The Golden River Valley of the Douro

Day 1: UK/Oporto
After flying to Oporto, the pace slows as you transfer to your river cruiser, MS Infante D’Henrique or MS Fernao de Magalhaes – your home for the next seven nights. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner on board, followed by the option of a night-time panoramic tour of Oporto.

Day 2: Oporto
Before you get too accustomed to life on the water, take the opportunity to join a tour of Oporto, the world-famous home of port wine. Stroll through the steep, winding streets of the old town, and head to Vila Nova de Gaia, one of the region’s famous port producers, for a tour and tasting. The afternoon, explore Oporto under your own steam. Dinner this evening is followed by a night of dancing and folk music.

Day 3: Oporto & Regua
Spend the morning relaxing, or join an optional excursion to Braga, known locally as the ‘Portuguese Rome’. In the afternoon your ship will sail through the spectacular scenery of the Douro Valley and the famous Crestuma and Carapatello locks, the highest in Europe. Now you’re on top of the world, you’ll cruise along to the town of Regua where dinner will be served on board.

Day 4: Barca d’alva
A wine synonymous with long hot summer afternoons, fruity Mateus rosé is produced in this region, and you can join an optional tour to the town of Vila Real to wander in the beautiful gardens of Solar de Mateus. The town also boasts an impressive Gothic cathedral and a 16-arch Roman bridge.

Spend a leisurely afternoon cruising through rolling hills, terraced vineyards, picturesque villages and the locks of Valeira and Pocinho. The pace lifts on arrival at Barca d’Alva as your evening entertainment comes on board in the form of traditional flamenco dancers.

Day 5: Salamanca & Vega de Teron
After breakfast on board, join an optional excursion to the ancient university city of Salamanca. Outdating even Oxford and Cambridge, you will find the city both culturally exciting and gloriously intimate. Explore the fascinating architecture of its elegant streets or take to the main square, said to be the most impressive in the whole of Spain.

You’ll rejoin the ship for dinner and entertainment and set sail again for Vega de Teron.

Day 6: Ferradosa & Pinhao
The locks of Valeira and Pocinho are this morning’s highlights, en route to Ferradosa. From here you can join an optional port wine excursion and a tasting in a local quinta. Make your way back to your cruiser for a spectacular gala dinner, while your ship docks at Pinhao overnight.

Day 7: Lamego & Oporto
Today you may choose to relax on board or join an optional excursion to Lamego, a medieval town set against a stunning backdrop of lush vineyards. You’ll be shown around the town, with its wealth of ornate Baroque buildings, including the shrine of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios – its reputation for healing miracles attracts pilgrims from all over Portugal.

A final afternoon cruise back through the stunning scenery will return you in style to Oporto. For your final night you’ll be treated to a fabulous farewell dinner and a traditional folklore show.

Day 8: Oporto/UK
Your cruise comes to an end this morning, and we’ll transfer you back to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Please note
To maximize your enjoyment of this holiday a certain amount of walking is essential.

MS Infante D’Henrique or MS Fernao de Magalhaes
Facilities on board include a lounge-bar with a dance floor, restaurant, large sun deck with deckchairs, gift shop, lift, small outdoor pool, 220V electricity and air-conditioning. All cabins feature en suite facilities, radio, TV, hairdryer and safe.

This cruise is operated by CroisiEurope.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Optional excursions

Oporto by night
Oporto tour
Braga
Vila Real
Salamanca
Port Wine tasting
Lamego

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
7 nights’ accommodation on a full-board basis including drinks with meals (wine, beer, water, fruit juice and coffee)
New for 2014: all-inclusive drinks on board except champagne and selected wine
Entertainment on board
Captain’s Gala Dinner
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager
Porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”