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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

London to Sicily & Malta by Rail and Sea

London to Basel through France, Italy, Sicily, and Malta by rail and ferry

Illustration of London to Sicily & Malta by Rail and Sea

Tailor Made Rail's 13-day independent rail and sea holiday carries you from London through France and Italy to the islands of Sicily and Malta, returning to Basel via the Alps. Starting with Eurostar and a high-speed TGV through the French Alps, you reach Turin and spend a free morning there before the Frecciarossa carries you 550 miles south to Naples. From Naples, a boat train carries you across the Straits of Messina; the train itself rolls onto a ferry, a singular experience that lands you in Sicily. You spend three nights in Taormina exploring its Greco-Roman theatre and coastal walks, then travel via Siracusa to Pozzallo for a ferry crossing to Malta. Three nights in Valletta follow, visiting its 16th-century core and St Johns Co-Cathedral. The return journey includes a morning in Siracusa before boarding an overnight sleeper to Milan in a private compartment, then a final rail crossing of the Gotthard Pass into Switzerland. The package includes all standard-class rail journeys, 11 nights in central hotels with breakfast, and all ferries and transfers. This itinerary suits independent rail travellers who enjoy unguided leisure time and multi-leg journeys across multiple countries.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels listed are marked 'or similar'; your final accommodation depends on availability and the tier selected.
  • Prices shown are for low season (November to March); high-season departures (April to October) cost GBP 2,099 from.
  • Single supplements apply; the pricing basis assumes two people sharing a room.
  • The journey involves eight hotel changes in 13 days and multiple train changes; this is a complex multi-leg itinerary suited to independent rail-savvy travellers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Starhotels Majestic (or similar), Turin

    London to Turin

    Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, connect to the Gare de Lyon for a high-speed TGV service through Chambery and Bardonecchia to Turin.

  2. Day 2overnight: San Pietro Hotel (or similar), Naples

    Turin to Naples

    Free morning in Turin, then a Frecciarossa service 550 miles south via Milan and Rome to Naples.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Excelsior Palace Hotel (or similar), Taormina

    Naples to Taormina

    Train south to Villa San Giovanni, where the train rolls onto a boat across the Straits of Messina, then continues along the coast to Taormina.

  4. Day 4overnight: Excelsior Palace Hotel (or similar), Taormina

    Taormina

    Explore Taormina's Greco-Roman theatre, the Corso Umberto I, Monte Tauro and the sand bar to Isola Bella.

  5. Day 5overnight: Excelsior Palace Hotel (or similar), Taormina

    Taormina

    Further day at leisure in Taormina.

  6. Day 6railovernight: La Falconeria (or similar), Valletta

    Taormina to Valletta

    Regional Sicilian train via Siracusa to Pozzallo, then a Virtu Ferries crossing to Malta, arriving into Valletta's Grand Harbour with a private transfer to the hotel.

  7. Day 7overnight: La Falconeria (or similar), Valletta

    Valletta

    Explore Valletta's 16th-century core, St Johns Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery.

  8. Day 8overnight: La Falconeria (or similar), Valletta

    Valletta

    Further day exploring Malta's historic capital.

  9. Day 9overnight: Hotel Gran Bretagna (or similar), Siracusa

    Valletta to Siracusa

    Evening sailing back to Pozzallo, then a private transfer to the hotel in Siracusa's old town.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Aboard overnight sleeper to Milan (2-berth private compartment)

    Siracusa overnight to Milan

    Morning to explore Siracusa's monuments before a lunchtime sleeper service departs for Milan.

  11. Day 11overnight: Starhotels Anderson (or similar), Milan

    Arrive Milan

    Arrive into Milan the following morning.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Hotel Gaia (or similar), Basel

    Milan to Basel

    Rail journey up into Italian-speaking Switzerland and over the Gotthard Pass into Basel.

  13. Day 13rail

    Basel to London

    Free morning in Basel before a train to Lille via Strasbourg, then the Eurostar back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The train rolls onto a ferry at Villa San Giovanni to cross the Straits of Messina, then continues along Sicily's coast to Taormina.
  • Day 6A Virtu Ferries crossing brings you into Valletta's Grand Harbour, arriving into the historic 16th-century capital of Malta by water.
  • Day 10Overnight sleeper from Siracusa to Milan in a private 2-berth compartment, waking to arrive in Milan the following morning.
  • Day 12Rail journey over the Gotthard Pass through Italian-speaking Switzerland into Basel, crossing the Alps.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 11 nights' central hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Return ferry from Sicily to Malta
  • Private transfer from ferry port to hotel in Valletta
  • Private transfer from Pozzallo port to Siracusa
  • Overnight sleeper from Siracusa to Milan in a private 2-berth compartment
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all the rail travel included?
Yes, Tailor Made Rail includes all rail journeys in standard class with seat reservations, plus ferries from Sicily to Malta and back to Siracusa, and an overnight sleeper from Siracusa to Milan in a private 2-berth compartment.
What is not included?
Meals beyond breakfast at hotels, sightseeing tours, and activities such as entry fees to Taormina's theatre or Valletta's cathedral are not included. First-class upgrades are available as optional extras from GBP 200 per person.
Is this guided or independent?
This is an independent holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides tickets, hotels, and transfers, but you have unguided leisure time in Taormina, Valletta, and Siracusa to explore at your own pace.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Turin), Frecciarossa (Turin to Naples via Milan and Rome), regional trains in Sicily, and an overnight sleeper from Siracusa to Milan. A boat train carries you across the Straits of Messina.
How much walking should I expect?
Days include city exploration in Taormina, Valletta, Siracusa, and Milan, with walking to monuments and landmarks. The itinerary mentions the Greco-Roman theatre, Corso Umberto I, Monte Tauro, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens; physical fitness for moderate walking is needed.
When does this trip run?
The operator offers low-season pricing from November to March at GBP 1,899 and high-season pricing from April to October at GBP 2,099. No specific departure dates are listed; contact Tailor Made Rail for availability.

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