DAY 1 – Arrival in Wales and Cardiff Castle

This morning, make your way to Cardiff, the Welsh Capital (just 2hrs from London by direct rail). After checking in to your hotel the afternoon is yours to explore the city at your own pace. Included tickets will offer admission to Cardiff Castle whose unique history stretches from Roman times right through to the industrial revolution and an illustrious Victorian manor. By evening meet your tour leader and the rest of the group where we’ll enjoy a hearty Welsh dinner together.

Overnight: The Coal Exchange Hotel (or similar), Cardiff
Inclusions: Cardiff Castle admission
Meals: Dinner included

DAY 2 – Museum of Welsh Life and Cardiff Bay

A short ride from central Cardiff, we’ll visit the Museum of Welsh Life which is set in the extensive grounds of St Fagan’s Castle, an illustrious Elizabethan manor. Here you can trace Welsh life through the centuries. We’ll then return to the cosmopolitan Cardiff Bay area to see the vibrant Mermaid Quay which is now the hub of Welsh heritage and politics and is home to a host of waterfront cafes, bars and eateries. Your afternoon is free to explore the Bay or central Cardiff at your leisure.

Overnight: The Coal Exchange Hotel (or similar), Cardiff
Inclusions: St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life admission
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast

DAY 3 – Big Pit, Laugharne and Tenby

Today we leave Cardiff for a day of contrasts; we’ll experience Wales’ industrial heritage in the South Wales valleys with a visit to Big Pit where we’ll have the opportunity to descend an operational coal mine. We then pass West in to the Welsh countryside – we’ll pause at Laugharne the picturesque home-town of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, before continuing to the beautiful seaside town of Tenby. There’ll be time to wander the within the 13th century town walls, see the sweeping golden bays or climb the rocky headland overlooking the harbour. Tonight we dine together at our hotel.

Overnight: Heywood Hotel and Spa (or similar), Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Inclusions: Big Pit mine admission
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 4 – St Davids and Cardigan Bay

This morning we continue to explore Wales’ natural beauty along the protected Pembrokeshire Coast. We’ll visit St Davids, namesake of the Welsh patron saint. This tiny village enjoys city status owing to its beautiful cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. From here we’ll turn North and follow the scenic west coast past the sweeping sands of Cardigan Bay and in to rural mid-Wales. We’ll pause in one or more of the bustling harbour towns before arriving in Aberystwyth, our overnight destination. In the evening we enjoy a dinner together.

Overnight: Nanteos Mansion Hotel (or similar), near Aberystwyth
Inclusions: St Davids Bishop’s Palace
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 5 – Portmeirion and the Ffestiniog Railway

After a hearty Welsh breakfast we’ll depart for the unique town of Portmeirion. Nestling in a sheltered position on an enclosed estuary this beautiful Italian style village was designed by Sir William Clough Ellis and has since been used for various television productions. After plenty of time to explore, we’ll head for the local train station where it’s all aboard for an epic steam train journey of breath-taking views in to the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Later we retire to our base in Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno
Inclusions: Portmeirion Village admission, steam rail journey (Ffestiniog Railway) in the Snowdonia National Park
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast included

DAY 6 – Llandudno and Conwy at leisure

Today is a free day to enjoy at leisure; equipped with your complimentary open-top bus tour tickets you can explore the contrasting towns of Llandudno and nearby Conwy at your own pace. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort with a sweeping sandy bay and long promenade whilst Conwy is a cobbled medieval market town nestled on the shores of the Conwy estuary. Between the two there are a host of leisure and visitor attractions to enjoy including a Victorian cable tramway ride to the top of the Great Orme headland for spectacular panoramic views or wandering the cobbled streets and medieval town walls to the ramparts of the imposing 13th century fortress at Conwy Castle.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno
Inclusions: Llandudno and Conwy City Sightseeing Tour Ticket
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast included

DAY 7 – Llangollen, Powis Castle and the Brecon Beacons

Today we return south; following the course of the Conwy Valley we visit the charming Welsh town of Llangollen home of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a stunning waterway which carries boats more than 100 feet above the valley floor. By afternoon we’ll pause at the beautiful National Trust Powis Castle where we’ll admire the interior collections of the Herbert family and explore the elegant grounds and gardens. Finally, we arrive in the barren landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park where wild ponies roam the hillsides. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner together at our village hotel.

Overnight: Bear Hotel (or similar), Crickhowell
Inclusions: Powis Castle and Gardens admission
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 8 – Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley

After a leisurely start our final journey will take us south through the market town of Abergavenny and in the shadow of Raglan Castle before we follow the course of the scenic Wye Valley. We’ll visit the haunting riverside ruins of Tintern Abbey which is said to have inspired Wordsworth himself before pausing for lunch in the border town of Chepstow. By afternoon we return to Cardiff where our tour ends in time for people to return to London by rail.

Inclusions: Tintern Abbey admission
Meals: Full Welsh Breakfast included