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Wales, Land of Song
Celtic heritage, stunning scenery and unique culture: South, West and North Wales Highlights!

9 days/8 nights

Wales - The hills are alive, both with singing and the second oldest language spoken in Europe! Here, you’ll find the preservation of an ancient Celtic culture and you’ll also discover the tell tale signs of invaders such as the Romans and Normans in spectacular castles, settlements and reminders of the industrial age.

On this tour you'll see the fantastic scenery of 3 National Parks and the most impressive range of 12th Century castles of anywhere in the British Isles. You'll enjoy a heritage coastline, a steam train ride into the mountains, see Cardiff the capital city and the fantastic National Folk Museum of Wales. You'll see fabulous industrial heritage of the Rhondda. We'll show you prehistoric tombs, Roman remains, walled cities, the Valley of Kings, beautiful gardens and hear a Welsh Male Voice Choir. All in all, a simply perfect holiday in a simply perfect country!

Tour Date: 10 - 18 May, 2010

Tour Rate: $2699 USD per person in twin/double room; $250 single supplement

What your tour price includes: Your accommodation for 8 nights while on the tour including both full breakfasts and most dinners. Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.

Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour, London city tours, London attraction passes and London transport passes are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.

We have regional Wales tours and custom designed itineraries available throughout the year too!

Contact us for availability: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day One

We will depart London this morning and make our way to Wales, the Land of Song.

Our first stop is at Chepstow, on the River Wye. The town's castle was the first Norman stone castle in Wales and it stands on the cliff top overlooking the Wye. We'll take time to explore the castle and the town and perhaps take a spot of lunch before travelling up the Wye Valley to Tintern Abbey, one of the most beautifully situated ruins in the country. Our next port of call is at Caerleon, known to the Romans as Isca. This was the home of the 2nd Augustinian Legion, one of the three permanent legionary bases in Britain. We'll see the remains of some of the troops' barracks as well as the amphitheatre, the only one completely excavated in Britain.

NIGHTSTOP: Newport area or Bridgend, South Wales

Day Two

The civic centre of the Welsh capital - Cardiff - is magnificent by world standards. It will be the showpiece of a panoramic city tour (which will also feature the Millennium Stadium, formally known as the Arms Park, Mecca for the millions of Rugby Football fans worldwide). On then to the open-air Museum of Welsh Life in the nearby village of St Fagans. This fascinating mirror of hundreds of years of Welsh life embraces dozens of authentic buildings, removed from all corners of the country and painstakingly and faithfully rebuilt and refurbished here. Houses, churches and chapels, a mill, bakery, pubs and even a school, have been wonderfully preserved. This afternoon we explore the verdant Vale of Glamorgan, choosing from the market town where Sir Anthony Hopkins went to school, the Valley of Kings where the wizard Merlin was schooled, rugged coastline where smugglers lured ships to the rocks, and we'll cross a river by 13th century stepping stones.

NIGHTSTOP: Newport area or Bridgend, South Wales

Day Three

We begin our journey west, with a brief stop at Swansea's Mumbles and Gower coast for lunch before continuing to Merlin’s town of Carmarthen, today a thriving market town and the centre for Welsh-speaking West Wales. After exploring this interesting town, we move on to Laugharne, where Swansea-born Dylan Thomas lived for 16 years. He described Laugharne as "this timeless, mild, beguiling island of a town..." Many characters from his poem 'Under Milk Wood' were based on local people. We'll follow a cliff walk to visit his house and hear of his life and works. From here, it’s not far to Pembrokeshire and our base tonight.

NIGHTSTOP: Pembroke area, West Wales

Day Four

Crossing the Preseli Mountains from whence, it is thought, some of Stonehenge’s boulders came, we'll find one of the finest megalithic monuments in Britain, Pentre Ifan. This striking burial chamber dates from around 3000-4000BC. Our next stop is at St. David's. It was here that the patron saint of Wales was born and lived. There'll be time for you to explore this fascinating little town with its cathedral and bishop's palace. The rest of today will be a lovely and scenic drive through the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

NIGHTSTOP: Pembroke area, West Wales

Day Five

We'll be exploring the mystical West Wales coastline, alternative rugged and pretty with its small harbours. Was this the real land of Arthur, for all that the Cornwall legend claims? It is certainly possible that this great warrior who united a people against Saxon invaders was indeed a Welsh prince. We'll learn about another, one who definitely lived, Owain Glyn Dwr and visit the site of his 15th century parliament at Machynlleth. Then there's the Victorian resort and university harbour town of Aberystwyth.

Finally, the impressive Harlech Castle, if we’ve time, before making our way to our North Wales accommodation.

Our accommodation stop will be either the lovely Victoria seaside town of Llandudno or the walled city of Conwy.

Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort. The pier with its pier-end theatre, the wide, flower-filled promenade, the imposing Victorian buildings that face the sea and the covered shopping streets are all reminiscent of a bygone age. The town also boasts a funicular railway that you may choose to ride to the top of the Great Orme, where you'll get splendid views of the Snowdonia we will set out to explore.

Conwy’s wall was erected in the 12th century by Norman conquerors and with the massive castle dominating one corner, it makes this harbour town one of the most interesting in the UK.

NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno/Conwy area, North Wales

Day Six

Spoilt for sightseeing choices over the next two days!

Today we will explore the heart of Snowdonia. This National Park is one of dominating peaks (the highest in England and Wales), narrow mountain passes, flowing stream, cascading waterfalls, sheep-covered uplands and verdant, hidden valleys. It has been claimed that these secluded valleys were home to the real King Arthur. Certainly, an ancient Welsh culture and language still thrives here today. We'll explore it in true off the beaten track fashion taking you beyond the regular tourist haunts downs tracks and paths that will have you gasping!

Where we stop will be decided by the group in consultation with your tour guide. Small group travel allows for flexibility, so guests can input into the final itinerary!

Our day can include a visit to the great slate mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog, or copper mine at Sygun, a steam train journey through the mountains on a half-gage railway, and a woollen mill. Garden lovers won’t want to miss the chance to spend some time in the garden of Bodnant. You may choose to spend time exploring Conwy and Llandudno. You choose!

Dinner is not included tonight for flexibility’s sake.

NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno/Conwy area, North Wales

Day Seven

Following an obligatory visit to Caernarfon, we continue to the Isle of Anglesey, crossing the Menai Straits by Thomas Telford's famed suspension bridge - a wonder of the age of the industrial revolution. We'll spend the full day exploring this unique corner of the British Isles.

This ancient and mystic island offers an astounding wealth of attractions including prehistoric burial chambers and monuments, Celtic and Viking settlements, fabulous flora and fauna, and the village with the World's longest name - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerchwyrndrobwllllandysilliogogogoch.

There's the fabulously pretty harbour of Beaumaris with its Victorian gaol (it has the only working tread-mill wheel in Britain), a magnificent 12th Century Norman castle, and a Roman Army museum, in addition to a 900 year old pub!

The island's geography is a natural haven for birds, with its wildly contrasting variety of sheer cliffs, sheltered coves, estuaries, dunes, heaths, wetlands, lakes and woodlands. Along the coast you will discover major breeding colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, terns and cormorants - among many other species. Spring and summer turn the Isle of Anglesey into a giant rock garden, carpeted with flowers of every hue. Seal colonies are a common sight on the rockier stretches of the coastline, whilst dolphins can sometimes be glimpsed from shore. Maybe we’ll be lucky and see some of the wildlife!

NIGHTSTOP: Llandudno/Conwy area, North Wales

Day Eight

Leaving North Wales behind us, we drive into mid-Wales. Much of the countryside we'll pass through is open moorland, scored by the occasional river valley. We have a scenic drive this morning before our first stop at the town of Llanidloes, with its striking black and white half-timbered 16th Century market hall. Continuing our journey south, we pass through the charming spa towns of Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells, taking lunch where appropriate. Late afternoon sees us in the charming market town of Brecon where we'll have time to explore the local museums and cathedral.

NIGHTSTOP: Brecon area

Day Nine

The most famous used-book capital of the World, Hay-on-Wye, is first on today's agenda. Here, even the castle dungeon has been turned into a book store! If you can't find that book you've been searching for here then you'll not find it anywhere! Continuing our explorations, we take a breath-taking drive through the Black Mountains. This is possibly the prettiest drive on our whole tour.  Also on today's itinerary will be hidden Border castles and the oldest pub in Wales!

Alas, as the afternoon progresses, it's time to turn east and head back towards London, which we'll reach by early evening.

NIGHT STOP: London (not included in the package but available for a supplemental fee.)

We have regional Wales tours and custom designed itineraries available throughout the year too!

Please Note: There is a minimum of 6 guests required to operate this departure. Please do not confirm airfare or non-refundable components prior to verifying arrangements.

Please Note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website. While we do our utmost to include all properties, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to visit due to change in opening times, days.