
Authentic Europe
Rome & Self-drive Tour of Tuscany
Self-guided Rome to Tuscany road trip with a first-class train leg
PTG Tours · Escorted tour
A tour of Sardinia travelling over every open railway line on the island, both standard and narrow gauge, including its two tramway systems, with private charter trains and depot visits arranged just for the group.
Late afternoon flight options from London Gatwick (Easyjet) and Heathrow (BA) to Olbia Airport, with indirect flights also available from Bristol and Manchester. Transfer by road (50 minutes) to the hotel near Tempio Pausania. An overland option via Eurostar, a night in Turin, and a ferry from Genoa is also available.
Private narrow-gauge loco-hauled vintage train over the line from Luras to Tempio Pausania, plus a depot visit to see stored vintage vehicles. Lunch by the Nuraghe Majori followed by a guided tour of this bronze-age stone tower. Welcome dinner.
By road to the Elephant Rock and the hamlet of Castelsardo, with a local bus to the old town and castle. Drive along the coast to Sorso for a short narrow-gauge train ride into Sassari. Enthusiast option: visit the Sassari ARST rail depot. Cultural option: Basilica Santissima Trinità di Sarcargia and Nuraghe Santu Antine, plus a guided walk through Sassari. Evening train to Alghero for the first of two nights.
Enthusiast option: private coach to Ozieri/Chilivani, standard gauge train to Sassari (45 minutes), then narrow gauge train back to Alghero. Culture option: free day, with a boat ride and visit to the Grotta di Nettuno cave recommended.
Transfer by road along the coastal road to Bosa Marina, then board a loco-hauled narrow-gauge train to Sindia and by bus to Macomer, a junction of the FS standard gauge and the FdS narrow gauge line to Nuoro. Lunch in a local restaurant in Macomer.
Guided tour of the Macomer depot and workshops, then train to Nuoro (1.5 hours), continuing by road to Laconi to board a special private vintage train on the normally-closed, highly scenic narrow gauge line to Arbatax.
By coach inland to Laconi (approx. 2.5 hours) for a special private train to Mandas, then by coach south to Cagliari for a three-night stay. Cagliari has been the capital of Sardinia for over 2,000 years.
Guided visit of the small FS railway museum, then a visit to the Roman archaeological site of Nora, 25km from Cagliari. Afternoon guided tour of the old city of Cagliari with a professional local guide.
Coach to Carbonia, founded by Mussolini in 1938, for a guided tour of the coal museum at the old Serbariu mine (with an optional underground drift tour). Afternoon visit to the narrow-gauge museum in Monserrato.
FS service train from Cagliari to Golfo Aranci, a four-hour ride the length of the island, then transfer by road to Olbia airport for evening flights to Gatwick (direct) or Manchester (via Munich). Those flying to Heathrow or Bristol have a night in Golfo Aranci before direct flights from Olbia the next day.

Authentic Europe
Self-guided Rome to Tuscany road trip with a first-class train leg

Great Rail Journeys
Ten-day escorted Sardinia tour with ancient ruins and the Little Green Train

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