Expedition Details

Climb aboard the luxury Transcantábrico and set off on a rail journey along Spain’s splendid northern coast. Passing through medieval hamlets and historic towns, the train traces the fertile tract between the Cantabrian Mountains and the scalloped beaches on the Bay of Biscay. Explore the Basque country and charming seaside ports, follow the legendary St. James pilgrimage route, and experience the lively cities of Santiago de Compostela and León.

Trip Highlights

• Spend seven nights traveling in refurbished 1920’s British Pullman cars on the elegant Transcantábrico, a five-star hotel on wheels.
• Admire diverse architectural styles, from the pre-Romanesque gems of Oviedo to Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum.
• Stroll through the remarkably preserved medieval village of Santillana del Mar.
• Stay in historic paradores in Santiago de Compostela and León, and savor the region’s cuisine and fine wines.

Itinerary - 11 Days

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Depart on an overnight flight. Arrive in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and the ending point of the historic Way of St. James pilgrimage route. Check into the beautiful Parador de los Reyes Católicos. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Parador Hostal Dos Reis Catolicos (D)

Day 3 — Santiago de Compostela/A Coruña/Ferrol

This morning, explore Santiago’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the middle of the city sits the majestic cathedral, allegedly the burial place of St. James and the destination of many thousands of pilgrims for the past 1,000 years. After lunch, drive north to A Coruña, the port city from which King Phillip II’s legendary Armada set sail for England. Continue to Ferrol, where we board the Transcantábrico, enjoy dinner, and settle in for the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Ribadeo/Luarca

Our first stop this morning is Ribadeo, a stately seaside town. Wander beneath soaring rock formations at a magnificent beach aptly named Las Catedrales. Enjoy lunch at the historic Parador de Ribadeo, a traditional Galician country home. Then board the train for the whitewashed fishing village of Luarca and spend the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Oviedo/Gijón

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. Enjoy a lunch of regional specialities before continuing 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, gather for dinner at a local sidrería, or cider bar.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Picos de Europa National Park/Covadonga/Cabezón de la Sal

Continue east in the Asturias region, tracing the coast as the Cantabrian Mountains rise along the southern horizon. Stop in Arriondas for an excursion into the Picos de Europa National Park, where stony, snow-dusted peaks jut abruptly into the sky. Venture into the village of Covadonga, site of the first victory of the Spanish Reconquest; and visit its basilica, an important pilgrimage site. After lunch in Cangas de Onís, continue by train to Cabezón de la Sal for the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Santillana del Mar/Santander

After breakfast, travel by bus to Santillana del Mar, one of Europe’s best preserved medieval villages. Enjoy lunch at the Parador Gil Blas, a stunning ancestral home dating back to the eighth century, and then explore this enchanting village. Reboard the train for Santander, the seaside capital of Cantabria. Stretched out along narrow spits and scalloped beaches, Santander was a royal retreat in the early 20th century. Enjoy dinner and then spend the night here.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Bilbao/Donostia-San Sebastián/El Mercadillo

Pull into Bilbao, a shipbuilding center and the largest city in the Basque region. Enjoy a city tour that includes the Guggenheim Museum, which harbors works by 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 splendid views. After lunch, return to Bilbao to meet the train, and continue to El Mercadillo.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Románico Palentino/La Olmeda/Cistierna

Travel to Mataporquera this morning. Set out on an excursion to the Románico Palentino—an area with one of the highest concentrations of Romanesque monuments in Europe. Venture into cathedrals and villas in the villages of Villalcázar de Sirga, Carrión de los Condes, and Frómista. In the afternoon, visit the Roman village of La Olmeda and continue by train to Cistierna for the night.
El Transcantábrico (B,L,D)

Day 10 — León

After breakfast, disembark in León, another important stop along the Way of St. James. Visit León’s old quarter and the magnificent Santa María de León Cathedral. Check into our splendid parador, originally a monastery built in the 12th century for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Tonight, toast our Spanish rail adventure at a farewell dinner.
Parador Hostal San Marcos (B,D)

Day 11 — León/U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight.
(B)

Optional Extensions

• Barcelona - Pre-Trip Extension, 5 Days
• Madrid - Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days

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