an authentic experience, from the original sleeping cars of the 1920s and ’30s, the three dining cars and elegant bar car with its baby grand piano. Each carriage has a history—if only it could tell! Such as carriage 3309, which became stuck in a snowdrift outside Istanbul and gave rise to the scene in the famous film.
We start from London, taking the Eurostar to Paris to board the Orient-Express. As the historic train pulls out of the Paris Gare de l’Est en route to Venice we shall have time to relax and let the atmosphere sink in. There’s much to marvel at. This magically discreet service is all part of the experience, as is dressing for dinner—black tie is not compulsory, but oh how it adds to the romance!
And then there’s the famous Orient-Express Bar Car 3674 with its baby grand piano. This is truly the place to be for the de rigueur pre-dinner drink—perhaps a bottle of Orient-Express Champagne—and to revel in the ambience of the train as it rolls through the countryside towards Venice—leaving Paris, then gliding up into the Alps, on to Verona and, eventually, to Venice. As the sun dips and the vintage lights glow against the polished wood and brass, the pianist begins to play airs from that older era; all create the mood of romance, mystery and delight.
A delicious four-course dinner is already being prepared by the Michelin Star Chef and his team. He takes his inspiration from what is seasonal and local—but to the Chef of the Orient-Express ‘local’ extends to choice ingredients from across the train’s far-flung destinations. There may be lobster with truffles, fillet of sole with caviar, venison with cranberries, salt marsh lamb and ginger, fine cheeses, and scrumptious sweet creations such as coffee bavaroise, Amaretto sorbet, and fantasies of chocolate and fruits. Whatever is on the menu will be delicious, beautifully presented and served. Service on the Orient-Express is unmatched—and dinner is a leisured, glamorous delight. It will be followed, at the time of our choosing, by a nightcap or two, before retiring to our historic cabin, to be rocked to sleep by the train as of old.
We awake to views of the Alps in their glory. It’s a magical awakening, and from here on the beauty and fascination of the scenery is unparalleled pleasure. We shall travel through the astonishing Gotthard Pass between Basel and Airolo, a masterpiece of railway engineering and breathtaking sights. The route delivers stunning visions of the mountains and towns on both sides of the Italian border. We’ll pass the three-castled town of Bellinzona, the great lakes Lucerne and Como, and picturesque Lugano and Chiasso as mountain landscape gives way to vineyards en route to Verona. As these visions soar around us there will be, first, breakfast, and later, a gourmet three-course lunch and exquisite afternoon cakes and pastries as we make our way through the Dolomites.
Eventually, we shall arrive: Venice lies before us as we cross the Venice Lagoon and roll in to Santa Lucia station. Was it not Robert Louis Stevenson who held that to travel was more important than to arrive? On this journey, all who have imagination will agree.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS ICONIC ORIENT-EXPRESS JOURNEY
The luxury Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, on the London to Venice (Eurostar London to Paris) Classic Route over the Gotthard Pass:
London to Paris: Eurostar train service from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train journey from Paris to Venice
One night’s luxurious accommodation in an Historic Cabin aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express including all meals:
Sumptuous Four-Course Dinner: All table d’hôte meals include the sommelier’s selection of wines when served in the restaurant cars.
Delicious Three-Course Lunch: An elegant meal, served in the opulent dining cars
French Breakfast served in-cabin for your comfort
Dedicated Steward Service to attend to your every request as you unwind in style
To check availability and date options, and for all further details, call Member Services on 020 7399 2960 or email us about this trip, please click here.
Subject to availability at the time of booking. The CountryClubuk Full Rules and Terms & Conditions apply, as well as the Belmond Terms and Conditions and those of our other partners.
PLEASE READ: CountryClubuk Club Rules and Terms and Conditions