Green Spain -

The mountains and coast of northern Spain.

Mountains and sea are the backdrop for this journey that is set with jewels of architecture, art and history. A chance to pass through the landscape of the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, Visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao, spend time on the beaches of Asturias and in the fishing towns of Galicia.

The coastal rail journey must be one of the most beautiful known. It crosses fine sandy beaches, under vertical cliffs, and penetrates forests. It snakes its way through green valleys and crosses on impressive viaducts, passing numerous villages where you can at least imagine the sound of Celtic pipes.

We suggest an 8 night tour covering the North west of Spain or the North East. More stops can be added in if you have more time available.

The tour can be escorted. This option is especially suitable for groups. The benefit of having a bilingual escort on hand to advise, liaise, and generally smooth the way makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable trip for your group. There is also the possibility of larger groups privately hiring a hotel train for the entire route.

Duration.

The basic tour that we suggest, lasts for 8 nights, staying 2 nights at each location.

If you would like to spend more days, or less, then please let us know via ask for a Quote and we will be able to adapt the itinerary in the best possible way to suit you.

If you do not mind moving on every day It is possible to reduce to 4 nights.

An option to include the eastern area, shown as a blue track on the map below, gives more opportunities on the coast and makes a visit to Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum possible. Arriving by ferry makes this even easier.

Points of interest - route detail

Move your mouse along the line & over the map for more information

Staying in:-

Valladolid - Gijon - Viveiro - Santiago de Compostela.

For each location we provide information regarding the best eating places, a mapped walking route to help orientate, and suggested visits to make.


Valladolid, on the banks of the rio Duero and one time capital of the kingdom of Castile provides a relaxed start point for the the tour: it has some interesting historical connections with the English civil war, Columbus, Cervantes and Shakespeare. Gijon has great attributes for a seaside visit; beaches, promenades and a selection of archaeological sites and museums to visit. Viveiro is a beautiful coastal town which retains a mediaeval look and 3 of its original gates. A majestic main square surrounded by granite buildings with glazed balconies give a look typical of Galicia. Santiago de Compostela has had fame as the target for pilgrims since the 9th C due to its links with the Apostle St. James and the fact that this corner of spain never became subject to Moorish rule. The historic centre is surrounded by its walls and around every every corner there seems to be another huge plaza surrounded by palatial buildings, testament to the cities influential past.

Time-tabling of trains combined with differing start-dates may make it necessary to vary the standard itinerary.

The Itinerary starts in Valladolid - How to arrive

The tour starts with 2 nights in Valladolid, giving time to settle in after your journey to Spain and to take in the interest of the city. This city is on high speed international rail routes that link Madrid, London and Paris. Alternative start points are possible and especially suitable is Santander which has a ferry link with the UK.

The tour ends in Burgos where the sleeper train stops on its way north to Paris.

If you wish , we can include overnight sleeper train links from london/Paris. More detail is given under Ask for a quote.

The map shows the main points of entry to western Europe, you can link to this trip in the following ways:

Rail:

we can arrange and include your arrival from any Spanish/UK airport or station.

Air:

Useful international airports are show on the map. Valladolid also has direct low-cost flights from the UK.

Sea:

Bilbao and Santander have ferry routes from the UK. costing about £120 pp single These take about 24hours and we can arrange for your tour to start at the port.

 

 

 

 

Accommodation

All accommodation has been checked by us and is en-suite. By means of the Get-a -quote form you will be able to make certain choices. Where alternatives exist we offer the choice between Hotel *** and other more superior accommodation.

in bibao in Llanes in Gijon *** in Granada
Hotels on this holiday are chosen for their good position and character and vary up to *** classification

prices and dates

It is possible to start on any date after August 1st 2009. The journey is particularly suited to the summer months, so as to enjoy the coastal visits to the full. Time-tabling of trains may make it necessary to exclude some start dates.

Prices shown are for high season (summer) when the journey is at its best.

Prices depend on the style of accommodation you choose and on the duration of your trip, below are 2 examples but Please contact-us for confirmed prices

Upgraded accommodation

  • We will quote, but as a rule of thumb, Add €40 per person/night..

Hotels with classification up to 3*

  • €810 per person, sharing.

What is included?

  • Up to 8 nights accommodation with breakfasts included.
  • rail tickets between the locations.
  • Information packs for all locations.

What options are there?

For costs of these options please contact-us.

  • An escort can accompany your group.
  • train travel links to start point.
  • Onward travel by train from end point.

Alternative route.

Staying in.

Bilbao-Llanes-Gijon-Leon.

A minimum of 8 nights is suggested.

links with the main route westwards to Galicia if required.

Bilbao, once the industrial, steel based city of the basque country, now is best known for its Guggenheim museum and regenerated dock land where modern architects and sculptors have provided a pleasant environment for the visitor. Llanes is a good example of the small Asturian seaside town where buckets and spades see a lot of use in the summer. Gijon has great attributes for a seaside visit; beaches, promenades and a selection of archaeological sites and museums to visit. Leon is on the French pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.  Its great treasure is the Cathedral where great use is made of light through stained glass it has been said that too much glass and too little stone makes the building unsafe but it has survived many centuries so far.