Roses, Cadaques and The Catalan Coast

Our journey begins on the morning Eurostar from St Pancras
International to Paris, travelling in Standard Premier Class. We
join the high-speed TGV from Paris directly to Figueres in Spain.
From Figueres we make the short transfer by coach to the town of
Roses, located at the north-eastern end of the Costa Brava, a wild
and rocky stretch of the Spanish coastline. The exact translation
of 'Costa Brava' will differ depending on which guidebook you read,
but whether it is 'wild coast', 'fierce coast', 'rugged coast' or
even 'savage coast', it is a coastline of outstanding natural
beauty, where steep cliffs have been eroded by the sea, creating
numerous hidden bays and tiny coves.

We spend nine nights at the superb 4-star Almadraba Park Hotel,
located on a small, sandy cove approximately three kilometres from
the centre of Roses. The hotel offer a complimentary shuttle
service into the centre of Roses, which allows you to enjoy the
best of both worlds: the peace and quiet of the hotel's private,
secluded location, together with the freedom and flexibility to
visit the centre of Roses whenever you choose. The hotel's superb
facilities are complemented by its excellent restaurant, which
offers a wide choice of meals from its daily menu of local dishes.
We enjoy dinner in the hotel every evening, served with an included
glass of wine.

Enjoy a day at leisure on the Costa Brava. You could spend time
relaxing by the hotel pool, or wander into the centre of Roses to
soak up the atmosphere or enjoy some shopping.

Set within the beautiful Bay of Roses, the town of Roses is an
authentic Spanish fishing port which oozes charm and style. Running
south is an almost endless stretch of fine sandy beach, set
invitingly against a backdrop of distant Pyrenean mountain peaks.
Spend your day enjoying the local climate and sunshine on the beach
or with 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
reachable on foot or by boat.

This morning we begin our exploration of the Costa Brava on an
excursion by boat around the shoreline. We board the boat at Roses'
small port, sailing along a stretch of the incredibly beautiful Cap
de Creus National Park, past towering cliffs and countless mini
bays, accessible only by boat and protected from overland access by
thick, deep forests which cover the cliff tops and reach up high
into the mountains.

Our boat takes us into the small port at the very heart of
Cadaques. Set in its own crystal-clear bay, Cadaques is a
picturesque fishing village of delightful whitewashed houses, which
was the inspiration for much of Salvador Dalí's work. The famous
painter visited Cadaques many times during his childhood and later
kept a house and studio just outside the village, which became a
popular bohemian retreat for many of the 20th century's most famous
artists, who lived here alongside the local fishing community. Dalí
and Picasso were known to have been particularly inspired by the
incredible light and colour on display in Cadaques.

You have some time to explore the village at leisure, before
returning to Roses in time to arrange lunch - you could enjoy
mouth-watering tapas, savouring some of the delicious, incredibly
fresh seafood on offer. On Day 4 you have another
free day to enjoy in Roses, spending your time as you wish in this
beautiful coastal town.

We travel by coach to the magnificent city of Barcelona for a
guided tour. We begin at the fantastic Sagrada Familia, Antoni
Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, before making our way along
bustling Las Ramblas, a tree-lined boulevard that runs from Plaza
de Catalunya to the waterfront. This afternoon you are free. You
could take a walk through the Gothic quarter or discover historic
Port Vell, visit the Picasso Museum, housing a collection of the
artist's finest work, or discover more of Gaudí's distinctive
architecture, dotted around the city.

On Day 6 you are free to spend the day
exploring the region surrounding Roses or enjoying the superb hotel
facilities. You could take a trip to nearby Girona, a captivating
city with Iberian, Roman, Moorish and Jewish influences in its
culture and architecture.

We travel to Figueres today, visiting the fascinating Salvador
Dalí Foundation (entrance included). The foundation manages various
collections of Dalí's work, encompassing drawings, sculptures,
jewellery, photography and paintings from all the different periods
of Dalí's life. Much of the work is permanently exhibited in the
Dalí Theatre-Museum - the largest surrealist object in the world,
which was built on the ruins of a former Municipal Theatre,
destroyed at the end of the civil war.

Dalí himself chose to build the museum on the ruins. After time
to appreciate the incredible and diverse works of the famous
surrealist at leisure and in your own time - Dalí intended for his
work to be experienced in this way - you are free to continue
exploring the city of Figueres. We then visit the historic town of
Besalu - a rather grand old town dominated by its magnificent 11th
century fortified bridge.

We then visit the historic town of Besalú - a town dominated by
its magnificent 11th century fortified bridge.

Enjoy a free day in Roses today. If you'd like to venture
further afield, you could take a trip to nearby Girona, a
captivating city with Iberian, Roman, Moorish, and Jewish
influences in its culture and architecture. Back at the hotel this
evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner.

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

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