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Discover the Douro

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4.6 stars(9 reviews)
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Discover historic villas, ancient cities and sublime wines.

You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
8 days From £2,195 per person

2024 Tour code: DOZ24

About the tour

The magnificent Douro is Iberia's most famous waterway, winding through golden valleys alongside enchanting towns and past regal wine estates. This cruise on board the Douro Serenity reveals the timeless beauty of this fantastic river, stopping at wonderful ports along the way.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London to Porto, and embarkation

Today is the start of our amazing holiday. We gather at the airport, ready to embark on an adventure to the charming city of Porto. Upon arrival, we are transferred by comfortable coach to our ship, the Douro Serenity. After settling into our cabins, we're greeted with a welcome cocktail. Then, we sit down to our first delicious meal on board, followed by an evening at leisure. You could take in the stunning views from the sun deck or enjoy live music in the lounge.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Discovering Lamego

Our ship docks in Regua today, where we journey to the picturesque village of Lamego. We enjoy a guided tour of this charming town, renowned for its stunning cathedral. Standing at the heart of the village, this is a breathtaking example of Baroque architecture. But the real high-light of this masterpiece is the 700 steps leading up to its doors, beautifully decorated with cheerful white and blue tiles. Later, we savour dinner at a local wine estate, surrounded by the magnificent vineyards that produce world-famous Port wines. These sprawling farmland estates add a touch of magic to our dining experience, making it an unforgettable evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Castelo Rodrigo

Today, we set sail to Barca d'Alva, where we dock for an exciting excursion to Castelo Rodrigo. This enchanting town is a window into Portugal's rich and fascinating history, stretching all the way back to the Roman period. An array of beautiful buildings showcase the town's rich past, including a synagogue and the remains of medieval townhouses. During our tour, we delve into the fascinating history of the town, taking in its stunning old castle before exploring at your own pace as you wander ancient streets, steeped in stories and legends.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - The golden city of Salamanca

Today, we cross the border into beautiful Spain and make our way through enchanting countryside to the golden city of Salamanca, in the Castille y Léon region. Known as the academic capital of Spain, this ancient city boasts an impressive array of sandstone university buildings and - founded in 1218 - is the oldest and most prestigious centres of learning in the country. Our tour showcases the highlights of Salamanca, including the ornate House of Shells, the vibrant Plaza Mayor, and other magnificent buildings. Afterwards, you have time to wander at leisure and discover the city's hidden gems. Ending our visit on a high note, we enjoy a traditional Spanish lunch, accompanied by a stunning flamenco show, where skilled dancers bring this passionate dance to life with grace and finesse.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Peso de Regua and vintage Ports

Today, we cruise through stunning landscapes to the picturesque town of Peso de Regua. After a delicious dinner on board, we indulge in some of the region's finest vintage Ports, as we witness a traditional opening ceremony.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Mateus Palace & Gardens

Today, we visit the magnificent Mateus Palace and its breathtaking gardens. This 18th-century masterpiece is a delight with its classic Italianate exterior, beautifully adorned interiors, and lush gardens. Our tour takes us through the grand halls and rooms of the palace before free time to explore the property's chapel and winery. Returning to our ship, this evening we enjoy a gala dinner, where we relive our adventures on the Douro river and savour its beauty. After our meal, we're entertained by a traditional folk dance performance from a local troupe.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Exploring Porto or Guimarães

Arriving in Porto this morning, you have the choice of a fascinating tour of the city, exploring its winding streets, historical townhouses, and regal churches as well as the iconic iron bridge and the impressive villas of Foz. Alternatively, visit the charming medieval city of Guimarães, known for its well-preserved 10th-century buildings, vibrant squares, and picturesque castle gardens. This afternoon is at leisure on board before our 4-course farewell dinner.

Day 8 - Return Home

Today marks the final day of our adventure along the Douro. We disembark and transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK - leaving with memories of the charming villages, vibrant cities, and wonderful landscapes of Portugal and Spain.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Ship

Douro Serenity

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Reviews

4.6 stars4.6 / 5 · 9 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (6)
  2. 4 stars
    (2)
  3. 3 stars
    (1)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Caroline Hartfield

4 stars

Submitted 25 Sep 2022

The ship was great, bedroom a little cosy but plenty of storage space. The food was excellent plenty of choice. The crew were outstanding very attentive always available to answer questions. Tour managers and Tour guides were also brilliant. Really enjoyed the cruise and would highly recommended it.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs Barbara Lawrence

5 stars

Submitted 21 Sep 2022

An excellent cruise on a beautiful river. It was made interesting by the dams and locks that we passed through and all the excursions were very interesting. The guides were all very knowledgable & informative. We were given audio devices to use for the duration of the holiday which made it easy to listen to the guides.

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Mrs Barbara Lawrence
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Margaret Hardwicke

5 stars

Submitted 20 Sep 2022

Boat crew food drink cleanliness excellent Trips well sorted. Great western reps on hand at all times. On the trip to Salamanca the meal in the hotel was good but the waiters were very quick to remove the cold buffet plates before some people had been able to help themselves also the service with the tea/coffee was hit and miss. On the trips the “ears” were not very effective, a pity as our guide was particularly informative. Overall it was an excellent holiday.

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Patti

5 stars

Submitted 20 Sep 2022

Great holiday in the Douro Valley. Beautiful scenery on the cruise and well organised and I interesting included tours.Everything from beginning to end had obviously been well planned and thought out.All staff were amazing from the waiters,bar staff chefs, cleaners and reception coach driver and guide and of course tour managers Ian and Ed who went out of their way to be helpful, always cheerful and even had a few dances with us

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Patti
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C Choules

5 stars

Submitted 20 Sep 2022

The staff were excellent, the cabin beautifully clean and the food was delicious

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A Davies

4 stars

Submitted 20 Sep 2022

Wonderful views and experiences

Collected by Trustpilot

Show all 9 reviews
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