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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Rome, Pompeii and Carthage by Rail

London to Tunisia via Rome, Pompeii and Sicily on 13-day rail adventure

Illustration of Rome, Pompeii and Carthage by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's 13-day Rome, Pompeii and Carthage by Rail takes you from London to the Tunisian coast through six nations and across three transport modes. You depart London on Eurostar to Paris, connect to a high-speed TGV for Strasbourg, then board the Gotthard route train through the Alps to Locarno on Lake Maggiore. From there, regional services carry you south through Milan to Rome, where you spend three nights exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and classical landmarks. A Frecciarossa high-speed train takes you to Naples for two nights, including a guided day trip to Pompeii, the ancient city buried and preserved under volcanic ash. On Day 8, you board an overnight sleeper train in a private compartment across the Straits of Messina to Palermo, Sicily. After a night in Palermo, a ferry carries you across the Mediterranean to Tunis, where you stay three nights with a half-day guided tour of Carthage's ancient ruins. The itinerary suits history lovers, repeat rail travellers, and couples seeking a mix of guided experiences and independent exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • Return flight from Tunis to the UK is not included in the price; costs and availability depend on your dates and airport.
  • Hotel names listed as 'or similar'; your final accommodation depends on the tier and city, so confirm exact properties before booking.
  • The package is tailored, not fixed-group; confirm group size and departure dates directly with Tailor Made Rail.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg

    London to Strasbourg

    A Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Paris, an easy connection to Gare de l'Est for a high-speed TGV to Strasbourg, arriving in the early evening. Check in at the Hotel des Vosges (or similar) for an overnight stay, with an evening in the Old Town and Petite France district.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Locarno

    Strasbourg to Locarno

    A train to Basel on the Swiss border, then a direct service on the Gotthard route through the Alps to the Italian-speaking region of Ticino. Check in at the Hotel Garni du Lac (or similar) on the Swiss shore of Lake Maggiore for an overnight stay.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Rome

    Locarno to Rome

    A train into Italy, changing at Milan, then onward to Rome. Check in at the Hotel Colosseum (or similar) in Rome's oldest district.

  4. Day 4overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Two full days soaking up the Eternal City, including the Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon, plus a small-group guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

  5. Day 5overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Two full days soaking up the Eternal City, including the Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon, plus a small-group guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Naples

    Rome to Naples

    A high-speed Frecciarossa train down the boot of Italy to Naples, checking in at the Hotel San Pietro (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Naples

    Naples and day trip to Pompeii

    Explore Naples, one of Italy's most visited and authentic cities, and take a day trip to the archaeological site of Pompeii, buried and preserved under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Overnight sleeper train to Sicily

    Naples and board sleeper train

    Free time in Naples, including a recommended visit to the National Archaeological Museum, before boarding the evening sleeper train bound for Sicily in a private 2-berth compartment.

  9. Day 9overnight: Palermo

    Arrive Palermo

    Arrive into Palermo and check in at the Quintocanto Hotel (or similar); an early check-in can be arranged by booking an extra night. Explore the capital of Sicily, including its 12th century Cathedral, the Ballarò street market, or Mondello Beach.

  10. Day 10overnight: Tunis

    Palermo to Tunis

    A free morning in Palermo, then a ferry across the Mediterranean to Tunis, arriving late evening with an included transfer to the Dar El Medina Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay.

  11. Day 11overnight: Tunis

    Tunis

    Two full days discovering the Tunisian capital, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina and souks, plus a half-day guided tour of the ancient city of Carthage.

  12. Day 12overnight: Tunis

    Tunis

    Two full days discovering the Tunisian capital, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina and souks, plus a half-day guided tour of the ancient city of Carthage.

  13. Day 13rail

    Depart Tunis

    Leave Tunis for the return flight to the UK (not included). Train connections continue from Tunis to other Tunisian destinations, such as the ancient city of Sousse, less than 3 hours down the coast.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Gotthard route train climbs through the Alps from Strasbourg to Locarno on the shore of Lake Maggiore.
  • Day 4Small-group guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in Rome.
  • Day 7Day trip to Pompeii, the archaeological site preserved under ash from Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD.
  • Day 8Overnight in a private 2-berth sleeper compartment travelling from Naples to Palermo across the Straits of Messina.
  • Day 10Ferry crossing of the Mediterranean from Palermo to Tunis.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 11 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Overnight sleeper travel in a private 2-berth compartment
  • Ferry from Palermo to Tunis
  • Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill small group tour in Rome
  • Pompeii small group tour with guide from Naples, including entrance tickets
  • Carthage discovery half-day tour from Tunis
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation

Not included

  • Return flight from Tunis to the UK

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on six services: Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Strasbourg), Gotthard route (Strasbourg to Locarno), regional trains (Locarno to Rome), Frecciarossa (Rome to Naples), and a sleeper train in a private 2-berth compartment (Naples to Palermo). A ferry replaces rail from Palermo to Tunis.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class rail with seat reservations, 11 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, overnight sleeper travel in a private 2-berth compartment, ferry from Palermo to Tunis, small-group guided tours (Colosseum and Pompeii from Naples, Carthage half-day from Tunis), and travel documentation. Return flights are not included.
How many nights do I spend in each place?
Strasbourg one night, Locarno one night, Rome three nights, Naples two nights, Palermo one night, Tunis three nights. One night is spent on the sleeper train between Naples and Palermo.
When does this trip run?
Low season (November to March) starts at GBP 1,849 per person; high season (April to October) at GBP 2,349. Specific departure dates are managed as a tailored booking, so contact Tailor Made Rail for availability.
How much walking is involved?
Expect city walking in Rome, Naples, Palermo and Tunis to see museums, monuments and markets; the guided Pompeii tour and Carthage half-day tour involve archaeological site exploration. Luggage handling occurs at multiple hotel changes across six nights.
Is the tour guided or independent?
The tour is a mix. You travel independently between cities by train; however, Tailor Made Rail includes small-group guided tours of the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome, Pompeii from Naples, and Carthage from Tunis. Other sightseeing in each city is unguided.

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