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Intrepid Travel · Escorted tour

France, Switzerland, and Italy by Rail

23-day rail journey from Paris to Venice through Alps and Italian Riviera

Illustration of France, Switzerland, and Italy by Rail

Intrepid Travel operates this 23-day escorted rail adventure starting in Paris and concluding in Venice, passing through the Alps and Italian countryside. You travel by train almost daily, using named scenic services including the Gotthard Panorama Express and Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway. The tour opens with two nights in Lausanne and Lucerne, where leader-led walks introduce you to Swiss architecture and Alpine vistas. After crossing into Italy via Bellinzona, you spend three nights in Rome visiting the Cooperativa Coraggio farm for a cooking class and lunch. The itinerary then unfolds through Tuscany with stops in Florence, Lucca, and La Spezia, including a Cinque Terre day hike through vineyards and olive groves. You visit a winery in Asti to taste Ruche wine, explore Lake Como by ferry, and finish with two nights in Venice. Most days offer free afternoons; the leader guides group activities and orientation walks but leaves you ample time to wander. Accommodations are solid three and four-star hotels in each city. Small groups (12 or fewer) and a consistent local leader create a relaxed pace suited to couples, repeat rail travellers, and food-and-wine enthusiasts.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour combines shorter itineraries, so the group and leader may change on Day 10 in Rome.
  • Most lunches and all dinners are not included; Day 14 cycling tour to Pisa has no breakfast listed.
  • The single supplement (AUD 3,910) is substantial; confirm the exact accommodation tier and hotel names with Intrepid before booking, as most are listed as unspecified.
  • International flights are not included and must be arranged separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Welcome to France. Your adventure begins in Paris. Welcome meeting at 6pm followed by a leader-led orientation walk. Optional welcome dinner with the group.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lausanne

    Lausanne

    Board the train to Lausanne (~4 hours), sitting on the banks of Lake Geneva. Orientation walk with leader on arrival. Free evening to explore.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Lausanne

    Lausanne

    Visit Lausanne Cathedral, sample a local pastry at a bakery, then free afternoon. Optional: boat tour on Lake Leman, Olympic Museum, Lavaux Vineyards wine tasting, chocolate-tasting tour.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    Train from Lausanne to Lucerne (~2 hours). Walk on the Museggmauer Walls with local leader. Stop at Hinter Misegg organic farm. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne – Mount Pilatus

    Mount Pilatus Silver Circle Tour: central railway to Alpnachstad, world's steepest cogwheel railway to summit, then aerial cableway and gondola 'Dragon Ride' back to valley. Free afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Bellinzona

    Ticino Region – Gotthard Panorama Express

    Regional train to Arth-Goldau (~30 min), then board the Gotthard Panorama Express to Bellinzona (~5 hours total travel). Orientation walk in Bellinzona. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Bellinzona

    Ticino Region

    Bus to starting point of an easy leader-led hike with views of the Alps and Bellinzona. Free afternoon to visit Castle of Bellinzona or Municipal Museum of Villa dei Cedri.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Rome

    Rome

    Morning train to Milan, then change for Rome (~4.5 hours total). Orientation walk on arrival. Free afternoon and evening to explore the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Vatican City, Trastevere and more.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Visit Cooperativa Coraggio (Intrepid Foundation partner) in the countryside: cooking demonstration using fresh organic produce followed by lunch. Return to Rome for a free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  10. Day 10overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Free day in Rome until 6pm group meeting. Note: group and leader may change today as this trip combines shorter itineraries.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Florence

    Florence

    Free morning in Rome with optional leader-led orientation walk. Train to Florence (~2 hours). Orientation walk of Florence on arrival. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Free day to explore Florence: Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce Church, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia. Evening passeggiata.

    Meals: Breakfast

  13. Day 13railovernight: Lucca

    Lucca

    Train to Lucca (~2 hours). Explore this hidden Tuscan gem with its ancient city ramparts, churches and piazzas. Optional evening stroll along the city walls.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14railovernight: Lucca

    Pisa

    Cycling tour along the Serchio River (~3–4 hours, 18 km). Train to Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower, Duomo and Baptistry in Piazza dei Miracoli. Return to Lucca for a free evening.

  15. Day 15railovernight: La Spezia

    Cinque Terre

    Train to La Spezia (~3 hours), gateway to the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre. Free afternoon to explore La Spezia, Portovenere or Lerici.

  16. Day 16overnight: La Spezia

    Cinque Terre

    Day trip to Cinque Terre including Cinque Terre Pass. Hike through olive groves and vineyards on the Cinque Terre Trails between the five villages. Free afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast

  17. Day 17railovernight: Asti

    Portofino to Asti

    Scenic train from La Spezia to Rapallo. Ferry to Portofino to explore its colourful streets and waterfront. Optional hike to Portofino Lighthouse. Train to Asti (~3.5 hours total travel).

    Meals: Breakfast

  18. Day 18overnight: Asti

    Asti

    Visit Castagnole Monferrato to tour a local winery and taste the unique Ruche grape variety, followed by lunch. Return to Asti to explore this medieval town known for fine wines and truffles.

    Meals: Breakfast

  19. Day 19railovernight: Cadenabbia

    Como to Cadenabbia

    Train to Milan then continue to Bellagio on Lake Como (~5 hours). Explore Bellagio's cobbled lanes and Villa Serbelloni Park. Hotel on the shores of Lake Como.

    Meals: Breakfast

  20. Day 20overnight: Cadenabbia

    Cadenabbia

    Walk through the countryside to Villa Melzi estate in Bellagio. Lake Como Ferry Pass for the day to explore Varenna, Cadenabbia, Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta.

    Meals: Breakfast

  21. Day 21railovernight: Venice

    Venice

    Private vehicle to Milan, then train to Venice (~3 hours). Leader-led walk around Piazza San Marco and the canal system. Traghetto ride across the canal. Free afternoon and evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  22. Day 22overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Free day to explore Venice: Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, vaporetto to San Giorgio. Cicchetti stop with leader. Celebratory group dinner.

  23. Day 23

    Venice

    No activities planned. Depart accommodation at any time. Option to extend stay in Venice.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Mount Pilatus Silver Circle Tour: ascend on the world's steepest cogwheel railway, descend by aerial cableway and Dragon Ride gondola over Alpine panoramas.
  • Day 6Gotthard Panorama Express: scenic five-hour train journey through Swiss valleys and tunnels descending to Bellinzona and the Italian border.
  • Day 9Visit Cooperativa Coraggio for a cooking demonstration using fresh organic produce from the Roman countryside, followed by lunch with the group.
  • Day 14Cycling tour along the Serchio River through Tuscan countryside (18 km), then train to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli.
  • Day 16Cinque Terre day trip: hike through olive groves and vineyards on the Cinque Terre Trails connecting the five villages above the Italian Riviera.

Included

  • 17 breakfasts
  • 1 lunch
  • Hotel accommodation (22 nights)
  • Train transport throughout
  • Metro, local bus, boat and private vehicle transfers as per itinerary
  • Paris – Orientation Walk
  • Paris – Welcome Meeting
  • Lausanne – Orientation Walk
  • Lucerne – Walk on the Museggmauer Walls
  • Lucerne – Mount Pilatus Silver Circle Tour
  • Bellinzona – Orientation Walk
  • Bellinzona – Leader-led hike
  • Rome – Orientation Walk
  • Rome – Cooperativa Coraggio (Intrepid Foundation partner) visit
  • Rome – Cooperativa Coraggio cooking demonstration
  • Lucca – Bicycle Tour
  • Pisa – Half Day Trip to Pisa
  • Cinque Terre – Day Trip including Cinque Terre Pass
  • Portofino Peninsula – Walk and Boat Ride
  • Asti – Village Winery Visit, Wine Tasting & Lunch
  • Lake Como – Ferry Pass
  • Lake Como – Villa Melzi Gardens in Bellagio
  • Venice – Traghetto Ride
  • Venice – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Venice – Cicchetti Stop
  • Expert local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fees
  • Optional activities
  • Most lunches and all dinners
  • Personal expenses

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Intrepid includes all train transport throughout the route, from Paris to Venice, using named services such as the TGV to Lausanne, Gotthard Panorama Express, and regional trains through Italy.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
It is a fully escorted tour. Intrepid assigns a local leader who guides orientation walks in each city and leads activities such as the Mount Pilatus tour, Cinque Terre hike, and winery visit. You have free afternoons and evenings to explore independently.
Which trains are featured?
The itinerary includes the TGV/Intercity from Paris to Lausanne, regional trains between Swiss cities, the Gotthard Panorama Express (Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona), the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway and cableway, and intercity and regional trains linking Rome, Florence, Tuscany, La Spezia, and Venice.
What meals are included?
Seventeen breakfasts and one lunch (at Cooperativa Coraggio in Rome) are included. Most other meals are your responsibility; restaurants and cafes are noted on the itinerary but not paid.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Leader-led orientation walks occur in most cities (Paris, Lausanne, Lucerne, Bellinzona, Rome, Florence). Day 16 includes a hike through Cinque Terre on the trails between villages. Day 14 features a 18-km cycling tour. Day 20 includes a countryside walk to Villa Melzi in Bellagio.
When does the tour run?
Departures are available May through October in 2027 and 2028, with prices ranging from AUD 10,296 to AUD 13,915 depending on the date and accommodation tier.

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