Rail Adventure through Northern Spain

This very special collection of rail journeys by narrow gauge trains takes us along the spectacular coast of northern Spain, in the shadow of the Picos de Europa mountains. At the Basque Railway Museum we’ll ride aboard an historic steam train and from Poncebos we climb high into the rugged mountains by funicular. We’ll also enjoy Bilbao and the medieval cities of Santiago de Compostela and Leon.

You'll discover some of Spain's holiest cities and most breathtaking vistas as you travel along the beautiful Costa Verde and into the historically rich plains of Castilla y Leon, enjoying the opportunity to discover a heritage that is rich in elegant architecture.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Join Tour in Bilbao

Day 2 - Bus to Azpeitia; visit the Basque Railway Museum
Considered one of the finest railway museums in Europe, the 25 thousand square-metres of tracks and pavilions of the Basque Railway Museum house a fascinating collection of rail memorabilia, with some 70 different vehicles on display.

Day 3 - Train to Santander
This bustling port survived a huge fire in the 1940s and now offers up an exciting range of museums as well as the majesty of Santander cathedral.

Day 4 - Train to Llanes; Walk in the Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa is perhaos Spain's most impressive National Park and is made up of three colossal mountains that stretch out across Cantabria, Asturias and Castilla y Leon.

Day 5 - Train to Oviedo
The heart of this Medieval town is home to hundreds of examples of Pre-Romanesque architecture, dating back to the 8th & 10th Centuries.

Day 6 - Free in Oviedo

Day 7 - Train to Ferrol, Galicia; bus to Santiago
High in Spain's remote northwestern corner, you'll get to explore Santiago de Compostela, which, during the Middle Ages, was the most important place of pilgrimage anywhere in the Christian world.

Day 8 - Exploring Santiago
Free day to explore the city

Day 9 - Train to Ponferrada
A trip through the Castilla y Leon region, a landscape of expansive fields and rolling hills dotted with historic castles.

Day 10 - Train to Leon
Explore Ponferrada in the morning, before heading to Leon, home of the beautiful Gothic cathedral and the Romanesque Basilica de San Isidoro.

Day 11 - Narrow Gauge Train to Bilbao

Day 12 - Tour ends Bilbao

Is this trip for you?
Spain's north and northwesterly regions are known for their continental climate, with a higher likelihood of seasonal extremes and more chance of rainfall than the rest of Spain, although this usually occurs only in Winter. During summer, the Basque region enjoys temeperatures reaching the mid 30s, while neighbouring regions of Asturia and Cantabria generally range in the high 20s. Once you reach Galicia, the Atlantic climate is predominant, providing less rainfall and less extreme temperatures.