Villages and Vintages: Cruising the Douro River Valley

Our new eight-day riverboat cruise on Portugal’s Douro River offers an authentic taste of life and world-class wines in a region steeped in winemaking for over 2,000 years. Explore the colorful city of Porto, an enticing labyrinth of winding streets, baroque churches and blue-tiled houses, where port wine is made and stored. Board ms Andorinha and trace the wine to its source, the quintas and picture-postcard villages of the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site… discover terraced vineyards and enjoy tours, tastings, wine pairings, and a lesson in port cocktail-making… tour baroque Mateus Palace… and immerse yourself in local history and culture, the prehistoric art of Foz Côa, the views from hilltop Castelo Rodrigo and more…

ONLY WITH TAUCK

Private dinner with wine pairings at Quinta do Poral, a Douro Valley wine estate
Port wine cocktail-making workshop

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All riverboat accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, special dinners, beverages while on the riverboat (including unlimited soft drinks, regional wine, beer and premium spirits), sightseeing, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, the Tauck Cruise Director, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Transportation from Porto International Airport to the riverboat is included provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of your tour. Transportation from the riverboat to Porto International Airport is also included when you disembark the riverboat. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.

ITINERARY

INCLUDED

INCLUDED HOTELS

Day 01 :

Arrive Porto

Tour begins 5:00 PM. A transfer is included from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto Airport) to your riverboat, ms Andorinha, on the Douro River. Settle in, then join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner and onboard entertainment.

MEALS – Dinner

Day 02 :

Porto and The Douro Valley

Rising on staggered hills along the river, colorful Porto beckons you to its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, Baroque churches, fountains, and bell towers, Beaux-Arts buildings, and bohemian neighborhoods. Choose a walking tour of the town’s historic center or a guided stroll through Ribeira, the riverfront district. It’s hard to take a bad picture in Porto, where houses are clad in painted tiles and beguiling, eclectic architecture is around every corner. Return to your riverboat and sail to the Douro River Valley and its astonishing landscapes. All along the winding river, rugged conical mountains and shale hills carved by concentric vineyard terraces tell of a winemaking history thousands of years old. Inhospitable to most kinds of farming, the terroir is perfect for Portugal’s indigenous wine grapes, whose hardy roots can go down 30 feet or more in search of water. And since the 18th century, when Britain discovered that Porto’s sweet fortified wine could travel long sea journeys without spoiling, the Douro Valley has been the premier Port supplier to the world, and the oldest demarcated wine region.