Great Rail Journeys
Venice Simplon Orient Express and Classic Italian Cities
8 daysfrom $6,804
Planet Rail · Tailor-made escorted/self-guided tour
The Flavours of Tuscany
Indulge in the tastes of Tuscany with fine wines and local cuisine as you travel through stunning landscapes on a luxury rail journey through Italy's heartland.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Turin – Grand Hotel Sitea (5 star)
By rail to Turin
Depart from London St Pancras by Eurostar to Paris in Standard Premier Class (1st class for leisure travellers), then transfer by private taxi to Gare de Lyon and continue by TGV through France to Turin, Italy. Make your own way to the Grand Hotel Sitea (5 star) for the night.
- Day 2railovernight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
Turin to the heart of Tuscany
Morning free to explore Turin – visit Piazza Castello, the Egyptian Museum and the cathedral housing the Shroud of Turin. Depart by InterCity train in First Class, skirting the shoreline to Campiglia Marittima on the Tuscan coast. Met by Luca, owner of the Relais dei Molini, and transferred to Castagneto Carducci. Dinner in a traditional local restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 3overnight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
Bolgheri and its wines
Collect hire car and explore the Bolgheri Doc wine region. Visit the village of Bolgheri and its famous cypress avenue (Viale dei Cipressi). Stop at a local winery for a guided visit and wine tasting. Return to Castagneto Carducci for a traditional lunch with locals featuring homemade pasta and wild boar sauce. Afternoon at leisure to explore the medieval village and visit a local liquor producer (family business over 200 years old).
Meals: Lunch
- Day 4overnight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
Calidaro Thermal Springs
Visit the Calidaro Thermal Springs, where hot water at 36°C flows into a natural swimming pool. Admission is included. The springs have been used since Etruscan and Roman times. Rest of the day at leisure.
- Day 5overnight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
Lucca and its culinary traditions
Drive to Lucca, a charming walled medieval city. Enjoy an authentic Tuscan cooking lesson at Mrs Teresa's rustic rural farmhouse, sourcing fresh ingredients from the orchard and cooking traditional Tuscan dishes for lunch. Afternoon free to explore Lucca's cobbled streets, piazzas, churches and city walls. Optional: climb the Guinigi Tower for views over the city (payable locally).
Meals: Lunch
- Day 6overnight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
A day at leisure
Free day to explore the surrounding area. Options include heading to the coast and towns of Campiglia Marittima or Suvereto, exploring the parks of the Cornia Valley (cycle hire available), visiting local wineries or the nearby wine museum.
- Day 7overnight: Castagneto Carducci – Relais dei Molini (4 star)
Fattoria Lischeto and Volterra
Drive to the walled town of Volterra. Visit the Lischeto Farm to learn about traditional sheep breeding and cheese production, make your own cheese, and enjoy lunch using farm produce. On some occasions a 'shepherding' experience is available. Afternoon free to explore Volterra's Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance heritage and its traditional alabaster crafts. Farewell dinner in Castagneto Carducci.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8
Homeward bound
Return hire car; Luca transfers you to Pisa airport for an Economy Class flight to a regional UK airport of your choice (subject to availability).
Included
- First Class rail travel between London and Campiglia Marittima (Standard Premier service on Eurostar)
- 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast each day, including 1 night in Turin at the Grand Hotel Sitea (5 star) and 6 nights at the Relais dei Molini (4 star) in Castagneto Carducci
- 5 days' car hire in Tuscany
- 2 dinners during stay in Castagneto Carducci
- Wine tasting at a Bolgheri vineyard and lunch in Castagneto Carducci
- Entrance to Calidaro Thermal Springs
- Cookery class in Lucca, including lunch
- Visit to Lischeto Farm cheese factory, including lunch
- Economy Class flight from Pisa to a regional UK airport of your choice (subject to availability)
- Private taxi transfer between stations in Paris
Not included
- Single supplement (applicable but amount not stated)
- Guinigi Tower entrance fee (payable locally)
- Cancellation, medical and travel insurance (available from the Travel Trust Association)
- Cycle hire in Cornia Valley (if chosen)
- Additional nights in hotels (available on request)
