Portraits Of Green Spain, Cantabria, The Basque Coast & Andorra

Itinerary

10 Day Itinerary

• Day 1

  Regional departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Portsmouth/Plymouth for the overnight crossing to Santander.

  Please note: When you board the ferry at Portsmouth/Plymouth you will require a small overnight bag containing any essential items such as medication. Please note that this small bag (no larger than a small rucksack) is counted as part of your overall luggage allowance.

• Day 2

  Arrival in Santander then travel to Suances, northern Spain, for a four-night stay.

  Meals - Dinner

• Day 3 - Comillas & Santillana del Mar

  Today’s included excursion takes us first to the picturesque village of Comillas, with its medieval square and quaint old churches, then to Santillana del Mar, one of the prettiest little towns in Spain. The mansion houses, adorned with their coats of arms, and the many quaint little shops, all combine to rekindle the medieval past.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 4 - Free Time or Picos de Europa

  Join our optional full-day tour to the Picos de Europa, one of the most breath-taking mountain ranges on the Iberian Peninsula, with peaks rising to a spectacular 8500 feet. There is an abundance of wildlife within this mountain range and Cantabrian Brown Bear and also Wolves live in the remoter regions and have often been sighted. We pause at Potes, a small ancient village with old balconied houses lining the river. It is situated in the broad Valle de Liébana, whose fertile soil yields prime crops of walnuts, cherries and grapes. The traditional village cuisine includes game stews and Cocido Lebaniego (chickpea casserole). There is also a potent spirit called Orujo, which is made in the town. To make the most of your visit into the Picos de Europa why not take a ride aboard the Fuente De cable car (at extra cost, approx €17 per person). The cable car takes visitors into the mountains to an altitude of 1450 metres in just 4 minutes. Overcoming a drop of 750 metres, the cable car travels at approximately 10 metres per second! At the upper station you will be able to see the fantastic scenery of the surrounding area (weather permitting).

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 - Santander

  Our excursion takes us to the beautiful city of Santander, with its wide boulevards and stunning waterfront promenade. This beautiful seaside city has a lot to offer its visitors. It is a modern city and is regarded as one of the loveliest on the Spanish Coast. Santander is a very popular destination for tourists due to its cultural heritage, exceptional buildings, cosmopolitan style and seaside attractions. There is plenty to keep you occupied. Perhaps take a stroll along one of the sandy beaches, explore the lively city centre or visit one of the interesting museums. The choice is yours.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 - San Sebastián

  We leave Cantabria and head east to the beautiful Basque town of San Sebastián, set on a sweeping, shell-shaped bay with its charming old quarter and Belle Epoque style. The local tapas bars are a true delight. Continue to Andorra for a three-night stay.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 7 - Barcelona

  Today we travel into the centre of Barcelona, Spain’s second largest city, one of the Mediterranean’s busiest ports and the capital of the province of Catalonia. During the day, why not join our optional Barcelona sightseeing tour to introduce you to the famous sights such as the unusual scenery of the Eixample district as well the huge Olympic stadium, scene of the great athletic achievements in 1992. Later, perhaps spend time exploring the bustling Las Ramblas, the iconic street in the centre, which runs from the Plaza de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus monument near the harbour at Port Vell. Here you can relax in one of the cafes, browse the market stalls and see the mime artists. From here you will be ideally situated to explore the “Barri Gotic”, or Gothic Quarter in the centre of the Old Town, where some of buildings date back to medieval and Roman times.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 8 - Andorra Countryside Tour

  Enjoy an included countryside tour of Andorra. The rugged landscape of towering peaks, lush green meadows and deep gorges is dotted with remote mountain villages. Visit the timeless villages of Encamp, La Massana and Escalades.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 9

  We head north to our overnight hotel in the Paris area.

  Meals - Breakfast

• Day 10

  Return home.

  Meals - Breakfast

Accommodation

In Cantabria, you will stay for four nights at the 4-star Gran Hotel Suances. This beautiful hotel, situated within walking distance of the beach, has a lobby bar, restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool (open subject to season). You will stay for three nights at the 5-star Holiday Inn Andorra La Vella. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, small indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. 

Overnight stay in the Paris area will be in a city-style hotel.

On the overnight ferry sailing, accommodation will be in en suite inside cabins (meals are not included on board ship).