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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made luxury rail holiday

La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Eternal Stones of Matera

8-day luxury rail tour London to Matera via La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Illustration of La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Eternal Stones of Matera

Tailor Made Rail's La Dolce Vita Orient Express journey is an 8-day luxury rail holiday departing London and concluding in the ancient hilltop town of Matera in southern Italy. The trip combines First Class rail travel through France to Italy, stays in five-star hotels in Turin, Assisi, and Rome, and a signature 2-night adventure aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, departing from Rome with dinners prepared by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck. Days one through five follow a self-guided itinerary with private transfers and free time to explore each city; you wander Assisi's medieval streets and frescoed basilicas, tour Rome's Colosseum and Vatican, and discover Matera's dramatic UNESCO-listed cave dwellings on Days 6 and 7 from aboard the train. Throughout the journey, breakfast is included at hotels and all meals, drinks, and onboard excursions are provided by the train service. An Economy Class return flight to London completes the trip. This package suits luxury seekers, history enthusiasts, and couples seeking a refined rail experience with Italian culture and fine dining.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of GBP 8,499 per person is based on two people sharing a twin or double room; single supplements apply for sole occupancy
  • Day 8 includes a return flight to London in Economy Class; the itinerary notes you can also extend your stay or return by rail
  • The Matera tour and cave-restaurant lunch are optional curated experiences, not automatically included

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Turin (Grand Hotel Sitea or similar)

    London to Turin

    Board the Eurostar at St Pancras International station at the start of your exciting holiday to Italy. You'll zip under the English Channel and into France, changing in Paris onto a high-speed TGV bound for the Italian border, with a private transfer included to help you cross from one station to another. Arrive into Turin this evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Assisi (Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum or similar)

    Turin to Assisi

    After breakfast this morning, make your way to Turin Porta Nuova station. You'll travel south into Tuscany and arrive around lunchtime into Florence, continuing your journey to the beautiful town of Assisi for a 2-night stay.

  3. Day 3overnight: Assisi (Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum or similar)

    Assisi

    Spend a full day discovering the peaceful beauty of Assisi, a hilltop town steeped in history and spiritual significance. Begin your visit at the awe-inspiring Basilica of Saint Francis, home to world-famous frescoes by Giotto. Wander through narrow medieval streets lined with stone houses, artisan shops, and quiet piazzas, and perhaps visit the Basilica of Saint Clare or the Rocca Maggiore fortress.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Rome (Grand Hotel Palace or similar)

    Assisi to Rome

    You have another free morning in Assisi today. Perhaps enjoy a light lunch at an Umbrian trattoria before returning to the station for your afternoon train service direct to Italian capital Rome, for a 2-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Rome (Grand Hotel Palace or similar)

    Rome

    Spend a full day exploring the Eternal City. Begin at the Colosseum before strolling through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Wander past the Pantheon and pause at Piazza Navona. After lunch, head to the Vatican to admire St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, and don't miss a visit to the Trevi Fountain.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Deluxe Cabin)

    Board La Dolce Vita Orient Express

    Your journey begins at midday as the La Dolce Vita Orient Express departs from Rome Ostiense, setting the stage for a luxurious escape through the Italian landscape. As evening approaches, delight in an elegant dinner created by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, showcasing seasonal Italian flavours, with live music and a refined atmosphere as the train travels south.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Deluxe Cabin)

    Matera

    Awake to a traditional Italian breakfast as the train approaches Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ancient cave dwellings and dramatic setting. Spend the morning exploring this remarkable town with optional curated experiences, including guided tours and a lunch in a unique cave restaurant. In the early afternoon, reboard the train for the return journey, enjoying a final Italian aperitivo as the countryside rolls by, arriving back in Rome Ostiense by late afternoon.

  8. Day 8rail

    Return to Rome and fly back to the UK

    Arrive back in Rome Ostiense in the late afternoon, your luxurious adventure elegantly complete. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. You can also extend your trip or return by rail.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Explore medieval Assisi, wandering through narrow stone streets lined with artisan shops to the Basilica of Saint Francis with its world-famous frescoes by Giotto
  • Day 5Walk through Rome from the Colosseum and Roman Forum to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel
  • Day 6Board the La Dolce Vita Orient Express at Rome Ostiense at midday and enjoy an elegant dinner created by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck with live music as the train travels south
  • Day 7Wake aboard the train approaching Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and explore its dramatic ancient cave dwellings with an optional guided tour and lunch in a unique cave restaurant

Included

  • First Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 5 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private transfer from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
  • Private transfers from station to hotel in Turin, Assisi and Rome
  • 2 nights aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express in a Deluxe Cabin including all meals, drinks and excursions
  • Private transfer from Rome Ostiense to Rome Airport
  • Flight from Rome to London in Economy Class
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail travel with seat reservations on Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Turin), and regional trains to Rome, plus 2 nights aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express in a Deluxe Cabin with all meals, drinks, and excursions included.
Which hotels are included?
The package includes 5 nights' hotel accommodation: Grand Hotel Sitea in Turin (1 night), Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum in Assisi (2 nights), and Grand Hotel Palace in Rome (2 nights), all with breakfast. Private transfers from stations to hotels are included.
Is the tour escorted or self-guided?
It is self-guided touring with curated and optional guided excursions in Matera. The La Dolce Vita Orient Express is staffed onboard; no tour manager travels with you on the hotel portions.
What is included in the La Dolce Vita Orient Express portion?
The 2-night journey from Rome to Matera and return includes a Deluxe Cabin, all meals prepared by Chef Heinz Beck, drinks, and excursions in Matera. Day 6 features an elegant dinner with live music as the train departs Rome.
When does this trip depart?
Tailor Made Rail offers three departures: August, September, and October 2026, all at GBP 8,499 per person.
What is the return journey?
You return to Rome Ostiense on the afternoon of Day 8, then transfer to Rome Airport for an Economy Class flight back to London. You may also arrange an alternative return by rail.

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