Great Rail Journeys
Best of Puglia & Eternal Rome
12 daysfrom $3,738
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
First-Class Wonders of Corsica & Sardinia
Discover lush Mediterranean islands infused with hidden charms as we get to the heart of Sardinia and Corsica.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Toulon
From London to the French Riviera
Your holiday begins at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in spacious Plus class, we are served a light meal at our comfortable seats. In the French capital, we switch trains and travel in First Class to the port town of Toulon. Once a key regional port, Toulon boasts a beautiful and historic Old Town, famous for its pretty fountains, narrow streets and tree-covered squares. Arriving in the evening, we check in to our hotel and enjoy our first dinner together.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
- Day 2overnight: Calvi
Across the Mediterranean to the Corsican town of Calvi
After an early breakfast, we are transferred the short distance to Toulon's port, where we board a ferry to the Mediterranean island of Corsica. As we sail across the azure waters of the French Riviera, you have plenty of time to soak up the sun on deck or relax indoors, enjoying a choice of bars and restaurants including an à la carte menu. Disembarking at Corsica's port of L'Île-Rousse, we're transferred by coach to our accommodation, a stylishly converted 16th-century monastery in Calvi.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 3overnight: Calvi
Exploring the hidden gems of tranquil Calvi
We set out after a leisurely breakfast for a guided tour of Calvi. Overlooked by its imposing medieval citadel, this compact port town has more than 3,000 years of history and, according to legend, was the birthplace of explorer Christopher Columbus. With a free afternoon, you're welcome to explore the island independently, enjoy the hotel's pool and terrace, visit picturesque beaches, or stroll along the palm-lined marina. In the evening, we regroup for dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Calvi
The coastal train to beautiful hilltop villages
Boarding the local 'Trinichellu' train after breakfast, we enjoy a journey that passes the very edge of the immaculate white-sand beaches of the Balagne coast. Disembarking in L'Île-Rousse, we have time for lunch independently. Our journey continues by coach through stunning cliffside villages, stopping at Sant'Antonino, one of the most beautiful villages in France, with medieval cobbled paths and sweeping vistas of the azure sea and rugged mountains. We then visit the famous Notre Dame de la Serra chapel which offers breathtaking views across Calvi Bay.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 5railovernight: Propriano
A rail journey into the rugged heart of Corsica
Taking a mid-morning coach to the inland village of Ponte Leccia, we board the train for a beautiful journey through lush green mountain scenery. The single-track railway passes pastel-coloured rural stations as it carves and twists through Corsica's mountainous interior, crossing Gustave Eiffel's 1890s viaduct over the plunging Vecchio Canyon and passing through the 2.5-mile-long Vizzavona tunnel before winding down to Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. After some free time to explore, we transfer by coach to our hotel in Propriano, set in peaceful parkland overlooking the Mediterranean.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 6overnight: Propriano
Embracing the island lifestyle and sampling local produce
Today is spent at leisure in Propriano. Our four-star hotel overlooks the beautiful Valinco Gulf and offers two swimming pools, a seasonal hot tub, and a wellness area. Sandy beaches and the Mediterranean Sea are nearby, and the small town of Propriano is easy to explore. Later this afternoon, we are transferred by shuttle bus into town for a tasting of local wine and sharing platters of cheese and charcuterie.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 7overnight: Alghero
Bonifacio and onwards to Sardinia
Leaving Propriano after breakfast, we drive to the southern port town of Bonifacio for our ferry across to Sardinia. Bonifacio is a spectacular town perched high on cliffs on a narrow spit of land. We explore beautiful Bonifacio on a guided tour and have free time over lunch before catching the ferry to Sardinia. Once in Sardinia, we check in for four nights in a five-star hotel on Alghero's seafront.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 8overnight: Alghero
A guided tour of Alghero and cruising to Neptune's Grotto
After breakfast with blissful sea views, we enjoy a guided tour of Alghero. Having once been ruled by Catalans and now by Italy, the fortified Old Town combines many Mediterranean styles. From the large marina, we set sail for Neptune's Grotto, a cavernous system of tranquil subterranean lakes filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites, accessed directly from the boat. Back in Alghero this evening, you have free time to explore and sample the local cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 9overnight: Alghero
Getting to know Alghero at leisure
A free day after breakfast gives you a choice to explore further or spend the day relaxing. The hotel offers a large outdoor pool, an extensive spa (payable locally), wellness provision, two restaurants and a bar with an attractive terrace. Alternatively, explore Alghero's Old Town along the palm-lined promenade, with honey-coloured buildings and churches dating back to the 16th century.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 10overnight: Alghero
Exploring the fortified village of Castelsardo
After breakfast, we travel by coach to Castelsardo, one of the 'loveliest towns in Italy'. The early 12th-century Castello dei Doria overlooks a delightful old town of pale-hued buildings and narrow shaded lanes. You are at leisure over lunch in Castelsardo, with magnificent views of the rugged coast from the Piazza del Duomo. We drive back to our hotel this afternoon before attending a family-owned 'agriturismo' for dinner, a four-course meal of local specialities in idyllic surroundings.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 11overnight: Ferry (at sea)
Overnight ferry to Toulon
A leisurely morning after breakfast at our coastal Alghero hotel provides an ideal opportunity to relax. Afterwards, we transfer by coach to nearby Porto Torres, where we board the overnight ferry back to the mainland. With outside-facing ensuite cabins, each with a porthole, you may relax in your cabin or head onto the deck. A range of restaurants and bars are available onboard as we dine independently.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 12rail
Homeward bound
Disembarking in Toulon on the French mainland, we transfer to the station where we take our First Class seats to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at our seat before we arrive back in London St Pancras, where your fantastic voyage of discovery concludes.
Meals: Eurostar light meal
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 10 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
- 1-night cruise onboard a ferry in an outside-facing cabin with porthole
- Eurostar Plus class travel
- First Class rail travel
- All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
- Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
- 10 breakfasts
- 5 dinners
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
