How much does it cost?

From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is rail travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV First Class from Paris to Chambéry, Italian First Class rail from Chambéry to Rome and Rome to Lecce, and Lecce to Fasano. Return to London is by flight from Bari to London Gatwick; a return-by-rail upgrade is available.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the entire 12 days.

How many nights and where do we stay?

10 nights in four-star hotels: two nights in Rome (Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio or Grand Hotel Palatino), four nights at Grand Hotel Riviera in Santa Maria al Bagno on the coast, and three nights at Tenuta Moreno spa hotel near Mesagne.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, one lunch (at a local restaurant in Alberobello), and nine dinners. Meals on Eurostar and during free time are not included.

When does the tour run?

Eight departures are scheduled: September 2026, October 2026, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, August 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Best of Puglia & Eternal Rome

Rome and southern Italy by rail, 12 days via Eurostar and First Class trains

Great Rail Journeys operates this 12-day escorted journey from London through the Alps to Rome, then south to the regions of Puglia and Basilicata. You depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus, travel First Class through the Alps on the TGV to Chambéry, then continue by Italian First Class rail to Rome for two nights of sightseeing guided by your Tour Manager. A three-hour walking tour covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain before you travel by First Class rail eastward along the Adriatic coast to Lecce and the seaside town of Santa Maria al Bagno, where you spend four nights at a four-star hotel with a private beach. The second base is a spa hotel near Mesagne for three nights, from which coach excursions visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Alberobello (cone-shaped trulli limestone houses) and Matera (ancient sassi cave dwellings), plus the Baroque towns of Lecce, Galatina, and Gallipoli. All rail, coach, and return flights, breakfasts, one lunch, and nine dinners are included. The group is capped at 30.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,999.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement (GBP 3649 from GBP 2799 double) is roughly double the per-person rate; solo travellers should factor this premium.
The return journey is by flight from Bari to London Gatwick; a return-by-rail upgrade option exists but is listed separately and not priced in the base package.
The group size is capped at 30, which is substantial; those seeking smaller escorted groups should check availability.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Turin
London to Turin for an overnight stay
We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar in Plus Class with a light meal, changing trains in Paris to continue by First Class rail across France and the Italian Alps to Turin, where we check in and enjoy our first dinner together.
Day 2railovernight: Rome
Arrival in the 'Eternal City' of Rome
A free morning to explore Turin before we take a First Class rail journey south via Florence to Rome, checking in to our central hotel for a two-night stay and enjoying a three-course dinner.
Day 3overnight: Rome
Touring Rome's iconic landmarks
A three-hour guided walking tour taking in the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona, with the rest of the day free to explore independently.
Day 4railovernight: Santa Maria al Bagno
To idyllic Santa Maria al Bagno
A scenic First Class rail journey south to Lecce, then a coach transfer to our seafront hotel in Santa Maria al Bagno for a four-night stay, with a welcome drink and buffet dinner.
Day 5overnight: Santa Maria al Bagno
Exploring the Baroque town of Lecce
A coach transfer to Lecce for a guided tour of its Baroque Old Town, including the Chiesa di Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo, finishing with a Leccese coffee tasting, before free time and a return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 6overnight: Santa Maria al Bagno
A free day in Santa Maria al Bagno
A full day at leisure to explore the fishing village of Santa Maria al Bagno or relax at the hotel's pools and private beach.
Day 7overnight: Santa Maria al Bagno
Charming Galatina & historic Gallipoli
A full day of sightseeing by coach to the Baroque town of Galatina, including the Basilica di Santa Caterina, and the fortified fishing town of Gallipoli, with free time before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 8railovernight: Mesagne
Fascinating Alberobello & on to Mesagne
We transfer to Lecce and take a train to Fasano, then a guided coach excursion to Alberobello for a traditional lunch hosted by local guide Mimmo Palmisano and a tour of the 'trulli' houses, continuing to Locorotondo before transferring to our renovated masseria near Mesagne for a three-night stay.
Day 9overnight: Mesagne
Uncovering Brindisi and Mesagne
A coach transfer to the historic port city of Brindisi, with time to visit its Romanesque cathedral and Roman columns, followed by a visit to the town of Mesagne with its Norman castle, before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 10overnight: Mesagne
Guided tour of cinematic Matera
An excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage hilltop town of Matera in Basilicata for a guided tour of its ancient 'sassi' cave dwellings, with free time to explore before returning to our hotel near Mesagne for a final dinner.
Day 11rail
Homeward bound
We transfer to Bari airport for a flight back to the UK. Travellers who have upgraded to the return-by-rail option instead transfer by coach to Bari, travel by rail to Bologna and change trains to Turin for an overnight stay with dinner, continuing to Paris and the Eurostar to London St Pancras the following day.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2First Class rail from Chambéry past the French and Italian Alps, through Florence and the Montepulciano wine region, arriving in Rome.
Day 3Guided walking tour through Rome starting at the Colosseum, past the Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain, ending at Piazza Navona.
Day 4First Class rail from Rome south and east along the Adriatic coastline to Lecce, then coach transfer to the seafront hotel at Santa Maria al Bagno overlooking the Ionian Sea.
Day 8Train to Fasano, then guided coach excursion to Alberobello to explore UNESCO World Heritage trulli houses and lunch at local guide Mimmo Palmisano's family restaurant.
Day 10Guided tour through Matera's ancient sassi cave dwellings carved into the cliffside, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and film location.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
10 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation (11 nights if returning by rail)
Eurostar Plus First & Standard Class rail travel
All rail, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
Flight from Bari to London Gatwick
Optional return by rail available from £500pp
Eurostar light meal
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 8 dinners
Group luggage transfers between all hotels
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is rail travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV First Class from Paris to Chambéry, Italian First Class rail from Chambéry to Rome and Rome to Lecce, and Lecce to Fasano. Return to London is by flight from Bari to London Gatwick; a return-by-rail upgrade is available.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the entire 12 days.
How many nights and where do we stay?: 10 nights in four-star hotels: two nights in Rome (Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio or Grand Hotel Palatino), four nights at Grand Hotel Riviera in Santa Maria al Bagno on the coast, and three nights at Tenuta Moreno spa hotel near Mesagne.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, one lunch (at a local restaurant in Alberobello), and nine dinners. Meals on Eurostar and during free time are not included.
When does the tour run?: Eight departures are scheduled: September 2026, October 2026, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, August 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.