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Glorious Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast & Eternal Rome

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10 days From £2,895 per person
3.8 stars(83 reviews)
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Explore Rome’s ancient treasures, Pompeii’s relics and relax on the beautiful Amalfi coastline

Mobility Rating 3

2024 Tour code: ICS24

About the tour

Explore one of Europe's most visually stunning and romantic regions, the captivating Amalfi coast. Starting with two nights in the 'Eternal City' of Rome, we continue to pretty Sorrento - with a colourful harbour overlooking the stunning Bay of Naples, gateway to Capri and the Amalfi Coast - and visit the fascinating lost cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Unforgettable experiences

Soak up the breathtaking natural beauty of the Amalfi coast
Soak up the breathtaking natural beauty of the Amalfi coast
On a relaxing and scenic boat cruise to picturesque Positano and sun-kissed Amalfi.
Relax in the romantic town of Sorrento
Relax in the romantic town of Sorrento
A small but charming resort with a colourful harbour - and enjoy a hands-on pizza-making evening with a master pizzaiolo.
Walk among two of the world’s archaeological wonders, Pompeii and Herculaneum
Walk among two of the world’s archaeological wonders, Pompeii and Herculaneum
Cities captured in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. On a guided tour we wander its ancient streets, past temples, baths, theatres, shops and markets – all preserved by volcanic ash.
Discover the glorious city of Rome
Discover the glorious city of Rome
On a guided tour of its great monuments, experiencing historic grandeur, unique culture and that wonderful Italian attitude of ‘la dolce vita’.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – London and Chambéry

We meet our Tour Manager and group of fellow travellers at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar service for a morning journey to Paris, travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats. From Paris we continue by First Class rail to Chambéry, a charming town nestled at the foothills of the Alps. The town is the former seat of the Dukes of Savoy, and their impressive château still dominates Chambéry's picturesque centre. Arriving this evening, we check into our hotel for the night, before our first group dinner together.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
Day 2 – Two nights to explore glorious Rome

Leaving Chambéry after breakfast, we take the short walk to the train station to travel to our first exciting Italian destination, the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Our relaxing rail journey is in First Class and takes us past the French and Italian Alps, with a brief stop in stylish Turin before continuing south to Rome. Arriving in Italy's dynamic capital this evening, we walk a short distance to our central hotel where we stay for two nights. This evening we enjoy a three-course dinner at our hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Discovering La Dolce Vita in Rome

This morning we discover some of Rome's spectacular sights on a guided tour. We transfer by coach to the awe-inspiring Colosseum, Italy's most renowned classical site, where our tour begins. We see the vast Roman Forum, once the powerful governing centre of ancient Rome, the elegant Piazza Venezia and the Roman Pantheon, a stunning architectural masterpiece. At the fabulous Trevi Fountain, we stop for a morning coffee. Our tour ends in Piazza Navona - a lively square with a fabulous Baroque fountain and a border of ochre-hued buildings, cafés and restaurants - where you're free to soak up the atmosphere and experience Rome's beauty and unique style at your own pace for the whole of the afternoon and evening. You could visit St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, stroll through the vibrant streets, or relax with a gelato in one of the city's squares.

If you're keen to visit the Vatican, we recommend booking ahead online - you'll find it just across the historic Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II which spans the River Tiber. Within 15 minutes' walk of Piazza Navona is another world-renowned monument, the Spanish Steps. Walk up them and you'll reach Villa Borghese park, where you can relax in landscaped gardens or see stunning art and sculpture in the Borghese Gallery. Rome offers an unlimited array of lively eating places, many of which offer alfresco seating. Maybe choose a trattoria to enjoy a plate of delicious pasta with a glass of wine, or watch the world go by from an outdoor café.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 – From Rome to Sorrento

After a leisurely start we travel by First Class rail to Naples, then on by coach to Sorrento where we arrive at lunchtime. This alluring town is set in its own small bay, within the vast Bay of Naples, perched on a natural terrace above dramatic cliffs that overlook the sea. The narrow, cobbled streets feature Renaissance palaces and Romanesque churches, and the town is surrounded by hillsides of fragrant lemon orchards. Our base for six nights is the Hilton Sorrento Palace, which has excellent facilities and delightful views across the town to the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. After free time to have lunch independently we meet for an hour-long guided tour of the town. With the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore, this evening we dine together at our lovely hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Free day to explore enchanting Sorrento

Today you're free to get to know charming Sorrento. You could wander through the cobbled streets among beautiful Renaissance buildings, or enjoy people watching in Piazza Tasso, the town's central square. There are plenty of tempting options for lunch in the Centro Storico, whose colourful streets and cool piazzas are teeming with tempting restaurants and cafés. This quarter is also known for its artisan workshops and craft shops, selling locally produced ceramics, lacework and wooden items.

Of course, you may be perfectly happy to spend the day relaxing at our hotel, enjoying great views from the fragrant citrus garden, or from the infinity pool on its roof terrace.

The old town of Sorrento buzzes with life in the evening, while the Marina Grande has the quieter, enchanting ambience of a fishing village. Just above here is the Villa Comunale Park, with small manicured gardens and a terrace with sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples - the park can be reached by an elevator and is the ideal spot to watch the sun slowly setting over the sea. Nearby, the beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco and its peaceful cloister is worth a visit, where classical music concerts are held in summer.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – An excursion to Pompeii, a city captured in time

This morning we enjoy a highlight of our tour - we travel back in time to Pompeii, the city buried and preserved by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. We are transferred by coach to the railway station where we take a short train journey to this fascinating archaeological site for a guided tour of the best-preserved Roman city in the world. Our tour takes us through the incredibly intact streets of Pompeii, and we walk among the shops, impressive villas, baths, temples, and restaurants of this UNESCO World Heritage site. We also see its amphitheatre - the oldest in the world - and some of the ancient city's extraordinary frescoes. After retracing our journey by train and coach transfer back to our hotel, your afternoon and evening is free in Sorrento.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Exploring the stunning Amalfi Coast

Today we discover the captivating Amalfi Coast from the glistening Tyrrhenian sea. This scenic coastline is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which stretches along the Gulf of Salerno, south of the Sorrentine Peninsula. We are transferred by coach to the departure point of Massa Lubrense where we board our boat cruise. First, we cruise to lovely Amalfi, the 'Jewel of the Amalfi Coast'. With free time this morning you could visit the stunning cathedral, Duomo di Sant'Andrea, which overlooks the town's main piazza. Around the square are cafés, gelateria and shady spots to rest and admire the striking cathedral above.

Our boat cruise continues to Positano, where pastel houses stud the hillsides and, at the beach, fishermen haul their wooden boats, as they have for many decades. Here we are at leisure to soak up the atmosphere and maybe enjoy lunch at a café or restaurant in the colourful harbour. We return to Sorrento in the afternoon with time to relax, or maybe to take a refreshing swim before setting out on an enjoyable excursion this evening. We're driven a short distance by coach to take part in a hands-on pizza-making experience at a local restaurant. Led by a master pizzaiolo, we discover the secrets to this revered Italian dish before sitting down to dine on our delicious creations, along with a glass of wine and a dessert.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 – Free day to relax in Sorrento or explore further

Today is another opportunity to explore lovely Sorrento or to visit a neighbouring place. You might like to soak up the views on a leisurely walk around the town - on a clear day, you can see the city of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and the island of Ischia.

One inspiring way to spend the day is to visit the gorgeous island of Capri by boat. To see Capri at its best, before it fills with a daily throng of visitors, we recommend setting out early and travelling by hydrofoil.

This afternoon or evening, head to one of the many inviting cafés or restaurants in the Centro Storico, or in the more laid-back Marina Grande, and indulge in some delicious cuisine. Sorrento is the perfect place to enjoy a long, lazy lunch made of the freshest local ingredients, ideally while overlooking the glittering sea. You might try the local gnocchi, or Scialatielli ai frutti di mare, a traditional seafood pasta dish.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 – Ancient Herculaneum and lunch at a traditional agriturismo

After breakfast today we travel by coach to Herculaneum, a lesser-known Roman city that was also buried, and magically preserved, under the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. Due to its close proximity to Mount Vesuvius, the eruption that blasted Pompeii had a similar effect here, fossilising much of the town. We make our way through the ruins, taking in the fascinating sights of ancient life. Herculaneum was wealthier than Pompeii and is known for its magnificent palaces and mansions, some featuring beautiful frescoes.

After exploring this ancient site, we continue by coach to a local agriturismo - the traditional farmhouse of a large agricultural farm, established and run for four generations by the same family - where we're served a delicious lunch of fresh produce from the estate, including homemade limoncello and mozzarella. The terraces of this lovely farmhouse offer an oasis of peace and tranquility, surrounded by ancient olive groves, lemon orchards and vineyards. We return to our hotel in the afternoon and this evening, our last one in Sorrento, is at leisure to enjoy as you wish.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 10 – Fly home, or rail to Turin

This morning, you say farewell to your Tour Manager at our Sorrento hotel and transfer to Naples airport, from where you fly home. On the journey, you can reflect on the experiences of our Italian tour and the special places we have seen, before our holiday draws to a close.

If you have opted to return by rail, join the Tour Manager as we begin our journey north through Italy. After a coach transfer to Naples we travel by First Class rail to the cultural city of Turin, close to the French border. We check into our overnight hotel in Turin and have dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 – Homeward bound from Turin (return by rail option only)

Early this morning we start the final journey of our holiday, boarding the First Class train from Turin to Paris. In the French capital, we change trains and join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats. During our journey there's time to reflect on the unforgettable experiences we have enjoyed, share stories with fellow travellers and new friends before our holiday draws to a close as our train pulls into St Pancras.

Please Note - If you opt for the return by rail option there is a supplement of £200pp

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner

Additional information

Travel Options

We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for departures on this tour. You can find out which class each departure is by clicking on the information button in the table of prices.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Bettoja Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio, Rome

Bettoja Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio, Rome

View hotel

Hilton Sorrento Palace

Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento

View hotel

Trains

Eurostar
Frecciargento
Frecciarossa
TGV
Trenitalia

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Luggage Service
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

3.8 stars3.8 / 5 · 83 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (25)
  2. 4 stars
    (37)
  3. 3 stars
    (8)
  4. 2 stars
    (7)
  5. 1 star
    (6)

Jim Halcro-Johnston

5 stars

Submitted 19/Nov

A very well run holiday experience. Train and hotel bookings were excellent and the tour party of about 26 people were blessed with an outstanding tour guide.

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Halcro-Johnston, Thank you for your review. That is wonderful to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Keith Drury

2 stars

Submitted 16/Oct

Over-rated, overcrowded and overpriced. GRJ's organisation of the holiday was OK, though with errors and omissions. Excursions to Pompeii and Ercolano and ancient Rome tour were excellent. Tour Leader was excellent, and ameliorated some of the worst issues. But not a holiday recommended for the over-75s. Still awaiting return of case sent via Sherpr/FedEx delivery service, though one collected in Sorrento same day, same hotel was delivered 5 days ago. No info from FedEx.

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Chris

5 stars

Submitted 14/Oct

We had a lovely holiday to Rome Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, the Tour Manger did a brilliant job of keeping everything on track. All the hotels were good location and comfortable. It was great to visit so many amazing places on this holiday. We would definitely recommend this trip.

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Bridget

1 stars

Submitted 8/Oct

Very disappointing and extremely stressful holiday,buses not turning up on time,waiting around for hours at train stations,itinerary constantly changing,but this wasn’t the worst of the holiday. I plan my holidays thoroughly and phoned and emailed great rail to confirm with them that,as a vegetarian I would be catered for and would have no problems with being provided vegetarian food,they confirmed that I would be catered for and it wouldn’t be a problem,how wrong.While everyone else on the trip was provided with menu choices,and plenty of choice for them, I was not once provided with a choice of menu,and had to ask every time what was I going to have to eat. I had no say in the matter,I was given food that I hadn’t chosen and on the most part I didn’t want and was made to feel a nuisance,I’m sure there would have been a riot if the other members of the group had no choice in what they ate !! I would not have booked the trip if great rail had said they couldn’t cater for a vegetarian,but they didn’t,they blatantly lied to me. As for the 1st class rail,this was no way first class,meals were provided on the train,BUT only for meat eaters,when I asked for the vegetarian option I was bluntly told they do NOT provide vegetarian meals.On one of the train journeys,which was a 7 hour journey,everyone in the group was provided with two meals,I was NOT,I had no food for 7 hours on this supposedly first class train.On one of the coaches that was used for several days,most of the seatbelts didn’t work,so we were unable to use the seatbelts,which was illegal,the coach was dirty and falling apart,seats ripped and the driver thought he was racing in the Grand Prix.This was a stressful and in some instances upsetting experience,not the holiday I had paid a lot of money for. I have put in a formal complaint but have had no response from great rail, I even rang them and asked to speak to the customer relations team but was told they couldn’t speak to me as they didn’t have phones!!! Great rail,please don’t lie to customers and promise things you can’t provide just so you can take my money. I await your response. I have once again tried ringing Great Rail to speak to their customer service team about my complaint,but they,once again,rudely tell me I CANT speak to them,I have asked if they would call me to discuss my complaint,but again they have REFUSED to speak to me. I will update my review if I receive a response. UPDATE STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET BACK TO ME. All these 5 star reviews are for booking a holiday,NOT for complaints,they will be all nice and helpful when they want your money,but are rude and unhelpful, and refuse to speak to you if there’s a problem with your holiday!! UPDATE I am still waiting for someone to phone me to discuss my complaint, I have sent them my phone number and politely asked for them to ring me ,BUT no call!! Once again if you are booking a holiday they can’t wait to speak to you,but if you complain they refuse to speak to you. I will not be fobbed off by this company and will continue to pursue my complaint until a satisfactory outcome is obtained,which I still hope can be obtained. I will continue to post until this time.

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customer

2 stars

Submitted 8/Oct

A lot of changes to the tour Not long enough in Pompeii Guide seemed was rushing Early morning starts 5 am and 6 am Too long a stop in Positano where nothing to do as where in Amalfi too little time Bus used for local journeys had problem with seat belts that did not work Long coach journeys because of landslide spoilt the journey Such a long journey coming home !! This was our 11 th Great Rail Journey holiday But feel that the holidays aren’t the same since Covid

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Mrs Hunter

4 stars

Submitted 8/Oct

An excellent trip and well organised. Our tour leader was amazing so we had no delays & he dealt with everything making it hassle free. We would have liked another day in Rome as there is so much to see & one day less in Sorrento.

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