Portugals Douro River

Day 1 - UK - Porto

Travel to Porto where you will be met and transferred to your ship for embarkation. Enjoy a welcome cocktail party and the chance to meet the crew. In the evening there will be an optional excursion to see Porto by night.

Day 2 - Porto

After breakfast, there will be an optional guided tour of medieval Porto, Portugal's second largest city. Venture the steep, winding lanes of the town, edged by grand archways and magnificent churches, before travelling to Vila Nova de Gaia. Visit one of the producers of the port wine that the region is famous for, followed by wine tasting. Enjoy a free afternoon to discover Porto at leisure. After dinner, there will be a folk evening on board.

Day 4 - Régua - Vega de Teron

This morning, enjoy an optional excursion to Vila Real for a visit to the beautiful manor and gardens of Solar de Mateus. In the afternoon, rejoin your ship in Pinhão, the geographical centre of the demarcated port wine making region. Later, your ship continues cruising amidst the steep, terraced vineyards that line the banks of the river, en route to Vega de Teron. Enjoy a flamenco evening on board.

Day 5 - Barca d'Alva

After breakfast, there is a full day optional excursion to the Spanish city of Salamanca, home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The city has been well-preserved and has beautiful stone-built noblemen's houses, convents and palaces scattered among the faculty buildings. The architecture reflects its Roman, Arabic and Christian past, and it is also said to have the most impressive town square in the whole of Spain.

Day 6 - Barca d'Alva - Ferradosa - Pinhão

Continue your journey through the stunning countryside of the Douro Valley, arriving in Ferradosa after lunch. There is an optional excursion in the afternoon that takes you through vineyards where grapes are grown for the production of local wines before heading to a Quinta to taste Port wine. Rejoin the ship in Pinhão before your Gala evening tonight.

Day 7 - Pinhão - Porto

This morning, there is an optional excursion to the ancient town of Lamego, 12km from the banks of the Douro. This includes a visit to the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary, 600 metres above the town, the medieval castle, the church of Almacave with its azulejo lined walls and gilded woodwork on the altars, and the Cathedral. After lunch on board, the ship continues its journey to Porto. Tonight, there is a fado evening on board, where you can hear the traditional songs of Lisbon.

Day 8 - Porto - UK

After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.