Great Rail Journeys
First-Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes
First-Class escorted rail tour of Swiss lakes, mountains and Italy's Lake Como
10 daysfrom $5,608
80% rail
Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday
2026 Departures - Venice to London on the Venice Simplon Orient Express outbound by First Class Rail
Experience the romance of rail travel as you journey from Venice to London in vintage glamour aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Montreux (Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic)
London to Montreux by First Class Rail
Begin at the beautifully restored London St Pancras station and travel by Eurostar to Paris at speeds of up to 186mph, with a light meal and drinks served in Standard Premier service. On arrival at the Gare du Nord, a private taxi transfers you across the city to the Gare de Lyon to continue by TGV through France into Switzerland, alongside Lake Geneva to the lakeside town of Montreux. Your hotel for one night is the belle époque Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior), next to the station. Stroll around Montreux, or board the trolley bus for the short journey to the medieval Château de Chillon (payable locally), one of the best-preserved castles in Europe.
- Day 2railovernight: Venice (Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente)
Through the Swiss Alps to Venice by First Class rail
After breakfast, board the Euro City train as it snakes through picturesque scenery, past soaring mountain peaks, up the spectacular Rhône Valley into Italy, passing Milan and continuing to Venice. On arrival at Venezia Santa Lucia station, a water taxi transfers you in style to your chosen hotel for the next three nights.
- Day 3overnight: Venice (Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente)
Incomparable Venice
Step out into Venice and allow this unique and captivating city to carry you where it will. From St Mark's Square to the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal to a visit inside the Doges Palace, wander amid the myriad of canals along traffic-free alleyways and campi, and experience the city's luminous quality reflected against the tapestry of canals and lagoons.
- Day 4overnight: Venice (Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente)
Incomparable Venice
A short boat ride leads to the pretty islands of the lagoon, including Murano, home of glass-blowing, and colourful Burano, where lace and linen abound.
- Day 5railovernight: On board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Venice through to Switzerland aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
After breakfast, bid farewell to Venice as a water taxi transfers you across the lagoon to Venice Santa Lucia station, where you board the Wagons-Lits carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Your steward shows you to your private cabin and attends you throughout the journey. Enjoy a sumptuous three-course lunch, then spend the afternoon gazing at the passing scenery of the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps, with afternoon tea served in your compartment. Dress for dinner: a pre-dinner cocktail followed by a delicious four-course dinner prepared by skilled French chefs, perhaps with a drink in the bar car to the sound of the baby grand piano before retiring to your compartment, now transformed into a cosy bedroom.
- Day 6rail
Arrival into Paris - Paris to London - Homeward bound
Breakfast is served in your cabin by your steward at a time to suit you. The train pulls into Paris Gare de l'Est, where you disembark the Orient Express. After a short transfer, leave Paris to head to London by First Class rail, arriving into London Victoria station for the final leg of the journey home.
Included
- Rail travel in ultimate style on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to Paris with all meals included and overnight accommodation in a private sleeping compartment
- 3 nights' accommodation with breakfast in a double room at the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente (4 star) in Venice
- 1 night's accommodation with breakfast in a deluxe lake view double room at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior) in Montreux
- A private taxi transfer in Paris, and private water taxi transfers between the station and your hotel in Venice
- First Class rail from Paris back to London
Not included
- Trolley bus and entry to Château de Chillon, Montreux (payable locally)
