The direct Travelski train charter between London and French ski areas may have been cancelled but the original icon of the rails, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, will be running four new winter journeys between Paris and the French Alps this coming winter.
Launching in December 2023 and run by upmarket group Belmond, the blue-and-gold carriages will operate to the train stations at Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. With the option to disembark in either of the three stations, guests will be able to access the ski resorts of Megève and the Mont Blanc; Courchevel and Three Valleys; and Tignes-Val d'Isère.
Departing from Paris in the evening, guests can unwind into the warmth of their art-deco surroundings with a glass of champagne, as the train gently heads out to the Alps. Shortly after departure, guests are invited to pay a visit to the beating heart of the train, Bar Car '3674', for a round of cocktails while the pianist plays in the background.
Bon vivants are then drawn to the three dining cars, where they will be treated to a menu of seasonal dishes designed by French Chef Jean Imbert using the finest local produce. Suspended between past and present, guests can return to the Bar Car for a nightcap with fellow travellers, or retreat to their cabins which have been carefully transformed by their steward for night time. The following morning, they wake to the enchanted scenery of the Savoie region and indulge in a breakfast of French viennoiserie, in the privacy of their cabins. To refuel before an afternoon of skiing and alpine activities, a delicious brunch will be served in the dining cars before the train arrives in Albertville, the first of the three Alpine stops.
An overnight stay in Historic Cabin starts at £3,785pp while in the new Suites it starts at £7,300pp. Rates include dinner, breakfast and brunch as well as all soft drinks and shared transfer to Gare De Lyon in Paris. Guests staying in the Grand Suites can also benefit from a private car transfer from Albertville, Moûtiers or Bourg-Saint-Maurice to their final destination (overnight stays start at £9,975pp).