Simplon Orient Express (finished)

This tour has ended. But we might do it again in the future, if there is demand.

Maybe you’ve once watched the film or read the book “Murder In The Orient Express”, published in 1934. It’s a typical Agatha Christie novel – quite entertaining – with Belgian Detective Hercule Poirot trying to solve a murder mystery. The plot takes place on the legendary Orient Express. The train in the novel runs the Simplon route.

We’ll explore this route from the sky. Departing from a little airport at the fringes of France’s capital, Paris, we’ll officially start the rally over the Gare de Lyon, where the Orient Express originally started. Our final destination will be the golden gateway of Istanbul.

Over the gentle hills of Burgundy you’ll feel like a bird gliding above the Rhône’s alpine headwaters. Heading east, deep-blue lakes and winding river valleys stretch out below, inviting you to immerse yourself in landscapes unseen from typical flight paths. From the highest peaks of the Alps to the sweeping Thracian Plain, a kaleidoscope of villages, châteaux, and ancient trade routes unfolds beneath you—a journey that marries railway romance with airborne adventure.

I’ll be flying my beloved Kodiak Everybody else is welcome to join with any plane they wish – as long as it is somewhere in the ballpark of a C208 or K100 and can do speeds of around 150 KIAS.

*Poster created by Joseph de La Nézière (1873-1944)*

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Show list of tour legs

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Leg 1: From LFPZ to Gare de Lyon - Distance: 12.07 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 2: From Gare de Lyon to Melun - Distance: 22.04 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 3: From Melun to Fontaine Le Port - Distance: 4.5 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 4: From Fontaine Le Port to Montereau - Distance: 10.01 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 5: From Montereau to Pont sur Yonne - Distance: 11.77 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 6: From Pont sur Yonne to Joigny - Distance: 20.27 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 7: From Joigny to Tonnerre - Distance: 24.36 nm, Duration: 00:09 hrs
Leg 8: From Tonnerre to Montbard - Distance: 20.57 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 9: From Montbard to Les Laumes Alesia - Distance: 6.86 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 10: From Les Laumes Alesia to Dijon Ville - Distance: 26.46 nm, Duration: 00:10 hrs
Leg 11: From Dijon Ville to Dole - Distance: 23.17 nm, Duration: 00:09 hrs
Leg 12: From Dole to Mouchard - Distance: 14.65 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 13: From Mouchard to Andelot - Distance: 8.77 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 14: From Andelot to Frasne - Distance: 9.55 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 15: From Frasne to Vallorbe - Distance: 12.41 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 16: From Vallorbe to Lausanne - Distance: 15.82 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 17: From Lausanne to Vevey - Distance: 9.43 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 18: From Vevey to Montreux - Distance: 3.2 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 19: From Montreux to Aigle - Distance: 7.53 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 20: From Aigle to Martigny - Distance: 13.52 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 21: From Martigny to Sion - Distance: 13.76 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 22: From Sion to Sierre - Distance: 8.18 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 23: From Sierre to Brig - Distance: 18.91 nm, Duration: 00:07 hrs
Leg 24: From Brig to Domodossola - Distance: 17.64 nm, Duration: 00:07 hrs
Leg 25: From Domodossola to Vogogna - Distance: 6.56 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 26: From Vogogna to Stresa - Distance: 12.72 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 27: From Stresa to Arona - Distance: 7.71 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 28: From Arona to Milano Centrale - Distance: 31.56 nm, Duration: 00:12 hrs
Leg 29: From Milano Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova - Distance: 74.96 nm, Duration: 00:29 hrs
Leg 30: From Verona Porta Nuova to San Bonifacio - Distance: 12.4 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 31: From San Bonifacio to Vicenza - Distance: 13.99 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 32: From Vicenza to Padova - Distance: 16.12 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 33: From Padova to Venezia Mestre - Distance: 15.29 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 34: From Venezia Mestre to Venezia Santa Lucia - Distance: 4.51 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 35: From Venezia Santa Lucia to San Dona di Piave jesolo - Distance: 15.6 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 36: From San Dona di Piave jesolo to Portogruaro Caorle - Distance: 14.23 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 37: From Portogruaro Caorle to Latisana Lignano Bibione - Distance: 7.1 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 38: From Latisana Lignano Bibione to San Giorgio di Nogaro - Distance: 9.26 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 39: From San Giorgio di Nogaro to Cervignano Aquileia Grado - Distance: 5.56 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 40: From Cervignano Aquileia Grado to Monfalcone - Distance: 8.43 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 41: From Monfalcone to Sistiana Visogliano - Distance: 4.73 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 42: From Sistiana Visogliano to Miramare - Distance: 5.24 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 43: From Miramare to Trieste Centrale - Distance: 3.57 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 44: From Trieste Centrale to Villa Opicina - Distance: 2.36 nm, Duration: 00:00 hrs
Leg 45: From Villa Opicina to Sezana - Distance: 3.08 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 46: From Sezana to Divaca - Distance: 4.51 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 47: From Divaca to Gornje Lezece - Distance: 4.56 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 48: From Gornje Lezece to Pivka - Distance: 5.01 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 49: From Pivka to Postojna - Distance: 5.99 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 50: From Postojna to Rakek - Distance: 4.59 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 51: From Rakek to Logatec - Distance: 6.95 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 52: From Logatec to Borovnica - Distance: 5.21 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 53: From Borovnica to Ljubljana - Distance: 10.4 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 54: From Ljubljana to Kresnice - Distance: 11.81 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 55: From Kresnice to Litija - Distance: 2.98 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 56: From Litija to Zagorje - Distance: 7.84 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 57: From Zagorje to Zidani Most - Distance: 7.77 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 58: From Zidani Most to Sevnica - Distance: 7.1 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 59: From Sevnica to Brestanica - Distance: 7.11 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 60: From Brestanica to Krsko - Distance: 2.16 nm, Duration: 00:00 hrs
Leg 61: From Krsko to Libna - Distance: 2.06 nm, Duration: 00:00 hrs
Leg 62: From Libna to Brezice - Distance: 2.44 nm, Duration: 00:00 hrs
Leg 63: From Brezice to Dobova - Distance: 3.13 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 64: From Dobova to Savski Marof - Distance: 3.87 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 65: From Savski Marof to Zapresic - Distance: 3.49 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 66: From Zapresic to Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor - Distance: 7.33 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 67: From Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor to Sesvete - Distance: 5.66 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 68: From Sesvete to Dugo Selo - Distance: 5.45 nm, Duration: 00:02 hrs
Leg 69: From Dugo Selo to Ivanic-Grad - Distance: 8.89 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 70: From Ivanic-Grad to Popovaca - Distance: 13 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 71: From Popovaca to Novska - Distance: 20.35 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 72: From Novska to Nova Gradiska - Distance: 17.57 nm, Duration: 00:07 hrs
Leg 73: From Nova Gradiska to Oriovac - Distance: 16.57 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 74: From Oriovac to Slavonski Brod - Distance: 11.03 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 75: From Slavonski Brod to Vinkovci - Distance: 34.41 nm, Duration: 00:13 hrs
Leg 76: From Vinkovci to Sid - Distance: 20.8 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 77: From Sid to Sremska Mitrovica - Distance: 18.46 nm, Duration: 00:07 hrs
Leg 78: From Sremska Mitrovica to Indija - Distance: 20.65 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 79: From Indija to Belgrade - Distance: 20.68 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 80: From Belgrade to Mala Ivanca - Distance: 14.65 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 81: From Mala Ivanca to Mala Krsna - Distance: 16.6 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 82: From Mala Krsna to Velika Plana - Distance: 15.89 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 83: From Velika Plana to Lapovo - Distance: 8.52 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 84: From Lapovo to Cicevac - Distance: 31.76 nm, Duration: 00:12 hrs
Leg 85: From Cicevac to Nis - Distance: 28.9 nm, Duration: 00:11 hrs
Leg 86: From Nis to Ostrovica - Distance: 12.07 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 87: From Ostrovica to Bela Palanka - Distance: 10.7 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 88: From Bela Palanka to Pirot - Distance: 12.35 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 89: From Pirot to Dimitrovgrad - Distance: 12.45 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 90: From Dimitrovgrad to Dragoman - Distance: 8.96 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 91: From Dragoman to Sofia - Distance: 21.06 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 92: From Sofia to Ichtiman - Distance: 27.18 nm, Duration: 00:10 hrs
Leg 93: From Ichtiman to Kostenets - Distance: 7.98 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 94: From Kostenets to Belovo - Distance: 8.8 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 95: From Belovo to Pasardschik - Distance: 13.86 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 96: From Pasardschik to Stambolijski - Distance: 9.79 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 97: From Stambolijski to Plowdiw - Distance: 9.43 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 98: From Plowdiw to Karadzhalovo - Distance: 25.58 nm, Duration: 00:10 hrs
Leg 99: From Karadzhalovo to Dimitrowgrad - Distance: 12.57 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 100: From Dimitrowgrad to Charmanli - Distance: 16.3 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 101: From Charmanli to Svilengrad - Distance: 16.06 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 102: From Svilengrad to Edirne - Distance: 16.89 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 103: From Edirne to Pehlivankoy - Distance: 24.98 nm, Duration: 00:09 hrs
Leg 104: From Pehlivankoy to Alpullu - Distance: 11.07 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 105: From Alpullu to Durak - Distance: 8.95 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 106: From Durak to Muratli - Distance: 13.3 nm, Duration: 00:05 hrs
Leg 107: From Muratli to Ergene - Distance: 12.5 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 108: From Ergene to Cerkezkoy - Distance: 11.96 nm, Duration: 00:04 hrs
Leg 109: From Cerkezkoy to Kabakca - Distance: 16.33 nm, Duration: 00:06 hrs
Leg 110: From Kabakca to Halkali - Distance: 21.36 nm, Duration: 00:08 hrs
Leg 111: From Halkali to Yesilkoy - Distance: 4.56 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 112: From Yesilkoy to Istanbul - Distance: 7.85 nm, Duration: 00:03 hrs
Leg 113: From Istanbul to RW233 - Distance: 4.03 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 114: From RW233 to RW23 - Distance: 3 nm, Duration: 00:01 hrs
Leg 115: From RW23 to LTBA - Distance: 1 nm, Duration: 00:00 hrs

Assumed Average Speed: 150.00 knots
Total Distance: 1,439.50 nm
Total Duration: 08:36 h

Aerial Highlights Along the Way

Paris & Burgundy: Glide first over Paris’s elegant Haussmann boulevards and the spires of Notre‑Dame, then watch the soft patchwork of Burgundy’s vineyards around Dijon light up in the early sun—perfect for that first photo.
Jura & Lake Geneva: Just before Switzerland, the rugged Jura Mountains rise beneath you. Moments later, Lake Geneva opens up as a shimmering mirror, flanked by snow‑capped Alpine ridges—especially magical in backlit conditions.
Simplon Tunnel Entrance: At Brig, you’ll see the steep valley entrances where the train once dove into the 20 km Simplon Tunnel. In your simulator, mark these tunnel portals as key waypoints.
Lake Maggiore & Po Valley: Follow the Italian‑Swiss border to see Lake Maggiore’s glittering surface; then descend into the flat expanses of the Po Valley, where solitary farmsteads punctuate the wide plains—a stark contrast to the mountain wilds.
Venetian Lagoon: Rising to about 2,000 ft AGL near Venice Santa Lucia, you’ll witness the delicate lacework of canals and islands—a stunning aerial mosaic.
Julian Alps & Karst Plateau: Between Trieste and Ljubljana, sharp karst peaks and deep sinkholes appear—excellent visual references for navigation.
Zagreb & the Sava River: The green oasis of Jarun Lake and Zagreb’s medieval core reflect beautifully in the Sava—consider a low‑pass at around 500 ft for an urban flyby.
Serbian Plains & Balkan Passes: Over Belgrade, the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers is striking, before the rugged hills around Niš demand your attention.
Sofia & the Rhodope Foothills: In Bulgaria, circle above Sofia to admire its cascade of grand buildings, then look out for mist‑filled valleys in the distant Rhodopes—dramatic in early morning light.
Bosporus & Istanbul: Approaching Istanbul, the scene shifts to the strait itself: slender minarets, Rumeli Hisarı fortress, and the bustling shorelines form a living mosaic. A majestic final approach over the Bosporus completes the “sky‑Orient Express” odyssey.