SPAIN’S NORTHERN COAST BY PRIVATE RAIL CLIMB ABOARD THE NEW LUXURY TRANSCANTÁBRICO GRAN LUJO near
Santiago de Compostela and set off on a rail journey along Spain’s 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, Asturias, and charming seaside ports. EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
• Travel in spacious, refurbished 1920s British Pullman cars on the elegant Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, remodeled in 2010. • Admire diverse architectural styles, from the pre-Romanesque gems of Oviedo to Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. • Learn tips and techniques from a National Geographic photographer. • Stay in a historic parador in Santiago de Compostela, and savor the region’s cuisine and fine wines.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERT Travel writer Fiona Dunlop has explored northern Spain extensively, writing numerous articles about its culture and gastronomy. She is the author of the National Geographic Traveler guidebooks for Spain and Portugal as well as Spain Chic and the critically acclaimed book New Tapas, which explores Spain’s evolving food culture. Fiona contributes to numerous newspapers and magazines, and she has written more than a dozen guidebooks and food culture books. In addition to living for long periods in France, Italy, and London—her hometown—she has long favored Andalusia in southern Spain, where she frequently retreats to her house in the olive groves. FIONA WILL ACCOMPANY THE AUGUST DEPARTURE. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR THE EXPERT ON THE SEPTEMBER DEPARTURE. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER TINO SORIANO WILL JOIN BOTH DEPARTURES FOR A DAY TO GIVE PHOTO TIPS TO TRAVELERS.
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I T I N E R A RY
| 11 DAYS
DAYS 1 AND 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 our beautiful parador, considered one of the oldest hotels in the world. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. PARADOR HOSTAL DOS REIS CATÓLICOS (D) DAY 3 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA/FERROL/ VIVEIRO
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 thousand years. You may choose to stay and witness the weekly Pilgrims’ Mass at noon in the cathedral, a tradition that dates to the 11th century. After lunch, drive to Ferrol, where we board our train and continue on to Viveiro. Enjoy dinner and
settle in for the night. EL TRANSCANTÁBRICO GRAN LUJO (B, L, D) DAY 4 RIBADEO/LUARCA
Our first stop this morning is the stately seaside town of Ribadeo. Wander beneath soaring rock formations at a magnificent beach aptly named Las Catedrales. Visit the ethnographic site of Os Teixois in Taramundi where we learn how, in ancient times, people of this region used the power of water to create tools and operate machinery. Enjoy lunch at the historic Parador de Ribadeo, a traditional Galician country home, and then board the train for the whitewashed fishing village of Luarca. After dinner, enjoy a live performance by a Spanish guitar player and a singer aboard the train. (B, L, D) DAY 5 CUDILLERO/OVIEDO
From the port city of Candás, travel to the picturesque fishing village of Cudillero. Marvel at the “hanging houses” and colorful balconies perched on steep cliffs around the port, explore the chapel of Humilladero, and venture into one of the many fishermen’s taverns if you choose. After lunch, continue to Oviedo, a city known for its pre-
Above: Covered in the fuschia velvet of blooming ice plants, Pancha Island juts into the Bay of Biscay just off the coast of Ribadeo.