The Best of Wales tour

Tour departs from Holiday Inn London, Kensington High Street. Check-in at 8.15am. (Depart by 8.30am)

Castle Combe

Our tour begins by heading west from London, stopping in at Castle Combe, arguably the most picture-perfect village in the Cotswolds. Wander the quiet streets and admire its idyllic river setting before we continue towards the Welsh border.

Cas-gwent (Chepstow) Castle

After crossing the Severn Bridge into Wales, our first stop is Chepstow Castle; the oldest surviving post-Roman stone castle in a country known as the 'castle capital of the world'. Dating back to 1067 and set on the cliffs above the River Wye, this was one of the most strategically important fortresses in Wales. Take time to visit the castle and have lunch.

Bae Caerdydd (Cardiff Bay)

We'll pass the iconic ruins of Tintern Abbey on our way to Cardiff Bay, formerly the city docklands and once the largest coal-trading port in the world. Now transformed, it's home to the Welsh parliament, the Millennium Centre and the BBC's home of Doctor Who. Then it's a short journey to the city centre, where we spend our first night in Caerdydd (Cardiff); the cosmopolitan Welsh capital.

Overnight: Cardiff

For those joining from Cardiff, your tour departs from Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre (Queen Street) Hotel. Check-in at 8.15am. (Depart by 8.30am)

Pwll Mawr (Big Pit) National Coal Museum

This morning we depart Cardiff and head north to Big Pit National Coal Museum, one of the leading mining museums in Britain. We'll have ample time to explore the exhibitions telling the story of Wales' industrial past, with the option to take an underground tour into one of the actual mines.

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) & Aberhonddu (Brecon)

Next, we journey across Brecon Beacons National Park with the Black Mountains rising to the east, taking in some of the finest scenery in Wales. We'll stop in the traditional market town of Aberhonddu (Brecon) for lunch.

Elan Valley

This afternoon we continue north into the Elan Valley, a landscape of magnificent Victorian dams and remote wilderness that shows off Wales at its very best. We'll stop at the isolated visitor centre before continuing through the Cambrian hills, descending into the seaside town of Aberystwyth; the 'capital' of Welsh-speaking Wales, and our base for the next two nights.

Overnight: Aberystwyth

Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Today we head into Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park; home to some of the most dramatic scenery in Britain. Covering 823 square miles of mountains, valleys and charming villages, this is an area that provides the sights and sounds of 'real' Wales. More than half of the local population here speak Welsh. We'll travel through the heart of Eryri with a number of photo-stops along the way.

Harlech Castle

We continue to the coast for Harlech Castle, part of King Edward I's ring of magnificent 13th-century fortresses around North Wales. The views from here stretch across Eryri and out to the Irish Sea. We'll have time to explore the castle and have some lunch.

Aberystwyth

By late afternoon we return to Aberystwyth with time to explore the town. Stroll along the Victorian promenade, walk the seafront or find a local pub for the evening.

Overnight: Aberystwyth

Ceinewydd (New Quay)

Departing Aberystwyth we travel along the coast to Ceinewydd (New Quay), a tiny harbour town of multi-coloured cottages and sandy beaches with connections to Dylan Thomas. Keep your eyes on the water from the quay; pods of bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted here.

Tyddewi (St Davids)

We continue south, passing the Preseli Hills into Pembrokeshire Coast National Park before arriving in Britain's smallest city; Tyddewi (St Davids). Despite its size, the city is home to a magnificent cathedral sited next to the Bishop's Palace, both founded by Wales' patron saint. Inside the cathedral are the tombs of influential medieval knights and a shrine to St David himself.

Dinbych-y-pysgod (Tenby)

We pass Pembroke, a town dominated by one of the largest castles in Anglo-Welsh history, on our way to the seaside town of Dinbych-y-pysgod (Tenby). We arrive by mid-afternoon with the rest of the day free to explore the harbour, the medieval town walls and the colourful seafront.

Overnight: Tenby

Sain Ffagan (St Fagans) National Museum of History

Our final day begins with a visit to Sain Ffagan (St Fagans), a fantastic free open-air museum set in 100 acres of parkland in the grounds of St Fagans Castle. Over fifty original buildings from across Wales have been reconstructed here, showing different periods of Welsh architecture. You'll also find beautiful gardens, native breeds of livestock, and workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills. We'll have plenty of time to explore.

Heading home

After St Fagans, we make the short journey to Cardiff, where the tour ends for those who joined from Cardiff at Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre by approximately 2.00pm. We then continue back towards England, concluding at The Holiday Inn Hotel, London by approximately 6:00pm.

Alternative end points: You can depart the tour at any of our scheduled destinations. Simply let your driver-guide know. If you would like to be dropped at London's Heathrow Airport (Bath Rd, Near Terminals 2-3), please contact us in advance to arrange.