Search

Railway Adventures · Escorted tour

Grande France in Steam

11-day escorted steam-train tour from London through France to Nice

Illustration of Grande France in Steam

Railway Adventures runs Grande France in Steam, an 11-day, 10-night escorted rail tour that starts and finishes in London, crossing to ride heritage steam trains from the north of France to the south. The route runs through the Baie de Somme, where the tour visits the Froissy Steam Festival and rides the 'Train of Wonders', then south through the Ardèche and Cévennes on the Vivarais Railway and the Cévennes Steam Train, which crosses viaducts on its way through the hills. The tour finishes in Provence and Nice on the Côte d'Azur, including a ride on the historic Train des Pignes and a stretch along the Mediterranean coast. A Tour Leader from Rail Mates Tours' Railtrail Tours travels with the group throughout, and evenings include comfortable hotels and regional cuisine. This is a trip for travellers who want a rail holiday built entirely around named heritage and steam trains rather than modern high-speed travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • Solo travellers pay $8,250 AUD, well above half of the $6,400 AUD twin-share fare, a high single supplement.
  • Only one departure is currently scheduled, for May 2027.
  • No day-by-day itinerary is published, so exactly which named train or stop falls on which day is not detailed here; confirm the daily schedule with Railway Adventures before booking.

Included

  • Froissy Steam Festival
  • Exclusive charters aboard historic trains
  • Vivarais Railway
  • 'Train of Wonders'
  • Cévennes Steam Train across superb viaducts
  • Historic steam journey aboard the Train des Pignes
  • Ride along the Mediterranean coast

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From A$6,400 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,590 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, this is a rail-focused escorted tour built around named heritage and steam trains: the Vivarais Railway, the 'Train of Wonders', the Cévennes Steam Train and the Train des Pignes.
Is it escorted or independent?
Fully escorted, with a Tour Leader throughout, from Rail Mates Tours' Railtrail Tours.
Which trains are used?
The Vivarais Railway, the 'Train of Wonders', the Cévennes Steam Train across viaducts, and the historic Train des Pignes, plus a ride along the Mediterranean coast.
Where does the tour start and finish?
London to Nice, travelling from the Baie de Somme in northern France down through the Ardèche and Cévennes to Provence and the Côte d'Azur.
What is included besides the trains?
The Froissy Steam Festival, exclusive charters aboard historic trains, comfortable hotels, and regional cuisine along the way.
When does it run?
One departure is scheduled, for May 2027.

Similar journeys