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Tour: 08 Days/ 07 Nights
Departs: Saturdays in both directions from Leon and Santiago de Compostela
Day 1 (Leon – Cistierna)
Today we meet the rest of the group at 12:00 noon at the designated meeting point in León. This magnificent 16th century building with its Spanish Plateresque façade, was the former hospice of the Knights of the Order of St James. Tour of Leon, a city of great history with an important old quarter centring around the 13th C cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and the Collegiate church of San Isidoro. Lunch in León. Our train then takes us to Cistierna in the Esla Valley. Dinner in Cistierna.
Day 2 (Cistierna – Sotoscueva)
During breakfast the train covers the journey between Cistierna and Guardo. We travel by coach to the monumental town of Saldaña including a visit to the old Roman town of Olmeda and a taste of the Romanesque art of Palencia province. Continue on to Carrion de los Condes, Villacazar de Sirga and Fromista, all of great architectural significance. Lunch in Villacazar. In the afternoon we journey from Mataporquera to Sotoscueva, as we curve around the rim of the impressive Ebro Dam and the beautiful marshland region of Las Merindades. Here we can also admire the marvellous natural scenery and the caves of Ojo Guareña. Dinner on board the train.
Day 3 (Sotoscueva – Santander)
Today the train winds its way through the Valley of Mena and the lands of Vizkaya to reach Bilbao, a modern city, where the river searches for the sea. A tour of the city includes the famous Guggenheim Museum (only July and August, as the museum is closed on Mondays for the rest of the year. Lunch in Bilbao. Return to the train and travel on to Santander, capital of Cantabria and a beautiful coastal city with an enchanting past. Tour of the city and dinner. Optional excursion to the local Casino after dinner.
Day 4 (Santander – Ribadesella)
During breakfast the train will travel to Torrelavega. Our coach will take us to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured in time. The tour includes a visit to the Altamira museum which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for their pre-historic artwork. Lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon we will continue on by train from Cabezon de la Sal and we enter the province of Asturias where we will visit the charming seaside resort town of Llanes. Dinner in Ribadesella.
Day 5 (Ribadesella – Gijon)
Breakfast. Today we journey into the heart of Asturias. from Ribadesella, wandering alongside the river Sella until we arrive in Arriondas. We take the coach up into the National Park “Picos de Europa” visiting the two lakes, Enol and Ercina, and the sanctuary of Covadonga. Continue on to lovely Cangas de Onís for lunch. Return to the train for our journey to Gijón, the major port city of Asturias. Dinner in Gijón.
Day 6 (Gijon – Luarca)
Breakfast. A short trip brings us from Gijón to Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias, and a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Europe. Lunch in Oviedo. The journey continues on to Cudillero, a delightful fishing village situated in a sheltered cove. On again to Luarca, the white coastal town of the green coast. Dinner in Luarca.
Day 7 (Luarca – Vivero)
Breakfast. This morning we head further along the coast to Ribadeo, the first city of the province of Galicia on the border with Asturias, set magestically on the mouth of the River Eo. The landscape from here along the coast is called the “Rias Altas” or Upper Estuaries and is awe-inspiring. Lunch in Ribadeo. In the afternoon we continue by train to Vivero, an attractive walled town with great ambience. We enjoy a trip by launch on the ‘ria’ or estuary before dinner in Vivero.
Day 8 (Vivero – Santiago de Compostela)
Breakfast. Our last journey by train as we travel from Vivero to Ferrol. In Ferrol we board our coach for our last destination: Santiago de Compostela, and the focus of the pilgrim route of St James. A city tour entreats us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro square and the famous Cathedral. Lunch in Santiago de Compostela.
