A week on the River Douro

Day 1 London, Porto
Begin with Titan ‘s VIP Home Departure Service® to London Heathrow or Gatwick Airport for your scheduled Air Portugal or another leading airline flight to Porto. Transfer to the port to embark the Douro Spirit.

Day 2 Porto (Guimaraes), Bitetos
Included Excursions: Guimaraes city tour
Visit historic Guimaraes, the first capital of Portugal in the 12th century and home to the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Henriques. Dominated by Afonso Henriques’ grand castle, Guimaraes was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extremely well-preserved city centre and today it is a 2012 European Cultural Capital. Your city tour will guide you through the narrow streets of the medieval quarter and take you to all the city’s main highlights. Later, sail to Bitetos and visit one of the prestigious port wine cellars in Cais de Gaia.

Day 3 Regua – Pinhao
Included Excursion: Mateus Palace and Gardens & Vintage House Reception & Port Wine Tasting
You will be enchanted with a visit to the Mateus Palace and Gardens, a perfect example of baroque architecture, with an impressive façade made up of beautiful pinnacles on the roof and an ornate stairway. The gardens are among the most beautiful in Europe, with a tunnel of cypress trees shading the path. Later, enjoy dinner at the family-owned winery Quinta da Avessada in the heart of the Duoro Region.

Day 4 Pinhao -Vega de Terron (Spain)
Included Excursion: Port wine tasting at a local Quinta
The small town of Pinhão is the epicentre of the Port wine making area and a place where the soil and climatic conditions are considered to be at their very best. Visit a local Quinta and learn more about the history of Port which goes back to the 17th century. Find out about the unique climate conditions of the region and the Port wine making process and of course, get to indulge in some of this country’s most celebrated beverage. Afternoon sailing.

Day 5 Vega de Terron (Salamanca)
Included Excursion: Full-day Salamanca City Tour with typical Spanish Lunch and flamenco show
The Douro Spirit will dock in Vega de Terrón this morning and from here, you will travel overland to the Spanish city of Salamanca, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Spain. Upon arrival in Salamanca you will be taken to a local venue to see a traditional Flamenco show followed by a tour of the city. Visit the historic university founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León and stroll through one of Spain’s largest and grandest squares-Plaza Mayor with its warm, gold-coloured sandstone. After the city tour you can will have some free time for lunch and shopping before returning to the ship.

Day 6 Barca d’Alva (Castelo Rodrigo) – Regua
Included Excursions: Tour of Castelo Rodrigo
Visit the small town of Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval walled city with a parish church perched high on a hilltop that dates back to the 12th century.

Day 7 Porto
Included Excursion: Porto City Tour
Sail along the Douro back to Porto and then join a city tour through the UNESCO World Heritage designated medieval city centre of charming Porto. Later, enjoy a farewell evening and reception onboard.

Day 8 Porto – London
Disembark the ship and transfer to Porto Airport for your Air Portugal or another leading airline flight home. Arrive at London Heathrow or Gatwick where our staff will meet you and our transport will transfer you to your own front door.

Important Information

Please note for 2014
All Uniworld cruises will be all inclusive from 2014, which means they will now include unlimited beverages onboard (except top premium wines and spirits), all onboard and shore excursion gratuities and complimentary internet/wi-fi access.

Titan Travel have a reputation for innovative and enthralling escorted holiday itineraries, and through the guidance of their founding principles, “quality, service and value” which have remained unchanged since the 1970′s, their expertise and experience are second to none.

Titan Travel strive to ensure that aspect of their holidays whispers quality, before you fly, you get to appreciate a comfortable, chauffeur-driven transfer from your front door to the airport with our peerless VIP Home Departure Service, check-in assistance and complimentary porterage. All international flights are with world-renowned scheduled airlines and cruises with acclaimed operators. Touring holidays are expertly designed by the product team to present a comprehensive, imaginative introduction to the destination of choice yet still offer plenty of time for relaxation. The services of a tour manager or cruise manager are included throughout. When you return to the UK, you are met in the arrivals hall of the airport and shown to your VIP Home Departure Service vehicle, waiting to return you to your front door.

Our Opinion
“Titan Travel’s guiding principles of customer service, quality of product and value for money are undoubtedly a contributing factor to them being voted, on many occasions, the UK’s best tour operator.”