PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Railways of Southern France and the Pyrenees

Railways of Southern France and the Pyrenees, a rail journey with PTG Tours

A rail holiday covering the length of France from the Alps to the Pyrenees, riding modern and historic trains including two steam railways and the famous Little Yellow Train.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Marseille

    Overland departure to Marseille

    Overland travellers depart London St Pancras on the 11:04 Eurostar to Lille, met by Tour Manager Valeria, then TGV forward to Marseille (dep 18:44) for an overnight stay in a good 3-star hotel opposite the station. Passengers flying join the tour tomorrow in Nice.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Nice

    On to Nice

    After breakfast, overland travellers continue by TGV to Nice (dep 12:29, arr 14:58). Flying passengers arrive direct via Nice airport. Afternoon free to explore the Old City and the Promenade des Anglais.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Nice

    Train des Merveilles to Tende

    A slow scenic train, the 'Train des Merveilles', from Nice to Tende following the Roya Valley and crossing the Alps into Italy, with three spirals and a summit higher than Ben Nevis. Time to explore Tende, then travel back as far as Breil-sur-Roya to visit its railway museum. Return to Nice by train; Welcome Dinner near the hotel.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Nice

    Train des Pignes and a heritage steam ride to Annot

    A ride on the narrow (metre) gauge CF Provence line from Nice to Digne, 151km, in a new 2-car DMU on the 'Train des Pignes'. Alight at Puget-Théniers to join a steam train hauled by an ex-CP (Portugal) 2-4-6-0T mallet locomotive to Annot, a fascinating mountain town. Return to Nice by coach in time for dinner.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Nîmes

    Nice to Nîmes

    Train from Nice to Nîmes. Afternoon guided walk through the historic centre, including the Roman Amphitheatre ("the best preserved in the whole of the Roman Empire") and the Maison Carrée temple.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Nîmes

    Cévennes steam railway

    A scenic train through the Cévennes from Nîmes to La Bastide-St-Laurent, returning to Alès where a coach transfers the group to Saint-Jean-du-Gard for the "Train à Vapeur des Cévennes", an ex-SNCF 2-8-0 steam locomotive recommissioned in 2011, for a 13km ride along the Gardons valley with a visit to the workshops. Return to Nîmes by coach.

  7. Day 7overnight: Nîmes

    Avignon and Pont du Gard

    Guided tour of the Papal Palace in the walled city of Avignon, then free time before a guided tour of the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, including its museum.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Prades

    Le Train Rouge to Perpignan area

    Train from Nîmes to Carcassonne (and the branch to Quillan, timetable permitting), then coach to Axat, the upper terminus of Le Train Rouge. A scenic ride through mountains and gorges (part on open wagons if dry), changing to a historic railcar to complete the journey to Rivesaltes, then coach to the hotel.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Toulouse

    The Little Yellow Train to Toulouse

    Train to Villefranche-Vernet to join the Little Yellow Train (Train Jaune), a historic metre-gauge electric railway opened in 1909, climbing from 427m to Bolquère Eyne, France's highest railway station at 1592m, then down to Latour de Carol. Standard-gauge train onward direct to Toulouse.

  10. Day 10overnight: Toulouse

    Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn

    Morning visit to the 500mm narrow-gauge Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn, riding a diesel charter (due to a weak bridge awaiting repair) plus a visit to the depot and workshops. Free afternoon to explore Toulouse, the "pink city".

  11. Day 11overnight: Toulouse

    Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi

    Coach to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne with free time to explore, followed by a cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage Canal du Midi. Return to Toulouse by coach for a Farewell Dinner.

  12. Day 12

    Return home

    Return home overland to Paris and London, or by air from Toulouse (direct flights to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh; Manchester travellers fly via Bordeaux).

Included

  • All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Our own coach which will carry our luggage from hotel to hotel from Lyon to St Jean de Luz
  • En-suite accommodation
  • Meals as shown in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Services of the tour manager
  • Holiday is fully escorted

Similar journeys, different answers