The Golden River - Valley of the Douro - 8 days from £1225

Accommodation

MS Infante D. Henrique (3-star Superior)
Ship facilities include a lounge-bar with a dance floor, restaurant, large sun deck with deckchairs, gift shop, lift, and small outdoor swimming pool, 220V electricity and air-conditioning. All cabins feature private facilities, radio, TV, hairdryer and safe. Dining on board is one of the highlights of a river cruise, with buffet breakfast, lunch and evening meals with local and international dishes all included.

Itinerary

Day 1: UK/Oporto

After flying to Oporto, you’ll slow down your pace and transfer to your river cruiser, the MS Infante D. Henrique – your home for the next seven nights. You’ll get straight into cruise culture with a welcome drink and dinner on board, followed by the option of a night-time panoramic tour of Oporto.

Meals: Dinner

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. After a gentle stroll through the steep, winding streets of the old town, with its grand archways and magnificent churches, you’ll head to Vila Nova de Gaia and one of the region’s famous port producers for a tour and well-earned tasting. The afternoon can be spent exploring Oporto under your own steam. Dinner on board this evening is followed by a night of dancing and folk music.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 3: Oporto & Regua

Spend the morning relaxing, or why not join an optional excursion to Braga, known locally as the ‘Portuguese Rome’. In the afternoon your cruise then begins in style, as you 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.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

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 to admire before you return to your ship in Pinhao, the very heart of the port producing region.

The pace is slow and relaxing as you spend a leisurely afternoon cruising through rolling hills, terraced vineyards, picturesque villages and the locks of Valeira and Pocinho, then the pace lifts as you arrive at Barca d’Alva on the Spanish boarder, and your evening’s entertainment comes on board in the form of traditional flamenco dancers.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 5: Salamanca & Vega de Teron

After breakfast on board, you can join an optional excursion to the ancient university city of Salamanca. Outdating even Oxford and Cambridge, the university is a stunning sight, and you will find the city both culturally exciting and gloriously intimate at the same time. You can explore the fascinating architecture of its endless elegant streets or take to the main square for a more gentle exploration. The square is said to be the most impressive in the whole of Spain, so a good place to relax over a coffee.

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

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

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, then make your way back to your cruiser for a spectacular gala dinner and overnight docking at Pinhao.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 7: Lamego & Oporto

You can choose to relax on board or join an optional excursion to Lamego today, a medieval town set against a stunning backdrop of all-important vineyards. You’ll be shown around the town, fully exploring its wealth of ornate Baroque buildings, including the celebrated shrine of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios – its reputation for healing miracles brings pilgrims here from all over Portugal.

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

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

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.

Meals: Breakfast