El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo Itineraries

El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo Itineraries

Here are the descriptions of El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo itineraries, San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela and Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastian.

Please note that the train company changes details from time to time ; check for updates with the Club.

San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela

San Sebastian, Carranza, Bilbao, Santander, Potes, Cabezon de la Sal, Santillana del Mar, Llanes, Arriondas, Oviedo, Candas, Aviles, Gijon, Luarca, Ribadeo, Viviero, Santiago de Compostela.

8 days / 7 nights on El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo.

Meeting Point: 13:00hrs. Hotel Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.

Saturday: San Sebastián to Carranza. San Sebastián is a vibrant city that nestles in a shell-shaped bay where the 'Comb of the Wind', the jaw-dropping iron sculptures of Eduardo Chillida cast huge, bold shapes from the water's edge of the Bay of Biscay. With its many restaurants, beautiful beaches and an interesting Old Quarter full of historical buildings, it is certainly worth exploring.

Meeting Point: 13:00hrs. Hotel Costa Vasca, San Sebastián, followed by a guided tour and then lunch in this elegant and beautiful city, where major cultural events take place every year. After lunch, a luxury coach will take you to Bilbao, where the Transcantábrico train awaits. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink with the crew, before settling and then having dinner as the train travels to Carranza. Overnight in Carranza.

Sunday: Carranza, Bilbao, Santander. The train arrives in Bilbao during breakfast. There is a visit and tickets to the Guggenheim Museum. Back on the train, lunch is served on the way to Santander, considered to be one of the most beautiful in Spain, where there is free time. Divided in two by the Magdalene Peninsula, on one side are magnificent beaches, the imposing casino and fine English-looking homes, whilst on the other, the Bay of Santander, with the port, cathedral and the Paseo Pereda. Free time before and after dinner. Overnight in Santander.

Monday: Santander, Potes, Cabezon de la Sal. During breakfast, we arrive in Unquera, from where we take the coach through the breath-taking La Hermida pass (see the video) a gorge with ragged mountains where there are golden eagles occasionally soaring overhead. There is an interesting visit to Potes which lies within four valleys. This historical town is dominated by the Infantado Tower, with its traditional medieval architecture and the bridges from which the town takes its name. There is an opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths at Balneario de la Hermida before lunch and the journey to El Capricho, in Comillas; a fantastic and colourful nineteenth-century palace designed by Antonio Gaudí. Dinner and overnight stay in Cabezón de la Sal.

Tuesday: Cabezon de la Sal, Santillana del Mar, Llanes. The day starts with a visit to the medieval town of Santillana del Mar, with its cobbled streets and magnificently preserved Medieval historic quarter. The next stop is the famous Altamira 'Neocave', a museum and scientific reproduction of the finest Upper Palaeolithic rock art ever found. After lunch, return to the train to enter the enchanting lands of Asturias on the way to Llanes. Dinner and overnight stay in Llanes.

Wednesday: Arriondas, Oviedo, Candás. During breakfast, the train arrives in Arriondas where we take the coach into the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park. Here we visit the two glacial Lakes of Covadonga and the Covadonga Sanctuary; a sacred place full of tradition and legends. Return to the Transcantábrico train for lunch on the way to Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias Principality and the heart of pre-Romanesque Asturias, with treasures such as San Julián de los Prados. Visit and free time. Dinner and overnight stay in Candás.

Thursday: Candás, Aviles, Gijon, Luarca. After breakfast, we take the coach to the pretty historical town of Aviles and later to Gijon, for a tour around this Asturian seaside town par excellence, with its beautiful beaches, rich archaeological remains and Roman walls. Following free time and lunch, our train travel continues in the afternoon to Luarca, the Villa Blanca of the Costa Verde, a quaint little fishing village, with the 18th century palace of the Marquises of Gamoneda and the Church of St Eulalia. After a tour there is free time before dinner. Overnight in Luarca.

Friday: Luarca, Ribadeo, Viveiro. Whilst having breakfast, we travel through wonderful Galician scenery to Ribadeo. This is where the River Eo flows into the sea. There is a visit around the town and to Las Catedrales Beach, a spectacular natural formation that has been created by tide and wind on rock. Then a tour of Ribadeo and lunch. We rejoin the train and relax as it travels to the beautiful medieval town of Viveiro for a guided tour and then free time before dinner in Viveiro. Overnight in Viveiro.

Saturday: Viveiro, Santiago de Compostela. During breakfast, the train arrives in Ferrol, where the coach takes us to Santiago de Compostela, the ultimate destination of St James' pilgrims. Wander around the beautiful Plaza, the Silversmiths and the famous Cathedral which is a mixture of gothic, romanesque and baroque architecture, before arriving at the Parador Reyes Católicos to collect luggage; and thus ends a wonderful journey on the El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo.

End of journey: Parador Reyes Católicos, 13:00hrs.

Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastian

Santiago de Compostela, Viveiro, Ribadeo, Luarca, Aviles, Gijon, Oviedo, Candás, Arriondas, Llanes, Potes, Cabezon de la Sal, Santillana del Mar, Santander, Bilbao, Carranza, San Sebastián

8 days / 7 nights on El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo.

Meeting Point: 12:00hrs, Parador Reyes Católicos, Plaza of Santiago de Compostela.

Saturday: Santiago de Compostela, Viveiro. Rendezvous at 12:00 at Hotel Parador de los Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela (*). Following check-in, there is a city tour, the destination of devotees for over a thousand years, and admire countless artistic jewels such as the Cathedral. After lunch, the luxury coach will take you to Ferrol, where El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo is waiting. The crew will offer a welcome drink while the train goes to the historic town of Viveiro. Enjoy a tour of its beautiful old town, have dinner and spend the night on board.

(*) Renfe reserves the right to change the meeting point in which case we will be in touch.

Sunday: Viveiro, Ribadeo, Luarca, Candás. Buffet and a la carte breakfast. El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo will take you to Ribadeo, an historic town located on the border between Galicia and Asturias. The coach travels along the coast to Las Catedrales Beach, one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. City sightseeing in Ribadeo and free time. Back on the train for lunch while El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo passes through Asturia to Luarca, known as the White Town of the Green Coast. Return to the train, now travelling towards Candás for dinner and overnight on board.

Monday: Candás, Avilés, Gijón, Oviedo, Arriondas. Discover the ancient city of Avilés, before going to Gijón, a city beside the Cantabrian Sea which is alive with culture and history. After lunch, there is a trip to the region’s capital. Oviedo has much Asturian Romanesque art, featuring gems such as the basilica of San Julian de los Prados. City tour and free time before returning to the train. On-board dinner while the train moves on to Arriondas for the night.

Tuesday: Arriondas, Llanes. Visit to the heart of the Principality of Asturias. Driving up to the beautiful Picos de Europa National Park, the first stop will be at Lake Enol, one of the two glacial lakes. Then visit the Shrine of Covadonga to hear about this sacred place’s stories and legends. After lunch in Cangas de Onís, El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo will follow the river Sella where kayaks yearly compete on the International Descent. Arrive at Llanes, a charming fishing village on the east of Asturias, visit and free time in town. Dinner and night in Llanes.

Wednesday: Llanes, Potes, Cabezón de la Sal. During breakfast, El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo crosses into Cantabria. Travel from Unquera by coach through the gorge of La Hermida until we reach Potes. After visiting this charming village, enjoy a spa circuit at La Hermida Spa. After lunch, there is a visit to El Capricho, in Comillas; a fantastic and colourful nineteenth-century palace designed by Antonio Gaudí. Dinner and overnight in Cabezón de la Sal.

Thursday: Cabezón de la Sal, Santander. The day begins with a visit to the town of Santillana del Mar, with its magnificently preserved Medieval historic quarter and the famous Altamira 'Neocave', a museum and scientific reproduction of the finest Upper Palaeolithic rock art ever found. After lunch, return to El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo to continue the journey to Santander. City sightseeing tour of the elegant capital of Cantabria and free time. Those who wish, may visit El Gran Casino after dinner (entrance included). Overnight in Santander.

Friday: Santander, Bilbao, Carranza. The trains travels towards the dynamic city of Bilbao, that has reinvented itself after the decline of heavy industry. City tour including admission for the Guggenheim Museum. After lunch, enjoy free time before returning to the train. Dinner and overnight in Carranza.

Saturday: Carranza, Bilbao, San Sebastián. Last breakfast on board and back to Bilbao, from where El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo's coach will take you to San Sebastian. Visit this city of elegant beauty and home to major cultural events.

* On the day the trip begins, the access to the suite is not guaranteed until 18:00hrs, although other services are already underway. On the last day of the trip, the suite must be left before 12:00hrs, although other services continue until this.

End of journey: San Sebastián, at 13:00hrs Hotel Costa Vasca

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