Tour Date: 3 to 12 March, 2027Location: Spain
The PTG slogan is “rail and culture” and that is exactly what this tour sets out to achieve, with a combination of trains, historic towns and sights, beautiful scenery and stunning hotels and Paradors.
The PTG slogan is “rail and culture” and that is exactly what this tour sets out to achieve, with a combination of trains, historic towns and sights, beautiful scenery and stunning Paradors and 5* hotels.
With options to travel out from the UK by rail or air, we gather together in Seville before setting out on our rail tour of historic South-West Spain, taking in the passenger railways from Seville up to Madrid via Zafra, Mérida, Caceres and Plasencia, and visiting some of Spain’s most important historic locations, including some that are well off the beaten track.
As you would expect, we stay at top quality paradors in Zafra (a majestic castle, formerly the palace of the Dukes of Feria), Mérida (a former 18th century convent) and Plasencia (the stunning 15th century Santo Domingo Monastery). In Caceres we stay at the very new 5* Hotel Palacio de Godoy, and in Seville, the 5* Only You Hotel near Santa Justa station.
For rail fans, we start by covering the passenger line from Seville to Zafra, a line with only two trains per day on the northern section and with amazing scenery. We continue north on the line to Mérida then the new high-speed line to Caceres and Plasencia, and on to Madrid Chamartín on the last day. We also include a visit to the Rio Tinto Mine Museum, south of Zafra, with its own railway, which of course we will travel on. Our train will be diesel hauled on a 90-minute journey of 11 kilometres each way. Culture options begin with Bodegas de Medina winery in Zafra as well as guided walking tours in Mérida, with an abundance of Roman ruins, in Trujillo and in Caceres, as well as the excellent Las Granadas winery, Yuste Monastery and the amazing little village of Garganta la Olla.
At this time of year, the weather should be comfortable and without the excessive heat experienced in the summer months.
Your Tour Manager for this trip is David. Should you have any queries about the itinerary or if you wish to have a chat with him about the trip, please feel free to e-mail him on david@ptg.co.uk.
- Holiday is fully escorted from arrival into Seville until Madrid Airport on your homeward journey.
- A maximum group size of 14
Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Wednesday 3 March 2027
We will be offering both flight and rail options for travelling to Seville. We will meet up at our hotel near Santa Justa station for the first night.
Day 2 Thursday 4 March (B,D)
After a little free time in Seville (the historic centre is a short taxi-ride from the hotel), we walk across to Santa Justa station to catch our regional express train to Zafra. This part of Spain is very sparsely populated, hence the line having only two trains per day on the northern section of the line. On arrival in Zafra, we go to the Parador to drop our luggage and then David will take you on a short walk through the old town of Zafra, finishing at Bodega de Medina winery where we’ll have a short tour and a chance to taste their excellent wines. Zafra Parador will be our home for the next two nights. The building was originally a majestic castle dating from the 15th century and is itself one of the highlights of the holiday, with well-appointed rooms, a swimming pool and a beautifully maintained garden. Many of the rooms face onto an attractive inside courtyard, as being a former castle, the outer walls do not have many windows! Dinner in the Parador tonight.
Day 3 Friday 5 March (B,L,D)
A very full day today, as we head south from Zafra by coach to visit the Rio Tinto Mining Museum. We will spend the day visiting the different sections of the park-museum, including the train that runs through incredible landscapes, a river unique in the world for the colour and composition of its waters, a territory that shows the traces of 5,000 years of mining activity, a museum full of cultural heritage jewels and a house that transports us back to Victorian England. Today’s train will be diesel-hauled, travelling the full length of the line, 11Km each way. Lunch in a local restaurant is included and dinner is in the Parador.
Day 4 Saturday 6 March (B,D)
A free morning in Zafra to explore this charming little town before we collect our luggage and take our bus to Zafra station for our train to Mérida. We soon find ourselves following the River Guadiana into Mérida, a town founded by the Romans in the 1st century B.C. Mérida station is an important railway junction, with lines from four directions (north, south, east and west) all crossing here, though the line from Puertollano is the only route to enter the station on the eastern approach. We arrive at the parador mid-afternoon, so you will have free time to enjoy the facilities in the parador or begin exploring the town with your Monuments Pass. The parador is very well-located for the historic centre. Over the course of its history, the building that now houses Mérida Parador has had different uses, including as a convent, a hospital, an asylum and even a jail. Today it still houses historical remains dating back 2000 years. The interior cloister and Jardín de Antigüedades (Garden of Antiquities), a collection of Mudejar, Roman and Visigothic archaeological pieces, are both truly fascinating locations. The Parador stands in a peaceful square decorated with orange trees. Dinner in the Parador.
Day 5 Sunday 7 March (B,D)
This morning we will meet our local guide Javier, who will also be joining us on certain other days during the tour. Our guided tour will begin at the parador, as it is an important historic building in its own right. From here Javier will lead us on a walk around Mérida’s historic sites which you will be able to visit later in your free time (most are included in the Monuments Pass), but the highlight of the tour is the visit to the Roman theatre and amphitheatre. We can also find a 792-metre-long Roman bridge over the River Guadiana, the Temple of Diana and the Aqueduct of Los Milagros. The National Museum of Roman Art, with over 36,000 exhibits from the local area, is well-worth visiting. Another highlight is the Alcazaba, a 9th century Muslim fortification, the best-preserved example in Spain. We will visit the Alcazaba, theatre and amphitheatre as part of the morning guided walk, and the afternoon will be free so that you can visit the other historic sites at your own pace. Dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
Day 6 Monday 8 March (B,D)
Today we have a free morning for final explorations in Mérida, though you can join David on a walk out to the Roman Circus and back via the aqueducts, and after lunch we catch a train north to Caceres. After checking in to our hotel, Javier will take us on a walk around the walled part of the town. Though Caceres was founded by the Romans, we can still see architecture of many other cultures that occupied the city, including the Moorish city walls and Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The town can really be divided into three – the ancient walled town, the old town just outside the wall and centred on the Plaza Mayor with the typical narrow, winding streets, and the modern town that has grown over the years. Dinner in a local restaurant tonight.
Day 7 Tuesday 9 March (B,D)
Javier will join us again today as we go by coach to the nearby town of Trujillo for a guided walking tour and a visit to a winery. A highlight is Trujillo Castle, built in the 13th century on the site of an Arab fortress at the highest part of the town. It also boasts an important group of churches and manor houses near the central Plaza Mayor. This part of Spain is famous for its wine and Iberian ham, and in the afternoon we will visit Las Grandas winery and have a chance to taste some of their excellent wine. Return to Caceres for dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 8 Wednesday 10 March (B,D)
After a free morning in Caceres, we head north to our final historic town, Plasencia, a walled market town. It is best known for the 12th century double line of walls, including 68 towers and six gates. We can also see the remains of a Roman aqueduct, and, in the old quarter, palaces, ancestral homes and magnificent cathedrals. Our home for the next two nights is Plasencia Parador, located in an old convent and renowned for its excellent food. The building is quite stunning, and it is a fitting location to end our tour of historic South-West Spain. After arriving, you will have time to relax and enjoy the Parador or come with David on a walk through the old town to see the attractive square, the aqueduct and the town wall. Dinner in the Parador.
Day 9 Thursday 11 March (B,D)
A more relaxing day to finish, but we will still explore some of the area’s history. Joined by Javier for the last time, our coach will take us first to Yuste Monastery. This Hieronymite monastery was founded in 1408-1414 under the patronage of the Infante Ferdinand, brother to Henry III. It has one gothic and one renaissance cloister, both still standing since the church was built in 1508-1525. Under the Confiscation Law of 1836, the complex was sold and began to fall into disrepair until it was purchased in 1857 by the Marquis of Mirabel who began to restore it and opened a new church on the site. We then move on to the charming village of Garganta de Olla, to see very well-preserved examples of popular architecture and some buildings that date back to the days of the emperor, such as the brothel used by his soldiers. We return to Plasencia to give you time to explore the historic centre a little more or simply enjoy the ambience and facilities of this stunning Parador. Farewell Dinner in the Parador.
Day 10 Friday 12 March (B)
This morning, we catch a train to Madrid Chamartín where we change to a suburban train to the airport.
By its nature, on this trip you need to be able to walk around locations with steep hills, steps and cobbled streets, keeping up with the main group, and be able to lift your luggage on and off trains.
Holiday Prices (per person)
- From Heathrow: £2,695
- From Gatwick: £2,695
- From Stansted: £2,650
- From Luton: £2,650
- From Manchester: £2,695
- From Edinburgh: £2,695
- From Home UK station via St Pancras (Eurostar then TGV): £3,125*
- Join in Seville (leaving in Madrid): £2,450
* overland travel includes a First Class Interrail ticket which can be used from your home UK station to London (on day of tour or day before) and return from London to home station after the tour. Overland price also includes a night each way at a hotel in Hendaye. Travel in France and Spain will also be first class.
Options
- Single use room Supplement: £625 (for overland option £725)
Deposit
- Travelling by air: £600
- Overland by rail: £1,000
- Own travel: £400
Price includes
- All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
- En-suite accommodation
- Meals as shown in the itinerary; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch D = Dinner
- Services of our tour manager. Holiday is fully escorted from departure from Seville until Madrid Airport on your homeward journey.
- Services of a local guide where indicated in the itinerary
Flights
- Outward flights to Seville from several UK airports also flights from UK to Malaga is an option
- Return flights from Madrid to several UK airports
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
The full group size on this tour is limited to 14 people and normally sells out so early booking is adviced.
Our online booking system will just ask for a deposit.
Click here to see our Booking Conditions
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We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Travel from UK
By air (these were the 2026 flights)
- BA2650 15:35 Gatwick to Seville (arr 19:15)
- FR5374 08:45 Stansted to Seville (arr 12:30)
- J2-809 10:25 Manchester to Malaga (arr 14:25) for AVE train 16:20 Malaga to Seville (arr 18:42)
Or Overland by rail:
- 02/03 – rail travel from your local Uk railway station in first class
- 02/03 – 10:24 St Pancras to Paris Nord (arr 13:58)
- 02/03 – 16:05 Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye (arr 20:47)
- 02/03 – night at Hotel Restaurant Santiago in Hendaye (excludes breakfast)
- 03/03 – short taxi (2 miles) to Irun station in Spain
- 03/03 – 08:45 Irun to Madrid Chamartin (arr 14:41)
- 03/03 – AVE train 16:00 Madrid to Seville (arr 18:42)
Return to UK
Flight Options:
- IB723 16:45 Madrid to Heathrow (arr 18:15)
- IB1863 17:30 Madrid to Gatwick (arr 18:50)
- FR348 20:25 Madrid to Stansted (arr 21:55)
- FR6815 19:35 Madrid to Manchester T3 (arr 21:15)
Or overland by rail:
- 12/03 – 14:46 Madrid Chamartin to Irun (arr 21:09)
- 12/03 – night at Hotel Restaurant Santiago in Hendaye (excludes breakfast)
- 13/03 – 09:32 Hendaye to Paris Montparnasse (arr 14:20)
- 13/03 – 16:13 Paris Nord to London St Pancras (arr 17:30)
- 13/03 – onward travel by rail to any UK railway station in first class
Hotels
- Hotel Only You, Seville (5*) (1 night)
- Zafra Parador, Zafra (2 nights)
- Mérida Parador, Mérida (2 nights)
- Hotel Palacio de Godoy, Caceres (5*) (2 nights)
- Plasencia Parador, Plasencia (2 nights)