The Welsh landscape of rolling hills, towering peaks and plummeting waterfalls together with medieval castles, deep mines, roads old and new and ground-breaking modern architecture all reflect a history of the conquest, exploitation yet amazing resurgence of an indomitable people. Board this spectacular journey through the mystical land of Wales where you will discover its unique Celtic heritage, delicious local food and awe-inspiring vistas. It may be a small country, however, it's landscape is incredibly varied - with three National Parks, a beautiful coastline, 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 43 blue flag beaches, 641 castles, 11 million sheep and 2 languages. The local culture remains quite distinctive with the Welsh having retained their own national identity, language and history. You will receive a warm 'Croeso' as you explore its more remote areas along the country lanes.

Small group tours depart typically every 2nd Wednesday from April 18 - October 10, 2012, and are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 participants. In general, the maximum group size is 16.

Consider adding additional days to your trip with the services of a private guide and/or driver to see more of the country - your time on either side of your small group tour can be customized to suit your needs (and private guided tours can be added throughout your small group experience as desired.

London is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city. The city boasts four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Meet your driver at Heathrow airport, and take a private transfer to your hotel.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

South Bank is a beautiful riverside stretch in the heart of central London, following the Thames from Lambeth to Blackfriars bridges. In walking distance to Covent Garden and Westminster its the perfect location for a relaxing stroll Also accessible from Waterloo station. The packed programme of theatre, exhibitions, music, film and free events means South Bank is an inspiring place to explore for all ages. Along the South Bank, take in such sites, as, The London Eye: the world’s tallest observation wheel. At 135 metres above the Thames it offers unrivalled views over the city. On a clear day from the world’s largest Ferris wheel you can see 25 miles in every direction as far as Windsor to the west and, to the east nearly out to sea. Continue walking over the Milennium Bridge. Although it nowadays provides a smooth river crossing, the Millennium Bridge will be known to Londoners as simply the wobbly bridge. Designed by Norman Foster and Anthony Caro, its low-slung frame looks pretty spectacular, particularly when it’s lit up at night with fibre-optics-the so-called ‘blade of light’ effect. South Bank was made for long lazy afternoons and evenings, there is something for all tastes. Absorb the atmosphere over an al fresco lunch or dinner, enjoy cocktails with a view and try the stylish hotel bars, family-friendly cafes and funky places to grab a quick bite or late night drink.

The Lancaster Gate Hotel Hyde Park (formerly Park Inn Hyde Park Hotel) and be a stone's throw away from the beautiful Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The hotel is also just minutes away from underground stations, bus stations, and the airport.Lancaster Gate Hotel Hyde Park is a good place for business and leisure activities. It is equipped with recreational facilities that include a gym, as well as a health and fitness center, as well as Meeting rooms.

Overnight at Lancaster Gate.

One of the world's great cities, vibrant London manages to shine in the greyest weather and its diversity defies a simple definition. This sprawling city has drawn people for centuries, looking for something and finding the unexpected. It's one of the world's most international cities and its influences blend to create something uniquely wonderful. Let your Guide know your particular interests and he/she will help you discover the city in a new way. Learn how to take the "tube", explore the cobblestone streets, gardens, and markets, and be a Londoner for a day. Your Guide will meet you at your hotel. Please note that one should wear comfortable shoes and a hat; suitable for children. (No entrance fees included)

Spring is probably the best time to visit, Kew Gardens but at any time of year this 120-hectare expanse of lawns, formal gardens and greenhouses has delights to offer, As well as being a public garden, Kew is an important research centre, and it maintains its reputation as the most exhaustive botanical collection in the world. Its wonderful plants and trees aside, Kew has several specific sites within its borders. You will come almost immediately to a large pond overlooked by the enormous Palm House, a hothouse of metal and curved sheets of glass, and housing all sorts of exotic tropical greenery. Just northwest of Palm House is the tiny but irresistible Water Lily House, dating from 1852. If you head northwards, you’ll come to the stunning Princess of Wales Conservatory. Beyond that is the Kew Gardens Gallery bordering Kew Green, which houses exhibitions of paintings and photos. Heading westwards from the gallery you will arrive at the red-brick Kew Palace, a former royal residence once known as Dutch House. If you cut southwards from the palace across the lawns you’ll pass a long lake running roughly west to east. To the southwest is Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, a wooden summerhouse used by George III and surrounded by bluebells in spring. Come out of the station and walk straight (west) along Station Rd, cross Kew Gardens Rd. and then continue straight along Lichfield Rd.

Within walking distance to your central London hotel, enjoy a fantastic meal out at one of the best restaurants in the West End. A few suggestions: J Sheekey, an incredibly smart seafood restaurant, Lindsay House, specializing in Irish cuisine, Mildred's, London's best veggie restaurant, Sketch, the trendiest place in London, specializing in some of the best french food you'll ever taste, or for those looking for something simple and cheerful, enjoy a nice meal out at Zipangu.

Overnight at Lancaster Gate.

Meet your small group and the local guide at the Lancaster Gate Hotel at 8.30h and depart on your 6 day discovery tour of Wales.

The first stop of the morning is at Chepstow, an historic walled border town and ancient port which guards the entrance to the beautiful Wye Valley. Standing imposingly above the town stand the ruins of Chepstow Castle, once a powerful defensive fortification dating from Norman times, you can enjoy a visit of this historic fortress before continuing  further into Wales to Cardiff, its capital city.

See the sights of Cardiff on a  panoramic tour of the city, and of the recently reclaimed Cardiff Bay, boasting the marvellous Millennium Centre, Cadriff castle and the Welsh Assembly Building.

Visit St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life this afternoon, Wales’s most popular heritage attraction. Over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland of St Fagans Castle, including a school, a chapel and a farm amongst many others, and traditional crafts are on display.

This afternoon you'll continue onwards to the Brecon Beacons and home for these two nights.

Overnight in The Bear Hotel (or similar) this evening. Located in the Brecon Beacons, the individually decorated bedrooms, some with beamed ceilings or a 4 Poster bed, are all are en-suite with wifi free internet access plus tea & coffee making facilities to make your stay a home away from home.

Overnight at The Bear Hotel (B) or similar.

The first stop on today's route is at Big Pit, a real coal mine and one of Britain’s leading mining museums. See the historic colliery buildings and enjoy the interactive exhibitions. For those who want to really experience what life was like at the coal-face, you can take a fascinating underground tour and descend 300 feet into the galleries with a real miner.

Next up on the agenda today is the beautiful and remote Llanthony Priory, one of the earliest Augustinian houses to be founded in Britain, before driving through the Gospel Pass to the unique market town of Hay-on-Wye, standing on the borders of Wales and England. Famous for its annual literary festival, which attracts many famous names, Hay is known as the “Town of Books”, and is world-famous for the plethora of second-hand bookshops which abound.

Overnight at The Bear Hotel (B) or similar.

Leaving the Brecon Beacons behind, on the way to the coast, enjoy a short stop in the small town of Brecon, a historic market town in the heart of the National Park. Then heading further west we reach the western Welsh coastline to look out over Cardigan Bay.

Travelling into Northern Wales, the next stop is at the Llechwedd Slate Mines where it is possible to descend nearly 500 feet underground in Europe's steepest mining cable railway, explore the Victorian village and discover the world of the Welsh Slate Miner during the late nineteenth Century.

Continue the journey on to pretty Betws-y-Coed, the main village of Snowdonia National Park. Surrounded by dense woodland, magnificent mountains and cascading waterfalls, Victorian artists once flocked here to take advantage of nature at its best. Driving through the rugged beauty of the region we reach the medieval walled town of Conwy and its magnificent and dramatic castle, standing on a high rock and dominating the small town. The views from the battlements are breathtaking as you look out across the mountains and the sea.

Overnight at Castle Hotel (B) or similar.

This morning is a feast for history buffs as you get to visit two historically significant castles in the region. First is Conwy Castle, built by the English king Edward 1st in the 1200s, it is one of the key fortresses in his iron ring of castles built to contain the Welsh. Then to another of Edward’s famous fortresses, the magnificent Caernarfon Castle, probably the most famous of all with its sheer scale and commanding presence. Not only a military stronghold, it was also built as a seat of government and royal palace. And of course in 1969 it gained worldwide fame when Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales here.

Enjoy a scenic narrow-gauge steam train journey into Snowdonia National Park, travelling to areas inaccessible by road – a real highlight!

After re-joiing the mini-coach, continue enroute and enjoy more glorious Snowdonia panoramas. Then cross the Menai Strait to the Isle of Anglesey, with its winding lanes and spectacular coastline.

At days end, before heading back to the mainland and your accommodation, and take in the scene at the genteel Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno, where you can climb to the top of the Great Worm (Orme to the locals) to admire the stunning views over the Irish Sea and Snowdonia.

Overnight at Castle Hotel (B) or similar.

This morning you will get to pay a visit to the lovely Bodnant Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in Britain, which lies above the River Conwy and offers fabulous views over the valley to the mountains of Snowdonia.

Explore the delightful town of Llangollen, perhaps best-known for hosting the International Musical Eisteddfod each summer. Look out for the canals with their horse-drawn boats reminiscent of earlier times.

Next on the agenda today is the spectacular sight of  the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The longest and highest cast-iron aqueduct in the world, it forms part of the Llangollen Canal and crosses the River Dee at a dizzying height of 126 feet. Still used for its original purpose, it is still crossed by more than a thousand canal boats a year. From here, we cross the border from Wales into England once more and head into the county of Shropshire and our overnight accommodation.

Overnight at The Lion (B) or similar.

Take time to explore the deligthful town of Shrewsbury this morning with its cobbled streets and timbered houses. Shrewsbury Abbey was the inspiration for the tales of the fictional medieval monk “Brother Cadfael”, and it attracts many visitors from all over the world. Todays highlight includes a visit to the home of England’s famous playwright, Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon. Explore the town and visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, one of the many sites in the town connected with the bard.

Continue through the English countryside through the pretty Chiltern Hills and past Chequers, the official home of the Prime Minister, past villages that inspired Roald Dahl and the film locations from British films and television shows such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Midsomer Murders. The tour then concludes in London.

From Stratford UPon Avon it is a relatively short drive backt o London where your Small Group tour comes to an end. Bid farewell to your guide and fellow adventurers before moving on to the next chapter of your trip. The tour ends at approx. 17.30h at the Lancaster Gate Hotel in London.

Overnight at Lancaster Gate.

Consider any number of shared or private tours such as a guided tour of the TATE modern museum, a city highlights tour, a hop on hop off city tour taking you to all of the main sights within the city and allowing you to get on and off as often as you like. For activities further afield, consider a day trip to Oxford and Blenheim palace or Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if you would like more information on optional tours and activities that you could add to your itinerary.

Meet your driver at your hotel and be taken to Heathrow Airport by a private transfer.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).