The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 75

"Being a travel agent, I will certainly book through you in the
future. I am sorry that I didn't work with you when booking
my personal trip.- B. Brown, El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

The Tour

Owen Hardy

El Transcantábrico Clásico
narrow-gauge train pokes along
400 miles of incredible scenery
across northern Spain, skirting
coastline, meandering among
mountains, following rivers and
running along deep canyons.
Program includes onboard buffet breakfast and day touring by
motorcoach to restaurants and
sites not reachable by train.

The ITInerary

Eastbound Itinerary (westbound itinerary starts in León)
Day 1: Santiago de Compostela-Viveiro
Check in with train officials at
noon at the Parador in Santiago.
City tour of Santiago focusing
on the famous cathedral. Lunch
in the city, then motorcoach
to Ferrol and board El Transcantábrico Clásico. Relax and
enjoy the sunset while traveling
northeast to the walled town
of Viveiro. Tour of Viveiro and
dinner.
Day 2: Viveiro-Luarca
Continue by train east through
scenic river landscapes. Tour
of Ribadeo, take a walk on gor-

Owen Hardy

geous Cathedrals Beach, enjoy
lunch. Then on to Luarca, "the
white town of the green coast."
Dinner and overnight in Candás.
Day 3: Oviedo-Gijón
Tour ancient Avilés, then continue to coastal city of Gijón,
largest in Asturias, for a visit
followed by lunch. You may
wish to spend your time in Gijón
at the local railway museum.
This afternoon cross green
lands to Oviedo, with its array of
pre-Romanesque monuments.
Dinner on board.
Day 4: Gijón-Llanes
Travel to "Picos de Europa"
National Park, a highlight of this
journey. Visit lakes and historic
Sanctuary of Covadonga and
the town of Cangas de Onís,
with its famous Roman Bridge.
Return to the train for lunch
while traveling to the fishing
village of Llanes for dinner.
Day 5: Llanes-Santander
Disembark in Cabezón de la Sal
and motorcoach to the Neocaves of Altamira with its impressive museum. Continue to
Santillana del Mar for lunch and
walking tour of this medieval

city. Train to Santander, dinner,
city tour; optional casino visit.
Day 6: Santander-BilbaoBurgos-Villasana de Mena
After breakfast on board, we
will arrive in Bilbao, a surprising
city. City tour includes the Guggenheim Museum. (Note: if you
wish more time in the museum,
please advise your guide and
go straight to the museum. Also
note on westbound departures,
the Guggenheim Museum visit
is only possible in July & August.) Lunch on board the train,
a highlight of the journey. In
the afternoon, we approach Villasana de Mena (Burgos), where
we have dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Villasana de
Mena-Cistierna
We arrive to Mataporquera in
the morning. From there we
drive to visit the Romanesque
Art of Palencia: Villalcázar de
Sirga, Carrión de los Condes and
Frómista. Lunch in Villalcázar
de Sirga. In the afternoon we
visit the Roman Villa la Olmeda.
From Guardo we go by train to
Cistierna. Dinner and overnight
in Cistierna.

Day 8: Cistierna-León
Enjoy final breakfast on board
as the train travels to León. Our
city tour includes San Isidoro,
the cathedral, Gaudí's Botines,
Old Quarters and San Marcos.

The hIghlIghTs

* Sample Spain's famed "northern
cuisine" with excellent wines, on
board and at great local restaurants
* English-speaking tours of historic, charming cities of northern
Spain
* Beautiful scenery: mountains,
rivers, deep canyons, coast lands
* Picos de Europa National Park,
with its many lakes and rugged
peaks
* Visit the Neo-caves of Altamira
museum
* Bilbao's famed Guggenheim
Museum (on selected trips)
* Enjoy a walk on Cathedrals
Beach among the giant rock
formations
* All meals and off-train tours
included except where noted;
gratuities not included
* IRT Virtuoso Difference: Let us
book your pre- and post-tour
extensions in historic Paradors
with complimentary add-ons.

Visit our website for dates, prices,FOR
moreDATES,
tours * www
PRICES:
.irtsociety.com
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
* (800) 478-4881, u.s. &*canada;
(800) (502)
478-4881
897-1725,*elsewhere
TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
* tourdesk@irtsociety.com

|| 75
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