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Starting with a flight into Porto, set sail on a seven-night cruise along the Douro. Our floating hotel drifts past golden valleys, atmospheric towns and traditional wine estates as the route reveals the timeless beauty of this serene river, stopping at wonderful ports along the way.
Exploring the vibrant culture, history and scenery of the Douro Valley, our journey takes us to Régua, amid terraced vineyards, and on to the golden city of Salamanca. Following the Porto wine route, we explore Lamego, brimming with Baroque architecture, and the medieval town of Guimarães.
What’s included
Your holiday begins today at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager and the rest of the group before boarding our flight to Portugal. The charming city of Porto is our destination, famous for the explorers who set out from here to discover the New World - a fantastic starting point for our cruise holiday.
Upon arrival in Porto, a coach transfers us to the waterfront, where our floating hotel awaits to welcome us aboard. After getting settled in your cabin, there is some time to look around the ship's layout and its amenities. This evening, we meet for a welcome drink before our first three-course dinner on board.
Later, we set out on a panoramic evening coach tour of Porto. We see the preserved areas of the city - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and hop off at the São Bento railway station to admire its magnificent azulejos before returning to our ship.
This morning, we are introduced to Porto on a guided tour. As we wander its winding streets, steeped in centuries of history, we admire townhouses adorned with distinctive blue 'azulejos' tiles, viewing regal churches and the city's iconic iron bridge - an emblem of Porto's industrial prowess and architectural ingenuity.
A highlight of our guided tour is a visit to a wine cellar to sample the famous port wine, hearing tales of the region's viticulture and the craftsmanship behind every drop. From the luscious sweetness of Tawny to the robust complexity of Vintage, each sip unveils a distinct character.
Rejoining our ship for lunch on board, we begin our majestic cruise along the Douro. As we sail along the scenic route to Régua, a picturesque town that is rich in history and culture and surrounded by terraced slopes.
After docking this evening, we enjoy drinks, a three-course dinner and entertainment on board.
Another Portuguese attraction lies ahead this morning as we disembark our ship and make our way by coach to Mateus Palace, one of the most beautiful houses in northern Portugal. This 18th-century masterpiece has a classic Italianate exterior, lavishly adorned interiors and lush gardens. Our visit includes time to explore the grand halls and preserved rooms of the palace, followed by time at leisure to explore the property's chapel and 16th century winery.
Returning to our ship in time for lunch, we spend the afternoon cruising through breathtaking scenery to Vega de Terrón on the border with Spain. This evening, over dinner onboard our ship we enjoy an evening of entertaining music and dance during a colourful flamenco performance.
Soak up ever-changing views on today's excursion by coach into Spain and through the countryside to the golden city of Salamanca in the Castille y Léon region. Founded in 1218, Salamanca is the oldest centre of learning in the Hispanic world. This ancient city boasts an impressive array of sandstone university buildings.
On arrival, you can delve into its attractions on a guided city tour showcasing the highlights of Salamanca, including the House of Shells, Plaza Mayor and other magnificent buildings.
Afterwards, there is a free afternoon to wander at leisure and discover the city's hidden gems. You might like to continue exploring at your own pace, or maybe sample Salamanca's culinary offerings in the Central Market. We return to the ship this evening for drinks and dinner on board.
We begin our cruise back downstream through scenic landscapes to Ferradosa today. Spend some time relaxing in the ship's lounge or have a seat on one of the loungers on the sun deck, admiring the views while the route unfolds.
After having lunch on the ship, we discover the wines of Portugal on an excursion along the Porto wine route. Our excursion takes us to São Salvador do Mundo and São João da Pesqueira, two small towns set amongst the vineyards on the Rio Torto valley. We also visit a local quinta - an agricultural country estate - where we indulge in a tasting of some of the region's finest ports.
We rejoin our ship in Pinhão this evening and indulge in an evening to remember. Filled with delicious food and wonderful company, tonight's gala dinner is an opportunity to celebrate our Portuguese journey of discovery.
Our day begins with a morning tour in the picturesque village of Lamego, known for its stunning cathedral. Standing at the heart of the village, the cathedral is a wonderful example of Baroque architecture. But the real highlight of this masterpiece is the 700 steps leading up to its doors, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles.
We return to our ship in time for lunch before a relaxing afternoon and evening of sailing. Our route takes us back to Porto, where we began our cruise, allowing us another opportunity to admire the small towns and heavenly scenery along the Douro as we approach the city. This evening, we sit down to a three-course dinner accompanied by Fado-themed entertainment, experiencing another taste of Portuguese culture.
The morning is yours to have breakfast on board and explore Porto at your leisure. Having spent the last few days on the Douro, you might like to get another perspective of its beauty - and that of Porto - while riding the Gaia Cable Car (payable locally). You could also revisit favourite sites from our previous tour or find a spot to sit in one of city's squares, soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying a coffee.
After lunch on the ship, we visit the charming medieval city of Guimarães, known for its well-preserved 10th-century buildings, vibrant squares and picturesque castle gardens. A guided tour presents the city's most enticing sights and history before we return to our ship later this afternoon.
Tonight, a three-course farewell dinner and traditional folk entertainment on board offer the perfect conclusion to our time in Portugal.
Today marks the final day of our relaxing cruise along the Douro.
This evocative tour has allowed us to experience the culture, traditions and flavours of Portugal in memorable ways, both on the ship and when exploring the Douro's famous ports of call. Besides exploring the highlights of the Douro River - including the city of Porto, the towns of Régua, Pinhão, Lamego and Guimarães - we also enjoyed an excursion into Spain to the stunning Spanish city of Salamanca,
A coach transfer takes us from the riverside to Porto's airport to begin our journey home. As the plane lands at London Gatwick this evening, your holiday draws to a close.
| 9 May 2027 | From £3,899 |
| 31 August 2027 | From £3,099 |
All prices are per person and assume full occupancy of the room.
Please always refer to the website for up-to-date prices and availability.
Named after the famous Portuguese navigator, Gil Eanes is a Premium three-deck ship specially designed for the river Douro. Its elegant taupe, bronze, and white interior are perfectly combined with blue shades to match Portuguese tile designs and colours. Along with great cuisine, you'll experience comfortable cabins and modern amenities on every deck. These include a lounge and bar area with a dance floor, evening entertainment, a restaurant, a sun deck with loungers and a terrace area. Wi-Fi and air-conditioning are featured throughout and there's also a 24-hour reception.
We offer a selection of upgrades and 'add-ons' designed to help you make the most of your holiday - and make it even easier!
Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the airlines we use, call our expert team for details.
Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.
We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.
Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.
We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.
For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.