TASTE OF WALES 9 Days / 8 Nights
Day 1:
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your Chester hotel. Chester is about 30 miles from Manchester Airport; you’ll need to arrange a transfer. Set out on a walking tour to see medieval streets with lovely half-timbered houses and shops. Walk along part of the city walls and view Roman ruins. Also visit Chester Cathedral, which dates back to 660 AD. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner.
(D)
Day 2:
Cross into Wales and travel across the scenic Horseshoe Pass. View the scenic town of Llangollen. Immerse yourself in farm life as you watch trained dogs herding sheep. Stop for photos of St Asaph’s Cathedral, built in the 13th century. In Conwy, a town dominated by its huge castle, take a walk around the narrow streets and see Britain’s smallest house. Drive to Caernarfon for some free time before dinner.
(B, D)
Day 3:
Take a tram ride in the seaside town of Llandudno. Have lunch at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre, a showcase for the best of Welsh food. Choose among the fresh, seasonal handmade food and drink from local artisan producers. Tour the National Slate Museum, which relates the tough working conditions of this region’s slate industry, developed in Victorian times. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 4:
Experience the magnificent Welsh coastline. Journey through the beautiful west Wales countryside as you head to your overnight destination of Tenby.
(B, D)
Day 5:
Drive around scenic Pembrokeshire, a region of gentle rolling hills and ragged coastline. Watch the ancient Welsh tradition of handcarving at the Lovespoon Workshop. Tour the imposing Pembroke Castle, a 12th-century fortress, to explore the labyrinth of passageways and towers. Enjoy some free time for lunch in Pembroke before heading to the magnificent St David’s Cathedral, named for the patron saint of Wales. Return to Tenby for a free evening to explore and dine on your own.
(B)
Day 6:
Take in views on the Gower Peninsula, and then enjoy some free time to shop and have lunch in the Mumbles. Journey to Penderyn Distillery to see the process of Welsh whisky production and sample the finished product. Head to Cardiff for a guided tour of Cardiff Castle followed by an unforgettable evening of Welsh hospitality at a traditional banquet with entertainment.
(B, D)
Day 7:
Enjoy a panoramic tour of the Welsh capital, then visit St Fagans National Museum of History, an open- air museum on the grounds of St Fagans Castle. After a tour of Cardiff Bay, the afternoon and evening are free for independent activities.
(B)
Day 8:
Marvel at the wonder that is Stonehenge, one of Britain's most important prehistoric sites, and learn about the primitive builders who created the enduring monument. Continue on for a visit to Windsor Castle, the official residence of the Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 9:
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2019 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2018.