At War with Wellington - The Peninsular War by Air
12 days from £1,379pp
About the tour: At War with Wellington - The Peninsular War by Air
Fly into Spain and join us as we spend time exploring some of the country’s fascinating battlefields. As we walk the ground where the British Redcoats fought the soldiers of Napoleon during the Peninsular War. We take an in-depth look at some of the most influential battles fought in Salamanca, Talavera and Badajoz. Visit the battlefield of Albura and ‘Fatal Hill’, see the battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro, study the bloody Storming of San Sebastian and see the spectacular palace of Fontainebleau, as we travel to France where our tour comes to an end.
Early Booking Special Offer!
Book today and save up to £50pp on selected departure dates.
Tour Includes
- 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 9 evening meals
- Specialist Historical Guide
- Outbound flight to Madrid (return by coach to the U.K.)
- Airport transfer in Spain
- Travel by Silver Service coach
(Deposits from £150pp)
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone, you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
For customers living outside of the UK, if you want to make a booking you will need to provide a UK postcode on our online booking system. If you are not able to provide a relevant UK postcode then you can enter the postcode for London Victoria Coach Station – SW1W 9TP. You should then be able to proceed to complete your booking.
If you do encounter a problem then you can speak to one of our friendly advisors who will be happy to help.
Please Note : After completing your booking, a member of our Customer Service team will be in touch to make sure everything is okay.
Either e-mail our Reservations Department or call on 01709 830 333 and they will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
Day 1
Fly from your chosen airport to Madrid where you will be met and transferred to your overnight hotel.
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2
This morning we visit Wellesley’s advanced ‘outposts’ along the banks of the Rio Alberche and hear the story of the fortified Casa de Salinas. Ascending the Cerro de Cascajal we view Wellesley’s positions on the opposite side of the Portina Brook. After lunch, we visit the battlefield memorial sited on the slopes of the Cerro de Medellin Hills and study the panorama of Wellesley’s victory from the Allied perspective. We stay for two nights in Badajoz.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Key Visits
- Rio Alberche
- Cerro de Cascjal
- Cerro de Medelin Hills
Day 3
Today we visit Fort San Cristobal and view the town of Badajoz below, scene of a bloody siege. We view the ‘breaches’ where the main fighting took place and walk the ramparts.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Key Visits
- Fort San Cristobal
Day 4
We visit the battlefield of Albuera and walk the ‘Fatal Hill’ and view where the principal fighting occurred. After visiting the monuments in the nearby town we drive to Salamanca for three nights
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Key Visits
- Albuera Battlefields
Day 5
This morning, we visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro 1811, one of Wellington’s finest victories. After lunch, we walk the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812 seeing the ramparts and castle.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Key Visits
- Fuentes de Onoro
- Ciudad Rodrigo
Day 6
Today we look at the iconic battle of Salamanca travelling across the battlefield and seeing where the fighting took place in 1812
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Salamanca (2)
Key Visits
- Salamanca
Day 7
Leaving Salamanca, we study the retreat from Burgos and view the engagements at Valladolid and Venta del Poza, and the battle at Vitoria in 1813. We drive to Pamplona the fortress commander reluctantly surrendered to the Spanish. We stay at Pamplona for one night.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Valladolid (1)
Key Visits
- Venta del Poza
- Pamplona
- Valladolid
Day 8
Today we see the bridge where Wellington wrote a despatch at the battlefield of Sorauren 1813 and see San Sebastian and Pamplona. We then follow Soult’s withdrawal northand the battle of the Bidassoa River 1813. After studying the bloody Storming of San Sebastián 1813, at Urrugne we will overview the battle of Nivelle 1813. Then we drive to the Biarritz area for two nights.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
San Sebastian (1)
Key Visits
- San Sebastian
- Sorauren Battlefileds
- Pamplona
Day 9
This morning we examine the battle of St. Pierre and study the French Sortie from Bayonne, visit Marshal Soult’s Memorial and see the Citadel.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Key Visits
- Battle of St Pierre
- Marshal Soults Memorial
- Citadel
Day 10
Today we examine the Battle of Orthez 1814 and hear how Wellington was wounded. After lunch, we drive to Toulouse. We stay overnight in the Limoges area.
Included meals: Breakfast
Toulouse (1)
Key Visits
- Battle of Orthez
- Toulouse
Day 11
Today we travel to the Palace of Fontainebleau to discuss the 1807 and 1814 Treaties of Fontainbleau. Then to the Paris area for a overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast
Palace of Fontainebleau (1)
Key Visits
- Palace of Fontainebleau
Day 12
Return home. You will return by coach to either your original departure airport* or one of our local joining points.
Included meals: Breakfast
*Subject to availability.
Day 1
Fly to Madrid where you will be met and transferred to your overnight hotel.
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Wellesley & Casa de Salinas
This morning we see Wellesley’s (created Viscount Wellington soon after) advanced ‘outposts’ along the banks of the Rio Alberche and hear the story of the fortified Casa de Salinas. Ascending the Cerro de Cascajal we view Wellesley’s positions on the opposite side of the Portina Brook. Then we visit the battlefield memorial sited on the slopes of the Cerro de Medellin Hill and study the panorama of Wellesley’s victory from the Allied perspective. We stay for two nights in Badajoz.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Badajoz
Badajoz, a fortified ‘gateway’ town to Spain fell to Allied troops in one of the bloodiest sieges of the campaign on 6th April 1812. We visit Fort San Cristobal and view the town of Badajoz below. We view the ‘breaches’ where the main fighting took place. On the ramparts we study how the French and German garrison resolutely resisted the Allied operations for days.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Albuera
We visit Albuera, where a hard fought victory for the Allies commanded by General Beresford, this was one of the most sanguine battles of the campaign. Today, we see the ‘Fatal Hill’ and view where the principal fighting occurred. Wellington, surveying the aftermath, observed the corpses ‘literally lying dead in their ranks as they stood’. After visiting the monuments in the nearby town we drive to Guarda for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Fuentes de Onoro Fontainebleau
This morning we visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro 1811, one of Wellington’s finest victories. After lunch in Ciudad Rodrigo we study the British success at the ‘breaches’ where you will hear about ‘the question’ of ‘who’ accepted the French Governor’s surrender? Continue to Salamanca for two nights.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Salamanca
A few days after the Battle of Salamanca the French General Foy, writing of Wellington’s skill, said ‘it brings up Lord Wellington’s reputation almost level to that of Marlborough’. Today, we unhurriedly travel across the battlefield and beyond seeing and hearing why.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Venta del Poza
Leaving Salamanca we study the events surrounding Wellington’s 1812 retreat from Burgos. We view the engagement at Venta del Poza, and later see how he boldly outflanked the French and brought them to battle at Vitoria in 1813. We drive to Pamplona where you will learn how the fortress commander reluctantly surrendered to the Spanish. We stay in Pamplona for one night.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Storming of San Sebastian
Today we will stand on the bridge where Wellington wrote a despatch at the battlefield of Sorauren 1813. We will view the failure of Marshal Soult’s attempt to relieve San Sebastian and Pamplona. We then follow Soult’s withdrawal north. What followed was the battle of the Bidassoa River 1813. After studying the bloody Storming of San Sebastian 1813, at Urrugne we will commence overviewing the Battle of Nivelle 1813. Then we drive to the Biarritz area for two nights.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Battle of St. Pierre; Bayonne
This morning we reveal how General ‘Daddie’ Hill held his nerve and won the battle of St. Pierre. Afterwards, we will study the French Sortie from Bayonne, visit Marshal Soult’s Memorial and see what happened at the Citadel’.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Battle of Orthez 1814; Toulouse
This morning, we view the landscape of Battle of Orthez 1814 and hear how Wellington was wounded. After lunch, we drive to Toulouse. We study how Wellington wrested the city from the French on 12 April only to hear that Napoleon had recently abdicated. We stay overnight in the Limoges area.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Fontainebleau
Today we travel to the Palace of Fontainebleau where your guides will explain the political circumstances surrounding both the 1807 and 1814 Treaties of Fontainebleau (entrance fee extra – approx. 11 Euro). Then to Paris area for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Return home. You will return by coach to either your original departure airport* or one of our local joining points.
Included meals: Breakfast
Hotel
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
Ibis Biarritz Anglet
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About the hotel
The Ibis Biarritz-Anglet Aéroport hotel, is situated at the heart of the urban area Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne. We propose you a warm welcome and personalized and provide you with modern, comfortable rooms, air-conditioned and equipped with the new bedding "Sweet Bed" by Ibis, a Courtepaille restaurant opened from 11 am till 11 pm every day, 24-hour open bar, business hook, a terrace, a vast free parking lot as well as a free wi-fi access in all the hotel. Ideally situated to visit the Basque Country and its villages rich in traditions Pelota, Games of strength, Basque Choruses, to devote you in the golf on a course of the region, to surf or to tan on the beaches of the Basque Coast, to assist a rugby match, to discover Biarritz, Bayonne or still Saint Jean de Luz and their gastronomy (Ham, Chocolate, Basque Cake, Espelette chili). Near Spain, to only 40 km of San Sebastian, her Concha and her tapas bars. Welcome.
Hotel Features
- Bar
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Restaurant
Room Features
- Bath and/or Shower
- Hairdryer
- Telephone
- TV
Ac Hotel Badajoz
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The Ac Hotel Badajoz is located near the IFEBA Exhibition centre and University. This urban hotels location is great as it has good links to local transport and is only 20minutes walk away from attractions such as Arabian Fortress with La Plaza Alta, the Old Town, the cathedral and museums. You can also visit local restaurants, pubs and entertainment places like the cinema. The hotels facilities include safety deposit box at reception, air conditioning, lounge, terrace, restaurants, fitness room and bar. All bedrooms feature hairdryer, T.V, mini bar (beverages/snacks for a fee), telephone and en-suite bathroom.
Hotel Features
- Bar
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Restaurant
Room Features
- Bath and/or Shower
- Hairdryer
- Telephone
- TV
Regio
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About the hotel
The 4-Star Regio in Salamanca is located close to local highways and is set in a spacious garden. The hotel's facilities include outdoor swimming pool*, garden, tennis courts, terrace, currency exchange, lounge, a bar, a restaurant, gym, concierge, air conditioning, dry cleaning services available, 24hrs reception and wi-fi/internet access. All bedrooms feature air conditioning, hairdryer, safety deposit box, satellite T.V, telephone, desk, minibar and en-suite bathroom. *The swimming pool can close without prior notice.
Hotel Features
- Bar
- Bureau de Change
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Restaurant
- WiFi Available
Room Features
- Bath and/or Shower
- Hairdryer
- Telephone
- TV
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £25pp (9 days duration and over) on all European tours. In addition to this seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £15pp (9 days duration and over). This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys to/from the U.K. port. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach. Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on the main tour coaches. Prices are approximately £1 or 1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by the driver. Drinks may also be served on the transfer coaches but this is not guaranteed.
Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure and will depend on where passengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are used on transfers and tours (air or TGV holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours, compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
We operate a passenger interchange at the Channel port. Transfer coaches, including taxis, minibuses, Megabus and National Express operate to and from the U.K. port. You will join your main tour coach at the port.
One medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases. Hand luggage can be stored in the overhead racks aboard the coach.
It could be either - This will be confirmed in your travel documents.
When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from…
Silver Service Coach
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Silver Service Features
- Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats*, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches**.
- Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
- Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
- Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
- Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
- Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
- With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs*.
- Onboard toilet
Silver Service Seating Plan
Silver Service Virtual Tour
Specialist Battlefield Guides
All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.
On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.