Four Countries by Rail — Thirteen Nights from London to Rome

You are met at the airport by a representative and driven to your hotel in a private vehicle. London is enormous and the first evening is best kept local to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. · London

A full and busy day. A hop-on hop-off route covers the city, Madame Tussauds includes its Marvel 4D cinema and Star Wars experience, the London Eye gives you the river and the skyline from height, and the Tower of London closes the day with the oldest part of the city's story. · London

You make your own way to the station for the train to Paris, and your own way from the Paris station to your hotel. The crossing runs under the Channel and puts you in central Paris in a few hours. A cabaret show can be arranged locally in the evening. · Paris

A full day on the Paris landmarks — a city tour through the principal monuments and quarters, a cruise on the Seine past the frontages that line the river, and the Eiffel Tower to finish. · Paris

You make your own way to the station for the train to central Switzerland, and your own way to the hotel on arrival. The run south-east leaves French farmland behind and ends among mountains. A Lucerne tour can be arranged locally. · Central Switzerland

A full-day excursion to Mount Titlis, ascending by cable car in stages with the final one rotating slowly on the way up. The summit stands on a glacier with an ice cave and a cliff walk, and snow underfoot at any time of year. · Central Switzerland

A full-day excursion to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. The cog railway tunnels up inside the mountain for the final stretch, and the station opens onto the Aletsch glacier with an ice palace cut into it. · Central Switzerland

No touring is scheduled and the day is yours. The lakeside towns near your base are straightforward to reach independently. A high-altitude glacier excursion and a Bollywood locations tour can both be arranged locally; neither is included. · Central Switzerland

You make your own way to the station for the train south across the Alps into Italy, and your own way from Venice station to your hotel. A gondola ride is included — the small canals of Venice only make sense from water level. · Venice

A half-day tour by motorboat to the three best known islands of the lagoon — glassblowing on Murano, lace and painted houses on Burano, and the Byzantine churches of Torcello including Santa Fosca. The rest of the day is free. · Venice

You make your own way to the station for the train to Florence and to your hotel on arrival. A road transfer then runs from Florence to Pisa and back for the Leaning Tower, which stands with the cathedral and baptistery on the Campo dei Miracoli. · Florence

You make your own way to the station for the train south to Rome and your own way to the hotel on arrival. Florence rewards an early walk before you leave; it is small enough to cross on foot and quietest first thing in the morning. · Rome

A hop-on hop-off day in Rome to finish the trip. The ancient centre, the Vatican side of the river and the squares of the historic core are widely spread, and a route you can leave and rejoin covers them without losing the day to transport. · Rome

Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and a private transfer from your hotel to the airport. The source advises reaching the airport three to four hours before your departure flight.