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Roses, Cadaques and The Catalan Coast

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4.2 stars(51 reviews)
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Small Group

Enjoy the unspoilt rugged beauty of the Costa Brava

9 days From £1,995 £1,795 per person
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2023 Tour code: FCS23

About the tour

The beautiful, unspoilt town of Roses is our base as we explore the rugged Costa Brava, uncovering the region's cultural and gastronomic highlights, including the picturesque fishing village of Cadaqués, vibrant Barcelona and Figueres' Dalí Foundation.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Roses

We meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris. Here, we join the high-speed train to Figueres, in Spain, transferring by coach to our hotel which overlooks Almadraba Beach in the town of Roses. Located in the north eastern area of the Costa Brava, a wild and rocky stretch of the Spanish coastline, our hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service into the centre of Roses, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds - the peace and quiet of our secluded location and the freedom and flexibility to visit Roses when you choose.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
Day 2 - Discovering Roses

Enjoy a free day to relax by the pool or make your way, by shuttle, to Roses. Set within the beautiful Bay of Roses, the town of Roses is an authentic Spanish fishing port with typical Catalan charm and style. Running south is an almost endless stretch of fine sandy beach, set against a backdrop of distant Pyrenean mountain peaks. You could visit the beach or enjoy a drink in one of the cafés along the promenade, overlooking the Mediterranean. Alternatively, enjoy a walk out of the bay to discover rocky coves and secluded shingle beaches only accessible on foot or by boat.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Cadaqués

Boarding a boat at Roses' port, we cruise along a beautiful stretch of the Cap de Creus National Park, passing towering cliffs and small bays accessible only by boat. We disembark in Cadaqués, set in its own cobalt blue bay, where you have some time to look around before our return sailing. A picturesque fishing village of delightful white-washed houses that inspired much of Salvador Dalí's work, you could visit the famous painter's former house and studio, once a bohemian retreat for other artists. Picasso was known to have been particularly inspired by the incredible light and colour on display in Cadaqués. Afterwards, you may be ready for some tempting tapas or a dish of fresh seafood.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – Roses

With another free day today, you could visit the mighty Castell de la Trinitat at the head of the bay or ride the 'Roses Express' road train along the seafront, up into the hills overlooking the Mediterranean. If you'd like to explore further, the medieval city of Girona is just a short journey away by local bus. A well-preserved example of a Spanish medieval town, Girona's bustling streets are a treasure trove of winding alleys, colourful buildings and diverse galleries and museums. The Gothic cathedral is well worth seeing - the site was first a primitive Christian church then converted into a mosque by Moorish rulers before being re-purposed as a church.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Barcelona

We travel by coach to the fabulous city of Barcelona for a guided tour. Beginning at the Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, we make our way along bustling Las Ramblas, a tree-lined boulevard that runs from Plaza de Catalunya to the waterfront. Your afternoon is free to explore at your own pace, maybe walk through the city's impressive Gothic quarter to visit the Picasso Museum, housing a collection of the artist's finest work, or discover historic Port Vell. You could also admire more of Gaudí's distinctive architecture in the elegant Eixemple district, one of the city's most exclusive shopping areas.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Roses

Enjoy the day to yourself to make the most of the hotel's superb facilities or continue sightseeing around the local area.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Figueres and Besalú

Figueres is our first destination today, where we visit the fascinating Salvador Dalí Foundation. The gallery, designed by Dalí himself and built on the ruins of a former municipal theatre, is the largest surrealist object in the world. Exhibits include various collections of the surrealist's work, from different periods of his life. Afterwards, you're free to continue exploring Figueres before we transfer to Besalú - a grand old town dominated by its magnificent, 11th-century fortified bridge. You may like to visit the monastery of Sant Pere or you could hop on the tourist train for a scenic tour of the town.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Days 8 - Roses

We embrace the Catalan way of life today, heading out to a nearby vineyard for a traditional brunch of local specialties, followed by a tour of the vines and a tasting of different wines. Back at the hotel this evening, we enjoy a pre-dinner apéritif on the terrace followed by a farewell dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Roses and London

We bid farewell to the Costa Brava today. Leaving Roses, we transfer by coach to Figueres to join the high-speed rail service to Paris. Here, we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Almadraba Park Hotel, Roses

Almadraba Park Hotel, Roses

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Trains

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Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 51 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (20)
  2. 4 stars
    (26)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (2)

Mr Batterby

5 stars

Submitted 27 Oct 2022

A very interesting and surprising holiday

Collected by Trustpilot

D Sears

5 stars

Submitted 16 Oct 2022

Excellent all round@

Collected by Trustpilot

Trefor Williams

4 stars

Submitted 15 Oct 2022

Well organised and our tour manager, carol wood was very good.

Collected by Trustpilot

M Cobley

5 stars

Submitted 15 Oct 2022

Our second visit to this super hotel set in beautiful grounds overlooking the beach, which can be reached by steps or a sloping path adjacent to the hotel. Good choice of food. Lovely trips, favourite being the vineyard, interesting guided tour with wine and food tasting. Also good to have alternate days to relax and enjoy the coastal paths. Carol our friendly tour manager had everything organised. Margaret & Glyn Cobley

Collected by Trustpilot

Frank

5 stars

Submitted 11 Oct 2022

A well organised and structured tour in a very pleasant area of Spain.

Collected by Trustpilot

Janet WHITE

4 stars

Submitted 07 Oct 2022

Nice hotel beside a lovely bay but a little bit isolated from the main resort. Good mixture of excursions and free days. Quite a long train journey to Figueres but it was good to have a free day following.

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