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Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Welcome to Lisbon
- Guided sightseeing, see Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries
- Excursion to Palàcio Nacional de Sintra
- Guided sightseeing of Coimbra; transfer to Porto; onboard welcome reception
- Choice of guided sightseeing in Braga and Guimarães, or Romanesque tour
- Choice of guided sightseeing Peso da Régua and Lamego or farm visit with tasting
- Choice of guided sightseeing in Freixo de Numão or guided sightseeing in Vila Nova de Foz Côa
- Choice of guided sightseeing in Salamanca or guided sightseeing in Freixo de Espada à Cinta
- Onboard tile painting workshop; guided sightseeing in Amarante
- Choice of guided sightseeing or bike tour
- 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
Short Description
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 Sintra. 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.
Itinerary
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 SINTRA AND VISIT OF PALÁCIO NACIONAL A Resplendent Royal Residence CLASSIC This morning, join us on a guided excursion to Sintra, where you will visit the National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Cabo da Roca and enjoy some free time in the Western most point of continental Europe. 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 Palaeolithic figurations known today. Before returning to ship, enjoy hands-on workshop guided by an archeologist, OR: CLASSIC Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains filled with vast vineyards and granite houses. This little suburb is filled with Roman, Medieval, and modern ruins. 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 ACTIVE Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a bicycle and accompanied by a professional biologist tour guide, OR; 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: 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)
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1,594 Avalon Waterways Travel Reviews & Ratings
Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon
Company Reviews
We had a fabulous cruise
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Awesome Cruise
Wife loves the experience. Food and service were great with many options and the kitchen/serving staff went out of their way to accommodate some special dietary needs. They had an hour long free happy hour every day before dinner and a cookie/coffee bar all day. Rooms were cleaned on a daily basis. Tour options were very good, especially the tour to the medieval city Bruges and the Keukenhof gardens. Their bed placement facing the outside windows is a winner. We highly recommend Avalon.
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WCC|Vida Portugal Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro
WCCQ|With 3 Nights in Lisbon
Accommodations
Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa
This luxurious 286-room hotel is set in one of the capital's elegant landmark buildings which dates back to 1933, located directly on the famous Avenida de Liberdade, in the heart of Lisbon. The bright, airy guest rooms are all air-conditioned and include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, minibars and complimentary premium toiletries. The hotel has a top-floor panoramic restaurant offering international cuisine and a great selection of wines. A sleek rooftop sky bar, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool framed by a green garden of century-old botanical trees, a gym and a SPA area complete the hotel amenities and Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property.
Lisbon
Portugal
Avenida de Liberdade 185
Trip ID#:
AVALON-WCCQ
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