Day 1 Thu Depart USA
Evening departure. Meals and refreshments served on board.
Day 2 Fri San Sebastian
Upon arrival, you'll be taken to your hotel where you will have free time to begin enjoying San Sebastian, the gastronomic capital of Spain.
Day 3 Sat San Sebastian/Balmaseda
After breakfast, spend the morning relaxing along the bay of San Sebastian. At noon, meet your fellow travel companions during a brief orientation followed by a welcome lunch and a tour of San Sebastian with highlights including Constitution Square. Afterwards, travel by coach to Bilbao and board the luxury train. For your comfort, your luggage will be waiting in your cabin upon arrival. After settling in, you'll begin your train journey with the quaint town of Balmaseda where your tour includes the 15th century Gothic San Severino Church. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the luxury train for your overnight stay. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Sun Balmaseda/Bilbao/Santander
Enjoy an a-la-carte breakfast aboard the train as it travels towards Bilbao. Upon arrival, tour the Guggenheim Museum. Enjoy some leisure time in the city while you sample a few "pinxtos" or try the local white wine, "Txakoli" before returning to the train where lunch will be served while traveling towards Santander. Upon arrival, tour the seaside town of Santander including the Sardinero quarter. Return in time to relax before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Mon Santander/Potes/Cabezon de La Sal
After breakfast, board your luxury coach for a tour along the gorge of La Hermida to Potes. Highlights of the tour include a walk through the medieval streets towards Santo Toribio de Liebana monastery. Considered one of the five holy sites of Christianity, your visit includes a view of what is believed to be one of the largest pieces of the Cross of Christ, Lignum Crucis. Lunch at a local restaurant followed by train travel to Cabezon de la Sal where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the romantic town of Comillas. In the evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the train for your overnight stay. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Tue Cabezon de La Sal/Altamira/Santillana del Mar/Llanes/Arriondas
Today, enjoy a tour of the Museum and Neo-Cave of Altamira including a guided viewing of the "Sistine Chapel of the Paleolithic Age". Afterwards, continue to the medieval town of Santillana for a tour and lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, your train will arrive in the quaint fishing village of Llanes, Asturias and then onward to Arriondas where you'll savor a lovely dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Wed Arriondas/Covadonga/Cangas de Onis/Oviedo
After breakfast, grab your best walking shoes and an extra layer of clothing for the excursion to the "Picos de Europa" Natural Santuary, a declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. View towering mountain peaks as they contrast with the deep ravines set amidst one of the best Atlantic forests in Spain. Continue to Cangas de Onis for a visit to the impressive setting of Covandonga Santuary, origin of the Re-conquest. Return to the train in time for lunch en-route to Oviedo. Afterwards, you'll have some free time to relax followed by a brief evening tour of Oviedo and dinner at a local restaurant in Oviedo. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Thu Oviedo/Gijon/Luarca
Today, depart for the seaside city of Gijon for a brief tour of the city followed by some free time to enjoy a walk along the beach. Try the local cider "Sidra" or take photos before lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, travel to Luarca, "The White Town of the Green Coast" for a visit of the seaside village. In the evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the train where you can enjoy some live music entertainment in the lounge car. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Fri Luarca/Ribadeo/Viveiro
Step into Spain's region of Galicia with a visit to the stunning "Cathedrals Beach". Walk along the beautiful shores along the spectacular rock formations that are visible only at low tide. Visit the "Rias Altas" estuary and enjoy lunch at a seaside local restaurant. In the afternoon, continue to Viveiro for a tour of the medieval city including the Romanesque church of Santa Maria. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and return to the train where you can enjoy some live music entertainment in the lounge car. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Sat Viveiro/Ferrol/Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast, upon arrival at the train station in Ferrol, it is time to bid the train staff farewell and board the luxury coach for Santiago de Compostela. Your city tour begins with a guided visit to Obradoiro Square and ends with a visit to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, one of the sacred cities of Christendom and home of the crypt of the Apostle St. James. Bid farewell to your travel companions, check-in to the Parador de Compostela and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. (B)
Day 11 Sun Santiago de Compostela to USA (or extend your stay)
Morning transfer to Santiago de Compostela Airport for your return flight home. Meals and refreshments served aloft. (B)
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Tour Features 2012
Itinerary 2012
Rates
Hotels
Information/Restrictions
