| Once a year we offer a fully hosted tour on the El Transcantabrico, including flights from the UK and a tour manager throughout. Relax in pure luxury as we “rail cruise” the coast and mountains of North West Spain aboard the legendary El Transcantabrico Classic train. Starting from the World Heritage City of Santiago de Compostela we also visit Santander, Bilbao and León, and travel the length of the legendary “La Robla” line. |
THE JOURNEY
Friday 01 June 2012 (D)
Our flight leaves London Heathrow at 11.50 for Madrid and our connecting flight to Santiago.
There are also direct flights from Stansted with Ryanair and flights via Madrid from other UK airports.
Afternoon and evening are free.
Overnight at the fabulous Parador Reis Catolicos right next to the Cathedral of St.James in this World
Heritage City. Welcome dinner in a traditional local restaurant.
Saturday 02 June (B,L,D)
The journey begins in historic Santiago de Compostela, the city of St James and the focus of the
pilgrim route. A city tour allows us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro square as well
as the famous Cathedral. Lunch in Santiago. From Santiago we take
our coach to Ferrol, where the train awaits us to begin our rail journey to Vivero, an attractive walled town
on the beautiful north coast. Tour of Vivero and dinner.
Sunday 03 June (B,L,D)
Breakfast on board . We continue by train through the scenic landscape called the ‘Rias Altas’ or
‘Upper Estuaries’ on to Ribadeo, set majestically on the mouth of the River Eo. Visit to the Catedrales
beach and the village. Lunch in the National Parador of Robadeo.
From here we continue into the province of Asturias and visit Luarca, the ‘white town’ of the Green
Coast. Dinner in Luarca.
Monday 04 June (B,L,D)
Our train travels towards Cudillero, a charming fishing village situated in a sheltered cove. From there to
Oviedo, capital of the Asturian Principality, a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights
and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Spain.
Lunch in Oviedo. Afterwards we travel to Gijon, the impressive city on the Asturian coast. Dinner in Gijon.
Tuesday 05 June (B,L,D)
This morning we arrive in Arriondas as we enter into the heart of Asturias. We take our coach up to the
National Park ‘Picos de Europa’, visiting the lakes Enol and Ercina, and the sanctuary of Covadonga.
Lunch in Cangas de Onis. In the afternoon we follow the River Sella
as it winds down to the charming town of Ribadesella. From here we travel on to the beautiful seaside
resort town of Llanes. Dinner in San Pelayo in Niembro.
Wednesday 06 June (B,L,D)
During breakfast the train will arrive in Cabezon de la Sal. From here we will take our coach and visit the
Neocave Museum of Altamira which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for
their pre-historic paintings. We continue on to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured
in time. We enjoy a tour of the village and then have lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon the train will
take us to Santander, capital of Cantabria, a beautiful coastal city. Tour of the city followed by dinner. If
you wish you can visit the local Casino after dinner.
Thursday 07 June (B,L,D)
After breakfast there
will be free time in Santander. Lunch on board while travelling to Bilbao, a modern bustling city, where
the river reaches the sea. The tour
of the city includes a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum. In the afternoon the train will arrive in
Villasana de Mena followed by a visit to the Torre de Loizaga where we see the world's largest collection
of vintage Rolls Royce cars.
Friday 08 June (B,L,D)
In the morning we arrive in Mena-Mataporquera from where we will be able to view some of the
Romanesque art and architecture of the province of Palencia, as we pass through the towns of Carrion
de Los Condes,Villalcazar de Sirga and Fromista. Lunch in Villalcazar. We move on to Guardo where
we take the train to Cistierna. Dinner in Cistierna.
Saturday 09 June (B)
During breakfast the train will arrive in old León, as it traverses the river valleys sculptured by the rivers
Curueña and Torio. Leon is a town full of history with an important old quarter situated around the 13th
c. cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture,the Collegiate church of San Isidoro and the
magnificent Parador of San Marcos, with its Spanish Plateresque façade. The afternoon is free for your
own exploration of this fine city.
Overnight in the fabulous San Marcos Parador.
Sunday 10 June (B)
This morning we catch a service train to Madrid for our evening flight
back to Heathrow. There are also direct flights from Madrid to other UK airports.
Friday 01 June 2012 (D)
Our flight leaves London Heathrow at 11.50 for Madrid and our connecting flight to Santiago.
There are also direct flights from Stansted with Ryanair and flights via Madrid from other UK airports.
Afternoon and evening are free.
Overnight at the fabulous Parador Reis Catolicos right next to the Cathedral of St.James in this World
Heritage City. Welcome dinner in a traditional local restaurant.
Saturday 02 June (B,L,D)
The journey begins in historic Santiago de Compostela, the city of St James and the focus of the
pilgrim route. A city tour allows us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro square as well
as the famous Cathedral. Lunch in Santiago. From Santiago we take
our coach to Ferrol, where the train awaits us to begin our rail journey to Vivero, an attractive walled town
on the beautiful north coast. Tour of Vivero and dinner.
Sunday 03 June (B,L,D)
Breakfast on board . We continue by train through the scenic landscape called the ‘Rias Altas’ or
‘Upper Estuaries’ on to Ribadeo, set majestically on the mouth of the River Eo. Visit to the Catedrales
beach and the village. Lunch in the National Parador of Robadeo.
From here we continue into the province of Asturias and visit Luarca, the ‘white town’ of the Green
Coast. Dinner in Luarca.
Monday 04 June (B,L,D)
Our train travels towards Cudillero, a charming fishing village situated in a sheltered cove. From there to
Oviedo, capital of the Asturian Principality, a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights
and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Spain.
Lunch in Oviedo. Afterwards we travel to Gijon, the impressive city on the Asturian coast. Dinner in Gijon.
Tuesday 05 June (B,L,D)
This morning we arrive in Arriondas as we enter into the heart of Asturias. We take our coach up to the
National Park ‘Picos de Europa’, visiting the lakes Enol and Ercina, and the sanctuary of Covadonga.
Lunch in Cangas de Onis. In the afternoon we follow the River Sella
as it winds down to the charming town of Ribadesella. From here we travel on to the beautiful seaside
resort town of Llanes. Dinner in San Pelayo in Niembro.
Wednesday 06 June (B,L,D)
During breakfast the train will arrive in Cabezon de la Sal. From here we will take our coach and visit the
Neocave Museum of Altamira which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for
their pre-historic paintings. We continue on to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured
in time. We enjoy a tour of the village and then have lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon the train will
take us to Santander, capital of Cantabria, a beautiful coastal city. Tour of the city followed by dinner. If
you wish you can visit the local Casino after dinner.
Thursday 07 June (B,L,D)
After breakfast there
will be free time in Santander. Lunch on board while travelling to Bilbao, a modern bustling city, where
the river reaches the sea. The tour
of the city includes a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum. In the afternoon the train will arrive in
Villasana de Mena followed by a visit to the Torre de Loizaga where we see the world's largest collection
of vintage Rolls Royce cars.
Friday 08 June (B,L,D)
In the morning we arrive in Mena-Mataporquera from where we will be able to view some of the
Romanesque art and architecture of the province of Palencia, as we pass through the towns of Carrion
de Los Condes,Villalcazar de Sirga and Fromista. Lunch in Villalcazar. We move on to Guardo where
we take the train to Cistierna. Dinner in Cistierna.
Saturday 09 June (B)
During breakfast the train will arrive in old León, as it traverses the river valleys sculptured by the rivers
Curueña and Torio. Leon is a town full of history with an important old quarter situated around the 13th
c. cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture,the Collegiate church of San Isidoro and the
magnificent Parador of San Marcos, with its Spanish Plateresque façade. The afternoon is free for your
own exploration of this fine city.
Overnight in the fabulous San Marcos Parador.
Sunday 10 June (B)
This morning we catch a service train to Madrid for our evening flight
back to Heathrow. There are also direct flights from Madrid to other UK airports.
The El Transcantabrico tour includes:
The price excludes:
Deposit
A £750 per person deposit is required to secure your booking. The balance will be due two months before departure.
To book, click here
If you have a query, click here
- Seven nights en-suite compartment accommodation on board the train
- Two nights accommodation in hotels
- Eight dinners and eight lunches of typical northern Spanish cuisine, with wine, coffee or tea and liqueur included
- Ten breakfasts
- The services of an English tour manager. The tour is fully escorted from London.
- English speaking guide accompaniment for the entire journey
- Music and entertainment in the pub carriage
- Programmed excursions, including entrance to museums, churches, casino and more
- A dedicated luxury coach throughout the entire itinerary
- An excellent team of professionals at your service
- Flights to and from Spain from Heathrow Airport. (Other options on request). Flights arranged by PTG Tours.
The price excludes:
- Transfers to and from the airports in Spain
- Bar service on board (wines, coffee and liqueurs at meals are included)
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
Deposit
A £750 per person deposit is required to secure your booking. The balance will be due two months before departure.
To book, click here
If you have a query, click here
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| Regular departures We can also book tours on other dates (unaccompanied) on the El Transcantabrico Classic, El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo, La Robla and Al Andalus trains. More...... |
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| The El Transcantabrico hosted tour |
| Page updated on: 17 November 2011 |
| 01 to 10 June 2012 |
| Photos courtesy FEVE |
