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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Lyon and the French Alps

Seven-day escorted rail tour from Lyon through French Alpine heritage railways

Illustration of Lyon and the French Alps

The Railway Touring Company operates this 7-day escorted tour based in Lyon, a Roman city on the Rhone and Saone rivers. You travel from London to Lyon by Eurostar and TGV, then spend six nights at a 4-star hotel in the city centre with complimentary public transport tickets and three included dinners. The days unfold as a series of heritage railway excursions into the French Alps and Massif Central: a steam journey through the Gorges de l'Ardeche, narrow gauge electric trains on historic 1933 locomotives, a cableway to a hilltop fortress near Grenoble, and a rack railway ascending to 2,372 metres. Day 2 offers free time to explore Lyon's metro, tram network, funiculars, and to join an optional river cruise. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. The pace is relaxed, with all transport and most meals arranged; this suits repeat rail travellers and history-lovers drawn to working steam engines and rare Alpine mountain railways.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is listed: June 2026. Confirm availability with the operator before planning.
  • The ground-only price of GBP 2,045 excludes UK rail and flight services plus first and last day transfers; the standard price of GBP 2,295 includes Eurostar and TGV from London.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lyon

    London to Lyon by high-speed rail

    Travel from London St Pancras to Paris Nord by Eurostar, then by SNCF TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon. Based at a centrally-located hotel with a complimentary public transport ticket for the duration of the stay. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lyon

    Scenic cruise, vintage transport and leisure in Lyon

    Free time to explore Lyon's Metro, tramway, two funiculars, rack railway and trolleybus network, plus a group sightseeing river cruise giving views of the city's landmarks from the water. Dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lyon

    Steam at the Train de l'Ardeche

    Visit 'Le Mastrou', a French heritage railway with a 0-6-6-0 metre gauge Mallet locomotive, for a return steam journey over the 28km line through the Gorges de l'Ardeche to Lamastre, with lunch included. Return by steam train to Tournon St. Jean and transfer back to Lyon.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lyon

    Grenoble panoramic cableway and Alpine Railway at Chemin de Fer de la Mure

    Stop in Grenoble to ride the 1934 urban cableway to the hilltop fortress of La Bastille, then continue by coach to the Chemin de Fer de la Mure, a narrow gauge railway with historic Swiss-built electric locomotives from 1933, for a full round trip with lunch served at the terminus, before returning to Lyon.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lyon

    Alpine splendour at the Tramway du Mont Blanc

    Transfer from Lyon to Saint Gervais Le Fayet to board the rack railway, built 1907-1914, for a round trip to Nid d'Aigle at 2372 metres, before returning to Lyon for a free evening.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lyon

    France's highest steam railway at Velay Express

    Visit the Velay Express, France's highest regular steam railway line at 1062 metres, in the Massif Central, for a 27km steam journey from Saint-Agreve to Raucoules, then coach transfer back to Lyon for a farewell group dinner.

  7. Day 7rail

    Return to London by rail

    Return to London using a high-speed TGV to Paris and then a Eurostar service to London St. Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Train de l'Ardeche steam locomotive pulls the 28 km journey through the Gorges de l'Ardeche to Lamastre, with lunch included.
  • Day 4The 1934 Grenoble cableway rises to the hilltop fortress of La Bastille, then the Chemin de Fer de la Mure narrow gauge train climbs through the Alps with lunch at the terminus.
  • Day 5The Tramway du Mont Blanc, a rack railway built 1907-1914, ascends to Nid d'Aigle at 2,372 metres in the heart of the Alps.
  • Day 6The Velay Express, France's highest regular steam railway at 1,062 metres, carries passengers 27 km through the remote Massif Central.

Included

  • 6 Nights Accommodation at a centrally located 4* Hotel with breakfast
  • 3 Dinners
  • River cruise in Lyon and cableway ride in Grenoble
  • All train travel and transfers by private coach
  • Complementary public transport rover tickets in Lyon
  • Site admissions to all the attractions as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is this tour escorted?
Yes. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the entire 7 days.
Which heritage railways are included?
The itinerary includes the Train de l'Ardeche (steam), Chemin de Fer de la Mure (narrow gauge electric), Grenoble cableway, Tramway du Mont Blanc (rack railway), and Velay Express (steam). International rail travel uses Eurostar and TGV.
What accommodation is provided?
Six nights at a centrally located 4-star hotel in Lyon with breakfast each morning. All nights are spent in the same hotel.
What meals and visits are included?
Breakfast daily, three dinners, a river cruise on the Rhone and Saone in Lyon, the Grenoble cableway ride, entry to all heritage railways, and lunch on two days at the Train de l'Ardeche and Chemin de Fer de la Mure.
When does the tour run?
Currently scheduled for June 2026 only. Ground-only pricing starts at GBP 2,045; standard pricing including UK rail travel starts at GBP 2,295 per person.
How much walking is involved?
The tour emphasises train and cableway rides; physical demands are moderate. Day 5 ascends to 2,372 metres on the Tramway du Mont Blanc, but passengers travel by train rather than hiking.

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