4th February 2011 – Throughout 2011, Orient-Express is operating a plethora of exciting and unique experiences, incorporating thrilling new journeys alongside its trains and cruises existing schedules. These fascinating voyages offer variable itineraries including aspects of discovery, learning and adventure and launching this year are a selection of exclusive cultural tours in association with the National Gallery, London and new and extended voyages exploring many different locations throughout South-East Asia.

The world’s most famous train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, continues to evoke the style of the Golden Age of Travel with beautifully restored 1920’s and 1930’s carriages offering an authentic rail travel experience. Fine dining with French culinary creations, exceptional service and delicate tunes played on a baby grand piano, set the scene for a journey of a lifetime.

New to the departures for 2011 on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are specially created itineraries in association with the National Gallery, London. ‘The Venice of Canaletto’ is the highlight of the new programme, giving the opportunity to experience Venice through Canaletto’s eyes. Limited to just 20 guests, the tours will be accompanied by an expert from the National Gallery to bring the city’s dynamic culture and art history to life. For anyone who loves art and Italy, this promises to be the ultimate way to journey to Venice and to rediscover it in a fresh and uniquely revealing way. Another itinerary, ‘Impressionist Paris’ takes guests on a special journey of the French capital departing from London that will shed light on one of the founders of Impressionism, Claude Monet. Prices start from £3,180 per person and the first tour will commence in April 2011.

For the first time this year, the popular journey from Venice to London, via Krakow and Dresden, will be offered exclusively with Cabin-Suite accommodation only. This enables guests to enjoy the seven-night unforgettable journey in the comfort of a luxurious suite on board the legendary train. This journey will depart Venice on 14th July and is priced at £4,850 per person.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’ signature voyage between Paris and Istanbul will depart on 2nd September this year. The well-known journey sees the train wend itself through Europe through Budapest and Bucharest and transport guests in style en route to Istanbul. The departure for 2011 leaves Paris on 2nd September and costs from £4,985 per person.

New to the Eastern & Oriental Express schedule for 2011 are the ‘Chronicles of South-East Asia’ journeys. This quartet of new rail voyages will be offered alongside the trains existing year-round schedule of classic departures between Bangkok and Singapore and vice versa. The itineraries have been specially crafted to offer unique, enriching and in-depth travel experiences by allowing guests to immerse themselves in the panorama and culture of these fascinating countries and discover new locations. The voyages are limited to just 60 guests (normal capacity is 132) per journey and all are accommodated in spacious State and Presidential cabins. As well as offering guests the most luxurious and stylish way to see the exotic landscapes, all itineraries offer an extensive programme of exciting excursions, overnight off-train experiences and guest lecturers on board. Prices for the new Chronicles of South-East Asia journeys start from £2,400 per person.

The Royal Scotsman passes through the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and offers guests a truly magnificent insight into Scottish heritage and culture with only 36 guests on board and many informative off train excursions included. A journey aboard The Royal Scotsman offers luxurious surroundings including en-suite facilities, a fully stocked bar including over 40 different varieties of whisky and sumptuous cuisine using local freshly sourced ingredients. The train offers a host of varied journeys with two, three, four, five and seven night trips departing from Edinburgh and exploring many areas of the beautiful Scottish landscape. Prices start from £2,140 per person for a two-night ‘Highland’ journey.

Due to the success of the launch of the Grand Tour of Great Britain in 2010, this seven night exploration of Great Britain returns again in 2011. The train travels to towns, cities, stately homes and castles including Inverness, Chester, Llandudno, Bath, Cambridge, Alnwick and York; this unique voyage also includes a visit to Orient-Express’ Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. The journey departs Edinburgh Waverley on 8th July and costs £8,270 per person.

Afloat in France, Orient Express’ fleet of five luxury péniche-hotels, offer tailored journeys along some of France’s most beautiful inland waterways and rivers. The collection of five lavishly appointed barges that range in capacity from two to twelve and all come with a team of staff who provide impeccable service. Delicious cuisine is a highlight of each cruise, with chefs sourcing fresh local ingredients for their meals and encouraging guests to visit local markets and choose ingredients for the day ahead.

A highlight for the new season is La Semaine Des Grands Crus, an unmissable opportunity for wine lovers to taste the 33 Grand Crus of Burgundy; and after the success of this in 2010, a second date has been added to the 2011 schedule. This special trip is hosted on board the Amaryllis barge, which sleeps up to eight people, and departs from St Leger on 17th July and from Dijon on 24th July and costs £5,800 per person.

The Road To Mandalay river cruiser in Burma gently cruises along the Ayeyarwady River between Bagan and Mandalay, offering a colelction of cruises with guided off-board excursions to rural areas delving deep into the fascinating Burmese culture and history.

Every year, the Road To Mandalay heads as far north to Bhamo, just 50 miles from the Chinese border, for an 11 night insightful journey. The journey will depart four times in 2011 from Mandalay on 3rd and 17th August and 7th and 21st September returning to Bagan and costs from £2,200 per person.
Reservations www.orient-express.com or tel: 0845 077 2222.

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For further media information or images contact Anna Nash or Emma Wylde at Orient-Express Public Relations on 0207 921 4050/4064 or anna.nash@orient-express.com or emma.wylde@orient-express.com

Notes to Editor:
Orient-Express, (NYSE: OEH, www.orient-express.com) the name behind an elite collection of travel experiences, first came into being in 1883 as one of the world’s most exciting and indulgent train journeys. Today that evocative name also embraces hotels, cruises and other luxury rail adventures in 24 countries, across five continents. The Company has offered exceptional luxury travel experiences since 1976, when it first purchased Hotel Cipriani in Venice and then shortly afterwards, recreated the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, linking London, Paris and Venice, along with other European cities. Today, the company owns or part-owns and manages 50 businesses, 41 of which are highly acclaimed hotels, each unique in style, from the Mount Nelson in Cape Town and Rio’s Copacabana Palace, to the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg and Maroma Resort & Spa on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. There are six luxury tourist trains, two river cruise operations and ‘21’, one of New York’s most iconic restaurants.