Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Venice & Paris to London

Start your holiday in style with complimentary airport lounge access before boarding the short flight to Venice, where you'll be met for a private water taxi transfer to your hotel – the canal-side Baglioni Hotel Luna. The likes of St Mark’s Basin, San Girogio island and Venice’s canals are perfectly taken in with private terraces, and you’re moments away from the heritage beauty of St. Mark’s Square and the Bellini cocktails of Harry’s Bar.

If you can tear yourself away from the baroque murals and marble bathrooms of your palatial room, you'll want to make the most of the award-winning Canova Restaurant, headed up by Michelin-starred Executive chef, Alberto Rossetti. The octopus salad and calamari with green tomato sauce are particularly notable, as is the extensive wine list. 

Wake to an indulgent breakfast and Italian coffee at the charming canal-side Caffè Baglioni before exploring the myriad highlights of Venice. To help you make the most of your stay, we’ve included a private walking tour today with an expert guide who’ll show you the city’s treasures as well as some its lesser-known corners. You'll finish with queue-jump entry to the Doge’s Palace, where theatrical sculptures and marble décor give way to gold-encrusted frescoes.

You've then got a free afternoon to discover the rest of the city's offerings, perhaps enjoying a casual lunch in one of the many waterside trattorias before taking a gondola ride among the winding waterways or simply enjoying a glass of fine Italian wine in a piazza-side cafe. 

Today sees you leave Venice behind as you take your included water taxi transfer to the Venezia Santa Lucia Station and the iconic blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. You’ll begin the journey in style as you’re welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and an exquisite three-course lunch in the restaurant car. It’s outside that truly stuns, however, as you pass through the rural fields of Northern Italy en route to the snow-capped peaks and mountain meadows of central Europe's Alpine ranges.

As the drama outside unfolds, you'll tuck into a sumptuous selection of pastries served in your oak-panelled cabin, or, the fineries of the train's new Grand Suites, which come complete with double bed and en-suite bathroom. In the evening, freshen up for a four-course dinner in the elegant dining car, where your waiter will serve the likes of Brittany lobster and saltmarsh lamb, all paired with a selection of the world’s finest wines.  

Begin your last day onboard with a delicious Continental breakfast served in your cabin, as you race across France, disembarking in the heart of Paris. On arrival, a private transfer will whisk you to your accommodation, which is perfectly placed to explore the best of the French capital. Perhaps you'll choose to see the sights, from iconic Notre Dame to the grand artworks of the Louvre. Or, take a stroll along the cobblestones of Montmartre, pausing for a cafe or a glass of wine before taking in sweeping city views from the steps of the Sacre Coeur.

As your journey draws to a close, transfer to Gare du Nord where you'll board the Eurostar back to London. Alternatively, speak to your specialist about flight options to a wide range of regional UK airports.