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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Corsica Without Flying

Train and ferry loop from London to Corsica via Paris and the French Riviera

Illustration of Corsica Without Flying

Corsica Without Flying is a 13-day self-guided rail holiday operated by Tailor Made Rail that connects London to the French island of Corsica entirely by train and ferry, avoiding air travel. The journey begins with an overnight stay in Paris, then continues south by high-speed TGV to Toulon on the French Riviera. From there, an overnight ferry carries you to Bastia, Corsica's second-busiest port. You explore the island by local train, stopping in Calvi on the north-west coast and Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon, before returning via another overnight ferry to Marseille and then back to London by TGV and Eurostar. The package includes 11 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, all rail fares in standard class, both ferry crossings in a private cabin with dinner, and detailed travel documentation. Each destination offers time to wander historic quarters, visit museums, and explore local landmarks at your own pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • The local train journey from Bastia to Calvi (day 7) is payable locally and not included in the package price
  • Ferry timings and routing to Corsica can vary due to the irregular nature of ferry services; confirm schedules when booking
  • This is a self-guided holiday with no escorted activities, so you arrange your own transport and entry to attractions at each stop

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Paris

    London to Paris

    Travel from your local station to St Pancras and catch the Eurostar to Paris, arriving at Gare du Nord. Evening at leisure in the French capital.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Toulon

    Paris to Toulon

    Free morning sightseeing in Paris (Champs Elysées, the Seine, or a gallery) before boarding a high-speed TGV to Toulon on the French Riviera.

  3. Day 3overnight: Toulon

    Toulon

    Explore Toulon's old town and Provençal market, take the cable car to the summit of Mont Faron for panoramic views, or stroll the palm-lined waterfront.

  4. Day 4overnight: Ferry (Toulon–Bastia)

    Toulon and ferry to Bastia

    Further time in Toulon, including the National Maritime Museum or the beaches east of the harbour, before an overnight ferry sailing to Bastia.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bastia

    Bastia

    Arrive in Bastia, France's second-busiest port after Calais, and explore the walled citadel of Terra Nova and the harbour area of Terra Vecchia.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bastia

    Bastia

    Further time to explore Bastia's historic quarters and waterfront cafés.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Calvi

    Bastia to Calvi

    3-hour local train journey (payable locally) to Calvi on Corsica's north-west coast, known for its beaches and medieval citadel.

  8. Day 8overnight: Calvi

    Calvi

    Visit the hilltop chapel of Notre-Dame de la Serra for panoramic views, the city ramparts, and the 13th-century St-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral.

  9. Day 9overnight: Ajaccio

    Calvi to Ajaccio

    Change trains at Ponte Leccia to continue south to Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, on Corsica's rugged west coast.

  10. Day 10overnight: Ajaccio

    Ajaccio

    Explore Bonaparte's ancestral home museum and the 16th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral, with paintings by Delacroix and Tintoretto.

  11. Day 11overnight: Ferry (Ajaccio–Marseille)

    Ajaccio and overnight ferry to Marseille

    Further time exploring Ajaccio before collecting bags and making your way to the port for the overnight ferry to Marseille, in a private en suite cabin with dinner onboard.

  12. Day 12overnight: Ferry (Ajaccio–Marseille)

    Ajaccio and overnight ferry to Marseille

    Overnight sailing continues, arriving into Marseille (ferry timings and routing can vary due to the irregular nature of Corsica ferry services).

  13. Day 13rail

    Marseille to London

    Leave Marseille after breakfast and catch a direct high-speed TGV to Paris, crossing to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar service to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the high-speed TGV from Paris to Toulon on the French Riviera
  • Day 4Overnight ferry sailing from Toulon to Bastia, arriving into Corsica
  • Day 7Local train journey through Corsica from Bastia to Calvi on the north-west coast
  • Day 10Visit Bonaparte's ancestral home museum and 16th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ajaccio
  • Day 11Overnight ferry departure from Ajaccio to Marseille in a private en suite cabin with dinner onboard

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class (except on Corsica)
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 11 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Overnight ferry from Toulon to Bastia and an en suite twin cabin on the overnight ferry from Ajaccio to Marseille
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Not included

  • Local train fare from Bastia to Calvi (payable locally)

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes, except the local train from Bastia to Calvi (day 7), which you pay for locally. The package covers Eurostar, TGV services, and seat reservations. Standard Class throughout on mainland trains.
Are the ferry crossings included?
Yes. The overnight ferry from Toulon to Bastia and the overnight ferry from Ajaccio to Marseille in a private en suite twin cabin with dinner are included.
Is this escorted or self-guided?
Self-guided. You receive easy-to-follow travel documentation and email tickets, but you arrange your own activities and transfers at each stop.
What hotels are included?
Eleven nights in handpicked three and four-star hotels: one night in Paris, two in Toulon, two in Bastia, two in Calvi, three in Ajaccio, and one in Marseille. Breakfast is included.
When does this trip run?
Year-round. Prices vary by season: GBP 1,399 November to March, GBP 1,599 April/May/October, GBP 1,899 June to September.
What is not included?
The local train from Bastia to Calvi, lunches, dinners (except the ferry meal), attractions and museums, and any extensions beyond the core 13-day itinerary.

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