Adriatic with SeaDream & the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Your journey begins with a Business Premier Eurostar hop across the Channel from London St Pancras to Paris, from where a private transfer will see you to the 5-star boutique Hotel Bowmann for a relaxing and stylish overnight stay. Or, if you prefer, we can arrange a flight to Paris from your local UK airport. 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and some time to explore the city before a private transfer will take you to your departure station to the celebrated blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. You’ll be escorted to your elegant 1920's cabin where wood-framed picture windows invite in the view and oak panelled luxury recalls the golden age of travel. Change for dinner or perhaps visit the bar car for a choice of aperitif before your four-course dinner, complemented by superb vintages and the twinkling ivories of a baby grand piano. Expect menus to reflect the train’s routes in such delicacies as Brittany lobsters and Mont St Michel saltmarsh lamb. After dinner you’ll find your private cabin transformed into sleeping berths, complete with crisp damask sheets.

Wake to the scenery of the magnificent Swiss Alps and enjoy a continental breakfast in your carriage as the beauty of rural Austria speeds by. A three-course lunch is then served while crossing into Italy, leaving time to browse the boutique as you pass through the Italian Dolomites, marvelling at their armoured peaks. An afternoon tea is then taken as you cross the Venetian Lagoon. On arrival, you'll board one of those emblematic water taxis, all polished timber and sweeping curves, to transfer right to the pier of your Venetian palace hotel. The Baglioni is particularly impressive; it's the oldest hotel in Venice and features a rooftop terrace with spectacular views over the lagoon. And, you'll be perfectly poised to visit Harry's Bar, Hemingway's iconic haunt. However, we recommend a visit to Hotel Metropole for your Bellini – the service is better and the man himself preferred it.

Take the morning to explore Venice, perhaps visiting the magnificent Doge's Palace and spectacularly-carved Rialto Bridge dotted among the warren of cobbled alleys and canals. Then, in the afternoon an included private transfer will whisk you to your luxurious yacht. Settle in to your elegant stateroom before indulging in the first of your included gourmet dinners, served in the elegant dining room, with dishes such as filet mignon and lobster.

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Slovenia’s largest town, Koper is a well-kept secret. As you explore, you’ll notice a medieval ambiance that is well worth the experience. Visit the coastal city, rich with picturesque peninsulas, or get lost in Tito Square as you walk downhill towards the water.

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Krk is the largest island in the Adriatic, covering 157 square miles (405.78 square km). It's also one of the most populous with 17,000 inhabitants. Krk Town is famous for St. Mary’s Cathedral, the seat of the Krk bishopric. Built it the 12th century, the cathedral received the addition of a bell tower in the 16th century. The Frankopan Castle was built over several centuries, acting as a fortress to protect against attacks from the sea.

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Sail to Zadar, the oldest inhabited city in Croatia, full of ancient Roman ruins and medieval churches. Don't miss a stroll around the charming Old Town and a visit to the famous Sea Organ that plays music through sea waves and tubes that lie underneath architecturally-designed marble steps. Of course, you could always simply relax on one of the Balinese-style sunbeds onboard the ship alongside a fresh seafood lunch. 

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Split is one of the oldest cities in the area and the second largest city behind Dubrovnik in Croatia. The Diocletian’s Palace is not only listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is also considered to be one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments. Believed to be over 1,700 years old, this is a place packed with history, while the surroundings showcase beauty in abundance. With a day to explore, you'll choose between three unique excursions: rafting on the Cetina River, the Split Archipelago by speedboat and, naturally, a tour of the city itself, which includes visits to the Diocletian Palace as well as the Mestrovic Gallery.

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Blessed with a large and fertile coastal plain, and fresh water springs, the island of Hvar serves up a delightful variety of landscapes, from pine forests to great agricultural swathes host to sprawling vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and lavender fields. You'll have an option to kayak along the coastline, or take an independent hike up to the fortress for some incredible views of the picturesque harbour. You'll also have an option to bike across the island to Starigrad and meet up with the other guests on the land adventure called “The best of Both Worlds".

Stay: SeaDream I or II

Arrive at your final stop today – the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Dubrovnik. Enjoy everything from tours around the ancient walled city to kayaking trips around neighbouring Lokrum Island and panoramic cable car rides above the city. For your last evening on board, enjoy a final gourmet dinner before a farewell drink at the Piano Bar and a last toast to new-found friends.

Stay: SeaDream I or II

After breakfast, disembark and take your included private transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.