Roija Holiday
September 29, 2024
29 September – 6 October 2024
Northern Spain offers a whole host of great sightseeing opportunities and a very pleasant autumn climate, one that should be ideal for sightseeing while also providing an effective extension to the UK summer.
What’s more, it’s also far more accessible than you may imagine when sailing in style with Brittany Ferries to and from Santander.
However, despite all this, Northern Spain tends not to be an area that is well-known to most British people and that, in itself, is a good reason to visit.
Sailing with Brittany Ferries
Sailing with Brittany Ferries is a holiday highlight in its own right as standards of food and service on board are very high. Going out the group sail on the MS Pont Aven, the Brittany Ferries flagship that sails from Plymouth to Santander. Coming home, the group sail from Satander to Portsmouth on the MS Salamanca, one of Brittany’s new ferries that entered service in 2022. Both super-ferries boast great facilities that include:
- Superb a la carte restaurant
- Self-service restaurant & pavement style cafe
- large main bar with live entertainment
- Cinemas, casino & piano bar
- Sun decks with wrap around promenade deck
- Plus a choice of comfortable cabin accommodation
Sightseeing highlights
Based on Logrono, the regional capital of Rioja, this holiday offers a balance of organised sightseeing and free time.
Holiday highlights will include a guided walking tour of Logrono, and a trip around part of the famous Rioja Wine Route, following a circular route with visits to Haro, a major centre of wine production, and the delightfully picturesque, hill-top town of Laguardia.
The holiday also features outings to the historic, cathedral city of Burgos, and ancient Olite, for centuries the home of the Kings of Navarre.
Plus, of course, your time spent on what is undoubtedly the best cruise-ferry operating in UK waters.
The 4* NH Herencia Hotel in Logrono
The NH Herencia Hotel is a modern purpose built 4* hotel situated in the centre of Logrono. The cathedral and Logrono’s old town, with its restaurants, cafes and tapas bars are all only a short walk from the hotel.
As you would expect, all the air-conditioned bedrooms offer private bathrooms, multi-channel television and mini-bars. In addition, the hotel has its own smart, yet welcoming bar, and a restaurant in which the group have dinner on three of the five nights. Breakfast is a continental style buffet.
The Itinerary
NB – Dinner in the hotel is included on the first, third and fifth nights in Spain.
Sunday: After departing Dorking at 09:00 the coach drives to Plymouth, where the group will be free for lunch before catching the late afternoon sailing of the Pont Aven to Santander. Onward travel.
Monday: Arriving at 15:00 (local time) the group drive to the hotel in Logrono with the aim of checking-in by late-afternoon. There will then be time to relax before meeting up for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Tuesday: Slowing the pace the day will be free although, by way of an orientation, there will be a morning walking tour of Logrono in the company of a local guide. The afternoon is then free for independent sightseeing or, if you prefer, a siesta. For the evening we recommend the Logrono’s Tapas District which is close to the hotel, and stays open until late.
Wednesday: The group take a leisurely 40-mile circular trip around the Rioja Win Route with a stop in Haro, a major centre of Riojan wine production. The day will include a wine tasting and a visit to the beautiful hilltop town of Languardia. The coach will return to the hotel by mid-late afternoon.
Thursday: Heading south west the coach takes the group to Burgos, one of Spain’s most important heritage cities that dates back to the 8th century and whose stunning gothic cathedral is the country’s 3rd largest.
Friday: Today the programme features an outing to the picturesque town of Olite, the former residence of the Kings of Navarre. The coach will then return to the hotel by mid-afternoon so that there will be time to relax before sitting down to dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
Saturday: Alas it is time to head home and the coach will drive the group to Santander to catch the Brittany Ferries service back to Portsmouth.
Sunday: The ship docks at 17:30 (UK time) and the anticipated time of arrival back at the departure point is 20:30.
What’s Included?
- Luxury coach travel throughout
- Return ferry crossing with Brittany Ferries
- 2-berth standard inner cabins each way
- 5-nights 4-star accommodation in Logrono
- Dinner in the hotel on 3-nights
- Guided walking tour of Logrono
- Day trip along the Rioja Wine Route to Haro & Laguardia (the wine tasting is included on the proviso of their being a minimum of 30 paying passengers)
- Visit to historic Burgos
- Visit to picturesque Olite
- Provision for driver & guide gratuities
Price £1195
single cabin & room supplement – £120
outside cabin with twin berths £80 per person (when sharing)
Pick-up 9.00am
Location: Dorking Halls