Portugal and the Douro

We take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, continuing to Biarritz or Bayonne for the night.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

Travelling by rail and coach, we make our way to Salamanca for two nights. After checking into our hotel, we dine at a traditional restaurant in the city's bustling main square, Plaza Mayor.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today includes a guided tour of Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the 'Golden City' due to the honey-coloured glow emanating from its sandstone buildings. We see the city's two wonderful cathedrals - the 12th-century Old Cathedral and the New Cathedral dating back to the 16th century - as well as the lavish city hall and the mighty Monterrey Palace. In addition to these are the historic colleges of the famous university and the unusual Casa de las Conchas, with its studded medieval façade housing an extensive public library.

• Day 3 - Breakfast

We travel by coach to Barca d'Alva in Portugal. Here, we board a boat for a cruise along the 'Golden River' through the heart of the Port-producing Douro Valley. Terraced hillsides surround the riverbanks, with vineyards plunging from the hilltops to the very edge of the water as we pass isolated Port 'quintas' - wine growing estates that produce the region's high-quality fortified wines. As we enjoy lunch on board, we admire the undulating landscape of sleepy towns and villages, gliding past delightful almond orchards and through dramatic gorges, eventually arriving in Peso da Régua, a town that boasts a peaceful spot beneath the Serra do Maoro Mountains. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for two nights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We travel by train to Pinhão, a small town located at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers that's the epicentre of this Port-making region. We enjoy a Port tasting on arrival, followed by some free time to explore. We return to Peso da Régua for a relaxed afternoon, during which you could visit the town's celebrated Douro Museum, which includes exhibits relating to the history of Port production in the area. Later, we dine in a beautiful local Port wine estate a short distance from Peso da Régua, in the idyllic Portuguese countryside. The excellent Quinta da Casa Amarela is set in beautiful surroundings with terrific views of the Douro.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We take the train to Porto, a city once at the edge of the known world, for two nights. Exploring the winding streets with our guide, we admire the city's superb architecture, historical townhouses and regal churches before crossing the famous iron bridge. We continue to the district of Foz, at the mouth of the Douro, where we see the impressive villas that dot the hills here and pay a visit to the magnificent cathedral at the peak of the Penaventosa Hill, looking out across the rest of the city from our panoramic perch. We also see the Palacio da Bolsa, a beautiful 19th-century palace.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We head to Guimarães today, the first capital of Portugal whose attractive, narrow streets have UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to the city's fantastically well-preserved buildings, which date as far back as the 10th century. The jewel in Guimarães' crown is the imposing medieval fortress that watches over the city. We enjoy a tour through the colourful streets and lively squares before visiting the castle and its gardens as well as Bom Jesus do Monte, known for its grand, ceramic-tiled staircase. Our evening is spent back in Porto at the famous Taylors Port wine cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, where we enjoy a tasting followed by dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you are free in Porto. You could head to the ancient Ribeira district or immerse yourself in the local flavour further by sampling Bacalhau, traditional Portuguese codfish.

• Breakfast

We catch the train to Lisbon for a two-night stay, enjoying a tour of Portugal's capital by vintage tram and coach on arrival. We see the neighbourhood of Alfama, one of the oldest parts of Lisbon, and Barrio Alto - a quirky maze of cobbled streets, bohemian boutiques and traditional bars. We pause at a café along the way for a local specialty - Portuguese custard tart, checking into our hotel for the next two nights afterwards.

• Breakfast, Dinner

You have free time in the old Moorish city of Sintra, which has been the summer residence of Portuguese royalty for more than 600 years. Today, Sintra is popular with visitors thanks to its colourful buildings and picturesque location below the Sierra de Sintra. The city's most recognisable landmark is the Palacio Nacional, with its huge, white twin chimneys that rise above the large palace kitchen and are for miles around. Back in Lisbon, we transfer to a local restaurant for an authentic Fado evening. A traditional form of Portuguese music whose birthplace is said to be in Lisbon during the early 19th century, Fado music is known for its mournful melodies and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of giving one's life over to fate. We enjoy multiple courses of authentic food accompanied by the expressive and melancholic sound of acoustic guitars and mandolins.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following a relaxed start to our day, we travel by coach to the Spanish town of Merida. Here, we join the rail service to Madrid for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Breakfast

We set out on a guided city tour of Madrid, during which we stop to admire the magnificent Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, and Plaza Mayor, the city's 17th-century public square, considered to be one of the most impressive piazzas in Europe. With free time for lunch, you could enjoy some local tapas before we make the journey to San Sebastian via Pamplona.

• Breakfast

One of the most beautiful and charming Basque resorts, San Sebastián sits within the fashionable La Concha Bay, home to deep, calm waters and a stunning beach area. Regarded as the culinary capital of Spain, the city is also celebrated across the continent for its pintxos, the Basque equivalent of tapas, and, after a walk along the seafront or through the beautiful old quarter, you might like immerse yourself in local life, stopping off at different eateries for a small plate or two and a drink before moving on - a tradition known as 'txikiteo'

• Breakfast, Dinner

Saying goodbye to Spain, we transfer to the station for the train to Paris. From here, we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal