Explore some of Europe’s highlights in Spain and France, without the hassle of airport queues or long driving days, with this rail-only eight-day trip from Paris to Madrid. This is the future of lower-impact travel! Only using public transport, you’ll get a unique insight into Paris, Nimes, Barcelona and Madrid, with a local leader who knows all the best hidden spots. You’ll taste croissants, tapas and churros, wander through hidden walkways for excellent panoramic views only locals get to see and witness the interesting past of human creative genius with stops at popular landmarks like Pont du Gard (which you can even swim under), Sagrada Familia, Arena of Nimes and Maison Carree. Choose to extend your journey and start in the UK, with the optional Eurostar transfer from London to Paris (it only takes 2.5 hours!).
  • Lower your carbon footprint and skip the airport queues on this railway journey through France and Spain, discovering iconic sites and local secrets via trains and public transport.
  • Explore Paris' Montmartre area – a favourite for artists for generations. See where Van Gogh and Picasso used to live and take hidden walkways to secret viewpoints that only locals know.
  • Get off the beaten track with a visit to Nimes in the south of France. Discover the well-preserved Roman monuments from 70 AD like the Arena of Nimes and Maison Carree.
  • Swim under the Pont du Gard – an incredible example of human creative genius. Explore this aqueduct bridge from above and below and maybe even rent a kayak for another perspective.
  • Indulge in buttery croissants in Paris, taste Spain’s favourite dessert (churros) in Madrid and enjoy a tapas dinner in Barcelona where you can rub shoulders with the locals and toast to a sense of community.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Casa Caridad. Donations help them provide basic needs such as food and shelter for people in need in Valencia. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
  • Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
  • OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
  • CHECK-IN TIME
  • Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
  • PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
  • If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
  • FACILITIES
  • Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.