call us on 01905 675015
Centre-based in the harbour town of Caernarfon, experience the cultural and scenic diversity of North Wales on this tour of many contrasts. A visit to Snowdon is a given, but we'll also discover gastronomic delicacies from local beer to award-winning sea salt, encounter Snowdonia's slate-mining heritage, walk on the wild coastlines of Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula and take a canal boat ride along the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Arrive in historic Caernarfon, a waterfront town that is dominated by its imposing medieval castle. Standing guard over the city, Caernarfon Castle is now a UNESCO Heritage Site with a long royal heritage. In recent times it was the scene of Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales.
Check in is possible from 3pm and there is a car park for hotel guests. If arriving by train, Bangor has the closest railway station at just 10 miles away. From there, you can take a taxi, or there are buses to Caernarfon leaving from just outside the station, with a journey time of 30 minutes.
The Tour Leader plans to meet you in reception at 6pm for the introductory briefing, followed by the option to enjoy a group meal (not included) to get acquainted with your fellow guests.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
We'll journey through Snowdonia National Park this morning passing through some of the area's most picturesque villages, all stone buildings and windswept hillsides.
Our destination is Blaenau Ffestiniog, a small town that was once the heart of the Welsh slate mining industry until its decline after the Second World War. At its height, over 4,000 men worked in the profitable slate quarries, and three separate train lines connected the town and its produce to the rest of Wales and into England. These incredible mines still have an imposing presence on the town's skyline, and we'll be exploring them with an interactive tour, visiting both the open quarry and descending into the deep mine on the steepest cable railway in Europe. Many of the guides here have family connections to the slate industry that date back generations, and a visit to the mine is a trip through a crucial part of Welsh history.
We'll then take a short drive to the Italianate village of Portmeirion for a quick stop. Purpose built in the style of an old Italian village, Portmeirion's unusual architecture and magnificent location on the Dwyryd estuary, looking across towards Snowdon, makes for an enchanting visit. We'll have a short orientation around the village, with some free time to explore the fine architecture, gardens, shops and cafes at our own pace.
We'll return to Caernarfon in the late afternoon.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
With the largest Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) in Wales, miles of unspoilt sandy coastline, craggy cliffs, picturesque villages and protected wildlife habitats, Anglesey is well worth exploring. Today we'll discover its variety of wild landscapes by boat, vehicle and on foot.
We drive 15 minutes and cross the Menai Bridge to reach the island of Anglesey. From here we'll board a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) for a trip around Anglesey's south coast. There'll be some excitement as we navigate The Swellies, notable for its whirlpools and shipwrecks. But these are simply and easily navigated in the RIB, and we'll soon be gliding through easy waters, passing the National Trust mansion of Plas Newydd, home to the Marquess of Anglesey, as well as the historic village of Felinheli, the familiar sight of Caernarfon Castle and into the open sea towards Llanddwyn Island. This tiny tidal island is home to the legend of St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of friendship and love. We'll return to Menai Bridge the way we came - very occasionally, particularly if the sea is calm, we may see a dolphin or porpoise.
After our ride we'll drive down to Newborough Beach and Forest. Part of the dunes are a national nature reserve, and the forest is home to one of Wales's largest red squirrel conservation sites. We'll have some free time here to explore. One option is to walk out to the ruins of an ancient 5th-century convent on Llanddwyn Island, which we passed on our RIB ride. At low tide the island is accessible by walking along the beach. Alternatively, you could choose to explore the dunes, enjoy a picnic or take a walk through the forest.
In the afternoon we'll take a tour of Halen Mon, Anglesey's finest sea salt producer. Their award-winning salt has gained worldwide renown and with one of their expert guides, we'll learn about their unique salt harvesting process and end with a tasting of some of the delicious salt varieties.
On our return to Caernarfon we'll take a quick pit stop at (deep breath!) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - the train station with the longest name in the world.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
With a full day ahead of us we take the 1.5 hour drive to Llangollen, a tiny historic town on the banks on the River Dee.
From the town, we'll set off on a walk along the Llangollen Canal, a World Heritage site that was once a crucial commercial thoroughfare, crossing the border between Wales and England into Shropshire. Our walk will take approximately 1.5 hours, as far as the awe-inspiring Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Rising 38 metres off the valley floor, this canal aqueduct is the highest in the world and one of the greatest feats of engineering throughout the UK's extensive canal network.
We're not content to simply admire the aqueduct from afar though, making our return to Llangollen on a canal boat ride across the aqueduct itself and taking in the marvellous views.
We'll arrive back in Llangollen in the afternoon with some free time to explore. You may choose to visit Plas Newydd house and gardens, stroll along the edge of the River Dee or walk with the Tour Leader up to Castell Dinas Bran, the famous 12th-century castle that perches high above the town.
We'll return to Caernarfon through Snowdonia National Park and the mountain views of the Ogwen Valley. If the weather is good (and we're not too tired!) we may make a stop at the Conwy Falls waterfall.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
The magical Llyn Peninsula showcases North Wales scenery at its absolute finest. Undulating cliffs, sandy coves, heather-clad hills, historic forts and pilgrimage routes - there is something for everyone here.
We'll take a hike with our Tour Leader along a stretch of the Welsh Coastal Path to Nefyn. The starting point will be flexible depending on the overall fitness and interest of the group, but you can expect approximately a 10 kilometre walk with around 300 metres of ascent. Passing through rolling countryside, taking in windswept hills and extensive sea views, this short stretch of the coastline will capture something of the essence of the peninsula. If we're lucky, we may even be able to see across to Ireland in the distance.
There's nothing better than a cold beer after a long walk, and on arrival into Nefyn we'll be visiting the Cwrw Brewery for a tour and a tasting. This independent brewery makes small batches of beer by hand, and aims to recycle and reuse as much of their raw materials as possible - spent grains are even used to feed local pigs.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
Mount Snowdon is the jewel in the crown of Snowdonia National Park, and on our final day here in North Wales, we'll finally be meeting the giant. At Llanberis we board the small, one-carriage train that winds its way to the station of Clogwyn, located three-quarters of the way up Snowdon at 779 metres. The one-way journey takes around 45 minutes, and the views are, simply, spectacular. Clawing its way up the side of the mountain, this Victorian train line is surrounded by the mountains and lakes of the national park.
From Clogwyn, we'll breathe in the crisp mountain air and hike the remaining 300 metres to the summit where the promise of a hot drink awaits us at the mountain-top cafe. We'll be walking down the Llanberis Path, the longest but gentlest descent from the mountain, taking us all the way back to Llanberis on foot - a hike of around 2.5 hours.
From Llanberis we'll return to Caernarfon to enjoy the final evening of our trip together.
Celtic Royal Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
The tour ends this morning after breakfast. You may choose to explore more of the local area under your own steam. We can suggest taking the Welsh Highland Railway to Beddgelert, with lots of great self-guided walks on offer in Beddgelert Forest, or alternatively visiting Caernarfon Castle. At the present moment, entrance tickets to the castle should be pre-booked online.
The UK has a temperate but very variable climate. In general the summers are warm with July and August being the warmest. The winters are cool and the lowest temperatures are recorded during January and February. Whatever the season it is advisable to be prepared for rain!
0
3 Pin Flat
Christian
English
A warm jacket or fleece and long trousers are advisable, especially in early and late season when the weather tends to be cooler. Come prepared for all weather - rain jacket, fleece, warm layers, hat, gloves as well T-shirts, sunhat, good sun cream and sunglasses. As we are walking on the coast, the wind can be a common feature. You may wish to bring a swimsuit to use the pool and sauna at the hotel.
Comfortable footwear for walking around towns, sites and for relaxing in the evening. Hiking shoes or boots are recommended for the walks on Snowdon and the Llyn Peninsula.
20Kg
One main piece of baggage and a waterproof rucksack large enough to carry what you need for the day - waterproofs, warm layer, water, picnic, sun-cream, phone etc.
Bring a day pack and a water bottle. Tap water is fine to drink. We encourage our clients not to buy mineral water because of the negative environmental impact with plastic bottles. You may wish to bring walking poles for the descent of Snowdon.
Bus, Boat, On Foot, Train
The Celtic Royal hotel is right in the centre of Caernarfon, just a five minute walk to the marina, the castle and all the amenities of the city. It has comfortable en-suite rooms, a pool and sauna, free parking and Wi-Fi for guests.
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice.
Please refer to our COVID-19 entry requirements page for any country-specific conditions of entry. Whilst we strive to update this on a regular basis we recommend you also check the FCDO website for the latest advice on entry requirements in this fast-evolving situation. Information can change at any time.
Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.
Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information.
You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.
Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.
The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.
Free transfers are not available for Self-Guided, Polar, Tailormade or Tours for Churches customers.
If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.
For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here
It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.
Explore offers a wide range of flexible flying options to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.
You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.
We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.
On our website we display a UK flight inclusive package guide price which is generally based on a London departure. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.
An ability to swim is essential for your safe enjoyment of the water based activities on this trip. If you wish to participate in these activities then we insist that you are able to swim.
Nothing compulsory, we recommend protection against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Type: package
Departure date: 15th May 2025
Booking End date: 3rd Oct 2021
Duration: 6 nights
Board: Bed & Breakfast
Offers:
Unforgettable Experience
Small Group Tour
Includes: Transfers
Offer Reference: O-5760