How much does it cost?

From £3,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,321 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager who accompanies the group from London St Pancras through the entire 12-day journey.

What are the hotels like?

Three hotels are named: Hôtel L'Abbaye, a five-star former abbey in Calvi (3 nights); Bartaccia Hôtel, a four-star property in Propriano overlooking the Valinco Gulf with two pools and a wellness area (2 nights); and Smy Carlos V Wellness & Spa, a five-star hotel on Alghero's seafront with pool, spa and two restaurants (4 nights).

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys offers six departures in 2026 and 2027: August 2026, September 2026, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027 and September 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

First-Class Wonders of Corsica & Sardinia

Escorted island rail tour of Corsica and Sardinia from London with hotels

Great Rail Journeys operates this 12-day escorted tour for travellers seeking a leisurely pace through two Mediterranean islands. The journey departs London on Eurostar Plus class, continuing by TGV First Class to the French port of Toulon, then by ferry to Corsica. Over three days based in Calvi, you explore the compact port town on a guided tour and ride the scenic Trinichellu coastal train past white-sand beaches to medieval villages, including Sant'Antonino. 5-mile Vizzavona tunnel before descending to Propriano. After two days of leisure there, you ferry south to Sardinia and spend four nights in a five-star spa hotel in Alghero, with a guided tour of its fortified Old Town and a boat excursion into Neptune's Grotto, a subterranean lake system filled with stalactites. An overnight return ferry and First Class TGV bring you back to London. Throughout, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group, and stays are in hand-picked 4 and 5-star hotels with 10 breakfasts and 5 dinners included. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, luxury-seekers, and those drawn to Mediterranean history, local food and wine, and guided cultural exploration.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £3,199.

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 is GBP 600 above half the double room rate (GBP 3,999 vs GBP 3,399, or 18 percent higher), notably more than typical.
Group size reaches up to 30 people, which is substantially larger than boutique train tours.
Day 6 in Propriano and Day 9 in Alghero are entirely free, relying on the hotel amenities and independent exploration rather than included activities.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Toulon
From London to the French Riviera
We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar in Plus class to Paris, then switch to First Class for the journey to Toulon, checking in to our hotel for the first dinner together.
Day 2overnight: Calvi
Across the Mediterranean to the Corsican town of Calvi
We transfer to Toulon's port to board a ferry across to Corsica, disembarking at L'Île-Rousse and transferring by coach to our converted 16th-century monastery hotel in Calvi for three nights.
Day 3overnight: Calvi
Exploring the hidden gems of tranquil Calvi
A guided tour of Calvi, overlooked by its medieval citadel, with a free afternoon to explore independently before regrouping for dinner at the hotel.
Day 4railovernight: Calvi
The coastal train to beautiful hilltop villages
We board the local 'Trinichellu' train along the Balagne coast to L'Île-Rousse, then continue by coach to the cliffside village of Sant'Antonino and the Notre Dame de la Serra chapel.
Day 5railovernight: Propriano
A rail journey into the rugged heart of Corsica
A coach to Ponte Leccia, then a scenic train journey over Gustave Eiffel's viaduct and through the Vizzavona tunnel to Ajaccio, before transferring by coach to our hotel in Propriano.
Day 6overnight: Propriano
Embracing the island lifestyle and sampling local produce
A day at leisure in Propriano, with an afternoon shuttle into town for a tasting of local wine, cheese and charcuterie.
Day 7overnight: Alghero
Bonifacio and onwards to Sardinia
We drive to Bonifacio for a guided tour of the clifftop town, then catch the ferry to Sardinia, checking in for four nights at a five-star hotel on Alghero's seafront.
Day 8overnight: Alghero
A guided tour of Alghero and cruising to Neptune's Grotto
A guided tour of Alghero's fortified Old Town, followed by a boat trip to the wondrous Neptune's Grotto, a cavernous system of subterranean lakes.
Day 9overnight: Alghero
Getting to know Alghero at leisure
A free day to explore Alghero's Old Town further or relax at the hotel's pool, spa and wellness facilities.
Day 10overnight: Alghero
Exploring the fortified village of Castelsardo
A coach excursion to the hilltop fortress town of Castelsardo, with free time for lunch, before returning to the hotel for a farm-to-table 'agriturismo' dinner.
Day 11overnight: Aboard the ferry
Overnight ferry to Toulon
A leisurely morning in Alghero before transferring to Porto Torres to board the overnight ferry back to the French mainland, with outside-facing ensuite cabins.
Day 12rail
Homeward bound
Disembarking in Toulon, we transfer to the station for First Class seats to Paris, joining the Eurostar in Plus class back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus class, meeting the Tour Manager and group, travelling to Paris then continuing in First Class TGV to Toulon.
Day 4Board the local Trinichellu train, which hugs the white-sand beaches of the Balagne coast before climbing through coastal cliffside villages including Sant'Antonino, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Day 5Travel on the Heart of Corsica train through the rugged mountainous interior, crossing Gustave Eiffel's 1890s viaduct over the plunging Vecchio Canyon and passing through the 2.5-mile-long Vizzavona tunnel.
Day 8Sail from Alghero's marina into Neptune's Grotto, a cavernous system of subterranean lakes filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites, accessed directly from the boat.
Day 11Board an overnight ferry from Porto Torres with an outside-facing ensuite cabin featuring a porthole, relaxing on deck as the ship returns to the French mainland.

Included

Tour Manager: expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation: 10 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation; 1-night cruise onboard a ferry in an outside-facing cabin with porthole
Transportation: Eurostar Plus/First Class rail travel; all rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
Food & Drink: Eurostar light meals; 10 breakfasts, 5 dinners
Excursions & Entertainment: all guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,321 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager who accompanies the group from London St Pancras through the entire 12-day journey.
What are the hotels like?: Three hotels are named: Hôtel L'Abbaye, a five-star former abbey in Calvi (3 nights); Bartaccia Hôtel, a four-star property in Propriano overlooking the Valinco Gulf with two pools and a wellness area (2 nights); and Smy Carlos V Wellness & Spa, a five-star hotel on Alghero's seafront with pool, spa and two restaurants (4 nights).
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys offers six departures in 2026 and 2027: August 2026, September 2026, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027 and September 2027.