Is this the world’s most luxurious train ride?
The iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has announced a one-time journey from France to Italy to mark the 250th anniversary of Veuve Clicquot.
The historic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express may already have a reputation for being one of the world’s most opulent train rides but a new itinerary announced for June 2022 is set to raise the bar. Luxury hospitality group Belmond has collaborated with Veuve Clicquot to curate a once-in-a-lifetime rail journey from France to Italy to mark the champagne house’s 250th anniversary.
Beginning in Reims, the heart of the Champagne-Ardenne region in France, the guided trip will include a tour of Veuve Clicquot’s crayeres, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed labyrinth of underground chalk cellars where champagne is produced and stored.
As the train moves southeast, guests will venture through the Italian Dolomites and Innsbruck, Austria, and enjoy a themed party inside the storied bar car. Those who book the Grand Suite Experience will also experience private in-cabin dining, 24-hour butler service and a magnum of La Grande Dame.
The journey concludes in Venice, Italy — where the first ever bottles of Veuve Clicquot were shipped in 1772 — with a special gala at the Granaries of the Republic, a medieval space once used to store salt and spices on Giudecca island. To top it off, guests will spend their final night at Cipriani, which sits at the entrance of one of the city’s myriad canals.
The Orient-Express is a cultural relic, one that’s oft-mentioned in popular culture and noted for its famous guests. The train was made world-famous by Agatha Christie in her novel Murder on the Orient Express; it also appears in the 2017 film adaptation and in the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love. Marlene Dietrich and Leo Tolstoy are among the list of noteworthy passengers.
LVMH-owned Belmond relaunched the high-end rail service in 1982. It features original 1920s and 1930s carriages with classic Art Deco features that epitomise the Golden Age of travel. Think: intricate marquetry, brass light fixtures and plush velvet upholstery. The six Grand Suites are named after European cities and decorated accordingly — expect ornate details in the Paris suite, for example, and unbridled bazaar-inspired opulence in Istanbul.
The trip has been dubbed a ‘Solaire’ journey, which is the French word for ‘solar’ and also representative of the orange labelling on their bottles — making it a once-in-a-lifetime jaunt for travellers looking to experience European summer, and champagne, in a whole new light.
Solaire Adventure on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express departs on June 7, 2022. Tickets start at £12,400 ($21,409).
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout