Belmond is a hospitality and leisure company that operates luxury hotels, train services and river cruises worldwide. The company was founded in 1976 with the acquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice from the Guinness family for £900,000. It then bought what was left of the legendary Orient Express to restore it and offer rides from Paris and London to their hotel in Venice. After 40+ years of growth, Belmond joined LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in April 2019, in a $3.2 billion dollar transaction, reinforcing its place among the international leaders in luxury.
Belmond recently announced their new Grand Tour routes across Europe aboard its legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. The new routes criss-cross through Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands and call at the finest cities along the way. The European Grand Tours evoke a sense of nostalgia, reinstating the legendary journeys of the golden age of travel and meeting a rise in demand for slow, meaningful travel experiences following a year of travel hiatus.
EUROPEAN GRAND TOUR
New boarding points for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express include the Eternal City of Rome, the Renaissance city of Florence, lakeside Geneva, the city of Brussels, and the Dutch capital, Amsterdam.
Travelling aboard the elegant art-deco 1920s carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, guests can now select from a number of different new journeys including the option to stay overnight at Belmond’s Villa San Michele Hotel, Florence, or its Castello di Casole Hotel in Tuscany on route to Paris from Florence.
Villa San Michele
A TUSCAN DEPARTURE
Combining a stay at Villa San Michele, set in the hills above Florence, or at Castello di Casole, in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, guests can stay overnight before boarding the train in Florence on 26th May and 14th July for an onward journey to Paris. For the ultimate town, country, and rail experience, guests can select to begin their tour with a night deep in the Tuscan countryside surrounded by rolling hills and sprawling vineyards at Castello di Casole before heading to the 15th century former Renaissance monastery Villa San Michele, with its breathtaking views over Florence.
Castello di Casole
RETURN TO ROME
Marking a return to the routes of the past, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express returns to Rome for a new journey to Paris. Departing Rome, the train makes its way towards Florence and onwards past the Italian lakes and Swiss mountains and into France on an overnight journey complete with an elegant dinner on the way to Paris on 26th May and 14th July.
A SWISS SOJOURN
Departing Geneva on 27th May and 15th July, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will pass through the famous Brenner pass offering iconic views from the train as it winds its way through The Alps, passing through the romantic city of Verona before reaching Venice.
DUTCH ARRIVALS
The new route to and from Venice to Amsterdam connects three European Capital cities: Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. On 21st June, the train sets off from Venice, passing through Paris and Brussels before arriving in Amsterdam the following day. On 24th June, guests can return to Venice, joining the train in either Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris.
Vienna Suite
THREE NEW SUITES
The 2021 season sees the addition of three new Grand Suites on the train. Named after the cities that have inspired the design – Vienna, Budapest and Prague, the new suites sit in the train’s oldest carriage, built in 1926.
The legendary train is made up of 17 original 1920s and 1930s carriages, each of which has its own unique history. Each carriage played a part in the famous trains of the era that pioneered the way for international travellers to cross borders in style and luxury.
Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to push industry boundaries, taking discerning global travellers on surprising and unforgettable journeys. The portfolio of 46 properties extends across 24 countries, encompassing three luxury safari lodges, two river cruises, seven luxury trains, including the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and the legendary ‘21’ restaurant in New York.
From historic city landmarks like Belmond Cadogan Hotel and Belmond Copacabana Palace to hidden retreats at Belmond Cap Juluca and Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor, each incomparable property has its own timeless story to tell. Yet, the hallmarks of the brand thread through them all: heritage, craftsmanship, and a reputation for genuine, unscripted service in an unrivalled location, creating exceptional experiences that stir the soul.
To book or for more information, visit belmond.com or call
+44 (0)20 3117 1300