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Planet Rail · Escorted rail tour

El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo – 9 night tour from London by First Class rail on daytime trains

Nine-night luxury train tour from London through Spain's Cantabrian coast to Santiago de Compostela

Illustration of El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo – 9 night tour from London by First Class rail on daytime trains

Planet Rail operates this 10-day escorted journey combining First Class daytime rail travel with 7 nights aboard the luxury El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, a narrow-gauge train winding along Spain's Cantabrian coast. The tour departs London via Eurostar and high-speed rail to San Sebastian, where you board the train for a week of guided excursions, fine dining, and overnight journeys through lesser-known northern Spain. Days on board bring you through mining valleys, past fishing villages, and along dramatic coastal cliffs to sites including Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, the Picos de Europa National Park with its shrine at Covadonga, medieval Santillana del Mar and its Altamira cave art, and the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. The itinerary balances guided city tours with free time; excursions are organised, and meals are included throughout the train portion. The return to London is by flight via Madrid, though an alternative First Class rail route via Barcelona is available. This tour suits luxury seekers and repeat rail travellers who value guided comfort and access to cultural landmarks from a mobile base.

What to know before you look closer

  • The outbound journey involves two overnight hotel stays (San Sebastian and Santiago de Compostela) rather than being entirely aboard the train.
  • The return journey to London is by flight from Santiago de Compostela via Madrid; an alternative First Class rail return via Barcelona and Paris is available but requires separate booking or inquiry.
  • Hotels in the package are listed as examples; Planet Rail should confirm your specific accommodation at the time of booking.
  • No published departure dates are listed in the operator's current information; confirm availability and scheduling directly with Planet Rail.

Day by day

  1. 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.

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Reception on board El Transcantábrico in Bilbao and welcome dinner in the Grand Luxury Suite as the train departs for Carranza
  • Day 4Coach through the Desfiladero de la Hermida mountain pass to Potes and the thermal baths at Balneario de la Hermida, then a visit to Antonio Gaudi's colourful palace El Capricho in Comillas
  • Day 5Tour of the medieval quarter of Santillana del Mar followed by the Neocave of Altamira, displaying Upper Palaeolithic cave art
  • Day 6Coach excursion to Lake Enol and the Shrine of Covadonga in the Picos de Europa National Park, then a city tour of Oviedo highlighting the basilica of San Julián de los Prados
  • Day 8Coach along the Galician coast to Las Catedrales Beach, described as one of the world's most spectacular beaches

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

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Premier from London to Paris, First Class rail from Paris to San Sebastian, 7 nights aboard El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo in a Grand Luxury Suite with all meals, and a flight from Santiago de Compostela to London via Madrid. An alternative return by First Class rail via Barcelona is available.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is escorted. Planet Rail provides train crew and guided excursions throughout the 7 nights on board El Transcantábrico. Your independent First Class rail travel from London includes a private taxi transfer in Paris.
What meals are included?
All meals on board El Transcantábrico are included, plus breakfast at the two hotel stays. The itinerary mentions lunch and dinner on most days on the train; specific menu options or dietary restrictions should be confirmed with Planet Rail.
What cities and sights does the train visit?
El Transcantábrico travels from Bilbao/San Sebastian along Spain's northern coast to Ferrol, with stops including Santander, Unquera, Santillana del Mar, Oviedo, Avilés, Gijón, Luarca, Ribadeo, and Viveiro. Guided excursions include the Guggenheim in Bilbao, El Capricho in Comillas, Altamira cave art, Picos de Europa National Park, and Santiago de Compostela.
How much walking and activity is involved?
The tour includes city walking tours in multiple towns and a visit to the medieval quarter of Santillana del Mar. Coach excursions feature stops with moderate walking, such as the mountain pass to Potes, Lake Enol in the Picos de Europa, and Las Catedrales Beach. Free time is offered in several cities for independent exploration.
What is the cost?
The from-price is £7,995 (approximately USD 10,677). This covers the rail journey, accommodation, meals on board, excursions, and the return flight, but specific availability and any single-occupancy supplements should be confirmed with Planet Rail.

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