Little Trains of the Pyrenees

Savour some slow journeys through the beautiful border country between Spain and France, on some wonderful mountain railway trains.

Little Yellow Train

Villefranche-de-Conflent Day One – Fly to Spain Fly to Barcelona or Girona and transfer to the delightful Costa Brava resort of Roses, set beneath ancient fortifications on the sweeping Golf de Roses.

Day Two – Morning at leisure and included train journey into the Cap de Creus

Nature Park on the Roses Express This morning, you’re free to explore the pleasant surroundings of your holiday base. Roses has been settled since the days of the Ancient Greeks, but is now a colourful, typically Catalan resort, with a host of bars, restaurants, cafes, and other diversions to enjoy. Don’t miss the included ride on the tractor-hauled, tourist road train, the Roses Express, which winds its way at an anything but express pace – into the wooded hills of the Cap de Creus Natural Park above the resort. Expect some wonderful views along the coastline. Other sites to see in and around the resort include the ruins of the 16th-century citadel walls and Trinitat Castle, and some fascinating ancient dolmen burial sites. Roses still functions as a working fishing port, and so seafood is the most popular fare here, and those preferring food to sightseeing will enjoy tasting the local speciality, suquet de peix – a fish and potato stew served with a flourish in most of the town’s many restaurants. travel tips...

Remember to keep an eye out for the endangered Pyrenees brown bear. With conservation efforts in place, the population has gone up over the years.

Day Three – Included journey aboard the Yellow Train to the commune of Mont-Louis

Today’s train journey aboard the historic Yellow Train, or Petit Train Jaune, takes us on a meandering trail through the sun-kissed French Pyrenees. We’ll begin our journey in

Available May, Jun, Sep & Oct 2023

Fly direct from these airports. Prices from

• Birmingham £1,049 • Bristol £1,109 • East Midlands £1,075 • Edinburgh £1,129 • Gatwick £1,029 • Liverpool £1,129 • Luton £999 • Manchester £1,065 • Stansted £1,095

Personalise your holiday

• Caaqués (half day) – from £39 Room for Sole Use from £225

Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 30 minutes from Girona airport, and approximately two hours and 30 minutes from Barcelona airport. Your flight times and arrival airport may vary between Barcelona and Girona and will be advised at the time of booking. France

Villefranche-de-Conflent Cap de Creus Natural Park

Spain

Nuria

Girona

Barcelona Roses

Belearic Sea

• Unspoiled Roses, your holiday base, sits on a picturesque sweeping bay • Enjoy views of the wooded Cap de Creus

National Park on the tourist road ‘train’ • Discover the stunning Upper Aude Valley on

France’s Red Train • The historic Little Yellow Train climbs into the French Pyrenees from UNESCO-listed

Villefranche-de-Conflent • Join an optional boat tour to Cadaqués

Núria Rack Railway • The Núria Rack Railway offers the only access to the year-round Spanish mountain resort, with tastings of local produce • Three heritage train journeys and a ticket for the Roses ‘road-train’ • Five nights’ carefully chosen three-star dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation • Return flights to Spain, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Fortress of Mont-Louis, France

Roses, Costa Brava

the beautiful, UNESCO-listed town of Villefranchede-Conflent and travel through some stunning scenery and across soaring bridges and viaducts – each one an engineering marvel – towards France’s highest station, at Bolquere-Eyne. Continuing through a spectacular mountainous landscape, you’ll reach the Pyrenean commune of Mont-Louis, with its great citadel and city walls. On fine days, don’t miss the sunset from the beach – Roses is the only Costa Brava resort to face west, which means that some evenings can be truly spectacular.

Day Four – Day at leisure or optional half-

day tour to Cadaqués You can spend today pottering around at your own pace or opt to join a half-day scenic boat tour to Cadaqués – a small coastal town set on the bay of the Cap de Creus Peninsula. You’ll have an hour to seek out its seaside splendours and discover why it was a source of inspiration for famous painters and artists, like Salvador Dalí who holidayed here as a child. Wander around its old town and museums, visit Dalí’s house-museum, or relax on one of the beaches before travelling back to Roses.

Day Five – Included train journey to Nuria

Head into the beautiful Catalan Pyrenees on today’s included excursion. The highlight of the day will be the 45-minute journey aboard the privately owned, two-car Nuria Rack Railway, or Cremallera, from the hamlet of Ribes de Freser up through a steep, forested gorge to Nuria. This remote ski station and pilgrimage shrine draws pilgrims from across the globe to its imposing lakeside sanctuary. Stroll on the paths that cross the alpine meadows and learn about the history of this extraordinary place, before re-boarding the train for the return journey down the valley and then back to Roses.After a thoroughly enchanting day, enjoy dinner at the hotel and, as on each evening, rest and relax in the lounge or perhaps stroll into town.

Day Six – Cross the border into France and

travel on the Red Train The final included excursion takes you back into France, today. The highlight will be your journey aboard the 100-yearold Train du pays Cathare et du Fenouilledes, more often simply called the Red Train. Travel through the spectacular scenery of castle dotted Cathar Country from Rivesaltes, near historic Perpignan, to the Pyrenean village of Axat. On fine days, you’ll ride in open-air summer wagons across viaducts and through tunnels, and past the vineyard-clad lower slopes of the Eastern Pyrenees. Day Seven – Day at leisure Embrace a day of leisure before you head home tomorrow, perhaps taking to the beachfront promenade or enjoying the hotel’s amenities. Those looking for something more active can venture to the Aiguamolls Nature Reserve and explore the walking trails or partake in a round of golf at one of the top-class courses. Day Eight – Fly back to the UK Bid farewell to your Catalan hosts, and transfer back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a wonderful few days of train journeys.

your hotel

Hotel Prestige Victoria, Roses HHH Half-Board

Beside Santa Margarita Beach, approximately two kilometres from the centre of Roses. It has an outdoor pool, a spa with steam room, sauna, massages and a small indoor pool, Wi-Fi, a bar and a buffet restaurant. Rooms have a balcony, air-conditioning, a TV, hairdryer, safe deposit box (extra charge), telephone, and mini-fridge. Most rooms have partial sea views.

Hotel Prestige Victoria

our product manager loves...

Travelling around the picturesque Spanish and French countryside by train is a great way to really explore this fabulous region.

Hotel Prestige Victoria Eastern Pyrenees