Little Trains & Walks Of The Pyrenees By Rail
- Duration: 8 days
- Board Basis: Mixed Board
- Tour Ref: D2TLEGET8LWP/1
Holiday Summary
- Travel Type: Rail
PLEASE NOTE: Price is per person and based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements and upgrades are not included.
Itinerary
8 Day Itinerary
Day 1
We journey aboard Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Paris and continue by rail to Perpignan, where we are transferred by coach to our hotel near Roses on the Costa Brava; our base for the next seven nights.
Day 2 - Free Time
Enjoy a day at leisure to wander the streets in the old town of Roses, relax in our hotel, or perhaps take a walk on the wide, sandy beach nearby. You can also take a ride on the Roses Express (at extra cost). This is a delightful little road train which is pulled by an ornate tractor and climbs into the hills above Roses. Both lunch and dinner are included in the hotel’s restaurant today.
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Villefranche & The Yellow Train of the Pyrenees
Today, we spend the day in France and the French Pyrenees on our included excursion. We travel by coach to Villefranche and enjoy a guided walking tour of this historical walled stone town which dates back to the 13th century. There’s free time for lunch at leisure and for those that want to, there’s the opportunity to do another walk up inside the 12th century town walls which were fortified by Vauban, France’s great military engineer. This afternoon, we join the Yellow Train for an unforgettable journey through the Pyrenees. Sit back and relax as the line winds its way up the Tet Valley, through forests and tunnels and across ravines and viaducts, including the Pont Gisclard suspension bridge and the Séjourné viaduct with its dramatic double-decker arches. We alight from the train at the small village of Mont Louis and return to our hotel by coach.
*Town Walk - Easy walk* Duration: approx. 40 minutes; distance approx. 1 mile; terrain: cobbled streets.
*Walk inside the town walls - Moderate walk* Duration: approx. 1 hour; distance approx. 2.2 miles; terrain: many steps.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Besalú
Today we travel by coach to the charming town of Besalú – a medieval gem in the heart of Catalonia. The town boasts a rich history and culture, as well as stunning natural surroundings. We embark on a walking tour with our local guide where we’ll see the impressive 12th-century fortified bridge that spans the River Fluvia. We’ll also explore the narrow cobblestone streets that lead to the old Jewish quarter. Look out for the mikvé, a ritual bathhouse that dates back to the 12th century, and the remains of the synagogue. You’ll have free time to explore and have lunch at leisure before we head off on another walk into the nearby Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa Nature Reserve. We’ll follow paths of sloping gradients where you’ll discover volcanic cones, lava flows and lush forests. We’ll also view the inside crater of a defunct volcano. We return by coach to our hotel and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
*Besalú town walk - easy walk* Duration: approx. 1 hour; distance: approx. 2 miles; terrain: cobbled streets, slight uphill and downhill gradients of less than 40 metres.
*Volcano walk - moderate walk* Duration: approx. 1.5 hours; distance: approx. 3 miles; terrain: paths of volcanic ash and earth tracks under foot and slight sloping gradients up to 30 metres.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Núria Valley Railway & the Sanctuary of Núria Walk
We travel by coach to Spain’s Núria Valley, where we join the Rack Railway; it is the only means of transport into this breathtaking valley. With alpine meadows surrounded by stunning mountain peaks soaring to over three thousand metres, you’re guaranteed to be left in awe. Sit back and watch the spellbinding scenery unfold as the rack railway climbs more than 1,000 metres in just twelve and a half kilometres to Vall de Núria station. Here, we take the Cable Car and alight to begin our walk down the beautiful valley. We’ll take in the rich and diverse flora and fauna and our local walking guide will tell us more about this remote region. Later, we’ll walk around the lake to the Sanctuary of Núria.
*Nuria Valley walk - Moderate walk* Duration: approx. 40 minutes; distance: approx. 1 mile; terrain: downhill descent with 40 metre gradients.
*Lake walk - Moderate walk* Duration: approx. 1 hour 20 minutes; distance: approx. 1.5 miles; terrain: 70 metre climb up, stone steps. There is the option to shorten this walk and your local guide will provide you with more details.
Meals - Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - The Red Train of the Pyrenees & the Refugee’s Trail
Today, we travel by coach to step aboard the Train du pays Cathere et du Fenouillèdes. Enjoy a journey on the 100-year-old railway line, which runs between the French village of Rivesaltes and the pretty town of Axat. Soak up the stunning landscape as the train, affectionately called the ‘Little Red Train’, takes us through beautiful scenery until we’re high in the Aude Valley. Enjoy time at leisure before this afternoon’s guided walk. From Coll de Lli we walk the Refugee’s Trail, which follows one of the paths of exile taken by hundreds of thousands of people who, along with leaders of Catalonia’s government, headed for the safety of the French border when Barcelona fell to Franco’s troops. We return by coach to Roses for dinner at our hotel.
*Moderate walk* Duration: approx. 1.5 hours; distance: approx 2.5 miles; terrain: natural paths, steep climb uphill, rocky underfoot.
Meals - Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Free Time
Enjoy a final day at leisure to take in the Mediterranean atmosphere of Roses. This evening dinner is served at our hotel.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
We leave the Spanish coast behind and retrace our route to Paris, where we take the Eurostar for the return to London St. Pancras International.
Meals - Breakfast