A Year Like No Other: Around the World with Orient-Express

From romantic excursions to multigenerational experiences, it's certain that each journey provided by Orient-Express will be completely authentic.

JANUARY

Casa de Sierra Nevada - Day of the Candles

Continue January's New Year's celebrations at Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The charming Orient-Express property offers a bespoke dinner menu from January 30 through the month of February, in honor of the historic Candelaria Day on February 2. A fusion of pre-Hispanic traditions and Catholic influences, this religious holiday not only marks the end of the Christmas period, but is accepted as the beginning of the New Year by some Spanish cultures. Dedicated to offering luxurious yet authentic experiences, Casa de Sierra Nevada's special dinner menu includes such local dishes as Creamy Bean Soup with Panela Cheese Tamalito; Roasted Chicken Breast with Pumpkin Flower Filled Tamales and a Poblano Sauce and a Traditional Custard with Crystallized Petals.



FEBRUARY

Charleston Place - Wine + Food Festival

The annual Wine + Food Festival, scheduled for February 28-March 3, reveals the perfect recipe for a gastronomic getaway. Spice up this trip with an exceptional hotel experience and book a room at the historic Charleston Place, home to the award-winning Charleston Grill. Guests can savor Executive Chef Michelle Weaver's contemporary Southern cuisine that features fresh local produce, seafood and game, prepared using four different styles: Southern, Pure, Lush and Cosmopolitan. Guests of this popular festival can also meet Weaver at four sizzling events.



MARCH

El Encanto - NEW Hotel in Santa Barbara

Located 90 minutes from Los Angeles on California's American Riviera, the meticulously restored El Encanto is scheduled to reopen in March as the only West Coast hotel under the Orient-Express portfolio. The early 20th-century property will recapture all the romance and glamour that made it the favored getaway of Hollywood's elite. Nestled on seven acres of gloriously landscaped gardens with a historic trellised-lined arbor and lily pond, El Encanto enjoys sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from its commanding hilltop perch. Following its reopening, the secluded retreat will feature 92 California-style bungalows; a beautifully appointed full-service spa; signature restaurant featuring California coastal cuisine with a French flair and a Santa Barbara dedicated wine list; an outdoor infinity-edge swimming pool; a window-lined ballroom with private terrace; and an array of outdoor event venues.



APRIL

Mount Nelson Hotel – Earth Day Worm Farm Tour

Awarded the ‘Best Single Resource Management System – Waste' by the 2007 Imvelo Awards, Mount Nelson Hotel was the first upmarket hotel in South Africa to dispose of organic waste through the practice of “vermiculture.” A must-see phenomenon, a special breed of earthworm processes leftover organic waste in the hotel's custom designed worm farm which in turn creates 'vermicast" or "worm tea" – a nutrient rich by-product used to fertilize the hotel's magnificent gardens. A trip to this incredible property marks the perfect way to celebrate the magic of Mother Nature.



MAY

Napasai – Samui Regatta

Beginning with just eleven boats and growing into Asia's largest sailing event, the Samui Regatta returns this May for its twelfth and largest celebration yet. Each year sailing enthusiasts flock to the islands of Koh Samui for the event and the most discerning travelers choose Napasai as their on-shore retreat. The breathtaking Orient-Express resort overlooks the Gulf of Thailand with 55 beachfront, sea-view and garden cottages. After the race, guests can indulge at the Napasai Spa which offers a wide selection of treatments based in traditional Thai medicine and Oriental philosophies.



JUNE

Palacio Nazarenas /
Hotel Monasterio / Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge - Celebrate the Winter Solstice in Peru

While everyone above the equator is heading off for summer vacation, the Southern Hemisphere is looking toward the winter solstice. In Cuzco, Peru, a colorful town high in the Andes Mountains, the Inti Raymi, or "Festival of the Sun," celebrates the Incan New Year with spirited street parities and an endless supply of vibrant parade floats. For an authentic solstice experience, guests can travel to Palacio Nazarenas and Hotel Monasterio, two luxury hotels in the Orient-Express portfolio. From there, the fete continues along the Hiram Bingham train to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge where guests can witness the only day of the year that the sun's rays shine through the ancient Temple of the Sun.



JULY

Villa Sant'Andrea – Opening Night

Set on a private beach along the aquamarine coast of the Mediterranean, Villa Sant'Andrea is a show-stopping resort with strong ties to its rich, Italian culture. While guests may be tempted to stay on shores of the Orient-Express hotel and enjoy the freshest seafood from Restaurant Oliviero, many choose to take advantage of the hotel's exciting cable car ride that brings guests to the center of Taormina in just three minutes, to indulge in a sophisticated shopping scene before an evening at the iconic Teatro Greco.



AUGUST

Ubud Hanging Gardens – Rain, Rain Go Away

They say timing is everything, especially when planning a trip to the lush, tropical paradise of Bali. Warm enough to bask in the summer sun but long before the torrential downpours of monsoon season, July and August provide the perfect window of time to visit the Orient-Express resort Ubud Hanging Gardens. During this dry season, guests can enjoy the property's 38 gravity-defying villas while overlooking the majestic Ayung River and ancient Pura Penataran Dalem Segara temple. Outside, the resort's two infinity pools flow into each other from the contours of the hillside and are elevated above the surrounding rice fields. The weather is also ideal for outdoor yoga and chakra meditation at the riverside bale or an adventurous ride on the hotel's mountain bikes.



SEPTEMBER

Orient-Express Safaris - Animals Galore!

During dry season in Botswana, temperatures skyrocket, forcing wildlife to expand their search for water. The "big five," lions, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo begin to gather around the remaining water sources, creating an excellent time for game viewing. The Khwai River Lodge, Savute Elephant Camp and Eagle Island Camp provide luxurious accommodations and spectacular safari excursions that allow guests a front row seat to the wildlife in Botswana. Guides can navigate guests on walking, canoe or helicopter safaris for a unique view of Botswana.



OCTOBER

Villa San Michele – Hunt for the White Truffle

During white truffle season, the most luxurious restaurants in Florence take to the ground, searching for these highly sought-after mushrooms. Selling at nearly $2,000 per pound, these decadent fungi, otherwise known as the 'diamonds of the kitchen,” is expertly incorporated into the menu at Villa San Michele by its internationally renowned chefs and Cookery School. At the hotel, guests can learn how to incorporate the truffles into their own cooking or simply indulge in a truffle-infused menu from The Loggia Restaurant while enjoying breathtaking views of the city below.



NOVEMBER

The Inn at Perry Cabin - Last Call for Crab Season

A luxurious getaway by the sea allows for seasonal adventures at The Inn at Perry Cabin. Located on the famed Eastern Shore, the colonial mansion evokes the quaint town's rich nautical history. Before the commercial crabbing season ends on November 30, the hotel can coordinate a crabbing tour; a day on the water running a trotline and dipping crabs. At the end of the journey, the culinary team can steam the catch and prepare a delectable dinner to be enjoyed at the hotel's picturesque Sherwood's Landing restaurant.



DECEMBER

Copacabana Palace - New Year's Eve Reveillon Celebration

Located on Copacabana Beach, host of one of the world's largest New Year's Eve celebrations with over two million party-goers dressed all in white, the Copacabana Palace provides unmatched access to the year-end extravaganza. The iconic Orient-Express property offers guests a front-row seat to the Reveillon celebration with a property-wide soiree featuring a live bad, buffet dinner and fireworks spectacular. Following the party guests will enjoy luxury accommodations at the newly-renovated property whose recent updates included improvements to the suites and bathrooms as well as an expanded lobby.

More information: Orient-Express Hotels & Resorts