Escorted Holidays 2020

Jaca, Pamplona & the Spanish Pyrenees
8 days from £749 June & September
The highest peaks of the Pyrenees are on the Spanish side in Aragon.
This holiday takes you off the beaten tourist track into these magnificent
mountains, with a host of things to see along the way! You will see a bodega
on the Barbastro wine road, medieval stone villages, Canfranc’s huge
‘ghost’ train station, Hemingway’s Pamplona, and an imposing 11th-century
Romanesque castle. You spend four nights in Jaca, ‘Pearl of the Pyrenees’,
and three nights on the coast, including two in historic Tarragona.
• 1 night hb Costa Dorada, 4 nights hb in Jaca, 2 nights bb in Tarragona • Visits
to a Somontano winery and Ainsa • Excursion to Canfranc and Candanchu
• Excursion to Pamplona • Visit to Loarre Castle • Walking tour of Tarragona
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Reus or Barcelona. Transfer
to your hotel on the Costa Dorada, under an hour
away, for one night’s half-board accommodation.
DAY TWO: Today you leave the coast and head
north through the hilly wine-country of Catalonia
and then into the Aragonese Pyrenees. You make
a short stop at a Somontano winery for a tasting in
one of Spain’s oldest wine regions, magnificently
set against a spectacular Pyrenean backdrop.
From here you climb into the Pyrenees proper
towards the unspoilt and historic walled town of
Ainsa. At the confluence of two rivers, and at an
altitude of nearly 2000ft, Ainsa nestles between
three different protected natural park areas. From
the 11th-century castle, you can stroll the short
distance to the arcaded medieval town square,
lined with old stone houses, the church of Santa
Maria – and welcoming bars and restaurants!
There are impressive views down to the two rivers
and up to the (often) snow-streaked 7500ft. crag of
Peña Montañesa. You continue on your dramatic
route to Jaca, where you spend 4 nights on a halfboard
basis. 200 miles today, mainly on excellent
new highways, and always through wonderful
scenery: towering mountains, rocky outcrops and
sparkling waters are all in evidence.
Jaca is an interesting town with a pleasant
pedestrianised main street, medieval town wall,
Romanesque 11th-century cathedral and 16thcentury
citadel as well as other notable historic
buildings. Jaca has bid three times to host the
winter Olympics, and is on the Aragonese Way of
St James - pilgrims on their way to Santiago de
Compostela are regular visitors in the historic town
centre.
DAY THREE: In the morning, you have a brief
orientation walk in the old centre of Jaca. In
the afternoon, there is a short, but fascinating,
included excursion to Canfranc-Estacion.
Following the River Aragon up the mountain, you
arrive at the enormous, mainly disused, former
international railway station at the exit of the
Somport Tunnel on the Spanish side. Its size (more
than twice the width of Buckingham Palace and
with no less than 156 doors!) is explained by the
necessity to handle the transit of passengers,
luggage and freight switching to and from the
different gauges of French and Spanish tracks:
though national pride must have had something
to do with it as well! On a short tour of the station
you will hear about its construction, stories of Nazi
gold passing through, of the exodus during the
Spanish Civil War, and about its final closure in
1970. Afterwards, you take the short scenic drive
up to the nearby French border and through the
ski resort of Candanchu. 18 miles each way.
DAYS FOUR AND FIVE: In Jaca with one included
and one optional excursion. The included
excursion is to Pamplona, the capital of Navarre,
famed worldwide for the ‘Running of the Bulls’,
featured by Hemingway in ‘The Sun Also Rises.’
Your local guide will walk you along the bulls’
route to the bullring and show you the town’s focal
point, the Plaza del Castillo, near to which lies the
former Jewish Quarter and the Gothic Cathedral
of Santa Maria. Part of the old city wall is still intact.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
The city centre is pleasantly compact and there
are myriad places for tapas, lunch, strolling or
hunting for souvenirs. 70 miles each way.
The optional excursion is to the French side of the
mighty Pyrenees. The first stop is in the pretty
village of Biescas. From there you drive through
impressive mountain scenery to the French
border at Portelet and on to Artouste, on Fabreges
Lake. A cable car takes you up to the ‘Petit Train’-
a 55-minute narrow-gauge run of spectacular
views at an altitude of over 6000ft. The scenic road
journey is 43 miles each way. (The timetable of
the Artouste train changes every year. If the train
is not operating for any reason during your stay,
the excursion will be replaced with a panoramic
tour of the area and a visit to the historic town of
Oloron on the French side.)
DAY SIX: Today you bid farewell to the mountains,
passing the impressive 1000ft high rock
formations of Los Mallos de Riglos, and stopping
at the equally impressive castle of Loarre – the
best preserved Romanesque castle in Europe, and
set on a rocky outcrop offering great views. You
continue on to Tarragona, for your last two nights
on a bed and breakfast basis.. 190 miles today.
DAY SEVEN: Morning guided walking tour
of Tarragona. Tarragona’s walled town centre
is a UNESCO world heritage site. It boasts a
fine medieval cathedral as well as Roman
remains: these include a stunning 2nd-century
amphitheatre, Circus Maximus, and two forums.
DAY EIGHT: Free time until your departure
transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Transfer time: 15 minutes to Reus, just over one
hour to Barcelona.
YOUR HOTELS
NUBAHOTEL HHHH,
Coma-Ruga (one night)
The hotel stands close to the broad sandy
beach in this small resort. The hotel has a
restaurant, bar, lounge, and outdoor pool.
Rooms, which all have balcony, also have 2
queen size beds, bathroom with hairdryer,
phone, air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD
tv, and safety deposit box (charge applies).
Free wifi in public areas.
(www.nubahotelcomarruga.com)
HOTEL EUROSTARS REINA FELICIA
HHHH,
Jaca (four nights)
The modern and comfortable Hotel Reina
Felicia is situated in a quiet residential area,
yet just a 20-minute stroll (less than a mile)
from the old centre of Jaca. The spacious
rooms have satellite TV, air-conditioning,
terrace and bath or shower and WC. There
is lounge, bar, coffee shop, restaurant and
indoor and outdoor pools. Spa treatments
may be available at extra cost
(www.eurostarshotels.com).
HOTEL ASTARI HHH,
Tarragona (two nights)
Just a 10-minute walk (half a mile) from the
amphitheatre and cathedral, this comfortable
modern hotel offers bedrooms with full
facilities, lounge area with free wifi, garden
and outdoor pool. (www.hotelastari.com)
www.preferredts.com | 5