After nearly 4 years, the Eastern & Oriental Express is back on the rails.
The train, which is operated by the posh travel company Belmond, this week welcomed its first set of passengers because it stopped running in consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The luxurious train has been operating in Southeast Asia since 1993, when it first began shuttling travelers between Singapore and Bangkok.
What’s latest
Several key elements in regards to the train have modified, nevertheless, including its route.
Now Thailand is out, replaced with two latest journeys, which start and end in Singapore and explore different sides of Malaysia.
Arnaud Champenois, Belmond’s senior vp of selling and brand, told CNBC it is because travelers have modified up to now 4 years, with more preferring to explore destinations on a deeper level.
“The concept was to give attention to one country here and to supply two different routes. So on the West Coast, we undergo Singapore to Penang, after which Langkawi. After which on the opposite one, we go on the national park of Malaysia to essentially type of get the jungle and the natural feel.”
The latest routes are seasonal, with the “Essence of Malaysia” running from November to February, and “Wild Malaysia” from March to October.
The E&O’s latest routes
“Essence of Malaysia” — passes through Kuala Lumpur, before reaching the islands of Langkawi and Penang
“Wild Malaysia” — explores Taman Negara National Park before heading to Penang
In consequence of the brand new route, the train has received a Malay-inspired revamp, from the cabin interiors to the food. Dinner and afternoon tea service were created by Andre Chiang, the celebrated Taiwanese chef behind Singapore’s two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre, which closed in 2018.
The price
Rates for four-day, three-night journeys start from $3,410 per person, which incorporates meals, beverages and scheduled activities.
That is inexpensive than other trains that use versions of the “Orient Express” name, including the Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which has run routes through Europe since 1982. Prices start from £3,530 ($4,430) per person for a one-night trip in a historic cabin, in accordance with its website.
Accor’s “Orient Express La Dolce Vita” trains, that are set to start out operating in 2024, are priced at €2,500 euros ($2,686) per person per night for a deluxe cabin, in accordance with a press release. Travelers can pre-register for trips that mostly operate in Italy, in accordance with its website.
Rates for Accor’s La Dolce Vita trains have increased since pre-booking first opened in December 2022, with stated rates then priced at 2,000 euros ($2,153) per person per night.
