How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish.

What hotels are used?

4 and 5-star hotels including the Hotel Regina Margherita in Cagliari, the Hotel Raffael in Putzu Idu, the Smy Carlos V Wellness & Spa in Alghero, and either the Hotel Cormorano or Club Hotel in Baja Sardinia.

The evidence lists 6 departures across May, June, September and October in 2026 and 2027.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance, and the optional Maddalena Archipelago boat excursion, which is payable locally.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Sardinia

Ten-day escorted Sardinia tour with ancient ruins and the Little Green Train

Great Rail Journeys operates this 10-day escorted tour of Sardinia, flying from London Gatwick to the island's capital, Cagliari, and returning from Olbia. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, with 9 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels across four bases: Cagliari, the Oristano area, Alghero and Baja Sardinia. Rail plays a small but distinctive part in the trip: two rides on Sardinia's Little Green Train, from Monserrato to Mandas on day 3 and from Macomer to Bosa on day 5, both slow heritage routes through the island's interior. Days combine guided walking tours of Cagliari and Alghero with visits to Nuragic and Phoenician ruins, a farm-to-fork cooking experience, and wine tasting at Sardinia's oldest winery. The tour ends with three nights at leisure in Baja Sardinia near the Costa Smeralda. It suits travelers interested in Sardinia's ancient history and food and wine, who also want free time to explore independently.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £2,499 every time.

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

Baja Sardinia accommodation is one of two named hotels, the Hotel Cormorano or the Club Hotel, so which one you get is not fixed in the evidence.
On the 30 May and 6 and 20 June departures, the route from Cagliari to Senorbi is by coach rather than by train, so the itinerary can vary slightly by departure date.
The Maddalena Archipelago boat excursion on day 8 is optional and payable locally, not included in the tour price.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Cagliari
Flying directly to Cagliari
Your holiday begins at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager before flying directly to Sardinia's capital, Cagliari. On arrival this evening, transfer to your hotel in the city's historic centre, with dinner served at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Cagliari
Welcome to Cagliari
Meet a local guide for a walking tour of Cagliari, taking in the Castello neighbourhood, the Royal Palace, the Pisan watchtowers of San Pancrazio and the Elephant, and the cathedral of Santa Maria. The afternoon and evening are free to explore independently.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3railovernight: Oristano
Little Green Train & 'farm to fork' experience
Travel on Sardinia's Little Green Train (Il Trenino Verde) from Monserrato to Mandas, then visit the farmstead 'Le Vigne Ducali' for a cooking demonstration and lunch of freshly-prepared dishes. Travel north to Oristano and check into the hotel before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Oristano
The ancient city of Tharros & Sardinia's oldest winery
Visit the ruins of Tharros, an ancient Phoenician city on the Gulf of Oristano, then the Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum in Cabras. The afternoon includes a tour and wine tasting at Sardinia's oldest winery, founded in 1898. Dinner is independent.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Alghero
To Bosa on the Little Green Train
Board the Green Train from Macomer to Bosa, stopping at the ruins of the Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria di Corte, Tinnura's 'Country of Art' village-museum, and Tresnuraghes for local produce tasting. Visit Bosa before continuing to Alghero for an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6overnight: Alghero
Getting to know Alghero
A walking tour of Alghero, the 'little Barcelona' with a distinct Catalan flavour, taking in the sea walls and historic centre. The afternoon and evening are free at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7overnight: Baja Sardinia
Nuraghe Santu Antine, the 'King's House'
Visit the Nuragic complex of Santu Antine, then a Sardinian agriturismo for a 'farm to fork' lunch with local wine. Continue to the Basilica di Saccargia before reaching the coastal resort of Baja Sardinia for the final three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8overnight: Baja Sardinia
Exploring beautiful Baja Sardinia
A free day to explore the region at leisure, with an optional excursion into the Maddalena Archipelago available locally. Dinner is independent.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9overnight: Baja Sardinia
To stylish Porto Cervo and time at leisure
Visit the glamorous resort of Porto Cervo with a local guide, including the modern Stella Maris church. The afternoon is free, and dinner with wine is served at the hotel for the final evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10
Homeward bound
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight back to London where the holiday ends.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2A local guide leads a walking tour of Cagliari taking in the Royal Palace, the Pisan watchtowers of San Pancrazio and the Elephant, and the cathedral of Santa Maria.
Day 3The tour boards Sardinia's Little Green Train from Monserrato to Mandas, retracing the route DH Lawrence described in 'Sea and Sardinia', followed by a cooking show and lunch at the farmstead Le Vigne Ducali.
Day 4The tour visits the ruins of Tharros, an ancient city on the Gulf of Oristano with Nuragic, Phoenician and later layers of history, and tastes wine at Sardinia's oldest winery, founded in 1898.
Day 5The Little Green Train runs from Macomer to Bosa along a basalt plateau, stopping at Tinnura station to taste local Malvasia wine and visit the open-air 'Country of Art' village-museum.
Day 7The tour visits the Nuragic complex of Santu Antine, known as 'Sa Domu de su Re', or the King's House, a megalithic dry stone monument.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
9 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London to Cagliari, Olbia to London
Breakfast each day, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, but only for two short legs: the Little Green Train from Monserrato to Mandas on day 3 and from Macomer to Bosa on day 5. Most travel is by coach and flight.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish.
What hotels are used?: 4 and 5-star hotels including the Hotel Regina Margherita in Cagliari, the Hotel Raffael in Putzu Idu, the Smy Carlos V Wellness & Spa in Alghero, and either the Hotel Cormorano or Club Hotel in Baja Sardinia.
When does it run?: The evidence lists 6 departures across May, June, September and October in 2026 and 2027.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance, and the optional Maddalena Archipelago boat excursion, which is payable locally.