Journey Through Wales, Chester, Isle of Man and Liverpool.
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Manchester.
We arrive in Manchester, and transfer to Liverpool to visit The Beatles Story exhibition before checking into our hotel centrally located in Liverpool for a 2-night stay. The rest of the day is free until this evening’s Welcome Dinner.
This morning, our guided tour will highlight the city of Liverpool and Beatles hot spots, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and the neighbourhoods that spawned these 4 fine lads. In the afternoon, discover Albert Dock with a guided walking tour that includes a visit to the Museum of Liverpool. Tonight, we dine by the water in a local restaurant.
Today, we take a scenic ferry ride to the Isle of Man. Our guide on the island will meet us, and give us a quick evening tour of Douglas before we check into our hotel for a 3-night stay.
Our first stop in exploring the Isle of Man will be the picturesque village of Laxey, where we’ll marvel at the Laxey Wheel—the world’s largest working waterwheel, and an impressive piece of Victorian engineering. Next, we board the Snaefell Mountain Railway, Britain’s oldest surviving mountain railway, to enjoy a journey that has been in operation since 1895. Relax as we travel through the beautiful Manx countryside to reach the top of Snaefell’s summit. Tonight, we will be serenaded with folk songs by local artists.
In the ancient capital of Man, Castletown, we visit Castle Rushen—one of Europe’s most well-preserved castles. We then explore Cregneash an open-air folk museum to learn more about the Manx life on this island. We end the day at the Sound Visitor Centre for one of the best views on the British Isles.
We sail back to the mainland and proceed to one of Britain’s most beautiful and best-preserved walled cities, Chester, for a 4-night stay. We will enjoy a traditional afternoon tea, with some free time to explore on our own.
Today discover this walled city with a guided walking tour. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.
Our Wales experience begins at the world famous Bodnant Gardens, noted for its stunning collection of plants and trees, complemented by magnificent views of the Snowdonia Mountains. Then we’ll visit Betws y Coed a small village in the Snowdonia’s for some free time before we finish the day at a lovely small village known as Beddgelert where we will have time to meander through the streets and take in this unique village life.
We travel to North Wales, and the market town of Llangollen, where we board a horsedrawn boat for a cruise along the canal. When we return to the pier we enjoy a Ploughman’s lunch along the canal. Next we travel to our next stop where we will sail across the incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Canal World Heritage Site.
Today we visit the charming town of Hay-on-Wye, known as the “town of books” due to its many bookshops. We’ll enjoy a local lunch, with the opportunity to taste the renowned Welsh Rarebit—a local dish dating back to the 18th century. Later, we arrive at the Gateway of Wales, Abergavenny, for a 2-night stay.
Today we visit the Royal Mint and learn about the history of this working mint. We will enjoy a simple lunch before we tour the Rhondda Coal Mine Heritage Centre, a famous location for BBC films like The Indian Doctor. We will learn about the coal industry in Wales with an immersive tour. Our last stop of the day is the Hensol Castle Distillery for a Gin tasting to end the day.
Wish Wales a goodbye as we travel to London for the next 2 nights.
We will enjoy a morning guided city tour with the afternoon free to explore on your own before our Farewell Dinner.
We proceed to the airport for our flight back to Canada.
Please note: Excursions that involve a ferry trip are subject to weather conditions. If a sailing is cancelled by the ferry company, a suitable alternative will be provided.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
