Exploring the Douro, plus Lisbon & Madrid - Westbound 2021

12 days
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USTOA

River Cruise
Join us for an enchanting 12-day journey through one of the oldest wine regions in the world… including a culturally rich 7-night riverboat cruise along the Douro River aboard our new riverboat purpose-built for cruising Portugal’s “river of gold”… plus two-night stays in timeless Lisbon and Madrid!
From$6,490
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Centuries of wine-growing history and timeless Port traditions along an enchanting “river of gold”… white-paintedquintaestates lined with terraced vineyards… art and architecture royally inspired and the joys of tapas in Madrid… Lisbon’s treasures from the Age of Discovery and beyond…Cruise through the heart of one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful wine regions on a 12-day journey between Lisbon and Madrid
    • featuring a 7-night cruise aboard Tauck’s new riverboat ms Andorinha
    • custom-designed for exploring Portugal’s “golden” Douro River. Visit quintas for wine tastings
    • hike through vineyards and villages
    • and discover the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto
    • where the Douro kisses the Atlantic and timeless Port traditions steal your heart. Spend two nights each in Madrid
    • Spain’s bigger-than-life capital
    • with its bar culture and bevy of baroque and belle époque architecture – and Lisbon
    • gate to the “New World
    • ” enticing with palaces aplenty and azulejos chronicling life from Moorish times to present day...

What's this trip about?

    Join us for an enchanting 12-day journey through one of the oldest wine regions in the world… including a culturally rich 7-night riverboat cruise along the Douro River aboard our new riverboat purpose-built for cruising Portugal’s “river of gold”… plus two-night stays in timeless Lisbon and Madrid!

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Madrid, Spain
End CityLisbon

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Spain
  • Portugal

Attractions

  • Madrid
  • Porto

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Tour and private dinner in Queluz National Palace in Lisbon 7-night cruise aboard a brand new riverboat custom designed to sail on the Douro River A choice of excursions that include active hikes, a port cocktail-making class, a tour of wine caves, bicycle rides and more valued at $3,156! In-depth exploration of 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain and Portugal Private wine tastings inquintasalong the Douro River

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Madrid

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, The Westin Palace Madrid.
A transfer is included from Madrid-Barajas Airport to The Westin Palace, Madrid, commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912 and located in the heart of the city’s renowned art triangle with easy access to its three most famous museums, El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bo...
Day 2 Palatial Treasures of Madrid

Take a guided one-mile walk – or a short drive – to Madrid’s 18th-century Royal Palace, home to a succession of Spanish kings from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, and reigning today as the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family...

Day 3 Salamanca Sights & Your Riverboat Hotel

Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Salamanca for free time and a guided walking tour of its ancient heart, viewing the “living room of Salamanca,” the elegant arcaded Plaza Mayor, its stunning 12th-century Romanesque Cathedr...

Day 4 A Medieval Castle & Cave Art on the Douro

The Douro River cuts a 200-mile path through rugged wilderness on the Spanish frontier and one the world’s most beautiful and prolific wine regions as it courses through Portugal and the city of Porto on the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, ...

Day 5 Pleasures of Pinhão

A choice of shore excursions today includes a walk in pretty Pinhão, nestled in the heart of port wine country, with a visit to its historic tile-covered train station, a vision of blue and white Azulejo tiles, or an active hike thr...

Day 6 A Rendezvous in Peso da Régua

Its historic role in the production of port wine is written on the landscapes you’ll see today when you step off the boat into Peso da Régua for a day of discovery. An important transport junction, this is where barrels of wine were boarde...

Day 7 The Charms of Guimarães

Spend a leisurely morning cruise on the lower Douro through a region known for its Vinho Verde wines. Disembark for a choice of excursions that include a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal reno...

Day 8 Vinho Verde Wines

The wine growing regions of the Douro surprise visitors with an array of vintages, young and old.  Discover them at a wine tasting at a quinta in a Vinho Verde vineyard where they specialize in green wines uniquely produced here. Gr...

Day 9 Discover Porto, Your Way

Culturally rich and historically charming, Porto’s pleasures are diverse and delightful, blending old and new to reveal a fascinating portrait of the city through art and architecture, wine and food, and waterfront views that take ...

Day 10 Captivating Coimbra & On to Lisbon

Disembark your riverboat in Porto this morning for a drive back in time to Coimbra, Portugal’s medieval capital for more than a century. A walking tour along the tiered cobbled lanes of this hilltop city brings you to its esteemed u...

Day 11 City Sightseeing & a Palace Dinner

Crafted atop seven hills over centuries, Lisbon is home to cobbled lanes, castles in the clouds and maritime monuments that pay lasting tribute to Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama who changed the world. City sightseeing today...

Day 12 Journey Home

Tour ends: Lisbon.
Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Lisbon to Lisbon Airport. Allow a minimum of 3 ½ hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,490
Price per day$541
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Jun 2023

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Nine Tours and Done

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Cougess

Jan 2023

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Skip this cruise - not worth it

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
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Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-QIW2021

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