The Catalan Coast and Montserrat at Christmas

We meet at our Departure Office in St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, continuing by First Class rail to Girona, in Spain's stunning Catalonia region. Our base for the next 7 nights is the 4-Star Hotel Trias, set on the seafront in the traditional port town of Palamós.

• Eurostar Meal

After a free morning we travel to Girona, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town famous for its imposing Gothic cathedral. We discover the city on a fascinating guided tour, followed by time to explore.

On Day 3 we travel to Begur, an attractive town lapped by the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean, whose narrow, labyrinthine streets are crowned by a 16th-century hilltop castle. You have free time here; perhaps enjoy a stroll, admiring the fine blend of Moorish and Spanish architecture.

• Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 3 - Breakfast

We journey to Barcelona today, admiring the Gaudí-designed Sagrada Familia and discovering the vibrant tree-lined boulevard of Las Ramblas on a guided tour. After some free time, we return to Palamós for Christmas Eve dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 5 is Christmas Day and you are free to relax and soak up the festive atmosphere in Palamós. Christmas lunch is included in our hotel, and this evening we visit a nearby restaurant, where we are indulged with a special Christmas dinner.

• Day 4 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our Boxing Day excursion is to the Montserrat mountains and the eponymous Santa Maria de Montserrat, an active monastery inhabited by over 70 monks. We travel on the Montserrat Rack Railway, climbing 1,804 feet to reach the striking Benedictine Abbey, which is nestled on an escarpment and flanked by dramatic cliffs; a position which affords phenomenal views across Catalonia. Pilgrims travel here in their multitudes each year to pay homage to one of the world's most revered Black Madonnas, a 12th-century statue known as 'Our Lady of Montserrat' which is housed above the high altar in the Basilica.

You have free time here to stroll through the intricately decorated and hallowed halls before we return to Palamós.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you are free to explore Palamós. You could head to Museu de la Pesca for a fascinating insight into the local fishing culture, or explore the historic Old Town, whose quaint streets and pretty painted houses are built around the 15th-century Santa Maria church. This evening, we are treated to a farewell dinner.

On Day 8 we transfer by coach to Girona for our First Class rail journey to Paris, where we connect with the Eurostar service to London.

• Day 7 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 8 - Breakfast, Eurostar Meal