Spain's Costa Verde

Day 1 - Friday

After an early start we head to Folkestone and take a Eurotunnel crossing to France. On our journey south we pass Rouen, Le Mans and Tours to arrive at our overnight hotel, the Best Western Le Bois la Marche near Poitiers. A set menu dinner with wine and water is included.

Day 2 - Saturday

After breakfast we are back on the road, heading for Bordeaux then Biarritz, and crossing the border into northern Spain. We continue to our hotel in the village of Mogro on the Cantabrian coast to the west of Santander. Enjoy a welcome drink with canapes before dinner.

Day 3 - Sunday

We visit one of Cantabria's premier attractions set in a stunning landscape, the Caves of El Sopleo. Discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, these remarkable caves are a natural subterranean paradise of suspended ceilings, stalactites and stalagmites. The underground adventure begins with a short train ride into the former mine, followed by a walking tour through some of the galleries. Next we head back to the coast to spend time in San Vicente de la Barquera. The pretty fishing port has an Old Town full of ancient buildings such as the Church of Santa Maria de los Angeles, the Castillo del Rey and the 32-arch stone Maza Bridge.

Day 4 - Monday

A full day to the Picos de Europa mountain range. We follow a scenic route to Potes, an attractive market town high up in the mountains. After a stop here we continue to Fuente Dé. Providing the weather is suitable, you will have the opportunity to take a spectacular cable car ride (cost payable locally). The gondola, which was opened in 1966, whisks you up to a height of 1823 metres in just four minutes.

Day 5 - Tuesday

This morning we head west along the coast to Santillana del Mar. The village is in the World Heritage list, and has cobbled streets and honey coloured churches. In the afternoon we continue to Comillas, one of the most beautiful towns in Cantabria. Among its many historic and modernist buildings is 'El Capricho', a fantastic creation by the architect Antoni Gaudi.

Day 6 - Wednesday

A little way inland from our Hotel is the Cabarceno Natural Park. Located amid lush green hills on the site of a former Roman iron mine, this amazing park is home to over 900 animals, with 120 different species from five continents. As we drive through the enclosures you can expect to see the biggest herd of elephants outside Africa, lions, tigers, giraffes, bears, gorillas, zebra, monkeys and birds of prey. Later, there will be time to explore Mogro and relax at the Hotel. Enjoy a farewell gala dinner this evening.

Day 7 - Thursday

After breakfast we will load the luggage and drive to Santander. There will some time to explore, find lunch or perhaps take an open-top bus sightseeing tour (cost not included) before boarding the afternoon ferry sailing.

Day 8 - Friday

The ship is scheduled to arrive in Plymouth mid-morning and we will drive home to meet the taxis.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner