El
El Transcantabrico 2006
The Magic of Northern Spain
Discover the north of Spain – along the shores of the Bay of Biscay, nestling between craggy mountains and green meadows, beside beaches and cliffs. This is where we can find the cities and villages of northern Spain. These are charming spots brimming with vitality and history, which over the centuries have become living works of art, such as Santiago de Compostela, Viveiro, Oviedo, Ribadesella, Llanes, Santillana del Mar, Santander, Bilbao, Carrion de los Condes and Leon. The train offers double or individual compartments, where you can enjoy all the privacy you need during the journey.
A crew of professionals attends to your every need. Whether in the common lounges or in your private compartment, you will receive exquisite, personalized attention.
Two itineraries available:
Itinerary: Santiago de Compostela to León
Day 1, Saturday (Santiago de Compostela>Viveiro)
The journey begins in historical Santiago de Compostela, one of the three holy cities of Christiandom and the goal of pilgrims in medieval times. At noon, you meet at the Hotel Reyes Catolicos in Santiago. Visit the city, followed by lunch at the hotel. After lunch, depart by motorcoach to the coastal town of Ferro to board the train. Enjoy cocktails while traveling along the rias altas, the fjord-like indentations of teh Galician coast, to the walled-in town of Vivero. A town visit is followed by an exquisite gourmet dinner. Overnight stay on the train.
Day 2, Sunday (Viveiro>Luarca)
Breakfast on board, followed by a yacht ride on Ría de Viveiro. The train will then continue to Ribadeo, on the border of Asturias. Lunch in Ribadeo. The train's next stop is Luarca, "the white town on the green coast." Dinner in Luarca and overnight stay on the train.
Day 3, Monday (Luarca>Gijón)
In Asturias the train heads for Cudillero, a fishing village tucked away in the mountains. Breakfast on board while crossing the green lands of Asturias towards the capital, Oviedo. Lunch in Oviedo. Enjoy a visit of this historical city that dates from Roman times and has an array of pre-Romanesque monuments. The train continues to Gijón, a seaport and the second largest town in Asturias. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay on the train.
Day 4, Tuesday (Gijón>Llanes)
Breakfast on board on the way to Arriondas and the "Picos de Europa" National Park, where you will visit the Enol and Ercina Mountain Lakes, weather permitting. Then on to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, where the Christian guerilla warfare against the Moors began. Lunch in Cangas de Onis. In the afternoon you will follow the Sella River and from there to the charming maritime town of Llanes. Dinner in Llanes.
Day 5, Wednesday (Llanes>Santander)
During breakfast, the train travels to the lovely town of Cabezón de la Sal. From here, we leave by coach to Santillana del Mar. Visit of the Neo-Caves of Altamira and the town of Santillana. Lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon, the train continues to Santander. City visit followed by dinner and an optional visit of the Santander Casino. Overnight on board.
Day 6, Thursday (Santander>Sotoscueva)
Breakfast on board. Departure for Bilbao. Tour the city including the famous Guggenheim Museum. Lunch in Bilbao. In the afternoon the train arrives in Sotoscueva, where we can see a natural wonder, the Ojo Guareña Caves. Dinner on board the train.
Day 7, Friday (Sotoscueva>Cistierna)
Breakfast on board while the train travels to Mataporquera. From there we take a coach to visit the Canal de Castilla and the Romanesque art in Palencia: Villalcázar de Sirga, Saldaña, Carrión de Los Condes and Frómista. Lunch in Villalcázar de Sirga. In the afternoon, we visit a Roman town and then on to Guardo where the train waits to take us to Cistierna. Dinner in Cistierna and overnight on board.
Day 8, Saturday (Cistierna>León)
During breakfast, crossing through the final part of the canyon excavated in the limestone rock by the Rivers Curueño and Torío, the train arrives in León, a historical town. Visit to San Isidoro, Cathedral, Old Quarter and San Marcos. Lunch in León. Tour ends.
Itinerary: León to Santiago de Compostela
Day 1, Saturday (León ->Cistierna)
The journey begins in León, fascinating city full of history. Take in San Isidoro, Cathedral, old quarter and San Marcos. Lunch in León. Train trip to Cistierna. Dinner in Cistierna.
Day 2, Sunday (Cistierna ->Sotoscueva)
During breakfast the train covers the journey between Cistierna and Guardo. By coach to Saldaña, visit a Roman town and Romanesque Palencia, Carrión de los Condes, Villalcázar de Sirga and Frómista.
Lunch in Villalcázar. With the train we arrive in Sotoscueva for a visit of the Caves of Ojo Guareña, bordering the fascinating swamp of the Ebro River and the region of Las Merindades. Afternoon departure to dinner on board the train.
Day 3, Monday (Sotoscueva ->Santander)
Through the land of Vizcaya we arrive in Bilbao, a modern city, where the "Ría" searches for the sea. Visit of the city, Guggenheim Museum and lunch. In the afternoon the train arrives in Santander, capital of Cantabria; this maritime city still keeps the charm of old times. Visit and dinner. If you wish you can visit the Casino after dinner.
Day 4, Tuesday (Santander -> Ribadesella)
During breakfast the train will arrive in Cabezón de la Sal. Coach to Santillana del Mar, visit of the new Altamira Museum and this beautiful medieval town. Lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon the train will arrive in the Asturias region, and visit the charming maritime town of Llanes. Afterwards dinner in Ribadesella.
Day 5, Wednesday (Ribadesella -> Gijón)
Breakfast on board on the way to Arriondas, traveling inland to the center of Asturias, and the National Park of the Picos de Europa, where you will visit the Enol and Ercina Mountain Lakes, weather allowing. The train then continues to the Sanctuary of Covadonga, where the Christian guerrilla warfare against the Moors began, and on to Cangas de Onís. Lunch in Cangas de Onís. Afterwards, the train will bring you to Gijón, the second city in Asturias. Dinner in Gijón.
Day 6, Thursday (Gijón ->Luarca)
From Gijón to Oviedo, capital of the Asturian Principality, with its unique pre-Romanesque monuments. The journey continues to Cudillero, a fishing village sheltered among the mountains. On to Luarca, the white town on the green coast. Lunch in Oviedo. Dinner in Luarca.
Day 7, Friday (Luarca ->Vivero)
Ribadeo is the first enclave of Galicia on the border with Asturias, at the mouth of the river Eo. The Rías Altas landscape is awe-inspiring. Lunch in Ribadeo. In the afternoon we arrive with the train in Vivero. Visit of this beautiful town with its wall, yacht trip in the Ría and dinner in Vivero.
Day 8, Saturday (Vivero ->Santiago)
From Vivero the train will get to Ferrol. The coach will part to our last destination: Santiago de Compostela, end of the pilgrimage route. Here the Obradoiro square awaits as a jewel, as well as the Cathedral. Lunch in Santiago de Compostela. End of the trip.
2006 Dates & PricesDepartures from Leon:
Transcantabrico 1 Transcantabrico 2 8, 22 April
6, 20 May
3, 17 June
1, 15, 29 July
12, 26 August
9, 23 September
7 October27 May
10, 24 June
8, 22 July
5, 19 August
2, 16, 30 September
14, 28 OctoberDepartures from Santiago de Compostela:
Transcantabrico 1 Transcantabrico 2 15, 29 April
13, 27 May
10, 24 June
8, 22 July
5, 19 August
2, 16, 30 September20 May
3, 17 June
1, 15, 29 July
12, 26 August
9, 23 September
7, 21 October
2006 Rates
Double suite: $5,950*
Single suite: $4,055*
*Rates in U.S. $ are estimated and are based on the exchange rate as of July 2006. Exact prices in US$ are subject to the current rate of exchange against the Euro. Please contact us for exact prices. Rate will only be guaranteed at the time of full pre-payment.
Tour rates include:
• Seven nights on board the train
• Seven dinners and eight lunches of typical northern Spain cuisine, with wine, coffee or tea and liquor included
• Seven buffet breakfasts on board
• Guide accompaniment for the entire journey
• Music and entertainment in the pub carriage
• Programmed excursions, including entrance fees
• The train's own luxury coach throughout the entire itinerary
• Complimentary robe and slippers free to take home as souvenirs
General Conditions
Payments and Deposits:
A deposit of 50% of the tour cost is required to start processing the reservation, either by check or credit card (American Express, Visa or MasterCard). No reservations will be processed without the initial deposit. Final payment of the balance is required at least 60 days ahead of the scheduled departure. Final payment must be made by check. Credit card final payments will incur a 3% surcharge.
Cancellations:
Cancellations received any time between the date of confirmation, receipt of deposit, and 60 days before departure will be subject to a 25% charge of the total value of the reservation.
Cancellations received within 60 days of departure will be subject to the following charges:
*60-31 days before departure: 30% of total tour cost
*30-21 days before departure: 50% of total tour cost
*20 days prior-date of departure: 100% of tour cost
There is no refund for non-use of any of the services included in El Transcantábrico program.
Reservations will not be confirmed until signed acceptance of these conditions has been received.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881
Download our tour booking form.
E-mail us with questions or to make your reservation
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