Travel+Leisure India & South Asia — November 2017

BLUE TRAIN, SOUTH AFRICA

While a typical journey is only for

one night, when you charter the train

for a wedding, you get to book it for

anything between a few hours to

several days.

ROUTE

The smooth, 27-hour journey from Pretoria to Cape Town offers some of

the most varied and gorgeous vistas of the African sub-continent—from

Victorian buildings to kilometres of the vast blue coastline. Some wildlife

reserves and private safari lodges in the Greater Kruger and Sabi Sands

areas offer ‘rail safari’ packages to make your experience in South Africa

absolutely wild.

ROUTE

The classic itinerary is from

London to Venice during which you

can enjoy scenic views of snow-

covered Swiss Alps. But, there are

multiple routes of varying duration

traversing Europe’s romantic cities

of Paris, Venice, Berlin, Prague,

Vienna, and Budapest.

GOOD TO KNOW

►Full catering and bar facilities are

available on board.

GOOD TO KNOW

►The team will assist you to book

hotels for you and your guests

before and after the train journey

for a seamless experience.

►Ask for your wedding package to

include the iconic Agatha Christie

cocktail made with 12 ingredients—

one from each of the countries the

train travels through on its famous

Paris to Istanbul journey.

WEDDING SPECIALS

Each suite has a private butler, customised beds, a private bathroom with marble floors and

gold fittings, your own shower and bath, and under-floor heating. Spoiler Alert: Newlyweds

are pampered with sparkling wine, rose petals, and gifts.bluetrain.co.za

WEDDING SPECIALS

Although this romantic train doesn’t hold

a licence to organise a wedding nuptial

onboard, you can have your marriage

blessed post your formal ceremony

or host pre-wedding ceremonies and

a reception party here. Its gorgeous

carriages were built in the 1920s and

highlight stunning art deco and art

nouveau pieces. If you are an art buff,

this is your train of choice.

And if this wasn’t enough, the

experience gets better when Michelin-

styled meals featuring lobsters, scallops,

and caviar are served in the stunning

dining car.belmond.com

VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-

EXPRESS, ITALY

From two-day trips to five, this train

has it all figured for you.

CLOCKWISE: HOBERMAN COLLECTION/GETTYIMAGES; PETER TITMUSS/ALAMY; COURTESY OF VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS (2)

Guide

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DESTINATION

WEDDINGS 2.0