Great Rail Journeys
Madrid & Paradors of Central Spain
11 daysfrom $4,806
Planet Rail · Escorted rail tour
El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo – 9 night tour from London by First Class rail on daytime trains
Travel in style on El Transcantábrico, a luxury rail tour through Spain's scenic north, with first-class daytime trains from London.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: San Sebastian
London to San Sebastian
Holiday begins at St Pancras International. Join the Eurostar to Paris in a Standard Premier Class seat with a light meal and drinks. Private taxi transfer to Gare Montparnasse, high-speed service south through France, change at Hendaye on the Spanish border and continue to San Sebastian. Overnight at Hotel Astoria 7 (4 star) near the station.
- Day 2railovernight: Carranza (on board)
Join El Transcantabrico
Reception to mark the start of the journey, meet the train staff and fellow travellers, then a guided tour of San Sebastian. After lunch, luxury coach to Guetaria for a guided tour of the town and its Balenciaga Museum. Continue to Bilbao where El Transcantabrico awaits; welcome drink with the crew and first fine-dining dinner on board. The train arrives in Carranza for the night.
Meals: lunch, dinner
- Day 3overnight: Santander (on board)
Bilbao and Santander
A-la-carte and buffet breakfast on board returning to Bilbao for a city tour capped with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum. Lunch on board travelling to Santander, tour of the port city and free time. Overnight in Santander; after dinner the Grand Casino can be visited, entrance included.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Cabezón de la Sal (on board)
Potes, thermal baths and El Capricho
The train arrives in Unquera; luxury coach through the Desfiladero de la Hermida mountain pass to Potes. Explore the village, then the thermal baths at Balneario de la Hermida. Following lunch, visit El Capricho in Comillas, the colourful palace designed by Antonio Gaudi. The train is stabled in Cabezón de la Sal for the night.
Meals: lunch
- Day 5railovernight: Llanes (on board)
Santillana del Mar
Visit Santillana del Mar with its preserved medieval quarter, then the Neocave of Altamira, the finest realistic example of Upper Palaeolithic cave art. After lunch the train travels into Asturias. Overnight in Llanes.
Meals: lunch
- Day 6railovernight: Candás (on board)
The Picos de Europa National Park
Coach up to the Picos de Europa National Park: Lake Enol, then the Shrine of Covadonga. Lunch on board El Transcantabrico before continuing to Oviedo, highlight of Asturian Romanesque art including the basilica of San Julián de los Prados; free time or a city tour before dinner on board. The train stops in Candás tonight.
Meals: lunch, dinner
- Day 7overnight: Luarca (on board)
Avilés, Gijón and Luarca
Discover Avilés, an ancient city with a precious old town, and Gijón on the Cantabrian Sea. Return to El Transcantábrico and continue to Luarca, the White Town of the Green Coast, for a guided tour, free time, dinner and the overnight stay.
Meals: dinner
- Day 8railovernight: Viveiro (on board)
Ribadeo and Viveiro
Breakfast on the journey to Ribadeo in Galicia. Coach along the coast to Las Catedrales Beach, one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. Return to the train for lunch and continue to Viveiro for an evening city tour, dinner and overnight.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
- Day 9railovernight: Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Final breakfast on board before the train's last stop in Ferrol; coach to Santiago de Compostela and a city tour. Overnight at the AC Palacio del Carmen Autograph Collection (5 star), a former convent near the historic centre. Evening dinner from a wide choice of restaurants.
Meals: breakfast
- Day 10
Homeward bound
Check out and make your way to the airport for the flight back to the UK via Madrid with British Airways.
Included
- Eurostar Standard Premier service between London and Paris
- First Class rail travel from Paris to San Sebastian
- 2 nights' accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels with breakfast each day, including 1 night in San Sebastian and 1 night in Santiago de Compostela
- 7 nights' accommodation in a Grand Luxury Suite on board the El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo train from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela with all meals and excursions
- Flight from Santiago de Compostela to London via Madrid
- A private taxi transfer between the stations in Paris
- Alternative return journey includes First Class rail travel from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona via Madrid, Barcelona to Paris and a Eurostar Standard Premier service from Paris to London with another taxi transfer in Paris
