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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Railways and Paradores of Galicia

Escorted rail journey through Galicia, staying in luxury converted monasteries and historic paradores

Illustration of Railways and Paradores of Galicia

PTG Tours operates this 11-day escorted rail journey from Madrid to León, a journey through Galicia, Spain's mountainous and rugged north-western region. The tour centres on scenic railway lines, many threatened with closure, that traverse coastal and mountain terrain inaccessible by road. Travellers stay throughout in luxury Paradores, historic buildings converted into hotels: a 10th-century Benedictine monastery in the Ribeira Sacra, a medieval tower, and two further monastery-turned-paradores. The itinerary includes the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, the port of Vigo with access to the Isles of Cíes National Park, the walled Roman city of Lugo, and coastal towns and cities connected by regional and branch-line trains. A tour manager is present throughout, the group is limited to 16 people, and the pace is deliberately leisurely. Breakfast and most dinners are included. This tour suits repeat rail travellers seeking heritage routes, those drawn to historic paradores and culture, and anyone preferring guided group travel with minimal logistical worry.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is published (April 2026 at £2,265 GBP per person); confirm availability and any additional dates with PTG Tours before committing.
  • The tour includes breakfast and most dinners, but some meals are not covered; clarify which meals are independent.
  • One early train departure from Lugo to A Coruña breaks the otherwise leisurely pace.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Madrid

    Fly or travel overland to Madrid

    Flights from various UK airports to Madrid, or overland from St Pancras by Eurostar and TGV (an Interrail Pass is included for rail travellers, giving free travel from/to the home UK station, in first class). Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Madrid.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Santo Estevo (Ribeira Sacra)

    Madrid to Ourense

    Optional morning visit to the national railway museum at the old Madrid-Delicias station. 14:15 high-speed train from Madrid to Ourense (arr 17:17), then dinner at Parador de Santo Estevo, a converted 10th-century Benedictine monastery in the Ribeira Sacra region. Guests on the 7-night option spend tonight in Santiago de Compostela instead, meeting the main group the next day.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Santo Estevo (Ribeira Sacra)

    Santiago de Compostela

    Tour bus to Ourense to catch the new high-speed line to Santiago de Compostela. Guided walk of the city, including the Cathedral (built 11th-13th centuries) and the tomb of St James the Apostle. Free time for lunch and exploration, then train back to Ourense and bus transfer to Santo Estevo.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Santo Estevo (Ribeira Sacra)

    Vigo and the Isles of Cíes

    Bus to Ourense for a scenic train along the River Miño (the Spain-Portugal border) to the port of Vigo (Guixar station). Time to explore or take a boat to the Isles of Cíes. Fast train back to Ourense and bus transfer to Santo Estevo for a third and final night.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Vilalba

    Ourense to Lugo; on to Vilalba

    Morning to explore Ourense, an old Roman city with thermal springs. Train to Lugo (only four trains a day on this line), a UNESCO World Heritage walled Roman city, for a guided tour. Bus transfer to Parador de Vilalba, a converted medieval tower, for a two-night stay.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Vilalba

    A Coruña and Ferrol

    Early train (the only early start of the holiday) north from Lugo to A Coruña. Visit to the Tower of Hercules, the oldest working lighthouse in Europe, followed by a guided walk through the city. Afternoon branch-line train north along the coast to the port of Ferrol. Bus transfer back to Vilalba.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Cambados

    Pontevedra; on to Cambados

    Bus back to A Coruña for the rail journey south to Pontevedra, a historic Galician town at the head of the Ria de Pontevedra. Guided walk through the old town. Bus transfer to the Parador on the coast at Cambados for a two-night stay.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Cambados

    Free day at Cambados

    A free day to enjoy Cambados, known for its seafood and Albariño wine, with a wine tasting included. An optional early-start rail extension is available for enthusiasts wanting to complete the final section of the Galician line into Portugal via Valença.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Monforte de Lemos

    On to Monforte de Lemos

    Train back towards Ourense and on to the junction town of Monforte de Lemos, arriving late afternoon. Bus transfer to the Parador de Monforte, a converted 17th-century Benedictine monastery, for dinner and overnight. Guests finishing on the 7-night option transfer to Santiago de Compostela airport for a flight to London Gatwick.

  10. Day 10railovernight: León

    Monforte de Lemos to León

    Morning train from Monforte de Lemos to León, listed as one of the most scenic rail journeys in Spain and Europe (the only train of the day on this route). Overnight at the NH Collection hotel in central León, near the cathedral.

  11. Day 11rail

    León to Madrid; fly home

    Train to Madrid for transfer to the airport and return flights to the UK. An alternative overland return via Palencia, Irun and Hendaye, then TGV/Eurostar to Paris and London St Pancras, is also available (arriving the following day).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2High-speed train from Madrid arrives in Ourense at 17:17; dinner at Parador de Santo Estevo, a converted 10th-century Benedictine monastery in the Ribeira Sacra.
  • Day 3Guided walk of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, built in the 11th to 13th centuries and the tomb of St James the Apostle, followed by high-speed train back to Ourense.
  • Day 4Scenic train along the River Miño at the Spain-Portugal border to the port of Vigo; option to take a boat to the Isles of Cíes, one of Spain's National Parks.
  • Day 6Early train from Lugo north to A Coruña to visit the Tower of Hercules, the oldest working lighthouse in Europe, followed by a branch-line train along the coast to Ferrol.
  • Day 10Train from Monforte de Lemos to León, listed as one of the most scenic rail journeys in Spain and Europe, with overnight in central León near the cathedral.

Included

  • All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Accommodation in luxury "Paradores"
  • Meals as shown in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, D = Dinner)
  • Services of the tour manager
  • Holiday is fully escorted from London

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. PTG Tours includes all rail travel outlined in the itinerary. Passengers travelling from UK home stations via Eurostar and TGV receive an Interrail Pass for first-class travel included in the tour.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes, fully escorted from London with a tour manager throughout. Small group size is capped at 16 people.
Which trains are used?
High-speed AVE-type trains (Madrid-Ourense, Ourense-Santiago de Compostela), a scenic line along the River Miño (Ourense-Vigo at the Spain-Portugal border), regional trains to Lugo, A Coruña, and a coastal branch line to Ferrol, and a scenic route from Monforte de Lemos to León. An optional international train extends to Valença in Portugal.
What are the hotels?
Accommodation is in luxury Paradores throughout: Santo Estevo (converted 10th-century Benedictine monastery in Ribeira Sacra, 3 nights), Vilalba (converted medieval tower, 2 nights), Cambados (2 nights), Monforte de Lemos (converted 17th-century Benedictine monastery, 1 night), León's NH Collection (1 night), and a 4-star hotel in Madrid (1 night).
How much walking is involved?
The tour is described as leisurely with no early starts or late finishes (except one early departure from Lugo). Guided walks are included in Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, A Coruña, and Pontevedra; free time is built in for exploration.
What is included in the price?
All train and coach travel as outlined, accommodation in Paradores, breakfast and most dinners, services of the tour manager, guided walks and excursions, and a wine tasting at Cambados. International flights and some meals are not included.

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