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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Rail Wonders of Sardinia

Ten-day Sardinian rail tour on narrow-gauge and standard-gauge trains

Illustration of Rail Wonders of Sardinia

PTG Tours' Rail Wonders of Sardinia is a ten-day escorted tour designed for rail enthusiasts. The journey departs from Tempio Pausania in the north and ends at Golfo Aranci on the east coast, covering every open railway line on the island, both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge, as well as two tram systems. Travellers ride private vintage charter trains on normally closed lines, including the scenic Laconi-to-Arbatax route, visit working depot workshops, and explore Roman archaeology and medieval towns. A tour manager accompanies the group throughout. Days balance rail travel with walking tours in Sassari, Cagliari, and the coastal towns of Alghero and Castelsardo. Stays range from two to three nights per location, allowing time to absorb each region. The tour suits repeat rail travellers, history lovers, photographers, and those seeking guided comfort with varied scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is scheduled for October 2026; confirm availability with PTG Tours before committing.
  • The hotel in Arbatax is listed as TBC (to be confirmed); PTG will name it during final booking.
  • Day 4 in Alghero offers optional activities (rail depot visit or free day with boat ride); the itinerary is not fixed for all travellers that day.
  • The restored 1913 coach on the Bosa Marina to Sindia train is not guaranteed; vintage equipment varies by season.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Tempio Pausania

    Arrival, Tempio Pausania

    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.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Tempio Pausania

    Luras to Tempio Pausania narrow-gauge & Nuraghe Majori

    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.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Alghero

    Castelsardo, Sassari & Alghero

    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.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Alghero

    Alghero

    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.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Macomer

    Bosa Marina to Macomer

    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.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Arbatax

    Macomer depot & on to Arbatax

    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.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Cagliari

    Laconi to Mandas, on to Cagliari

    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.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Cagliari

    Cagliari & Nora

    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.

  9. Day 9overnight: Cagliari

    Carbonia coal museum

    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.

  10. Day 10rail

    Cagliari to Golfo Aranci, departure

    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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Private narrow-gauge vintage train from Luras to Tempio Pausania, with a depot visit and lunch at Nuraghe Majori, a bronze-age stone tower.
  • Day 3Short narrow-gauge train ride from Sorso into Sassari, with option to visit the ARST rail depot or join a guided walk through Sassari's historic streets.
  • Day 6Guided tour of Macomer's depot and workshops, followed by a train to Nuoro and a special private vintage train on the scenic narrow-gauge line to Arbatax.
  • Day 8Visit to the Roman archaeological site at Nora, 25 kilometres from Cagliari, and a guided afternoon tour of the old city with a local guide.
  • Day 10Four-hour FS service train from Cagliari to Golfo Aranci, travelling the length of the island on standard gauge.

Included

  • All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Good quality en-suite accommodation
  • Meals as shown in the itinerary
  • Services of our tour manager; holiday is fully escorted

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included in the price?
Yes. PTG Tours includes all rail journeys, coach transfers, accommodation, and meals in the quoted price from GBP 1,995. Flights are an optional add-on (GBP 2,295 includes flights from UK gateways).
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. PTG Tours provides a tour manager named Peter for the entire duration; the holiday is fully escorted.
What kinds of trains do we ride?
Eight different railway lines: narrow-gauge vintage charter trains (Luras to Tempio Pausania, Bosa Marina to Sindia), narrow-gauge FdS trains (Macomer to Nuoro), a narrow-gauge service train (Sorso to Sassari, Ozieri to Sassari to Alghero), private vintage charter trains on closed lines (Laconi to Arbatax, Laconi to Mandas), and standard-gauge FS service (Cagliari to Golfo Aranci).
Where do we stay?
Pausania Inn in Tempio Pausania (two nights), Hotel Alma di Alghero in Alghero (two nights), Regio Hotel in Macomer (one night), a TBC hotel in Arbatax (one night), and Hotel Italia in Cagliari (three nights). All are good-quality en-suite accommodation.
When does this tour run?
One departure is scheduled for October 2026. Confirm availability with PTG Tours.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
Expect city walking in Alghero, Sassari, and Cagliari; stairs in castles and museums; and an optional underground drift tour at the Carbonia coal mine. Most activity is moderate; the tour suits those comfortable with a day of guided walking and stairs.

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