Eternal Rome and Italy by Rail

You’re invited on an enthralling nine-day journey, including five nights in Rome and two luxurious nights aboard the coveted La Dolce Vita Orient Express — the highlight of this epic program. Travel with alumni and friends from May 4 to 12, 2026 and relive the Golden Age of luxury train travel, an era where every exquisite detail, the finest of five-star service and unrivaled gastronomy are yours to cherish.

 Your adventure begins in Rome, rich with legacies, countless masterpieces and never-ending surprises. Venture out to visit the Castelli Romani villages and participate in the incredible morning ritual of unlocking the galleries within the great Vatican Museums. Then step aboard La Dolce Vita for an exquisite, sought-after rail odyssey to UNESCO-listed Matera, famed for its historic cave houses. Also, enjoy a unique slow train ride into the heart of Italy, through national parks, mountains and gorges, before returning to Rome aboard La Dolce Vita. This special journey, an enriching immersion into Italy’s culture and landscapes, bestows a multi-sensory experience that celebrates la dolce vita, “the sweet life” that is embraced throughout Italy.

Don’t miss this exceptional adventure! Reserve now while Special Savings are still available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details and to confirm your place today.

 

Dates and Rates:

Trip Dates: May 4 – 12, 2026

Rates: from $12,995 – $16,995  per person based on double occupancy

Traveling solo? Single space is very limited. Category B may be reserved by single travelers at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  Category A at 2x the per person rate, or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Trip Type: Land/Rail

Deposit: $1,500 per person (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions).

Trip Status: Open for Reservations Request a reservation today

 

Program Itinerary*:

Day 1 | Monday, May 4 – DEPART HOME CITY
Depart for Rome, Italy.

Day 2 | Tuesday, May 5 – ROME, ITALY R
Arrive at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, transfer from the airport. Check-in at the Sina Bernini Bristol Roma, a deluxe hotel located in the heart of Rome. Spend the afternoon at leisure and familiarize yourself with your home for the next four nights.

Welcome Reception: Get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome cocktail reception and raise a toast to your upcoming journey!

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Day 3 | Wednesday, May 6 – ROME | ALBAN HILLS B | L
Wake this morning for breakfast at the hotel and set out for your first excursion to see a collection of charming towns located in the hills surrounding Rome. Sample cuisine of the Roman countryside with lunch at a family restaurant offering breathtaking views of Lake Albano.

Roman Castles; Relish the beauty of the Roman Castles’ unique architecture and rich history. Begin in Grottaferrata to see the Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata, a historic edifice founded by St. Nilo in A.D. 1004, and its main piazza. Proceed to Castel Gandolfo, voted one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. This medieval town is the most famous within the Roman Castles, widely recognized for housing Catholic popes during the summer months since the 16th century. Join a guided visit of the pope’s summer residence, Papal Palace, to see the papal apartments and Cappella Privata del Papa, the private chapel within the residence. (Moderate)

Free Time: Return to the hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure. Select one of the many nearby restaurants for dinner on your own this evening.

Day 4 | Thursday, May 7 – ROME | VATICAN CITY B
Today join an exclusive private tour of the Vatican Museum, including breakfast at the Vatican Museum Bistro.

Vatican City: Visit Vatican City, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and the smallest country in the world. Attend an exclusive special opening of the Vatican Museum and witness the ritualistic unlocking of the museum led by the Clavigero. The ritual is followed by a private tour of the Vatican Museum, awakening each gallery as you proceed through the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Gallery of Maps, and ending in the incomparable Sistine Chapel. Then, tour magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. When the original shrine to St. Peter, erected here in the second century, crumbled down, a new church was commissioned; all the great architects of the Roman Renaissance and Baroque had input into its design, and Michaelangelo created the vast dome. Stroll through St. Peter’s Square on
your own before returning to the hotel. (Active)

Free Time: Enjoy lunch and dinner on your own this evening.

Day 5 | Friday, May 8 – ROME B
Wake this morning for breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a full day of leisure time in the Eternal City.

Free Time: Choose to explore some of Rome’s major sights independently. View of the iconic Spanish Steps, nestled between the Piazza di Spagna, one of the most famous squares in Rome, and the legendary Trevi Fountain, whose origins go back to 19 B.C., when it was the terminus of one of the city’s aqueducts.

There will be a Gohagan & Company representative available at the Hospitality Desk to provide maps and additional suggestions for touring Rome. They will be happy to assist with restaurant reservations and recommendations for lunch and dinner on your own.

Day 6 | Saturday, May 9 – ROME | BOARD LA DOLCE VITA ORIENT EXPRESS B | L | D
Enjoy breakfast and spend some leisure time in Rome. Check out of the hotel later this morning. Your luggage will be transferred from the hotel directly to the train.

Pasta-Making Class:  Join a cooking demonstration for a hands-on experience to create pasta within a professional kitchen and authentic, Roman atmosphere. Embark the La Dolce Vita, a luxurious train offering panoramic views across the Italian countryside. This evening and all evenings on board, indulge in dinner prepared by a 3-Michelin-starred chef, accompanied by live music.

The train will make a nighttime station stop each evening to ensure optional sleeping comfort.

Day 7 | Sunday, May 10 – MATERA B | L | D
Start your day with an authentic Italian breakfast aboard the train and indulge in freshly brewed espresso, flaky pastries, artisanal breads paired with locally sourced jams, and an array of Italian cheeses and cured meats before disembarking the train in Matera.

Matera: Within the southern region of Basilicata, Matera is famous for its “Sassi” — historic cave dwellings built into the mountainside. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and wander through the complex of houses, churches and monasteries built into the natural caves. Proceed to visit the Hypogeum, an underground marvel, while sipping a refreshing aperitif before lunch. (Moderate)

Savor lunch at a local restaurant within the caves before meeting with local artisan this afternoon.

Witness the creation of the Cucù, a traditional clay whistle that has a long history in Matera. Painted with bright colors and often made the look like cockerels, the Cucù could be found in most homes, as they were believed to have magical powers.
Return to the train for another exquisite dinner.

Day 8 | Monday, May 11 – SULMONA FOR PESCOCOSTANZO | ROME  – DISEMBARK LA DOLCE VITA ORIENT EXPRESS B | L | D
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as the train arrives in Sulmona, where you will disembark the La Dolce Vita to travel across the mountainous Abruzzo region on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Pescocostanzo: Board the historic Ferrovia dei Parchi, affectionately referred to as “Napoletana” by locals, and travel the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy to the medieval town of Pescocostanzo. Explore the charming town home to ancient craft skills including lacemaking, filigree and wrought iron. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and spend time this afternoon visiting local artisan shops. (Moderate)

Take the Trans-Siberian Railway back to Sulmona to reboard the La Dolce Vita.

Savor dinner on the train and enjoy dinner on board as you travel back to the Eternal City. Disembark this evening and transfer to a deluxe hotel in Rome.

Day 9 | Tuesday, May 12 ROME | RETURN TO HOME CITY B
Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city and go through immigration and customs.

*This itinerary is subject to change due to operational conditions.

Activity Levels:

The Activity Level ratings indicate each excursion’s physical expectations. To make the best personal choice, please evaluate each excursion’s rating and your ability to meet the tour’s physical demands.

Mild excursions involve:

• Walking for 1.5 hours or more over uneven terrain
• Walking on challenging surfaces: cobblestones, uneven paths and/or pavements
• Climbing stairs and hills and crossing rail tracks
• Stepping on and off motorcoaches with 3-6 steep steps

Moderate excursions could involve the above, plus:

• Walking for 3 hours for distances of a mile or more
• Walking on uneven terrain: narrow cobblestone streets, stone floors, and/or slippery surfaces.
• There may be several flights of stairs, some without railings

Active excursions could involve the above, plus:

• Walking on uneven terrain: sandy or rocky beaches, snowy surfaces and/or steep inclines
• Standing for 2 hours or more at a time, possibly without areas to sit
• Climbing 100 stairs or more

Depending on the excursion, more leisurely alternatives to active excursions may be available.

INCLUDED FEATURES:

• All excursions and visits, as outlined in the itinerary, led by experienced, English-speaking local guides.
• Meals and Receptions as noted in the itinerary B=Breakfast, L = Lunch, D=Dinner, R=Reception
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions.
• The services of an experienced team of professional travel directors throughout the program.
• Hospitality desk aboard the ship.

Not included:
 Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed int he “included features” section of the program brochure; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure; and all other services not specifically mentioned in the terms and conditions https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms/