Discover Wales
5 day tour

  • Snowdonia National Park
  • Harlech Castle
  • Tenby
  • Cardigan Bay
  • Harlech Castle

Explore three national parks. Visit an incredible array of castles. And learn about ancient Celtic culture. This is our ultimate tour of Wales.

Tour map

Tour Highlights

National Parks
Mountains
Castles
Beaches
Roman Ruins

Welsh Borderlands and the Cambrian Mountains - Cross the gentle rolling hills that have divided kingdoms for hundreds of years.

Snowdonia National Park - Cruise through the jagged peaks of Wales’ first national park.

Harlech Castle - UNESCO described this castle as one of "the finest examples of late 13th century military architecture in Europe".

New Quay and Cardigan Bay - White houses speckled on a hill overlooking a gorgeous beach.

Laugharne and its Dylan Thomas connections - Explore the town that inspired one of the world’s greatest poets.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park & the Preseli Mountains - A spectacular coastline packed with untouched beaches and crumbly cliffs.

St Davids - Britain’s smallest city contrasts a tiny population of 1,841 people with a remarkable cathedral.

Castle Combe - Don’t let the name fool you. This village full of gentle cottages and trickling waterways couldn’t fend off anything.

 

Your journey

 

Wales is an intriguing place.

Somehow this small country has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in Europe. Amazingly, 20% of the country is protected by national parks. And strangely, their national animal is a mythical dragon!

What’s more is it’s packed full of delightful coastal villages, incredible Roman ruins, and stunningly white beaches.

But most intriguing is the warm welcome you’ll experience when you travel through this wonderful country on our five day tour.

 

Tour Details

Starts
Check-in closes at 09:00 (tour departs at 09:15) - Stance 3, Greenline Coach Terminal, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH
Finishes (approx.)
19:30 - London Victoria Drop Off, Stance 3, Greenline Coach Terminal, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH
Luggage
You're restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
Discounts

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)

Important information
  • Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
  • Some attraction tickets can be purchased in advance when you book your tour. You’ll have the option to add at check-out. Other attractions will not be available to book beforehand, instead you can purchase those while on tour.
Tour inclusions
  • Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Tour exclusions
  • Tour accommodation
  • Attraction entry tickets

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Bask in the peace and beauty of the Cotswolds villages
  • Venture through the wondrously rolling hills of the Welsh borders

You leave London and travel west to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.

This area of outstanding natural beauty boasts England’s prettiest historic villages. Your friendly driver-guide ensures you get the best photos and hear the most fascinating local tales.

Your first stop in Wales is Hay-on-Wye, the ‘town of books’, nestled just to the north of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The route then leads to the beautiful Elan Valley and up into the Cambrian Mountains. From there, it’s an hour or so to the beautiful seaside town and cultural centre of Aberystwyth, where you spend the next two nights.

 

Day 2

  • Admire the mountainous landscape of Snowdonia National Park
  • Explore the ramparts of Harlech Castle

Travel north into the mountainous Snowdonia National Park. You visit the beautiful village of Beddgelert, where you can see the grave of ‘Gelert’, the legendary dog.

Later you travel to Harlech Castle. Built by King Edward I during his conquest of Wales nearly 800 years ago, this mighty fortress still stands overlooking the peaks of Snowdonia and the sea.

After a fulfilling day in the mountains, you return to Aberystwyth in the late afternoon.

 

Day 3

  • Wander around New Quay and wish you could move into this picturesque little town
  • Walk in the footsteps of the famous Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas

Leaving Aberystwyth, you travel around the coast of Cardigan Bay through the quaint town of Aberaeron, and to New Quay.

A sandy harbour, whitewashed houses, and connections to Dylan Thomas: this town is one of the most picturesque and interesting little towns in Britain. What’s more, you may be lucky enough to spot dolphins and whales.

You then go inland to explore the Dinefwr Estate* (Newton House) and its ruined castle before heading for Wales’s south coast to visit Laugharne, where Dylan Thomas lived for the last few years of his life and wrote the famous play “Under Milk Wood”.

From here, it’s a short distance to Tenby, the small, charming seaside town that’ll be your base for two nights.

*When the Dinefwr Estate is closed, you visit Carreg Cennen Castle instead.

 

Day 4

  • Visit the only national park in Britain that’s dedicated to gorgeous coastline views
  • Stumble upon the grand cathedral of Britain’s smallest city, St Davids

Our last full day in Wales is spent exploring the extreme southwest.

You see some of Britain’s most gorgeous coastlines at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This region is stunning and was the birthplace of both the patron saint of Wales and the Twdyr (anglicised to Tudor) royal dynasty.

You travel to the tiny cathedral city of St Davids for lunch and time for exploration, and you stop in the county town of Pembroke, where you can enter the thick medieval walls of the castle.

From here we return once more to Tenby for a relaxed evening.

 

Day 5

  • Delve deep into history at the National History Museum

  • Wander around the quintessential Cotswold village of Castle Combe

Leaving Tenby in the morning, you begin your return journey to London.

You travel past the big industrial cities of South Wales for a visit to the outdoor National Museum of History at St Fagans (public transport is available from the museum to central Cardiff for anyone who wishes to leave the tour at this point).

From here, it’s time to say goodbye to Wales. You take the Severn Crossing back into England, where you have one final break at Castle Combe.

This gorgeous Cotswold village is perfect for a relaxed stroll amongst 16th-century ironstone cottages.

From here, you head back to central London.

 

Attractions

Tour Attractions

You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:

  • Harlech Castle

Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.

Accommodation

Where does this tour stay overnight?

You stay two nights in Aberystwyth and two nights in Tenby*.

*Please be aware that Tenby is busy. You may need to be flexible with rooms we're able to reserve for you here. If you'd prefer to find your own accommodation for this location, please choose the 'book your own accommodation' option when you book your tour.

How can I book accommodation?

Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour. To book accommodation, there are two options: either Rabbie’s Tours can book it for you, or you can book your own. For information on how to do this, please see the ‘Accommodation’ tab on FAQ page HERE.

Alternatively, please email us your questions at tours@rabbies.com or call us on +44(0)131 226 3133.

Information you can find on the FAQ page, under the ‘Accommodation’ tab: types of accommodation, room types, the booking process, getting to and from your accommodation, and cancellation terms.

How much will the accommodation cost?

We book accommodation with third-party providers on your behalf and each property sets their own rates. Rates vary considerably depending on the accommodation standard, facilities, location, and local demand. We therefore can’t tell you exactly how much your accommodation will cost until your request has been allocated to a specific property.

As a guide, you can expect to pay the following prices, per person per night:

 

Approximate prices, per person per night

Overnight Location

 

Sole Occupancy

Multiple Occupancy

 

(1 person per room)

(2+ people per room)

B&B Standard

£80 - £120

£60 - £80

UK & Northern Ireland

€80 - €120

€60 - €80

Ireland

B&B En-suite

£100 - £145

£55 - £95

UK & Northern Ireland

€100 - €145

€55 - €100

Ireland

Hotel

£110 - £190

£75 - £150

UK & Northern Ireland

€130 - €235

€75 - €150

Ireland

NOTE: Prices quoted are for guidance only and may be higher on some occasions, especially for last-minute bookings and when demand is high (E.g. peak season, weekends, holidays, special events etc)

Breakfast will be included unless otherwise noted. The type of breakfast provided will vary from place to place so you may receive either a full cooked breakfast, a continental style breakfast (E.g., toast, fruit, cereal), or a packed breakfast bag or tray (E.g., porridge pot, fruit, granola bar).

FAQs

Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?

The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.

Is there parking close to the departure point?

We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.

When should I get to the departure point?

Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.

What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?

If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.

What are your cancellation policies?

Your cancellation terms depend on which tour you've booked.

For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure

For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure

For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure

For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.

If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.

To cancel your booking, email tours@rabbies.com as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.

Click here to view terms and conditions

Can Itineraries change?

Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.

Can I pre-book a specific seat?

Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.

Are there toilets on the bus?

Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.

How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?

We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.

Do you take children on your tours?

We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.

You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

Do we need to bring our own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

What about travel insurance?

We advise you take out travel insurance.

What is ABTOT?

You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .

Restrictions

Children
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.

If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
Luggage
You're restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.

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