Undiscovered Italy
23/08/2019 · By Katie Shaw
To celebrate experiences that bring Italy to life, here are a few of our favourite unique activities that truly take you to the heart of this beguiling country.
Read more2024 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
What’s included
Itinerary
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.
Additional information
Hotels
Trains
Enhance your holiday
Upgrades
Reviews
3.8 / 5 · 83 reviews
Jim Halcro-Johnston
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.
Collected by Trustpilot
Keith Drury
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.
Collected by Trustpilot
Chris
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.
Collected by Trustpilot
Bridget
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.
Collected by Trustpilot
customer
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
Collected by Trustpilot
Mrs Hunter
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.
Collected by Trustpilot
Tailor made for you
Customise this tour with Great Rail Journeys Independent