Cantabria and Highlights of Castile and Leon

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to Plymouth for the overnight crossing to Santander.

We disembark in Santander and head to our resort for the next four nights.

Enjoy our included excursion through the Picos de Europa. Home to some of the best scenery in Spain and three limestone massifs we will explore this fantastic mountain range. Why not take the Fuente De cable car rising over 753 metres and giving unparalleled views across the mountain range.

Our optional excursion takes us to the resort of Santander, with its wide boulevards and waterfront promenade. Santander is the capital city of the Cantabria region. Enjoy walks along the Paseo de Pereda promenade and marvel at the Palacio de la Magdalena which was once the royal summer residency and lies at the mouth of the Bay of Santander. Visit atmospheric plazas, belle-epoque buildings and stunning beaches.

Today we enjoy another fantastic excursion to Santillana del Mar, a small medieval town sometimes thought of as a film set given the perfect state of its preservation. Explore the narrow, cobbled streets filled with picturesque stone buildings.

We continue to Altamira Caves which features prehistoric paintings of bison, horses and deer. In order to preserve the paintings it was decided in 2002 that visitors would see replicas, but this is still worth the visit.

We leave the mountains and coastal resorts of Cantabria behind and continue to the region of Castile & Leon. Home to historic towns and cities we arrive in the beautiful walled town of Avila, which will be our base for the next four nights.

We make the short journey to the town of Segovia, famous for its magnificent Roman Aqueduct. You will struggle to find as good an example of Roman grandeur anywhere else in Spain. You will have free time to explore the quaint squares and terracotta buildings all set against the backdrop of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

We return to Avila in the afternoon where you will have time at leisure to explore this preserved, medieval town. Surrounded by a wall with 88 watchtowers and more than 2500 turrets, it is a fine example of a preserved medieval bastion.

Today we drive to the capital city of Madrid. Enjoy an optional guided sightseeing coach tour of the city before you have free time to explore. It is famous for stunning architecture and its world-renowned museums including the Prado which houses pieces by Goya, Rubens, Botticelli and Caravaggio among many others. Or simply enjoy taking in the atmosphere at one of the city’s vibrant squares such as the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor or the Plaza de la Villa.

Madrid Sightseeing can be pre-booked to secure your place.

This Spanish city is packed with history and has a wide variety of attractions to enjoy. During this optional excursion, take the chance to visit some of the city’s most famous sights, such as the Old Cathedral, the Tower del Clavero, the Plaza Mayor and much more.

It is time to leave Spain behind and start our journey back towards the UK. We will cross the border into France and overnight in the Bordeaux area.

We continue our journey through France to the Paris area for our last overnight.

Return home.