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Euroventure · Self-guided rail tour

Mediterranean Wanderer: 5 Weeks

Five-week self-guided rail journey through Greece, Italy, France, Spain to Mallorca

Illustration of Mediterranean Wanderer: 5 Weeks

Mediterranean Wanderer is a 33-day self-guided rail and ferry journey operated by Euroventure, starting in Chania, Crete and ending in Palma, Mallorca. The route threads through Greece, Italy, France and Spain, with 2 to 4 nights in each of ten cities: Athens, Sorrento, Catania, Rome, La Spezia, Nice, Montpellier and Barcelona. Each destination offers a balance of city exploration and optional day trips. The package includes train and ferry tickets, accommodation in tested hotels and hostels, all seat reservations, personalised maps and guides, and 24-hour support. Nights 4, 8 and 29 are spent aboard night ferries. Days mix urban sightseeing (the Acropolis, Colosseum, Sagrada Familia) with beach time, hiking, and local food and bar scenes. This trip suits independent travellers comfortable navigating cities and planning their own daily activities, first-time rail explorers drawn to historic Mediterranean destinations, and solo travellers seeking both structured accommodation and flexible social options.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of GBP 3,229 covers the package and rail pass; confirm whether international flights to Chania and from Palma are included
  • Days 8 and 12 involve long multi-leg journeys (26 hours Sorrento transfer; 9 hours Catania transfer); the pace slows significantly on travel days
  • No current departure dates are listed; confirm availability with Euroventure before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Chania

    Chania, Crete (3 nights)

    Hire a boat to explore Chania's blue waters, hike the Samaria Gorge, and visit Elafonisi beach for pink sands.

  2. Day 4overnight: Athens

    Chania to Athens (4 nights)

    Night ferry to Athens (about 10 hours). Photograph the Acropolis from Fillopapou hill, explore the Parthenon and Temple of Poseidon, and enjoy the bar scene.

  3. Day 8railovernight: Sorrento

    Athens to Sorrento (4 nights)

    Overnight multi-leg travel (about 26 hours: bus to Patras, night ferry to Bari, train to Naples, ferry to Sorrento). Go beach-hopping, taste the local limoncello, and explore the cloisters and gardens.

  4. Day 12railovernight: Catania

    Sorrento to Catania (3 nights)

    Ferry to Naples and train to Catania (about 9 hours). Visit or hike Mount Etna, explore Castello Ursino, and tour local art galleries.

  5. Day 15railovernight: Rome

    Catania to Rome (4 nights)

    Train to Rome (about 10 hours). Marvel at the Roman Forum, see the Colosseum, and try real Italian coffee, gelato and pizza.

  6. Day 19railovernight: La Spezia

    Rome to La Spezia (2 nights)

    Train to La Spezia (about 4.5 hours). Use it as a base for a Cinque Terre day trip, and visit the Castello di San Giorgio.

  7. Day 21overnight: Nice

    La Spezia to Nice (2 nights)

    Trains to Nice (about 5.5 hours). Explore the Old Town, watch the sunset from the Promenade des Anglais, and take a day trip to Monaco.

  8. Day 23overnight: Montpellier

    Nice to Montpellier (2 nights)

    Trains to Montpellier (about 5.5 hours). Admire the Antigone district's architecture and explore the local bar and shopping scene.

  9. Day 25railovernight: Barcelona

    Montpellier to Barcelona (4 nights)

    Train to Barcelona (about 3.5 hours). See the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter, spot Gaudi's Parc Güell, and crawl the bars around Las Ramblas.

  10. Day 29overnight: Palma

    Barcelona to Palma (4 nights)

    Night ferry to Palma (about 8 hours). Explore whitewashed hill towns, waterside chill-out spots, and Mallorca's island nightlife.

  11. Day 33

    Depart from Palma

    Trip concludes in Palma; fly home from Palma de Mallorca Airport (having flown in to Chania International Airport).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1-3: Hike the Samaria Gorge and visit Elafonski beach with its pink sands in Chania, Crete
  • Day 4Day 4: Night ferry from Chania to Athens (10 hours); photograph the Acropolis from Fillopapou hill

Included

  • Train tickets from the first to the last city on the route, as shown on the map
  • Any Interrail or Eurail passes if required, based on the best value for you
  • All possible seat reservations on high-speed rail, night trains or ferries
  • Accommodation in top-rated, centrally located hostels or hotels, tested by us
  • Walking directions between the stations and your booked accommodation
  • Travel Disruption Protection - alternative travel if there is a strike or similar disruption
  • Access to a 24hr emergency phone number while you're away
  • 1GB of free data, with the option to add more anytime with eSIM
  • A personalised travel booklet with maps, language guides, top tips, and more
  • Optional walking tours, pub crawls and other activities at partner hostels
  • Exclusive discounts on attractions across Europe

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Train tickets from the first to last city on the route, Interrail or Eurail passes if required, and all seat reservations on high-speed and night trains are included.
Is this escorted or self-guided?
Self-guided. Euroventure provides walking directions, a personalised travel booklet with maps and language guides, optional partner walking tours at hostels, and 24-hour emergency phone support.
Which trains and ferries are used?
The itinerary names specific rail routes and ferries: night ferries from Chania to Athens, Sorrento to Naples, and Barcelona to Palma; trains linking Athens to Patras, Catania to Rome, Rome to La Spezia, La Spezia to Nice, Nice to Montpellier, and Montpellier to Barcelona.
What accommodation is included?
Top-rated, centrally located hostels or hotels tested by Euroventure, with 2 to 4 nights in each of the ten destinations.
How much walking is involved?
City walking in each destination, hiking the Samaria Gorge in Chania, and optional day-trip activities. Walking directions between stations and accommodation are provided.
What is not included?
Flights to Chania and from Palma, meals beyond breakfast, and most attractions and activities are not included; optional partner activities and exclusive discounts are available.

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