Northern Spain and Portugal
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(Escorted)
Friday 6th June - Sunday 22nd June
2008 |
Our new tour to the
Iberian Peninsula combines the north, ‘Green’ coast
of Spain with its spectacular coastline and vibrant
cities with the splendid scenery of the Douro Valley
in Portugal. We travel by rail on many metre gauge
lines and include time to explore the wonderful
cities of Madrid, Leon, Bilbao, Santiago de
Compostela and Porto.
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Price per person: |
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Includes flights in economy class,
Inter Rail Pass for Portugal (Days 13 to 16),
transfers and excursions specified, hotels and
breakfasts. |
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Escorted holiday: |
£1560.00 |
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Single Room Supplement: |
£290.00 |
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Deposit for the holiday: |
£200.00 |
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Insurance if required please add on:
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£27.00 |
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(Click map to enlarge) |
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Day 1 - London to Madrid
We fly from London to Madrid and transfer to our
hotel in the city centre for two nights.
Day 2 - Sightseeing in Madrid
Free day to visit the excellent Delicias Railway
Museum and see the many sights of this dynamic city.
Day 3 - Madrid to Leon
Transfer to Chamartin station for mid morning
departure to historic Leon where we stay for one
night.
Day 4 - Train to Bilbao
Free morning to relax or see some of the many sights
of this famous city before we join the railcar
travelling over the recently reopened line to Bilbao.
Where else in Europe can we travel over nearly
200 miles of newly reopened metre gauge railway?
Evening arrival in Bilbao.
Day 5 - At leisure in Bilbao
A free day for sightseeing or to explore the many
railway options that radiate from Bilbao.
Day 6 - Basque Railway Museum
Take the train from Bilbao Atxuri station to Zumaia
on the electric metre gauge line to San Sebastian.
Here we join a coach to the Basque Railway Museum at
Azpeitia. We ride the steam train and visit the
museum, housing many British built engines and
carriages. Return by coach to Bilbao.
Day 7 - Bilbao to Santander
Morning departure from the splendid Bilbao Concordia
station to Santander arriving late morning. Free
afternoon or take an optional trip to Reinosa, a
wonderful ride into the mountains on the Renfe
mainline towards Madrid.
Day 8 - Santander to Gijon
Morning departure from Santander to Gijon. Change
trains at El Barron with its busy diamond crossing
and myriad connecting spurs, all in metre gauge.
Arrive Gijon, our base for the next two nights.
Day 9 - Free day in Gijon
A free day in Gijon, with its wide beach and
historic old town. Visit the Asturias Railway Museum
or try out a different rail journey.
Day 10 - Gijon to Santiago
Early departure from Gijon to Pravia, and then
onward along the ‘Green’ Coast to El Ferrol. After
lunch, a coach will take us to Santiago de
Compostela (or we can opt to take the regular
railcar via La Coruna – rail fare not included).
Day 11 - Santiago de Compostela
Wander the narrow streets and piazzas of this
historic pilgrimage city. Late afternoon departure
for the two hour journey to Vigo, the main port city
of Galicia.
Day 12 - By rail from Vigo to Porto
Morning departure from Vigo crossing over the
frontier to Porto, arriving at the splendid San
Bento station. Rest of the day to explore Porto
where we stay for five nights.
Days 13 to 15 - The Douro Valley
Free days based in Porto with an Inter Rail Pass.
There is much to see and do in this historic town
but you will also want to use your rail pass to
travel up the beautiful Douro Valley. For railway
devotees, it is possible to ride all three metre
gauge branch lines to Amarante, Vila Real and
Mirandela though not on the same day. The trip to
Mirandela, the longest and furthermost branch, is a
very long day out although there is a five hour
break in Mirandela.
Day 16 - Steam into history
We take the ordinary scheduled service to Regua and
then join the afternoon steam train to Pinhao,
returning to Regua by boat and then to Porto by
train.
Day 17 - Fly to London
Transfer to Porto Airport for flight to London.
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