Speak to an expert
020 7593 2288
Open 9 - 6 Mon to Thu, 9 - 5:30 Fri & 9 - 1 Sat
Speak to an expert
020 7593 2288
Open 9 - 6 Mon to Thu, 9 - 5:30 Fri & 9 - 1 Sat
Speak to an expert
020 7593 2288
Open 9 - 6 Mon to Thu, 9 - 5:30 Fri & 9 - 1 Sat
A journey on the elegant Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train should be on every discerning traveller’s wish list - there is simply no better way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary in style. From the moment you board, you take a step back in time to the bygone, golden-age of rail travel when a journey was about relishing the experience rather than getting from A to B as quickly as possible. Guests can still rely on the highest levels of personal service, with outstanding cuisine served in a stylish dining car, combined with a private sleeper cabin and civilised bar carriage where you can meet other like-minded travellers. Throughout the journey you will be attended to by your cabin steward and enjoy delicious food prepared by expert chefs – all meals on board are included at no extra cost.
You can choose to travel southbound from London Victoria aboard the Belmond British Pullman and arrive in Venice the following afternoon aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, or northbound from Venice in the morning, arriving into London the next evening.
Whichever way you choose to travel Kirker will arrange private water taxi transfers in Venice, accommodation at one of our carefully-selected hotels, and a one-way flight to complete the journey.
London to Venice
You depart London Victoria at 10.45 on the British Pullman for an excellent lunch en route to Folkestone. Join your fellow travellers on the coach transfer across the Channel on the Eurotunnel. Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Calais and enjoy dinner during your journey across France and into Switzerland. Breakfast is served in your cabin as you experience breathtaking Alpine scenery. Lunch is served as the train passes through Innsbruck, followed by afternoon tea as you descend through the Dolomites to Venice, arriving at 18.00.
Venice to London
The train departs Venice at 11.00 hrs. Dinner, breakfast and a delicious brunch are served on board; afternoon tea is served on the British Pullman before the train arrives in London Victoria at 17.45 hrs.
There are very few cabins available for 2023, we therefore recommend planning ahead for 2024. If you would prefer to travel in 2023 please call us and we will do an immediate availability check.
March 16, 23, 30 | April 13, 17, 25 | May 6, 18, 29 |
June 1, 4, 26, 29 | July 6, 13, 20, 27 | August 3, 8, 10, 17, 31 |
September 7, 10, 17, 21, 24 | October 2, 8, 12, 22, 26, 30 | November 2, 9, 16, 23 |
March 15, 22, 29 | April 12, 16, 24 | May 1, 17, 28, 31 |
June 3, 28 | July 5, 12, 19, 26 | August 2, 7, 9, 15, 16, 22 |
September 6, 9, 16, 20, 23, 27 | October 7, 11, 17, 25, 29 | November 1, 8, 15, 22 |
...when you travel with Kirker
Arranged by us exclusively for our customers...
The stunning 'Palazzo Ducale' was the residence of the Doges and is the richest symbol of Venetian cultural, military, political and economic history. The tickets will allow you to avoid the lengthy queues and gain access to the Museo Correr and the National Archaelogical Museum. If you have visited the Doge's Palace before, we would be delighted to provide tickets to the Guggenheim or Accademia Galleries instead.
We can tailor your orient express holiday to include any of our carefully selected hotels in Venice - ranging from charaterful pensione to luxurious palace hotels.
Located overlooking a picturesque canal in one of the most evocative parts of old Venice, just two minutes’ walk from the Accademia Bridge, the American Dinesen is a delightful hotel with just 27 recently renovated bedrooms decorated in the traditional Venetian manner.
This famous hotel is made up of two contrasting parts; a beautiful 18th century palazzo directly on the Grand Canal and a larger, more modern part which faces the pretty Campo San Moise, close to St. Mark’s Square and La Fenice.
This attractive hotel is located in the heart of Venice, just a five-minute stroll from St. Mark’s Square. The entrance is by private footbridge across a small canal, not far from the Bridge of Sighs.
This historic palazzo on the Grand Canal dates from the 15th century. It opened in 2007 after a restoration that uncovered an extraordinary collection of architectural features. These, together with some magnificent works from important artists, give guests a fascinating glimpse of five centuries of Venetian history.
Opened in January 2015, the stylish, contemporary design of L’Orologio is dedicated to the art of fine watchmaking and offers quite a contrast to the traditional Venetian furnishings typically found in the city.
The grand dame of Venice, the famous Danieli dates back to the 14th century. It consists of three adjoining palazzi and is located right on the waterfront, just a few steps from St. Mark’s Square and overlooks the lagoon, San Giorgio Maggiore island and the iconic church of Santa Maria della Salute.
A truly delightful hotel, located about five minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square. Many of the rooms overlook the enchanting garden where breakfast and drinks can be enjoyed in summer.
Recently, the trend amongst Venice hoteliers has been to restore derelict Palaces to their former glory and open them as luxury boutique hotels; and the Liassidi Palace is a fine example of this.
A hotel of great character and charm, Locanda La Corte dates back to the 16th century and is set around a delightful courtyard where breakfast is served in warm weather.
This former palazzo of the composer Antonio Vivaldi is now restored as a beautiful boutique hotel, right on the waterfront and just five minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square.
Small, luxurious and located almost next door to the Danieli, the Londra is managed by our great friend Alain Bullo and is now a member of Relais & Châteaux. It is one of our favourite hotels in Venice and Kirker clients have always been especially well looked after.
Ideally located a stone’s throw from the entrance to the Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco, The Luna is the city’s most historic and oldest hotel. Formerly a convent, a private palace and a shelter for the Knights Templar, the palazzo dates from the 12th century.
Overlooking the lagoon and just a few minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square, the Metropole is a famous and atmospheric hotel, decorated and furnished in traditional style with over 2,000 antiques.
The Monaco is one of Venice’s most famous hotels. The entrance leads into a stylish lobby from where a grand staircase takes you up to the beautifully restored 18th century former Venetian theatre, complete with original fresco ceilings.
The Sant’Angelo, with its excellent location between the Rialto and Accademia Bridges, is housed in a grand Venetian palazzo.
This is a charming 19th century Moorish palazzo directly on the Grand Canal with some beautifully restored architectural features including an ornate staircase, stained glass windows and a former chapel decorated with mosaics.
This famous pensione is housed within a grand 17th century palazzo. It stands at the confluence of two small canals in the tranquil Dorsoduro quarter, a few steps from the Grand Canal and only five minutes’ walk from the Accademia Bridge and Gallery.
This fine boutique hotel is ideally situated on the grand square of Campo Santa Maria Formosa. It is an attractive 16th century residence that combines historical architectural characteristics with stylish, contemporary furnishings.
The San Clemente Palace is located in the Venetian lagoon with wonderful views of the city. The main building dates from the 17th century when it was a thriving monastery but the beautiful church with its frescoed walls can be charted as far back as 1131.
The most famous hotel in Venice, the Cipriani is part of the exclusive Belmond Hotel Group. It has beautiful gardens, terraces, a tennis court and an enormous heated open-air seawater swimming pool with poolside bar and restaurant.
This 15th century landmark has recently completed a sympathetic restoration that has enabled the hotel to introduce the latest 21st century technology without compromising its traditional style.
Located overlooking the pretty Campo della Fava and a small canal between Rialto and San Marco, Ai Reali opened in December 2012. Surprisingly for such a grand palazzo there are only 32 bedrooms and they are some of the largest and most elegant in Venice with original features such as wooden floors, ornate ceilings and fireplaces, combining with sumptuous furnishings and subtle lighting (many have canal views).
Ideally located between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, the Splendid’s contemporary design offers clients an alternative to the traditional Venetian decoration typically found in the city.
The Centurion is located on the Grand Canal, a few steps from the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute and two contemporary art museums, the Guggenheim and the new Punta della Dogana Gallery
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is more than just a train, it is an iconic travel experience which takes you back to an era when embarking on a journey was a glamorous and stylish affair which required fine-dining, high fashion and impeccable service. Any journey on board the train has the atmosphere of a special occasion, and it is the perfect place to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary in style.
The original 1920s and 1930s carriages formed part of the express trains which traversed Europe in the early 20th century ‘golden age’ of rail travel. Each has been lovingly restored by expert craftsmen, with gleaming livery and immaculate marquetry. The exquisite dining cars, each individually decorated with Lalique glass and lacquer panels, offer the perfect setting for fine cuisine prepared by the onboard chefs, after which you can enjoy cocktails around the Baby Grand piano in the bar car.
Historic Cabins
The classic restored sleeping cars consist of comfortable banquette seating, with a window table and private washbasin concealed behind elegant oak doors. Whilst you are dining, your steward will transform the cabin into comfortable upper and lower berths with crisp damask sheets and fine blankets. Each carriage has its own dedicated steward, available 24 hours a day, and there is a mosaic-tiled lavatory at the end of the car.
Suites
For additional comfort and extra space, eight new Suites have been added to the train, which offer private ensuite bathrooms, and comfortable seating which is converted by your steward into either double or twin beds in the evening. The added comfort and space is highly recommended, particularly for those celebrating a special occasion, and the interiors of these Suites have been painstakingly created by master-craftsmen with the same level of extraordinary detail seen throughout the train.
Grand Suites
Alternatively, for the ultimate way to travel in style, ask about one of the extravagant Grand Suites, each of which is named after a key destination on the route – such as Paris, Venice and Istanbul. The Grand Suites offer spacious accommodation with a double bed, living area and private en suite bathroom with shower, and passengers can enjoy meals in the privacy of their suites or in the main restaurant cars. Grand Suites sell out fast on peak dates so it is crucial to book well in advance – and supplements, which reflect the grandeur of the suites, are available on request.
One of the highlights of your journey is the delicious cuisine – all meals are included in the price (although drinks are extra). Chef Christian Bodiguel and his expert team take fresh ingredients on board throughout the journey and create varied menus which belie their compact kitchen. Breakfast is served in your cabin at the time of your choice, and includes fresh patisserie and fruits. For lunch and dinner – an occasion for which guests are encouraged to dress in glamorous 1920s style – you can choose to dine in one of the three elegantly restored restaurant cars:
Côte d’Azur: Built in 1929 and decorated with Lalique glass panels.
Etoile du Nord: Built in England with a lining of intricate marquetry.
L’Oriental: Originally a Pullman kitchen car, decorated with black lacquer panels.
After dinner, you may enjoy a cocktail in the stylish piano bar – or perhaps a glass of champagne in the Art Deco champagne bar.
By Kathryn Irons, 26 July 2018
Having been at Kirker Holidays for almost 12 years now, I have been to Venice several times and enjoyed the hospitality of many of our hotels. This trip, however, was something special. I was lucky enough to recently accompany some of our top travel agents to Venice, enjoying two nights at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani and taking the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express back to London. For a trip…
View DetailsBy Ignacio Foley, 18 November 2016
Since I joined Kirker almost ten years ago, I have ticked a number of items off my travel wish list, but a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has stubbornly remained at the top. So you can only imagine how thrilled I was when I had the opportunity to visit Florence and Venice, with a journey on the Orient Express back to London to crown the experience. I still…
View DetailsBy Pat Bellieni, 18 November 2016
What an amazing experience, after 23 years in the travel business, I thought I would be hard to please. I travelled to Venice with Easyjet accompanied by my husband who is 6’4” and realized just how small the low cost flight seats can be, it made me realise why I recommend British Airways to all my clients. On arrival in Venice, the fourth time this year, I was greeted by our lovely Kirker…
View DetailsBy The Kirker Team, 18 November 2016
Checking out of the Hotel Cipriani would ordinarily be a deflating experience but during my private water taxi journey to Venice Santa Lucia station, I was filled with excited anticipation for my journey back to London onboard the Venice Simplon - Orient-Express. Following check-in, a steward wearing an immaculate royal blue uniform greeted me at the entrance to my designated carriage. Every…
View DetailsBy The Kirker Team, 18 November 2016
When I found out that I would have the opportunity to travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and then get the chance to stay at both the Cipriani and Villa San Michele I was understandably very excited and had very high expectations. I can now unquestionably say that I was not disappointed! The journey started on the charming British Pullman with its characterful carriages where a leisurely…
View DetailsBy Miss B & Mrs C, Glasgow, 06 October 2017
My sister and I had a wonderful time to celebrate her birthday - many thanks to all. The Orient Express was a fantastic experience - one which we had fantasised about for years. We both loved every minute of our trip.
View DetailsBy Mrs S, Gloucestershire, 09 February 2017
You were quite right about the Orient Express, it was absolutely magical and something we will remember forever.
View DetailsBy Mr & Mrs D, Cambridgeshire, 18 November 2016
We will remember Prague because of the beautiful Paris Hotel, the tour guide and transfer driver you arranged for us; two very kind people, and who wouldn't remember the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - what a way to spend your Golden Wedding.
View DetailsMy sister and I had a wonderful time to celebrate her birthday - many thanks to all. The Orient Express was a fantastic experience - one which we had fantasised about for years. We both loved every minute of our trip.
Miss B & Mrs C, GlasgowOur expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
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