Coming up Roses

Day 1

We depart home area and make our way to Folkestone for our Eurotunnel crossing to France. We then continue through France making suitable comfort stops enroute and arrive at our hotel, Ibis Orleans Centre Foch, with time to relax before our evening meal.

Day 2

After breakfast we depart Orleans and continue travelling through France via Limoges, Toulouse, and Perpignan making suitable comfort stops and cross the border into Spain at Le Perthus and continue a short distance from the border to Roses on the Costa Brava. We arrive at our hotel early evening. Time to freshen up before we meet for our drink reception followed by our evening meal.

Day 3

Today we have a choice, we can spend our day relaxing and getting our bearings in lovely Roses and make use of the excellent leisure facilities at our hotel and sunbathe on some of the most attractive and least crowded beaches of the Costa Brava, or we can explore the lovely old town of Roses or we can enjoy an optional visit to Barcelona (extra £60 per person to be made at time of booking). Barcelona’s beautiful tree-lined promenade runs from the Plaça de Catalunya to Port Vell, the Old Harbour. It’s one of the main places of interest for many visitors to the city and gives a great first taste of Catalan food and beverages, atmosphere and entertainment. We can take a boat trip around the harbour (extra cost). (Please Note: we must have a minimum of 15 people to book for this excursion to Barcelona).

Day 4

Cruise to Cadaqués. This morning we embark on a relaxing one-way 1.5hr boat cruise from Roses to Cadaqués. Upon arrival we enjoy an afternoon at leisure, exploring Cadaqués’ maze of pretty, narrow streets that tumble down to the water, and stylish art galleries that mingle with the souvenir shops, cafés and seafood restaurants. Our coach will meet us to return us to our hotel.

Day 5

This morning we make our way to the historic city of Girona, where the beautiful Roman walled old quarter, Força Vella, is dominated by the 11th century Cathedral tower and its baroque facade. Its Gothic nave is the largest of its kind in the world! Located within the Força Vella is the Jewish Quarter (or ‘Call’), one of the city’s most remarkable areas. A labyrinth of narrow medieval streets and passageways makes this area one of the most picturesque in Catalonia. While in Girona we can shop and explore at leisure, perhaps discovering the Arab Baths built in the 12th century, or the Basilica de Sant Feliu, with its castle-like appearance and priceless works of art.

Day 6

Today is spent at leisure in Roses. We may wish to make further use of our hotel’s lovely leisure facilities or make the most of our beautiful beachfront setting with a day well spent relaxing and sunning ourselves. If we’re feeling adventurous, we could head into the centre of Roses and visit the Museu la Ciutadella de Roses, a ruined fortification complex and excavation site with various buildings and ruins from different eras, including Greek, Roman and medieval architecture.

Day 7

After breakfast we head south to L’Estartit to embark on a truly unique experience; a cruise through the Medes Islands Nature Reserve on a glass-bottomed boat. During the cruise we discover the beauty, diversity and richness of the nature reserve’s underwater life thanks to the submerged cabins with large viewing windows

Day 8

After breakfast we say a farewell to Costa Brava and make our way back to the same overnight hotel in Orleans making suitable comfort stops.

Day 9

After breakfast we depart Orleans and travel through France making suitable comfort stops and catch our return Eurotunnel crossing to Folkestone. We arrive home area approx. 9pm.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included