Original
Explorer
Rail
France, Switzerland, and Italy by Rail
23 days • No reviews yet
23 days
Start
Paris, France
Finish
Venice, Italy
Trip Code
BMSRC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
18 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Metro, Local Bus, Boat, Private Vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (22 nights)
From £6,034(23 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Choose a slower-paced European journey on a comfortable rail-only trip – as well as travelling like the locals on domestic trains, you’ll also hop aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express and take the Mount Pilatus Silver Circle tour (which includes an aerial cableway)!
Take a scenic hike in Bellinzona to make the most of the incredible views – surrounded by the Swiss Alps, Bellinzona also features not one, not two, but three medieval castles.
Watch a cooking demonstration using fresh, locally harvested produce, then sit down to lunch during a visit to The Tuuur Foundation partner, Cooperativa Coraggio, who work to regenerate 22 hectares of unused public land to create local jobs and produce organic food in Italy.
Take to the Tuscan countryside and cycle along the Serchio River in Lucca, working up an appetite for the region’s delicious local food and renowned wines.
Head with your local leader to a quaint rural village in the heart of Piedmonte to sample world-class local wines from unique grapes grown only in this region – salute!
Is this trip right for you?
If you love avoiding airport queues, this is the trip for you! As public transport is the predominant form of transport on this trip, we highly recommend packing as lightly as possible as you will be expected to carry your own bags on and off trains as well as to and from your accommodation.
If travelling to Paris from London we highly recommend using the fast Eurostar train from London's St Pancras station. At under 2.5 hours travel time and with no airport queues, this is by far the most convenient travel option.
Please note that we will store our bags at the railway station in Milan while exploring town. There is a limit of one bag per person for the lockers, so please make sure you pack accordingly. Please also note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the trains, and up and down stairs at train stations and at hotels, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'What to Take' section of the Essential Trip Information. You may want to consider taking a backpack rather than a wheelie bag, however this is up to your personal preference and what you feel more comfortable with.
Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Many hotel rooms in Europe are not equipped with air-conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Hotel rooms in Europe can seem rather small by American or Australian standards and often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that often hotels offer shared bathrooms rather than ensuite facilities.
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
Itinerary
Link together an adventure from Paris to Venice
Make tracks to embark on a 23-day adventure encompassing France, Switzerland and Italy. Using trains as your primary means of moving about, you’ll get started in the City of Lights before moving into Lausanne and Lucerne, with their UNESCO World Heritage-listed vineyard terraces and views of the Alps. Then it’s into Italy, where you’ll have plenty of free time to explore Rome before heading north to the Tuscan countryside, Cinque Terre, the Portofino Peninsula and more. Best of all, you’ll do with the comforts of rail transport and an expert local leader showing you the way.
Inclusions
Meals
18 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Metro, Local Bus, Boat, Private Vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (22 nights)
Included activities
Paris - Orientation Walk
Paris - Welcome Meeting
Lausanne - Orientation Walk
Lucerne - Walk on the Museggmauer Walls
Lucerne - Mount Pilatus Silver Circle Tour
Bellinzona - Orientation Walk
Bellinzona - Leader led hike
Rome - Orientation Walk
Rome - Cooperativa Coraggio (The Tuuur Foundation partner) visit
Lucca - Bicycle Tour
Pisa - Half Day Trip to Pisa
Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
Portofino Peninsula - Walk and Boat Ride
Asti - Village Winery Visit & Wine Tasting
Milan - Duomo Rooftop Visit
Milan - Half Day Trip
Lake Como - Ferry Pass
Venice - Traghetto Ride
Venice - Leader led orientation walk
Venice - Ciccheti Stop
Optional activities
Paris - Hidden Montmartre Urban Adventure - EUR35
Paris - Palace of Versailles - EUR20
Paris - Louvre Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
Paris - Arc de Triomphe - EUR16
Paris - Musee d'Orsay - EUR16
Paris - Rodin Museum - EUR14
Paris - Napoleon's Tomb & Les Invalides Army Museum - EUR15
Paris - Eiffel Tower (from - must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
Paris - Da Vinci Code Walking Tour - EUR25
Lausanne - Visit to Unesco-listed Lavaux vineyards and wine tasting (including return local trains) - CHF23
Lausanne - Boat tour on the Leman Lake - CHF38
Lausanne - Visit to the Olympic Museum - CHF20
Lausanne - Chocolate tasting tour - CHF29
Lausanne - Visit to Plateforme 10 museum - CHF15
Lucerne - Swiss Museum of Transport - CHF62
Lucerne - Fondue lunch or dinner - CHF27
Lucerne - Boat tour on the lake - CHF30
Lucerne - Paddle boat on the lake - CHF40
Lucerne - Gletschergarten Luzern Museum - CHF22
Lucerne - Guided tour of the Sonnenberg Bunker - CHF350
Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR25
Rome - Pantheon One Hour Guided Tour Urban Adventure - EUR35
Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo - EUR19
Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10
Rome - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - EUR19
Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
Rome - Pantheon - EUR5
Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR17
Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR17
Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6
Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
Florence - Brunelleschi 3 Days pass - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
Florence - Accademia - EUR20
Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR29
Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR16
Florence: Hidden Gems and Aperitivo - EUR77
Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa - EUR27
Pisa - 5 Monuments Combo Ticket - EUR11
Lucca - Cathedral of San Martino & Ilaria del Carretto Tomb - EUR3
Lucca - Guinigi Tower Climb - EUR8
Lucca - National Gallery Villa Guinigi - EUR5
Lucca - Day Trip to Barga (by public bus) - EUR9
Lucca - Palazzo Pfanner House & Gardens - EUR7
Lucca - Cathedral Museum - EUR4
Lucca - Puccini concert - EUR20
Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa - EUR20
La Spezia - Mountain E-bike hire - EUR75
Cinque Terre - Via dell’Amore trail - EUR10
Asti - Bike Hire - EUR3
Asti - Archaeological Museum - EUR10
Milan - Castello Sforzesco - Free
Milan - La Scala Museum - EUR13
Milan - Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' - from - EUR29
Lake Como - Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo - EUR12
Lake Como - Villa Melzi Gardens in Bellagio - EUR10
Lake Como - Vezio Castle in Varenna - EUR6
Villa del Balbianello - EUR13
Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR112
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Important notes
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding days 13, 14, 15 & 16. Availability is limited due to small properties that we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
TRAIN TRAVEL
The primary form of transportation on this trip are scheduled local and intercity trains.
On day 5 of departures operating in April, we’ll be making a slight adjustment to how we reach the top of Mount Pilatus. The cogwheel train will be out of service seasonal maintenance and potential weather conditions and instead, we’ll enjoy a scenic cable car ride from the village of Kriens, offering stunning panoramic views along the way.
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