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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Railways of Southern France and the Pyrenees

Twelve-day escorted rail journey from Nice to Carcassonne via Alps and Pyrenees.

Illustration of Railways of Southern France and the Pyrenees

PTG Tours operates this 12-day escorted rail journey through southern France from the Mediterranean Alps to the Pyrenees, departing Nice and concluding in Carcassonne. Tour Manager Valeria leads the group, which travels on seven different trains ranging from modern TGVs to heritage steam locomotives and the famous Little Yellow Train. Overland travellers depart London St Pancras via Eurostar and overnight in Marseille; flying passengers join the group in Nice on Day 2. The itinerary balances train rides with city walks and cultural visits: Day 3 features the Train des Merveilles climbing through Alpine spirals to Tende, Day 6 offers a scenic Cévennes steam railway, and Day 9 includes the Little Yellow Train ascending to 1,592 metres, France's highest railway station. The tour suits repeat rail enthusiasts seeking heritage and narrow-gauge trains, history lovers drawn to Roman amphitheatres and medieval towns, and guided-comfort travellers who prefer escorted pacing and handled luggage transfers.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is listed: June 2026 at £2,395 per person (from-price). Confirm availability and any other dates with PTG Tours.
  • Le Train Rouge journey includes part of the route on open wagons if weather permits, so dress accordingly.
  • Day 12 offers a choice: overland return to London via Paris, or flights from Toulouse to various UK airports (Manchester requires a connection via Bordeaux).

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).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Train des Merveilles from Nice to Tende climbs through three spiral tunnels across the Roya Valley Alps, reaching a summit higher than Ben Nevis.
  • Day 4An ex-Portuguese 2-4-6-0T mallet steam locomotive hauls the heritage train from Puget-Théniers to Annot, a mountain town on the Provence line.
  • Day 6The Train à Vapeur des Cévennes, an ex-SNCF 2-8-0 steam locomotive recommissioned in 2011, travels 13 kilometres through the Gardons valley with a workshops visit.
  • Day 9The Little Yellow Train (Train Jaune), a metre-gauge electric railway from 1909, climbs from 427 metres to Bolquère Eyne at 1592 metres, France's highest railway station.
  • Day 11A cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage Canal du Midi follows a free visit to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The from-price of £2,395 (USD $3,199) includes all train travel and coach transfers, accommodation, meals as shown in the itinerary, and the tour manager's services.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Fully escorted. Tour Manager Valeria accompanies the group throughout.
Which trains are featured?
Seven trains: the Train des Merveilles (Nice-Tende), Train des Pignes (Nice-Digne-les-Bains), a heritage steam mallet locomotive (Puget-Théniers-Annot), the Train à Vapeur des Cévennes steam train (Gardons valley), Le Train Rouge (Axat-Rivesaltes), the Little Yellow Train (Villefranche-de-Conflent-Latour de Carol), and the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn narrow-gauge heritage line near Toulouse.
How much walking is involved?
The tour is moderately active with some walking from stations to coaches or cruise piers. Overland travellers carry their own luggage between stations and the coach initially.
What accommodation is included?
En-suite rooms in three- to four-star hotels in Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, Prades, and Toulouse for 11 nights. PTG Tours handles luggage transfers between hotels using its own coach.
How do I join the tour?
Overland travellers depart London St Pancras on Eurostar and TGV, with an overnight in Marseille before joining in Nice on Day 2. Flying passengers arrive direct to Nice. Return options on Day 12 include overland to London or flights from Toulouse to eight UK airports.

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