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Take in the undulating idylls and verdant vistas of the Douro River region on this marvellous cruise. Delve into the popular wine culture of Portugal on a tour that mixes beautiful scenery with outstanding cities.
Our tour begins with our flight out of London Gatwick to Lisbon. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for the next three nights. We enjoy dinner in the hotel together this evening.
Today we take a guided tour of Lisbon, through historic, picturesque neighbourhoods, passing through the steep and narrow streets of Lisbon's traditional quarters. We pass beautiful squares and grand architecture as we travel in restored carriages dating from the 1930s and 1940s. We end the tour in Belem, Lisbon's natural harbour that was regarded as "the historical heart and soul of Portugal".
We visit the historic Pasteis de Belem café, where we enjoy coffee and the famous cakes which give the place its name. Continue exploring independently this afternoon - perhaps visiting the Columbus monument and Jeronimo's Monastery.
This morning we take the train to Sintra, nestled high in the hills above Lisbon, the favoured former summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for generations. Sintra is a beautiful village surrounded by wooded hills and is also the home of the spectacular and colourful Pena Palace. Your time here is at leisure, and you may like to venture into the Palace (payable locally) or perhaps explore one of Sintra's other exquisite estates. We enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
We head to Porto today by rail to board our ship, the MS Gil Earns/MS Infante. On arrival you are welcomed by the crew with a cocktail on board. You take dinner for the first time on the ship tonight. You also have the chance to take an optional excursion to explore Porto by night.
We enjoy a guided tour of Porto today, famous for its fortified wine. Its historic centre is UNESCO listed and provides a fantastic place to walk around. While in Porto, we enjoy a visit to a traditional wine cellar and try the local produce. Later this evening we enjoy a Fado-themed night.
Today our cruise includes an excursion to Guimaraes, reboarding in Leverinho. Following our stop we continue sailing towards Regua. On our way we pass through the colossal Carrapatello lock. After we moor in Regua you can enjoy a dancing evening on board.
Today we moor at Vila Real, the capital of the Vila Real district in northern Portugal. While here we visit the delightful Baroque manor house, Solar de Mateus and walk through its beautifully manicured gardens. The interior of this property is certainly worth a closer look with delightful carved wood ceilings, furniture from several historical periods and 17th and 18th century paintings. Following our time here we continue cruising through some of Portugal's prime wine real estate towards Vega de Teron. As the ship moors we are treated to an evening of Flamenco entertainment.
We arrive in the last Portuguese village along the Douro today, Barca d'Alva. You enjoy time here at leisure.
We moor at Ferradosa today and take a splendid excursion delving deep into the fascinating culture of the wines of Porto. We take the coach towards San Salvador do Mundo and San Joao da Pesqueira. Two idyllic towns set amidst the verdant and sweeping vineyard region of the Rio Torto Valley. Our time in Sao Joao de Pesqueira is spent exploring the town's arcaded main square, its attractive chapel and visiting a local 'quinta' to sample some of the famous Porto wine. Following our wine excursion you have time at leisure in the afternoon to enjoy Pinhão, we rejoin our ship here as it moors.
Today we continue sailing on our return leg to Porto. We stop off at Lamego with a guided tour. At Porto, we spend our final night on board and are treated to a traditional folk evening.
Following breakfast on board we disembark our ship and transfer to the airport for our flight home to London.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.
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.
An escorted experience and all travel arrangements
Comfortable accommodation
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
Enhancing your experience
Undulating idylls and verdant vistas of the Douro River
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