Rail & Sail: The Meditarranean and Southern Italy with Explora Journeys

Day 1: Barcelona

Few cities seduce quite like Barcelona. A place where creative energy hums beneath every cobblestone and centuries of Catalan tradition sit effortlessly alongside a thoroughly modern spirit. Lose yourself in the atmospheric Gothic Quarter, where the extraordinary architecture of Gaudí feels almost too beautiful to be real. Find a sun dappled terrace and linger over plates of fresh tapas, washed down with a glass of crisp, Tinto Verano. Those with an eye for design will feel entirely at home along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, where iconic modernist buildings provide a grand backdrop to some of the world's most celebrated fashion houses. As evening falls, pull up a chair at one of the bohemian bars along La Rambla and let Barcelona's irresistible after dark spirit carry you through the night.

Day 2: A Day at Sea

There is something rather special about a day with nowhere particular to be. The ocean stretches out in every direction, the pace slows, and the pleasures of simply being take centre stage. Whether you choose to ease into a restorative wellness ritual, explore the thoughtfully curated dining options, or simply settle into a quiet corner with a good book and a view of the endless blue horizon, time at sea has a wonderful way of restoring perspective. Unhurried, uncomplicated and entirely your own.

Day 3: Cannes

Cannes does glamour with the kind of easy confidence that only a place with this much practice can manage. The famous Croisette sweeps along the waterfront, lined with palms and punctuated by boutiques that reward both the browser and the buyer. Le Suquet winds its way uphill through narrow medieval streets that feel refreshingly removed from the glitz below. Those seeking a quieter moment might take the short ferry crossing to the peaceful island of Saint Honorat, where a 500 year old monastery sits in serene seclusion, or venture along the Côte d'Azur to Monaco or Saint Tropez for an afternoon of effortless exploration.

Day 4: Portofino

It is difficult to imagine a more perfect setting. Portofino sits cradled by olive covered hills, its pastel coloured townhouses reflected in the still waters of one of the most photographed harbours in the world. Beyond the charming piazzas and beautifully curated boutiques, the Museo del Parco's sculpture gardens lead gently up to the Chiesa di San Giorgio, whose warm yellow façade gazes out across the Ligurian coastline. For those with time and an appetite for adventure, the five extraordinary villages of Cinque Terre lie just an hour away, stacked above the Mediterranean in a glorious tumble of colour and character.

Day 5: Florence

To spend a day in Florence is to spend a day in the company of genius. A morning at the Uffizi gallery is nothing short of humbling, the magnificent Duomo commands the skyline with quiet authority, and the Giardino di Boboli offers a beautifully sculpted retreat from the bustle beyond its walls. As the afternoon softens into evening, find a table on an elegant terrace overlooking the Ponte Vecchio, order a glass of something rich and Tuscan, and allow the extraordinary legacy of the Medici dynasty to settle comfortably around you.

Day 6: Porto Cervo, Sardinia

The Costa Smeralda is one of those rare places that genuinely lives up to its reputation. A succession of emerald coves, powder white beaches and brilliantly clear water rewards exploration by boat as much as by foot. Charter a vessel and make for the Maddalena Archipelago, where the colours of the water are quite simply extraordinary, or settle into one of the celebrated beach clubs and let the afternoon unfold at its own unhurried pace. Porto Cervo's pretty Piazzetta is made for leisurely people watching, while the ancient Giants' Graves offer a fascinating glimpse into a Sardinia that has drawn visitors since the Stone Age.

Day 7: Ajaccio, Corsica

Corsica's capital carries its history with considerable charm and quiet Gallic pride. The old town's narrow streets lead to Maison Bonaparte, the family home of Napoleon and now a fascinating museum, and to the beautiful Baroque cathedral where he was baptised. The morning markets are a delight, offering locally produced wines, olive oils and cheeses that speak eloquently of the island's terroir. In the afternoon, the white sands of the Bay of Ajaccio beckon, with views across to the ancient Genoese tower on the Parata Peninsula and the rust coloured Sanguinaire islands shimmering on the horizon. A wonderfully fitting place to draw breath and reflect on a journey well travelled.

Day 8: Arrival and Disembarkation in Rome

This morning marks the ending of your journey by sea, and ushers in your onward journey by land. Disembark the ship and take a private transfer to your hotel. Rome has a way of drawing you in before you have quite found your bearings, and there is no more fitting introduction than an evening in Trastevere. In the company of a local expert, the enduring Italian ritual of aperitivo comes to life through a curated selection of classic drinks, among them the iconic Martini and the ever-popular Spritz, each paired with Roman finger foods that speak of neighbourhood tradition and easy conviviality. More than a tasting, it is a moment of pause at the golden hour, a window into the rhythms of local life where heritage and taste converge at twilight.

Day 9: A Morning in the Kitchen and an Introduction to Cucina Romana

The soul of Rome is perhaps best understood not in its monuments but in its pasta. This morning, step into a private kitchen where the city's most legendary dishes — Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe and Gricia — are revealed in their full simplicity and depth. Under the guidance of a skilled chef, dough is shaped by hand, flavours are layered with care and the alchemy of pecorino, cured meats and eggs is coaxed into something quietly extraordinary. The experience culminates at the table, where your own pasta is savoured over a long and unhurried lunch, a meal that tastes, above all else, of Rome.

Day 10: Street Food and the Living Heart of Spaccanapoli

Bid farewell to Rome as you board your Business Class Frecciarossa high-speed train and travel south towards Naples, a city that operates entirely on its own magnificent terms. Your introduction is sensory and immediate — a street food journey through the neighbourhood that captures the very soul of the city in a single afternoon, textures and aromas building into a portrait of a place that has never needed to perform for anyone. A guided walk then carries you deeper into Naples' glorious past, past medieval castles and monumental squares, before arriving at Spaccanapoli, the great artery of the UNESCO-listed historic centre where voices, colours and centuries of daily life intertwine in one irresistible, unbroken rhythm. The evening finds you in Sorrento, settled above the bay at the Bellevue Syrene as the lights of the Gulf of Naples flicker on below.

Day 11: A Morning on the Crater and Lunch Among the Vines

There are few landscapes on earth quite as charged as the one that surrounds Mount Vesuvius. This morning, a hiking guide leads you up through the Vesuvius National Park along scenic mountain trails, the raw power of the volcano revealing itself step by step until you stand at the crater's rim, the entire Gulf of Naples spread out below in breathtaking panorama. The afternoon offers a quieter pleasure — a leisurely lunch at a charming winery nestled at the volcano's base, where the volcanic soils and shifting microclimates that shape this remarkable terroir are explained over a carefully paired flight of Campania's most expressive wines. It is a day of contrasts: fire and stillness, altitude and ease, nature and the very particular civilisation that has always chosen to live beside it.

Day 12: A Morning Among the Lemon Trees

Some mornings ask nothing of you but to slow down and pay attention. A visit to a traditional lemon farm above Sorrento opens a window onto one of the Amalfi Coast's most enduring traditions, guided by a local producer who knows these trees and this land with an intimacy that only generations can bring. From fragrant peel to final infusion, the time-honoured craft behind the region's celebrated limoncello is revealed at an unhurried pace, the scent of citrus threading through every moment. A relaxed lunch of simple, locally inspired dishes brings the morning to a natural close — surrounded by the particular stillness that only a place this beautiful, and this unhurried, can offer.

Day 13: Departure

This morning, take your private transfer to the airport for your flight home.