A LUXURY train is set to embark on an “unforgettable” trip around a popular European destination in 2025 – but tickets cost £7,000pp.
Le Grand Tour has been dubbed the world’s longest show and is being brought to holidaymakers by French company Le Puy Du Fou.
3
3
It will set off across France and offer travellers “immersive shows” in an authentic Belle Epoque train over six days and five nights.
The train will leave from Paris Gare de L’Est and end in Pays de la Loire, western France.
Guests will get to visit some of the most popular European holiday hotspots including Champagne, Burgundy, Lake Annecy, the Arcachon Basin, the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, and the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
Puy du Fou is also known for its famous theme park in France’s Vendée region.
Clémence Germon, a press officer for the company, told French newspaper the Connexion: “We are working on the final details so that we can offer our travellers an unforgettable experience and will announce the opening of bookings at a later date.”
However, the experience will set holidaymakers back quite a bit with tickets at an eye-watering €8,450 (£7k) per person.
The tour boast will boast a luxurious air of exclusivity, with room for just 42 passengers in 21 cabins – all of which have private bathrooms.
Those lucky enough to secure tickets on board will also gather in gourmet dining carriages and an opulent bar.
Germon added: “This number guarantees an optimum level of comfort and service for every passenger.
“The idea is to create an intimate and exclusive atmosphere, allowing passengers to enjoy a personalised, made-to-measure experience.”
Puy du Fou has also announced plans to roll out a £300 million UK theme park near Bicester in Oxfordshire.
The company’s international sales manager Gaëtan Favreau, said: “Our ambition is to develop two other theme parks by 2030, one of which would be in the UK.”
Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
