An Iberian River Journey
A full board private cruise through northern Portugal to Spain on the Douro River
aboard the elegant MS Douro Prince, with a programme of optional excursions.
Day 1Fly from London Heathrow to Porto and embark on the MS Douro Prince for a seven-night stay.
Day 2 An optional half-day tour of Porto with a helicopter flight over the city, new for 2008. Cruise upstream crossing the Crestuma-Lever dam. Traditional Portuguese dinner at the Alpendurada Monastery.
Day 3 Depart for Regua, crossing the Carrapatelo Dam and flood gate and an optional half-day excursion to the ancient town of Lamego. Dinner and a traditional Portuguese show on board.
Day 4Optional visit to the Wine Academy at the Vintage House Hotel before sailing to Vega Terron in Spain.
Day 5 An optional excursion to Salamanca with lunch and a traditional show.
Day 6 Cruise via the Pocinho Dam and flood gate. An optional morning excursion to the medieval town of Figueira Castelo Rodrigo. Reach Pinhão in the late afternoon. Dinner is at the Vintage House Hotel.
Day 7 Cruise downstream towards Regua for an optional visit the 18th-century Mateus Manor House and its gardens. Early evening arrival in Porto and a cocktail before dinner.
Day 8 Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Heathrow.
Extension - Portugal's Capital Cities
A four-night precruise arrangement including two nights at the 4-star city centre Hotel Mundial in Lisbon and two nights at the 3-star art deco Hotel Astoria in Coimbra, the former medieval capital. Both hotels are well located and the transportation between Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto is by rail. A half-day city tour of Lisbon is included.
Extension - The Cradle of Portugal
A three night post-cruise stay in the Minho region of Northern Portugal including tours of medieval Guimaraes, the nation’s first capital, and the beautiful regional capital
of Braga. Accommodation is in the atmospheric Hotel do Parque in the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, perched high on a hilltop overlooking Braga and surrounded by charming gardens, with access into the town by road or funicular.
An optional excursion to the medieval towns of Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima and Caminha is also available.
