Day 1

Travel at high speed from London via Paris by Eurostar and TGV to Turin. Until Lyon, the train follows the high-speed line before continuing through Chambéry and Modane on a scenic route across the Alps. Arrive in Turin in the evening. Overnight in a 3-star hotel in the city centre, close to Torino Porta Susa station, for example Hotel Residence Torino Centro.

Day 2

After breakfast, travel by Frecciarossa high-speed train across Italy from north-west to south-east. The train follows the Adriatic coastline to Lecce, in the far south-east of Italy. Stay in an authentic palazzo in the historic centre.

Day 3

Free day in Lecce, the beautiful Baroque city often referred to as the "Florence of the South".

Day 4

Travel by train along the coast to Polignano a Mare, dramatically perched on limestone cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Continue by local bus to Conversano.

On Sundays, travel by train via Bari, where you change trains for Conversano.

Stay in a charming relais hotel in the historic centre, just a five-minute walk from the railway station. The hotel also features a Roman bath located in its original underground cellars.

Day 5

A local railway connects Conversano with Martina Franca through the famous Valley of the Trulli. These distinctive white, cone-shaped houses are unique to the region. Travel by train or bus to visit Alberobello, or explore the lesser-known towns of Locorotondo or Martina Franca.

Day 6 (not on Sundays)

Travel by train from Conversano to Bari. From there, board the narrow-gauge Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) railway to Matera, famous for its ancient Sassi cave dwellings. Stay in the historic district in a unique hotel built into the caves.

Day 7

Free day in Matera. Explore the remarkable Sassi district or take a walk through the dramatic Gravina gorge overlooking the city.

Day 8 (not on Sundays)

Travel by bus from Matera to Ferrandina, where you join the train through the beautiful landscapes of Basilicata and the southern Apennines. Arrive in Naples in the early evening.

On some departure dates, an alternative route via Salerno is used, with a bus to Salerno followed by a train to Naples.

Day 9

Travel by high-speed train from Naples across Italy to Milan, then continue by EuroCity train through the Alps to Zurich.

Day 10

Travel from Zurich by TGV Lyria to Paris, then continue by Eurostar back to London.