
Wonders of Corsica and Sardinia by Rail, Road and Sea
• PISA • BASTIA • AJACCIO • TEMPIO PAUSANIA •
• SASSARI • ALGHERO • MACOMER • CAGLIARI •
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Departure
- Overview
- Highlights
- Map & Itinerary
- Trip Inclusions
- Transport & Accommodation
- Reviews
- FAQs
This fully-escorted tour, designed and operated by PTG Tours, explores two fascinating Mediterranean islands, both characterised by wild and mountainous scenery, multilayered histories, rich cultures, and a wonderful collection of extraordinary little railways. You’ll spend 16 days criss-crossing these magical islands on a combination of heritage, narrow-gauge, local and private trains, including the famous “Little Green Train”, through these rugged landscapes, past hill-hugging mountain villages, along dramatic coasts, and into historic character-filled cities.
Departure dates
Per person twin share: $6395
Single supplement: $1495
Some highlights of your tour
- Explore Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte
- Travel the upper branches of the Corsica Railway to Calvi
- Unique island railways
- Travel on the Sardinian narrow gauge line between Arzachena & Tempio Pausania and Bosa Marina & Sindia
- Explore Alghero, one of Sardinia’s most beautiful medieval cities
- Guided city tours of iconic cities in Italy, including Pisa, Calvi and Cagliari
- Visit delightful ancient towns, churches and museums
- Explore Roman ruins, museums, churches and galleries in Cagliari
- Cultural odyssey to the Roman town of Nora
- Savour delicious welcome and farewell dinners
Your Journey
Arrive in Pisa and enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.
Overnight: Hotel Pisa Tower, Pisa (D)
PISA
Pisa straddles the River Arno just before it empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Although known worldwide for its Leaning Tower, the city of over 90,000 residents contains more than 20 other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and various bridges across the River Arno. Much of the city’s architecture was financed from its history as one of the Italian maritime republics. We have a guided tour of the main sites in the morning leaving the afternoon free for your own exploration.
Overnight: Hotel Pisa Tower, Pisa (B)
This morning after breakfast, our private coach will transfer us to Livorno where we board a Corsica Ferries ferry for the four-hour crossing from Livorno to Bastia on the island of Corsica. On arrival, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel and check in.
Overnight: Hotel Les Voyageurs, Bastia (B)
Bastia is the principal port of the island and the city centre is mainly composed of the “Citadelle”, the stronghold, also called Terra-Nova, the Genoese Governor’s Palace, the old port and its popular quarter, and the market plaza.
This morning after breakfast, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the city. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Les Voyageurs, Bastia (B)
Today we travel by train to Calvi, on the upper branch of the Corsica railway. From Ponte Leccia the train goes up a dry and uninhabited valley but soon we have a view of the sea in the distance and before long we are travelling alongside the ocean stopping at seaside villages along the way.
Basking between the fiery orange bastions of its medieval citadel and a glittering moon-shaped bay that’s lined by a magnificent beach, Calvi has a long and venerable history. Locals insist that Christopher Columbus was born here, in the one Genoese city on Corsica that the French could never capture, while Admiral Nelson lost his right eye besieging the citadel on behalf of Pascal Paoli.
On arrival, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the city, built on a promontory that forms the foundation of the citadel. There’ll be time to wander the cobblestone streets and grab some lunch before taking our private coach back to Bastia through the Balagna, the heart of Corsica and considered by many to be the most pleasant region of the island.
Overnight: Hotel Les Voyageurs, Bastia (B)
This morning we travel by local train from Bastia to Ajaccio, the Corsican capital city and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, arriving in time for lunch. The train crosses the island, winding around the mountains, across superb bridges, and passing through the magnificent forest before reaching the tropical atmosphere of the Gulf of Ajaccio, one of the most beautiful locations in Corsica.
When the old town of Ajaccio was abandoned in the 15th century when a malaria outbreak swept through the region, the rocky promontory of Capo di Bollo was chosen by the Republic of Genoa as the site of the new town. About a hundred Genoese and Ligurian families, the Bonapartes among them, were sent to Corsica to colonise it, the aim being to set up a new port to provide protection on the sea route to the mainland.
After checking in to our hotel, the afternoon and evening is yours to explore this delightful town.
Overnight: Hotel Ibis Styles Napoleon, Ajaccio (B)
This morning, we’ll transfer by coach to Bonifacio, stopping off along the way for a short visit in Sartene, a fascinating medieval stronghold steeped in history and tradition.
Bonifacio, one of the most scenic cities in Europe, and perched dramatically atop white limestone cliffs at the southern tip of Corsica, is the island’s oldest town. Founded about 828 CE as a defence against pirates, the town was taken from Pisa at the end of the 12th century by the Genoese.
We’ll have time to visit Bonifacio’s magnificent old town before boarding the late afternoon ferry for the one-hour crossing of the Bocche di Bonifacio strait to Santa Teresa di Gallura on Sardinia. We’ll be met by our private coach and transferred directly to our hotel near the village of Tempio Pausania.
Also known as the “stone city,” Tempio Pausania is a small town located in the center of Gallura at the foot of Mount Limbara.
Overnight: Hotel, Tempio Pausania (B)
This morning we will enjoy the fascinating narrow gauge railway line that used to run from Palau on the coast to Sassari. Sadly, only a short section of this line is still open.
We’ll travel by coach to the town of Arzachena, and from here our privately chartered narrow gauge loco-hauled train will travel over the line back to Tempio Pausania, after which we can visit the depot to see the vintage vehicles that are stored here.
Lunch is by the Nuragic site of Nuraghe Majori, an ancient stone structure dating back to the Bronze Age, believed to have been built by the Nuragic civilisation as part of their unique architectural and societal systems, serving various functions such as religious, defensive, or communal gathering spaces over millennia. The most visible remains of this civilisation are the stone tower-forts ‘Nuraghi’ that are scattered all over the island; there are some 7,000 in all, of which only 200 have been excavated. After a guided tour of this amazing site, we’ll return to the hotel.
Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel, Tempio Pausania (B, D)
Today we transfer to Sassari. If the railway line (or any part of it) has reopened, then we’ll make as much of the journey as we can by rail. If not, our coach will comfortably take us to the coast at Punta Tramontana. We’ll break here for some lunch before driving along the coast to Sorso, where we’ll transfer to a narrow-gauge branch line to continue our travel by train to Sassari, arriving mid- afternoon.
There are two options for you this afternoon. For the rail enthusiasts in the group, revel in an afternoon visit to the yard of the Sassari railway workshop . Here you’ll see 2 Breda 1930 – Wally and Elsa, named after the two lovers of the owner of the railways, Count Pasquini.
For those preferring a cultural option, our bus and a professional guide will take us to Santissima Trinità di Sarcargia, the most important Romanesque Church on the island. Completed in 1116 and built from local black basalt stone and white limestone, it was abandoned in the 16th century. Lovingly and painstakingly restored over time by the Church, it reopened in the early 20th century.
We return to Sassari and have a 2-hour guided city tour before checking into our hotel and enjoying an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel , Sassari (B)
This morning is free for you to explore Sassari in your own way. For the train enthusiasts, an option is to take the standard gauge line south of Sassari to the junction at Ozieri-Chilivani, a 45 minute journey each way.
In the afternoon we’ll travel by rail along the branch line to Alghero, one of Sardinia’s most beautiful medieval cities and seafront resort town, and our home for the evening.
After transferring to our hotel and checking in, the evening is yours at leisure to explore the historic town centre and experience one of the restaurants on offer.
Overnight: Hotel Alma di Alghero, Alghero (B)
This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll transfer by coach along the spectacular coastal road south to Bosa Marina, a town considered to be the only authentic medieval town in Sardinia. Known for its art, culture and an agricultural, artisan and trading tradition, the overlay of its numerous beaches and a heavenly sea make it a splendid stretch of the Island’s central-western coast.
In Bosa Marina we board a loco-hauled narrow-gauge train to Sindia and then transfer by coach to Macomer, a junction with both the FS standard gauge railway and another FdS narrow gauge line to Nuoro, the largest city in the interior of the island. Our train should consist of a diesel loco type LDe in brown livery, with a parcels coach and a beautifully restored “bauchiero” coach dating from 1913 made from varnished wood.
The journey starts virtually “on the level” along the coast for a while and then twists and turns for a considerable distance to gain height, still giving splendid views of the coast. Upon arrival in Macomer, we’ll enjoy lunch together in a local restaurant before transferring to our hotel to check in and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Macomer, Macomer (B, L)
The morning is at leisure to do your own exploration of Macomer. The region is richer in the bronze-age towers (nuraghi) than any other part of Sardinia. You might to wander down to the old parish church of San Pantaleone, which has three Roman mile-stones in front of it, belonging to the Roman high-road from Carales to Turris Libisonis, or visit the ethnographic museum called “Le Arti Antiche” (The ancient Arts), where it’s possible to see tools traditionally used for agriculture and livestock, folk costumes, and photographs.
At midday we board the narrow gauge train on the pretty branch line to Nuoro, a journey of around 90 minutes. We’ll enjoy a couple of hours in Nuoro to explore and enjoy some lunch at leisure. Known as the “Athens of Sardinia”, this vibrant city has been bustling with cultural life since the 1800s, home to artists like Salvatore and Sebastiano Satta, Francesco Ciusa and the author Grazia Deledda, who made the city famous the world over. A stroll through the historical centre is a relaxing pastime, a step back in time as you walk over ages-old cobblestones along streets lined with old stone houses, courtyards, porticos and little squares that seem to appear out of nowhere.
We return to Macomer, arriving late afternoon in time for dinner at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Macomer, Macomer (B)
After breakfast and checking out, we leave Macomer by coach and head south to the village of Samugheo, located in the heart of the Mandrolisai hills, an area rich in archaeological remains and ancient sites, and its history of weaving.
We’ll continue by coach to Mandas, where there’ll be time for a quick lunch before catching the narrow gauge train south to the city of Cagliari. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel to check in to our home for the next three nights.
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia for over 2,000 years is a vibrant city that effortlessly blends ancient history with modern charm. Situated on the southern coast of the island, it’s known for its beautiful Mediterranean views, historic architecture, and lively urban atmosphere. The city’s rich past is evident in landmarks like the Castello district, where medieval towers and cobblestone streets harken back to its centuries-old origins.
Cagliari is also a cultural hub, hosting numerous festivals, art galleries, and theatres, offering a diverse range of experiences that cater to history buffs, beachgoers, and urban explorers alike. DH Lawrence, upon arriving here in the 1920s, compared it to Jerusalem: “…strange and rather wonderful, not a bit like Italy.”
Overnight: Hotel Regina Margherita, Cagliari (B)
We start today with a visit to the archaeological site of Nora, 15 miles from Cagliari. Located on the southern coast of Sardinia near the town of Pula,Nora is a significant archaeological site that showcases the island’s rich history and ancient connections. Dating back to the Phoenician and Roman periods, Nora is among the oldest settlements in Sardinia and offers a glimpse into the island’s vibrant past. Visitors to the site can explore the well-preserved ruins of Roman baths, mosaics, and an amphitheatre that once hosted performances and events.
We’ll return to Cagliari in time for lunch, after which we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the old city with a local guide. Beginning in the Piazza del Carmine, the Forum during Roman times, we head up the hill to admire the ruins of Tigello’s villa, followed by the remains of the Roman amphitheatre and into the Medieval district of Castello, ending at the Bastion of Saint Remy, with its beautiful views over Cagliari. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. An option is to head to the Sardinian Archaeological Museum, the most important museum of the Nuragic civilization, or explore the narrow lanes and pass by some of the old artisan workshops.
Your evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Regina Margherita, Cagliari (B)
Today we ride the FS lines in the area, using local trains heading to Iglesias via Carbonia and Villamassargia.
Iglesias is the most important town in the region, steeped in mining history and characterized by its picturesque landscape, many churches and its traditions linked to medieval folklore. Historically, it was one of the main centres of the island’s mining industry, particularly for lead and zinc, and this heritage is evident in the town’s architecture and cultural landmarks. Visitors can explore the remnants of the mining era at sites like the Miniera di Monteponi and the Mining Museum, which provide insights into the challenging lives of the miners and the impact of mining on the local economy. Beyond its industrial past, Iglesias boasts a charming historic center with cobblestone streets, medieval churches, and vibrant local markets. You can spend as long as you like here and take any one of the hourly trains back to Cagliari.
This evening we’ll enjoy a Farewell Dinner together at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel Regina Margherita, Cagliari (B, D)
Today we say farewell. Our tour ends after breakfast this morning.
What's included
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15 nights’ accommodation in a mix of modern and boutique hotels/motels
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Daily breakfast at hotels, one lunch, and three dinners
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Chartered private coach
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Comprehensive sightseeing with your expert tour leader
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All excursions and entrance fees to attractions, as listed in the itinerary
What's not included
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Flights
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Airport transfers on departure
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Meals and services not mentioned in the itinerary
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All other personal expenses, such as drinks, phone calls, laundry services, and camera fees where applicable
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Excursions listed as optional and extra in the itinerary
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Tipping and gratuities
Some ways you’ll travel
The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate and appealing options to make exploration easy

Corsica Ferries
Corsica
Corsica Railway
Corsica
Vintage Sicilian Train
SicilySome places you’ll stay
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere. Please Note: Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.

Les Voyageurs

Hotel Alma Di Alghero

Hotel Pisa Tower

Hotel Regina Margherita
Our track record
Hear from some of our adventurers that have already ridden the rails with us.
FAQs
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