Catalonia and Little Trains of the Pyrenees

Description

On this fascinating escorted tour, experience the magnificent coast of Catalonia and the breath taking peaks of the Pyrenees. The little trains that traverse these jagged peaks, with their brightly painted carriages with large panoramic windows, are a fantastic way to get around and we include journeys on the most spectacular lines. - Book today with a low deposit of just £150.

Duration
8 days
Price
from £999

We are based in the delightful seaside resort of Roses, on Spain’s Costa Brava. Our time is spent on both the Spanish and French sides of the Pyrenees mountains so you can really experience their scenic variety and cultural diversity. Our included railway journeys, which take us high into the Pyrenees in both countries, are on the Little Yellow Train, which is one of the Great Railway Journeys of the World, and on the Red Train, a railway which has been in use since 1901. We also have a journey on the Núria Valley Rack Railway, which climbs high into the mountains and up to the Núria Valley itself, plus a fun trip on the land train from Roses along the dramatic coast and into the Cap de Creus National Park. To complete this fabulous holiday we have also included an excursion to Figueres, where we visit the Dali museum.

Book this tour today from £999
Included in price
  • 7 nights accommodation at the 3 star Hotel Sant Marc in Roses
  • 7 breakfast and 7 dinners with a ¼ of wine or water
  • Twin bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and a balcony
  • Journeys on the Little Yellow Train and the Red Train of the Pyrenees
  • Excursion on the Nuria Valley rack railway
  • Tour on the Roses Express Town Train to Cap de Creus Nature Park
  • Excursion to Figueres and entrance to the Dali Museum
  • Return flights
  • One piece of hold luggage and one piece of hand luggage per person
  • Transfers between airport and hotel
  • Air conditioned coach travel in Spain and France
  • Services of a Mistral Holidays Tour Manager
  • ATOL Protected

Accommodation

We stay in the 3* Hotel Sant Marc in the popular Santa Margarida district of Roses. It’s a really well run hotel and in terms of facilities, it’s got the lot witha bar lounge and an outdoor swimming pool with terrace and it is located close to the marina. All of the twin bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom, TV, air conditioning and a balcony. The buffet restaurant offers both Spanish and international dishes and a ¼ of wine or water are included with dinner. From the Hotel Sant Marc it's an easy walk along the seafront promenade to the centre of Roses.

On certain dates or with high demand we may use other good 3 star hotels in Roses such as the Coral Platja Elite.

Book this tour today from £999

Excursions

During our stay we have arranged a programme of included and optional excursions and visits, all taken at a leisurely pace.

Day 1 - Fly to Spain

On arrival at Barcelona or Girona Airport you will be met and transfer to our hotel in Roses, where we stay for seven nights. Seven buffet breakfasts and dinners are included in the hotel.

Day 2 - Roses Express and Cap de Creus nature Park

This morning is at leisure, enabling you to make your first discoveries in Roses. Roses is a modern resort with a good choice of pavement cafes, restaurants and bars and also offers some excellent shopping, The wide sweeping bay with its golden beach is backed by a delightful promenade which is ideal for strolling. This afternoon we board the little road train, the’ Roses Express’, for an included trip into the Cap de Creus Nature Park where we can admire the far reaching sea views.

Day 3 - Little Yellow Train of the Pyrenees

We spend the day in France today on our included excursion. Travelling by coach we head to the medieval walled city of Thuir, which is surrounded by vineyards. We then continue on to Villefranche de Confluent, which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We’ll have some free time here before boarding the Little Yellow Train for an unforgettable journey through the Pyrenees. Just sit back and relax as the line winds its way up through the Tet valley, cutting through forests and tunnels, across ravines and viaducts, including the Séjourné viaduct with its dramatic double-decker arches and the Pont Gisclard suspension bridge. We leave the train at the small mountain village of Mont Louis and return to our hotel by coach after a wonderful day in the French Pyrenees.

Day 4 - At leisure

Perhaps relax on the beach, spend time shopping, visit the 16th century Citadel or you could take an enjoyable boat trip along the coastline.

Day 5 - Nuria Valley Rack Railway

Today’s journey is in Spain on the Núria Valley Rack Railway, which is twinned with the Jungfrau Express in Switzerland. There are some truly spectacular views of mountains, forests and meadows as we climb more than 1,000 metres over the 12 kilometre journey up to the mountain resort of Vall de Núria. There will also be a tasting of some of the local products.

Day 6 - The Red Train of the Pyrenees

We go back into France today, for a spectacular journey on the “Train du pays Cathere et du Fenouillèdes” or as it’s known locally, the Red Train. Enjoy the ever changing scenery as we journey over 60 kilometres from Rivesaltes to Axat, passing through vineyards and meadows as we follow the mountains. The Red Train has some open-air carriages which are absolutely ideal for watchingthe scenery pass by. We’ll have some free time in Axat, which is a pretty town on the banks of the River Aude with its backdrop of the green slopesof the Pyrenees before heading back to Rosesby coach.

Day 7 - Figueres and the Dali Foundation

This morning we have an included excursion by coach to the nearby town of Figueres. Figueres, capital of the area and famous for being the town where Salvador Dali was born and spent his childhood. The Dali museum, which is in a former theatre refurbished by Dali himself, is an unmissable experience. Apart from three floors full of the artist's extravagant creations, the building itself is well worth seeing. We return to Roses in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 8 - Fly home

Today, at the appropriate time, we transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

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