Avalon Waterways Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon (WCCQ)
11 Days from Lisbon to Porto
Explore the dreamy Douro River and discover why its name translates to ‘River of Gold’ as you sail on its gleaming waters through Portugal’s breathtaking panoramic beauty. Marvel at the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, cozy towns, and charming villages while sailing through some of the most spectacular views of Portugal. Before sailing, begin your vacation your way with a three-night stay in beautiful Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Enjoy guided sightseeing to see the city highlights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Join an excursion to magnificent Palacio Nacional de Mafra. Stop in Coimbra for a city sightseeing tour before reaching Porto where you will board your Avalon Suite Ship® to start a delightful river cruise across Portugal! Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows. Choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante. Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley. Ships: Alegria
Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing Day 1 Lisbon: Welcome to LisbonDay 2 Lisbon: Guided sightseeing, see Belem Tower and the Monument to the DiscoveriesDay 3 Lisbon: Excursion to Palacio Nacional de MafraDay 4 Lisbon-Coimbra-Porto (Embarkation): Guided sightseeing of Coimbra; transfer to Porto; onboard welcome reception Day 5 Entre Os Rios. Excursion to Braga and Guimarães: Choice of guided sightseeing in Braga and Guimarães, or Romanesque tour Day 6 Peso da Régua: Choice of guided sightseeing Peso da Régua and Lamego or farm visit with tasting Day 7 Pocinho: Choice of guided sightseeing in Freixo de Numão or guided sightseeing in Vila Nova de Foz Côa Day 8 Barca d’Alva. Excursion to Salamanca: Choice of guided sightseeing in Salamanca or guided sightseeing in Freixo de Espada à Cinta Day 9 Caldas de Aregos. Excursion to Amarante: Onboard tile painting workshop; guided sightseeing in AmaranteDay 10 Porto: Guided sightseeing or guided bike ride from Porto to the seaDay 11 Porto (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends this morning
Related Avalon Tours WCC - Vida Portugal Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro WCCQ - With 3 Nights in Lisbon
Itinerary (2024)| Day 1 | LISBON, PORTUGAL | | | Welcome to Lisbon. Your day in Lisbon is free to explore at your leisure. | | Day 2 | LISBON | | | Portuguese Treasures CLASSIC Explore Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, with a Local Guide. Do not miss the must-see sights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. This evening you might join an optional excursion including a traditional Portuguese dinner, followed by a live concert of traditional Portuguese Fado music. (B) | | Day 3 | LISBON. EXCURSION TO PALACIO DE MAFRA | | | A Resplendent Royal Residence CLASSIC Visit the magnificent National Palace of Mafra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex, which includes the Royal Palace, basilica, and convent, is the most important monument to Baroque architecture in Portugal. You might opt to join an optional gastronomic walking tour to learn about the authentic flavors, aromas, and traditions of Portugal. (B) | | Day 4 | LISBON–COIMBRA–PORTO (EMBARKATION) | | | Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding CLASSIC Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour. Accompanied by a Local Guide, you’ll explore the historical area of the city and learn all about the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world. Transfer to Porto to board your Avalon Suite Ship® Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO(B,D) | | Day 5 | ENTRE OS RIOS. EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES | | | Portuguese Panoramas Visit the Adventure Center on board for today’s activities with your Adventure Host. DISCOVERY Step back in time within the walls of the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque with a fascinating introduction to its symbolism and architecture. Enjoy an excursion with an exclusive visit to one of the most iconic monasteries of the Romanesque era with entrance to a XIII century church and be enchanted by sounds of Gregorian Chant from the high choir, OR: CLASSIC Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area’s many wine farms and enjoy a tasting. Sample green wine and famous pastries with stops en route to Régua. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO (B,L,D) | | Day 6 | PESO DA RÉGUA | | | Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal DISCOVERY Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including an olive oil and wine tasting, OR: CLASSIC Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Régua —with its religious architecture, narrow streets, beautiful tiles, and stained-glass window of Casa do Douro. Continue to Lamego to visit the cathedral, followed by a delicious tasting of bola de Lamego and sparkling wine in a local pastry shop. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill. This evening, consider an optional excursion to enjoy an authentic Portuguese dinner hosted by the local farmers. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO(B,L,D) | | Day 7 | POCINHO | | | Written in Stone Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region. DISCOVERY Discover Vila Nova de Foz Côa at the eastern terminal of the legendary Douro Railway line. Marvel at the amazing archaeological site along the River Côa where a wealth of remarkable prehistoric rock paintings and carvings were discovered as the most significant collection of open-air Palaeolithic figurations known today. Before returning to ship, enjoy a tasting of the unique wine of the region, OR: CLASSIC Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains. Visit a local farm for a delightful wine tasting where sustainable farming practices have recovered some of the region’s 100 original grape varieties. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA(B,L,D) | | Day 8 | BARCA D’ALVA. EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA | | | The Reign in Spain Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. CLASSIC Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR: CLASSIC Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and "Plateresque" architecture. Dive into a delicious dish of the traditional Spanish delicacy, tostón asado (traditional roast suckling pig). In the afternoon you might wish to join our optional excursion to enjoy a do-it-yourself workshop to learn how to bake traditional Florinhas (Portuguese pastries). OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN POCINHO(B,L,D) | | Day 9 | CALDAS DE AREGOS. EXCURSION TO AMARANTE | | | Painted Tiles & Passionate Tunes During your morning sailing, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) to take home a piece of Portugal’s tradition. You may alternatively join an optional excursion to 18th-century Casa de Mateus – birthplace of Mateus Rosé wine and a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. CLASSIC Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks. Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board. Enjoy a scenic sailing to Porto for a free evening to explore the city. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO(B,L,D) | | Day 10 | PORTO | | | Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde CLASSIC Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art, OR: ACTIVE Take a scenic bike ride to pedal through picturesque surroundings from Porto to the Atlantic Coast. This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO(B,L,D) | | Day 11 | PORTO (DISEMBARKATION) | | | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Avalon Notes - In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
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