PRIVATE TOUR ITINERARY

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With its distinctive blend of Welsh language and Celtic culture, Wales is like no other country in the United Kingdom. You’ll fall in love with its beautiful natural landscapes—from soaring mountains to stunning coastline and national parks—and revel at imposing Welsh castles. On this captivating private tour through deep green valleys, past majestic mountains and along an unforgettable coastline, we’ll go high and low in search of Wales’ most iconic sights. Join us as we walk the ancient lands of Celts and Romans, immersing ourselves in age-old local traditions as we go.

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Day 1) Arrive in South Wales

Depart London Heathrow Airport or central London for South Wales. Visit Tintern Abbey, former Cistercian Abbey on the Welsh side of the River Wye which marks the border with England. Arrive at your hotel for a three-night stay. Situated on the fringes of Cardiff, the hotel is nestled amongst the Welsh hills, close to Castel Coch and Caerphilly Castle and only a short distance from Cardiff. 

 

Day 2) Caerphilly, Cardiff Castle & St. Fagan’s National Museum

Today visit the mediaeval Castle of Caerphilly, Cardiff Castle, a Victorian Gothic revival mansion of medieval origin, and St. Fagan’s National Museum, an open-air museum in Cardiff chronicling the historical lifestyle, culture, and architecture of the Welsh people. 

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Day 3) Hay-on-Wye & Brecon Beacons

Take a whole-day excursion to the Brecon Beacons area. Visit Hay-on-Wye, littered with book shops—both secondhand and new.—and home to the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival. Continue along the Gospel Pass, home to canals, waterfalls, red kites and natural beauty to Lanthony Priory. 

 

Day 4) Castle Coch & Gower Peninsula 

Depart for Castle Coch, a 19th-century Gothic Revival Castle of Norman origin (alternatively, visit in Swansea the Dylan Thomas Centre, which exhibits the life and work of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas) and the Gower Peninsula, an area of outstanding natural beauty with cliffs, beaches and bays, including the picturesque village of Mumbles. This afternoon, arrive at in Tenby in Pembrokeshire for a two-night stay. 

 

Day 5) Pembrokeshire & St. David’s

Today, enjoy a whole-day excursion to Pembrokeshire including a scenic tour of the coast, Pembroke Castle and in St. David’s, visit the Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. The 12th century St Davids Cathedral is Wales’ most iconic religious site and sits tucked away in a sheltered vale beside the River Alun. On the walking tour of St. Davids, you'll learn about the history of this idyllic Welsh town,  

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Day 6) Tenby & Aberystwyth

This morning, explore Tenby, probably the most iconic and well-visited seaside town in Wales, steeped in ancient history and surrounded by an imposing medieval stone wall. This afternoon, as you depart north, arrive in Aberystwyth for an overnight stay at your seafront hotel.. On route, visit Llanerchaeron, an elegant Georgian villa with a walled garden, farmyard lake and wild parkland. Dinner is included this evening.

 

Day 7) Yr Ysgwrn, Portmeirion & Blaenau Ffestiniog

This morning, visit Yr Ysgwrn, set against the beautiful Snowdonia National Park. Yr Ysgwrn is a traditional stone farmhouse showcasing rural Welsh life. Continue to Portmeirion, a tourist village designed and built between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian Riviera village. Pause in Blaenau Ffestiniog, once famous for slate mining. Arrive at your hotel within the medieval walls of castle-topped Conwy for a three-night stay. Enjoy this lovely town with its many shops and eateries.

 

Day 8) Penrhyn Castle, Isle of Anglesey & Conwy Castle

Today, visit Penrhyn Castle, a country house designed in the style of a Norman Castle, and Caernarfon Castle, part of the system of English garrison castles that Edward I built to enforce English rule over North Wales 700 years ago. Next, take a short excursion across the Menai Strait to Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey. Enjoy lunch in this pretty seaside town with views to Snowdonia, On your return to Conwy, make a short excursion across the Menai Bridge to Beaumaris on Anglesey, a pretty seaside town with views to Snowdonia. Return to Conwy for visits to Conwy castle and Flat Mawr Mansion, a fine surviving Elizabethan townhouse.

 

Day 9) Snowdonia National Park

Today, enjoy a scenic tour of Snowdonia National Park where you will have the opportunity to hike to the top of Mount Snowden. Those not hiking may take the Snowdon Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge rack and pinion mountain railway that travels for 4.7 miles from Llanberis to the summit of Snowden, the highest peak in Wales. Today may also be combined with a visit to Caernarfon Castle.

 

Day 10) Manchester Airport or return to London

Depart for Manchester Airport for onward journey or return to London.

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