Expedition Details
Climb aboard the historic El Transcantábrico and set off on a rail journey along Spain’s splendid northern coast. Following the legendary Saint James pilgrimage route, trace the fertile tract between the wild Cantabrian Mountains and the scalloped beaches of the Bay of Biscay. Experience Basque country, explore medieval hamlets and charming seaside ports, visit pre-historic ruins, and cap off the trip in spectacular Santiago de Compostela.
Trip Highlights
- Spend seven nights traveling in refurbished 1920’s British Pullman cars on the elegant El Transcantábrico.
- Examine diverse architecture, from the pre-Romanesque gems of Oviedo to Bilbao’s innovative Guggenheim Museum.
- Stroll through the remarkably preserved medieval village of Santillana del Mar.
- Savor some of the region’s finest cuisine paired with excellent wines, and stay in Spain's only two 5-star historic paradors.
Itinerary - 11 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./León, Spain
Depart on an overnight flight to León, an important stop along the historic Way of Saint James. Check into our splendid parador, originally a monastery built in the 12th century for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Tonight, gather for a welcome reception and dinner.
Hotel Hostal San Marcos (D)
Day 3 — León
On a morning walking tour, stroll past the arcaded buildings of León’s old quarter and the magnificent Santa María de León Cathedral. See the Casa de Botines, one of the few structures by legendary architect Antoni Gaudí found outside Barcelona. After lunch, settle into your cabin aboard the El Transcantábrico. The train heads into the Cantabrian Mountains this afternoon.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Guardo/El Mercadillo
Travel east to Guardo this morning. Set out on an excursion to the Románico Palentino—an area with one of the highest concentrations of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Venture into rustic villages to stone-carved medieval churches. Meet the train in Mataporquera and continue to El Mercadillo.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Bilbao/Donostia-San Sebastián/Santander
Pull into Bilbao, a shipbuilding center and the largest city in the Basque region. Explore the Guggenheim Museum, which harbors works by Rauschenberg, Picasso, and Warhol, but is better known for its cutting-edge design by Frank Gehry. Drive to Donostia-San Sebastián, the lively culinary capital of Basque country, just 12 miles from the French border. Stroll along the narrow lanes of the picturesque old town, and ride the funicular up Monte Igueldo to take in spectacular views. After lunch in town, return to Bilbao and board our train for Santander, the seaside capital of Cantabria.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Santander/Santillana del Mar/ Cabezón de la Sal
Stretched out along narrow spits and scalloped beaches, Santander was a royal retreat in the early 20th century. After a morning walk through the old quarter, travel to Santillana del Mar, one of Europe’s best preserved medieval villages. Enjoy lunch at an elegant home dating back to the eighth century and explore this enchanting village. Later, visit the university town of Comillas for dinner and a guided tour. Return to Cabezón de la Sal for the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Picos de Europa National Park/ Gijón
Continue west into the Asturias region, stopping in Arriondas for an excursion into the Picos de Europa National Park, where stony, snow-dusted peaks jut abruptly into the sky. Head to the village of Covadonga, site of the first victory of the Spanish Reconquest; and visit its basilica, an important pilgrimage site. Continue to the port city of Gijón. Discover underground Roman baths, and take a stroll along lovely San Lorenzo beach. Venture into the Cimadevilla, a labyrinth of historic buildings clustered on a tiny spit that protrudes into the bay. Tonight, sample regional specialties at a sidrería, or cider bar.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Oviedo/Luarca
This morning, our train makes its way to Oviedo, a city known for its unique pre-Romanesque Asturian architecture. See some of the most stunning examples of this style: the churches of San Julián de los Prados, San Miguel de Lillo, and Santa María del Naranco, collectively declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Stroll through Oviedo's bustling covered market and enjoy a lunch of local cuisine. Later, travel to the whitewashed fishing village of Luarca for the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Navia/Ribadeo/Ferrol
Our first stop this morning is Navia, site of the Castros de Coaña, a fortified Celtic settlement. Then travel by road to Ribadeo, a stately seaside town. Wander beneath
soaring rock archways at a magnificent beach aptly named Las Catedrales. After lunch at the Parador de Ribadeo, a traditional Galician country home, reboard the train for Ferrol.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)
Day 10 — A Coruña/Santiago de Compostela
Disembark this morning and drive south, stopping in A Coruña, the port city from which King Philip II’s legendary Armada set sail for England. This afternoon, arrive in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia. Explore the historic city center, a World Heritage site, including the majestic cathedral, allegedly the burial place of St. James and the destination of some 100,000 pilgrims over the past 1,000 years. Tonight, toast our Spanish rail adventure at a farewell dinner.
Parador Hostal Dos Reis Catolicos (B,L,D)
Day 11 — Santiago de Compostela/U.S.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight.
(B)
Please note: The October 20 departure will operate in the reverse direction with an optional pre-trip extension in Madrid and an optional post-trip extension in Barcelona.
Optional Extensions
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
Fiona Dunlop
Travel writer Fiona Dunlop has explored northern Spain extensively, writing numerous articles about its culture and gastronomy. She is the author of the National Geographic Traveler guidebooks for Spain and Portugal as well as Spain Chic and the critically acclaimed book New Tapas, which explores Spain’s evolving food culture. She contributes to newspapers such as the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Observer, and Sunday Telegraph and numerous magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar and CNN Traveller. Fiona has written more than a dozen guidebooks and food culture books, covering destinations in Asia, Central America, Mexico (Mexican Modern), and North Africa (The North African Kitchen). In addition to living for long periods in France, Italy, and London, her hometown, she has long favored Andalusia, in southern Spain, where she frequently retreats to her house in the olive groves.
Fiona will join the following departures:
Oct 01 - 11, 2010 • Oct 20 - 30, 2010Expedition Dates 
Please note: The October 20 departure will operate in the reverse direction with an optional pre-trip extension in Madrid and an optional post-trip extension in Barcelona.
A National Geographic photographer will also join each departure. See the "Experts" tab for their bios.
