Roses, Cadaqués & the Catalan Coast

We meet at London St Pancras International and board the Eurostar to Paris in Plus class with a light meal at our seats. In the French capital, we take our seats in First Class for a journey through the heart of France to the Spanish town of Figueres. Here, we transfer by coach to our hotel which overlooks Canyelles Petites beach in the town of Roses.

Located in the north-eastern area of the Costa Brava, a wild and rocky stretch of the Spanish coastline, we are not far from the centre of Roses, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds - the peace and quiet of our secluded location and the town's attractions when you choose. On arrival this evening, we sit down to a three-course dinner.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

Enjoy a free day to relax by the pool or bask in the laid-back atmosphere of the white-sand Canyelles Petites beach opposite our hotel. Alternatively, you could visit the centre of Roses.

Set within the beautiful Bay of Roses, the town is an authentic fishing port with typical Catalan charm and style - white-washed buildings contrasting with azure blue sea and sky. In the centre of Roses is the church of Santa María and an ornate Modernist house, Casa Mallol, while the bay has several blue flag beaches with a backdrop of distant Pyrenean peaks.

You may prefer to take a walk out of the bay to discover rocky coves and shingle beaches only accessible on foot or by boat. There is a good choice of restaurants where you could have lunch, the best of which are found along the coast. Some have terraces so you could sample freshly caught fish or tapas with a view.

This evening, dinner is served at our hotel.

*Please note: on certain departures, the itinerary order may be swapped.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we visit the medieval town of Besalú, at the foot of the volcanic Garrotxa Natural Park. Once the capital of an independent state, its cobbled streets and sand-coloured buildings still burst with history. Accessed by a 12th-century bridge, we enter a labyrinth of ancient buildings, pretty squares and cobblestone alleys. We have a morning to explore independently before boarding a coach to Figueres.

In Figueres, we discover the largest surrealistic object in the world - the Dalí Theatre-Museum. This joyous pink and gold building contains the largest collection of Salvador Dalí's works in the world, along with pieces by El Greco and Marcel Duchamp. Dalí was born in Figueres in 1904 and by the late 1920s was one of the best-known figures of the Surrealism movement.

After visiting the museum, there is time to wander around Figueres, a classic Catalan town with an impressive 11th-century church. The sheltered lanes of the town centre offer cafés, tapas bars and gelaterias, which open onto picturesque squares. We return to Roses in the early evening, in time for tonight's dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we board a boat for a cruise along a beautiful stretch of the Cap de Creus National Park. This arid peninsula of towering cliffs has attractive bays accessible only by boat.

We disembark in Cadaqués, set in a cobalt blue bay, where you have time to look around. A fishing village of white-washed houses that inspired much of Salvador Dalí's work, you could visit the famous painter's former house and studio, once a bohemian retreat for other artists. Picasso was inspired by the incredible light and colour on display in Cadaqués. This picture-perfect town has drawn visitors to its narrow streets and shining seafront for decades.

Afterwards, we sail back to Roses where your afternoon is free to relax or head out for lunch. You may like to take a walk along the coastal path to Platja de l'Almadrava in the neighbouring bay, before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we travel by coach to Barcelona for a guided tour of the Catalan capital. We view the exterior of the spectacular Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece. Gaudí's work is synonymous with Barcelona, and this cathedral combines his signature style with Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. You could return to see the inside on your free time later in the afternoon (advance booking recommended).

On the Passeig de Gràcia, we see the colourful Casa Milà and the fantastical Casa Batlló. We continue to bustling Las Ramblas, a tree-lined boulevard that runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the waterfront. Here, on the city's most famous street, we can look out for a colourful mosaic by local artist Joan Miró and the vibrant La Boqueria market.

The afternoon is free to explore independently, and you may wish to indulge in some local cuisine. You could walk through the Gothic quarter to the paved Plaça Reial with its towering palm trees, or visit the Picasso Museum which houses some of the artist's finest work. You may like to take a stroll on the Rambla de Mar walkway beside the beach. In the early evening, we return to Roses for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is free for you to look around at your own pace. You could ride the 'Roses Express' road train along the seafront, up into the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, or visit the mighty Castell de la Trinitat at the head of the bay.

History abounds in Roses and at the other end of the town is the Ciutadella de Roses, the site of a fortress used by Greeks, Romans and Visigoths.

If you'd like to explore further, the medieval city of Girona is just a short journey away by local bus. Girona's well-preserved medieval streets are a treasure trove of winding alleys, colourful buildings and diverse galleries and museums. The Gothic cathedral is well worth seeing and boasts the second-widest nave in the world - only St Peter's Basilica in Rome is larger. Tonight, dinner is served at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we transfer by coach to Rivesaltes near Perpignan, France, where we board the fantastic Little Red Train. Known officially as the Train du Pays Cathare et des Fenouillèdes (TPCF), the line was constructed more than 100 years ago to connect Rivesaltes and Carcassonne.

Nowadays, tourists travel in red carriages into the dense green of the majestic Pyrenees on the remaining section of the railway, between Rivesaltes to the small town of Axat. This scenic trip takes us past vineyards, while verdant forests and rocky outcrops become more prevalent as the route climbs higher. Look out for historic Cathar fortresses, built into the mountaintops.

Between June and September, there is the option to sit in the open-air carriages to fully immerse yourself in the passing scenery; breathe in the fresh mountain air and soak up the views on this charming railway as it winds its way over hills and valleys.

You are free to look around and find lunch in the rural valley town of Axat before we begin our return journey by coach. Back at our hotel, there is time to unwind before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We embrace Catalan flavours today as we travel into the countryside by coach for a visit to a vineyard in the Empordà wine region. Our hosts are highly regarded for their produce which, in addition to wine, also includes olives. We enjoy a brunch of cold meats and local cheese served with wine produced on the estate. We then learn more about the wine-making process during a walk through the vineyards and olive trees, before visiting the winery.

On returning to Roses, the afternoon is free to spend some time in the charming town or relaxing by the pool. This evening, we take a short walk to a family-run seafront restaurant for tonight's dinner and the final evening in Roses. Located right on the beach, we enjoy a selection of local specialities while looking out to the sea as the sun sets on the white-washed buildings that cluster beside the bay.

*Please note: on the 25th September, 5th and 10th October departures, we will enjoy dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner

This morning, we say 'adíos' to Roses as a coach takes us across the French border to Perpignan where we connect to Paris. Our route takes us through the Occitan region of France.

Our Catalonian holiday has taken us from the glistening coast around Roses to the foothills of the Pyrenees; we've also seen the playful and thought-provoking art of Salvador Dalí and Antoni Gaudí - a real feast for the senses.

As our train reaches the Rhône, we dash through the heart of France to its capital. In Paris, we board the Eurostar in Plus class with a light meal at our seats on the way back to London St Pancras International, where we can say our goodbyes before heading home.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal