From superb railways to historic castles and breathtaking mountain landscapes, discover the rugged beauty of north Wales

Your vacation begins in the "Queen of Welsh Resorts," Llandudno, where you meet the Tour Manager at our hotel, whose owners pride themselves on attention to detail and high levels of service and comfort. Nestled on the rugged north coast of Wales, with a backdrop of Snowdonia National Park, this is an ideal base for exploring.

Once you have arrived and settled in, you may wish to get to know our new surroundings while wandering the waterfront or strolling past the town's Victorian buildings.

This evening, we are served a four-course dinner in the hotel's award-winning restaurant, an ideal start to your vacation. Overnight Llandudno.

This morning, we transfer by coach to Caernarfon for an excursion on the Ffestiniog Railway to Beddgelert. Landscapes stretch as far as Anglesey and, as we draw closer, the peak of Snowdon dominates the horizon. Descending into a green valley, we reach the riverside village of Beddgelert.

With free time over lunch, you could stroll along the river and learn more about the legend of Gelert, the faithful hound of Prince Llewelyn. We then continue to the unique village of Portmeirion. Created as a labor of love by architect Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1976, the colorful settlement was inspired by Portofino on the Italian Riviera. There's time to wander its pastel-hued alleys, verdant piazzas, and enjoy the coastal views.

Our next stop is Porthmadog, where we rejoin the Ffestiniog Railway, taking a different route to Blaenau Ffestiniog. This narrow-gauge steam train weaves a scenic path through rugged mountains with panoramic views of Snowdonia National Park. As we descend, we round the spiral at Dduallt before emerging beside the picturesque Llyn Ystradau reservoir and returning to our hotel for dinner. Overnight Llandudno.

Our day begins with a guided tour of Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating from 1283. One of Europe's best examples of medieval defensive architecture, its striking polygonal towers are linked by a maze of wall walks and tunnels.

Next, we board the Snowdon Mountain Railway for a journey over the dramatic Llanberis Pass. This breathtaking experience takes us to the summit of Wales's highest mountain, Mount Snowdon*. Our route from Llanberis navigates steep gradients through striking landscapes. As we climb to the summit, panoramic views of the lakes, mountains and valleys of Snowdonia National Park unfold. The train is designed to ensure unobstructed views from every seat.

The views at the summit of Snowdon are incredible. Mountains rise up from the rolling hills, while lakes and streams shimmer below. This sight is sure to leave an impression as we descend back into the valley, where we transfer back to our hotel, with time to relax before dinner. Overnight Llandudno.

* Please note: in the event of adverse weather, we ascend at a stop below Mount Snowdon, instead of the summit.

You are free to explore Llandudno at your own pace today. The town's nostalgic Victorian pier is well worth a visit and boasts the title of the longest pier in Wales. Here you'll enjoy excellent views of the seafront promenade, where there are a number of traditional seaside attractions, food stalls and shops.

Another option is to take a trip on the Great Orme Tramway. This route takes you from Llandudno through a country park to the summit of Great Orme, where you can enjoy views of the town and coastline.

The Llandudno Cable Car is another amazing way to reach the summit of the Great Orme. This leisurely journey takes about nine minutes and soars above the town, offering views over the Irish Sea and Snowdonia's mountains. However you decide to spend your day, you can look forward to another enjoyable dinner at our hotel this evening. Overnight Llandudno.

On the final full day of your vacation, we uncover the treasures which lie in the shadow of Mount Snowdon. Traveling by coach, our first visit is to the UNESCO-listed 13th-century Conwy Castle. A guided tour reveals its intriguing history, from its beginnings as a Cistercian monastery to its role in the War of the Roses. The castle's impressive walls, towers and battlements offer stunning views and, on a clear day, you can see the craggy peaks of Snowdon.

We continue to Plas Cadnant, a series of historic gardens hidden in a valley on the Isle of Anglesey. The 200-acre estate features a walled garden, a secret valley garden and a water garden, all brimming with colorful flowers, ancient trees and meandering streams.

Our final visit is Gwydir Castle, one of the finest Tudor country houses in Wales, where we are treated to an informative guided tour from the current owners. This evening, we celebrate the final evening of the holiday with a delicious 'Taste of Wales' dinner, accompanied by the sounds of a harpist. Overnight Llandudno.

After breakfast, it's time to check out of the hotel and bid farewell to Victorian Llandudno and scenic north Wales, which has provided the beautiful backdrop for this getaway. On this tour we have experienced the diversity of north Wales while journeying on its scenic railways, visiting castles, and walking through colorful towns and gardens.

As your vacation comes to a close, you are free to make your way home or continue exploring Wales independently.

• *Trains are steam-hauled where possible; however, due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead
• In the event of adverse weather, the Snowdon Railway will ascend to a lower point, ¾ of the way up the summit
• Please be advised that, depending on departure date, this itinerary may run in a different order and the events of certain days may be reversed.

The world's only surviving narrow-gauge railway winds its way from the harbor at Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Savor living history, traveling in monogrammed wooden carriages pulled along by 150-year-old steam locomotives as you look out at landscapes little changed for decades, lined with oak forests and majestic mountain scenery.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway opened in April 1896 and is a narrow-gauge rack and pinion railway, which carries its passengers 4.7 miles up the highest mountain in England and Wales. The journey to the summit of Snowdon begins in Llanberis, leaving the town behind as the train starts its climb, traveling past a spectacular waterfall and through ancient forest before emerging into the wild, open countryside above the tree line. A quarter of the way up Snowdon, the train passes the small, ruined chapel at Hebron before continuing to Halfway Station and then to Rocky Valley Halt. Immediately after leaving Rocky Valley Halt, the train travels along an exposed ridge, which offers breathtaking views of the Llanberis Pass and the volcanic rockface of Clogwyn du'r Arddu. Situated on the ridge is Clogwyn Station - the last stop before the summit. Enjoy the wonderful panoramic views, while traveling toward Hafod Eryri, the railway terminus and visitor center opened in June 2009. An award-winning structure of granite and glass, Hafod Eryri offers visitors refreshment facilities and an interpretation of the mountain and its history - but perhaps best of all are the views over the rugged Welsh landscape and, on very clear days, the Isle of Man and the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.

Join the Welsh Highland Railway for a wonderful journey by narrow-gauge steam train* through the beautiful Snowdonia National Park. The line originally opened to passengers in 1923 but closed in 1937, having never achieved commercial success. From the early 1960s onwards a group of railway enthusiasts have been working to restore the line and in 2003 the 13-mile section from Caernarfon right the way through to Rhyd Ddu was opened for service once again.  

* Journeys are usually by steam train and we utilise these services where available but occasionally the locomotive hauling the train may be diesel.

The welcoming and homely 4-Star Dunoon Hotel is a Georgian building, close to Llandudno town center and promenade. The hotel boasts two AA rosettes, an AA Silver Star, is Michelin Guide listed and a former winner of Les Routiers' UK Hotel of the Year. The hotel's Head Chef creates a delicious, unpretentious menu of 'good, honest food' from fresh, local produce, to complement a day's sightseeing. Air-conditioned guestrooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, tea & coffee-making facilities, complimentary toiletries and hairdryer.

Many of our guests choose to spend additional nights before or after their trip. Vacations By Rail would be happy to make hotel arrangements for you.