How much does it cost?

From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 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 from start to finish, and includes guided tours in Genoa and other locations. The group is capped at 40 travellers.

Which trains are used?

Eurostar (London St Pancras to Paris, Standard Class) and TGV (Paris to Turin and St-Raphaël to Paris, Standard Class).

The pack lists Hotel Monte Rosa and Stella del Mare in Chiavari (both in the historic centre), and a hotel in St-Raphaël on the Mediterranean for night 8. All are 3 or 4-star standard.

How many meals are included?

Breakfast every day and six dinners. Some lunches and dinners are independent; the itinerary specifies which days.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Explore the Italian Riviera

Nine-day escorted tour from London to the Italian and French Riviera by rail

Great Rail Journeys operates this 9-day Italian Riviera escorted tour, departing from London St Pancras and arriving in St-Raphaël on the French Côte d'Azur. The journey crosses three countries by Eurostar, TGV, and coastal rail, with eight nights in 3 or 4-star hotels centred in Chiavari on the Ligurian Sea. Days alternate between guided experiences and free exploration: you will sail to three Cinque Terre villages clinging to cliffsides, cruise to the harbour town of Portofino, visit the remote San Fruttuoso abbey reachable only by boat, and join a walking tour of Genoa's Renaissance old town. The itinerary includes four leisurely free days to explore local villages and beaches at your own pace, with independent dinners featuring Ligurian seafood dishes. A UK Tour Manager leads the group of up to 40 throughout, handling logistics while leaving room for personal discovery.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £1,499.

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 pack lists hotel options (Hotel Monte Rosa or Stella del Mare in Chiavari); the final hotel depends on availability and booking details.
Days 3 and 6 are free days in Chiavari with independent dinner; those seeking a fully guided experience may find unstructured time.
Great Rail Journeys publishes no current departure dates in this pack; confirm availability and schedules directly with the operator.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Turin
London to Turin
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, changing trains for Turin, then transfer by coach to the hotel for a one-night stay and a first dinner together.
Day 2railovernight: Chiavari
From Turin to coastal Chiavari
A free morning in Turin, then transfer to the station in the early afternoon for a scenic coastal rail journey via Genoa to Chiavari, checking into the hotel with a welcome drink before dinner.
Day 3overnight: Chiavari
Free day to explore Chiavari
A full day at leisure in Chiavari, with options to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady dell'Orto, relax on the beach, or travel further afield to Camogli or Rapallo. Dinner is independent.
Day 4railovernight: Chiavari
Cruising to the Cinque Terre villages
Visit Riomaggiore by rail, then cruise by ferry to Vernazza and Monterosso, with free time in each village, before returning to Chiavari by rail for dinner.
Day 5railovernight: Chiavari
Sailing to picture-perfect Portofino
Travel by rail to Portofino, then sail around the headland to San Fruttuoso abbey (or Santa Margherita in poor weather), before cruising to Rapallo and taking the train back to Chiavari for dinner.
Day 6overnight: Chiavari
Discovering the Riviera at your own pace
A free day to explore independently, with options including the Cinque Terre villages of Manarola and Corniglia, or the coastal town of Sestri Levante. Dinner is independent.
Day 7overnight: Chiavari
A day in the historic city of Genoa
Coach to Genoa for a guided walking tour of the old town including the Doge's Palace, with free time for lunch and sightseeing, then return to Chiavari for a final dinner on the Italian Riviera.
Day 8railovernight: St-Raphaël
From the Italian to the French Riviera
Transfer to the railway station and travel around the Ligurian coast to Ventimiglia, then continue by coach into France to St-Raphaël on the Côte d'Azur, checking into a hotel overlooking the Mediterranean for a three-course dinner.
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
Transfer to the station in St-Raphaël to board a train to Paris, then join the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Boat cruise to three Cinque Terre villages: Riomaggiore with its multi-coloured buildings, Vernazzo with cobbled streets, and Monterosso known for lemon trees and a sandy beach.
Day 5Sail to San Fruttuoso, a cove accessible only by boat or foot, where a 10th-century Benedictine abbey overlooks the harbour and a submerged statue of 'Christ in the Abyss' rests in the bay.
Day 7Guided walking tour of Genoa's old town, including the Doge's Palace, a Renaissance building from 1298, explaining why the city earned the nickname 'La Superba'.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights' 3 or 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
All rail, cruise, ferry and coach transfers throughout your tour
Breakfast each day, 6 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 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 from start to finish, and includes guided tours in Genoa and other locations. The group is capped at 40 travellers.
Which trains are used?: Eurostar (London St Pancras to Paris, Standard Class) and TGV (Paris to Turin and St-Raphaël to Paris, Standard Class).
What are the hotels?: The pack lists Hotel Monte Rosa and Stella del Mare in Chiavari (both in the historic centre), and a hotel in St-Raphaël on the Mediterranean for night 8. All are 3 or 4-star standard.
How many meals are included?: Breakfast every day and six dinners. Some lunches and dinners are independent; the itinerary specifies which days.