Culture & Castles : An Introduction To Manchester & Wales 9 Nights / 10 Days

United Kingdom

Customized Tour

on REQUEST

TOUR PLAN

Arrive Manchester – Llandudno

Arrive in Manchester, pick up your vehicle and head to Llandudno in North Wales, a 1.5 hour picturesque drive away. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian/Edwardian sea-side resort, perfect for families. Enjoy the scenic beaches, the engaging Punch and Judy shows; explore the longest pier in Wales. For a little more action, hire bicycles and follow the off-road coastal cycle path, or climb up the Great Orme where superb views of Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and Anglesey await. Conversely, an equally scenic tramway ride to the summit on the only cable-hauled tramway still operating in Great Britain, a unique example of Victorian railway engineering, promises to be equally unforgettable.

Overnight in Llandudno.

Llandudno

Today’s your date with royalty, as you take a trip to Caernarfon to visit Caernarfon Castle, the location of the investiture of the Royals since 1911, including the coronation of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. In the afternoon, ride the Welsh Highland Railway, a narrow gauge steam railway that winds through Snowdonia to link with the Ffestiniog railway at Porthmadog. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you ascend from sea level to the foothills of Snowdon, over 650 feet, zig-zag dramatically down the steep hillside to reach Beddgelert, in the heart of the National Park, before you negotiate the magnificent Aberglaslyn Pass to reach Porthmadog. If you so desire, you could choose to disembark en-route and explore the fairy tale countryside, and return on a later train.

Overnight in Llandudno.

Llandudno

For the young, and young-at-heart, a trip to Zip World near Bethesda, to experience the longest zip wire in Europe, is an absolute must.  Continue to Llanberis, at the heart of Snowdonia, for access to the famous Snowdonia Mountain Railway which takes you to the top of Snowdon - the highest peak in Wales. A quieter option is a visit the superb Llanberis Slate Museum.

Overnight in Llandudno.

Llandudno – Pembrokshire

Wake up early this morning, an exciting adventure awaits. Leave Llandudno behind as you embark on a scintillating journey through the Heart of Wales to visit King Arthurʼs labyrinth, a mysterious boatman from the Dark Ages steering you on an unforgettable underground odyssey through mysterious waterfalls that takes you back a thousand years.

Overnight in Pembroksire.

Pembrokshire

There is never a dull moment in this very special part of Wales. Meander along the stunning coastal path, laze around in some of the finest beaches in the world. Perfect your strokes at a picturesque Golf course, take an adventurous boat trip as you explore the coastline in a Kayak. Try coasteering, a dare-devil combination of rock scrambling and jumping from cliffs, straight into the sea, or settle for comparatively more staid options like snorkelling and fishing.

Overnight in Pembrokeshire.

 

Pembrokeshire – Cardiff

As you make your way from Pembrokeshire, visit the Museum of Welsh Life, Europe’s biggest and most exciting open air museum on the grounds of St. Fagans Castle, in which buildings from across Wales have been re-located to show how people used to live in the ‘old days’.

Overnight in Cardiff.

Cardiff

Enjoy a pleasant morning in Cardiff Bay at the Millennium Centre which is free admission, take a scenic boat ride across the bay to see the Cardiff bay barrier and Penarth, or meet the Daleks at the ‘Doctor Who Experience’. Take a tour of the Millennium stadium, dare to enter the ‘Dragon’s Lair’, the home of the formidable Welsh rugby team, or explore Cardiff Castle where the footsteps of ancient Romans, Normans and Victorians still linger.

Overnight in Cardiff.

Cardiff – Manchester

After a scenic 3.5 hour drive back from Cardiff to Manchester. Check in. In the evening, rub noses with sharks, starfish, seahorses and graceful rays, among over 5,000 sea creatures at the bewitching Sea Life Manchester, a unique underwater world. We recommend an early (before 5pm) entry into the Aquarium, as it shuts by 7pm.

Overnight in Manchester.

 

Manchester 

For some, today will be a day they have waited for their entire lives. For fanatics of the world’s most popular sport, a visit to the hallowed home of the revered Manchester United football club, better known as Old Trafford, will be nothing short of a pilgrimage. We will pre-book your tour of the stadium to give you an intimate peek into the behind-the-scenes goings on at this mecca of football, and give you a tour of their museum where you can witness the club’s fascinating history come alive. There’s more excitement to follow (optional), as you visit LEGOLAND(R) Discovery Centre, where an incredible action adventure unfolds in 3D before your very eyes, then transforms into 4D as flurries of wind, rain, lightning and snow make you instinctively reach for cover. Visit the LEGO(R) factory for a look at the spectacular MINILAND®, a miniature world made from nearly 1.5 million LEGO® bricks, with moving airships and trains, where your kids can take part in their own driving adventure as they set upon winding forest pathways in their own off-road LEGO vehicles. The challenge, to capture the robbers who have stolen gold bars from the City in the Forest Pursuit driving adventure, is one they will absolutely love. An action-packed day.

Overnight in Manchester.

Depart Manchester

Drop the car at the airport for your onward flight.

    • 7 night’s accommodation in Wales in 4* hotel in Llandudno and 3* hotels in Pembrokeshire & Cardiff in a family room or similar
    • 2 night’s accommodation at 4* hotel in Manchester
    • Daily Breakfast
    • Rental car collected from and returned to Manchester airport for Wales portion from Day 1 – Day 10.
    • Wales: Entrances to Caernarfon castle, King Arthur's Labyrinth, Museum of Welsh Life and Doctor Who Experience, Cardiff Castle
    • Manchester: Entrance to the museum and guided tour of the stadium of Old Trafford - Manchester United Football Club
    • Manchester: SEA LIFE Aquarium
  • Airfares and ticket taxes
  • Visa Charges
  • Meals not specified above
  • Transfers (airport / station – hotel and back) unless mentioned
  • Surcharges applicable (especially during Christmas, New Year etc)
  • Travel and Medical Insurance
  • Tips and Porterage
  • Expenses of personal nature
  • Anything not mentioned in the inclusions above