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Planet Rail · Luxury rail holiday

Fly to Venice & return to London on the Venice Simplon Orient Express

Fly to Venice, return to London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Illustration of Fly to Venice & return to London on the Venice Simplon Orient Express

Planet Rail operates this 4-day luxury rail holiday combining Venice's canals with one of the world's most celebrated trains. You fly from London Gatwick or Heathrow to Venice, where you spend two nights at the 4-star Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente exploring the city at your own pace, wandering traffic-free alleyways, visiting St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge, or taking a gondola across the Grand Canal. On day 3, you board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Venice Santa Lucia station and settle into a private double sleeping compartment. Your personal steward attends you throughout the journey as you travel through the Brenner Pass in the Dolomites toward Paris, dining on three-course meals in the beautifully restored restaurant cars. You arrive in Paris on day 4 and return to London by First Class rail. This itinerary appeals to luxury-seekers and repeat rail travellers who value famous train experiences and refined comfort over a packed schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package offers 'other Venice hotels available at a supplement,' meaning your final accommodation depends on the tier and city selection; confirm the exact hotel with Planet Rail before booking.
  • Day 4 involves an early breakfast in your cabin and a short transfer in Paris before boarding the return First Class rail to London; it is a travel day with limited time to explore Paris.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Venice

    London Gatwick or Heathrow to Venice

    Your holiday begins as you check-in for your flight from London Gatwick or Heathrow airport to Venice Marco Polo airport. On arrival at Venice Marco Polo airport make your way to the jetty for your private water taxi transfer. Your water taxi will transfer you in the best possible style to your hotel, the charming, friendly and highly-rated Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente (4 star), enjoying a quiet location just 10-15 minutes’ walk from the Rialto Bridge.

  2. Day 2overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Step out in Venice and allow this unique and captivating city to carry where it will. Enjoy Venice, at dusk and after dark when all the crowds have gone home. From St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal to a visit inside the stunning Doges Palace, feel yourself unwind as you wander amid the myriad of canals along blissfully traffic-free alleyways and campi (squares). You have plenty of time to discover the city’s luminous quality which emanates from the colours of its painted palazzo, ornate stone bridges and Byzantine basilicas all reflected against the tapestry of canals and lagoons. A short boat ride will lead you to pretty islands on the lagoon, including Murano, home of glass-blowing and colourful Burano, where lace and linen abound.

  3. Day 3railovernight: On board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Venice & Switzerland aboard the Orient Express

    This morning after breakfast your water taxi takes you to Venice Santa Lucia station. Here you board the splendid Wagons-Lits carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Your steward will show you to your private cabin and will attend you throughout your journey. After you have settled in it will soon be time to enjoy a three-course lunch in one of the beautifully restored restaurant cars. Spend the afternoon relaxing in the comfort of your cabin gazing at the beautiful passing scenery of the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps, or chatting with fellow travellers in the Bar Car. Afternoon tea is served in your cabin. After further relaxation it will soon be time to dress for dinner. Why not sip a pre-dinner cocktail before making your way to one of the magnificent restaurant cars. Here you will be served a delicious four-course dinner, prepared by skilled French chefs. After dinner you may want to linger in the bar car, listening to the sound of the baby grand piano. When you are ready, retire to your compartment, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom.

  4. Day 4rail

    Arrival into Paris - Paris to London

    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 you leave Paris to head to London by First class rail. All too soon it is time to prepare to disembark as your train draws into London Victoria station and the final leg of your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Explore Venice at dusk and after dark when crowds have departed, wandering from St. Mark's Square to the Rialto Bridge via blissfully traffic-free alleyways and canals.
  • Day 3Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Venice Santa Lucia station and settle into your private sleeping compartment; enjoy a three-course lunch in the restored restaurant car as the train departs toward the Alps.
  • Day 3Travel through the Brenner Pass in the Dolomites, crossing from Italy through Switzerland en route to Paris.

Included

  • Outbound British Airways flights from London to Marco Polo Airport in Venice
  • 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
  • 2 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in a double room at the Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente (4 star) in Venice
  • A private taxi transfer in Paris, and private water taxi transfers between the station/airport and your hotel in Venice
  • First Class rail from Paris back to London

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The price includes the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to Paris with all meals and overnight accommodation in a private sleeping compartment, plus First Class rail from Paris to London.
What is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?
A luxury train operating in private Wagons-Lits sleeping cars. You travel in a private double sleeping compartment with personal steward service and dine in restored restaurant cars.
Is the package escorted or independent?
Mostly independent. Cabin stewards on the Orient Express provide service. In Venice, days are unguided; water taxi transfers between airport, hotel, and station are arranged. The return to London is by scheduled First Class rail.
Which hotels are included?
Two nights at the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente (4-star) in Venice with breakfast. Other Venice hotels are available at a supplement.
When does this trip run?
Planet Rail offers 24 departures annually between March and December 2027, with months in March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, and December.
What does the price include?
Outbound British Airways flights from London (Gatwick or Heathrow) to Venice, 2 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, private water taxi transfers in Venice, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with all meals and sleeping compartment, a short transfer in Paris, and First Class rail to London.

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