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Private cruise on the Douro River

Luxury Portugal tour

12 days from £7,985pp

Private cruise on the Douro River
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Tour highlights

  • Explore the highlights of Porto on a private guided tour and river cruise.

  • Sample wine in the Douro Valley, one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions.

  • Take in the whimsical gardens and architecture of Sintra on a full-day guided tour.

  • Experience the highlights of Lisbon and Belém by tasting local delicacies while getting an introduction to the area’s important historical sites.

  • Relax in the peaceful Alentejo countryside at an indulgent hacienda-style retreat.

Price includes:

  • Scheduled international flights
  • In-destination transfers
  • Activities and excursions as detailed
  • All accommodation
  • 24-hour support while you travel
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Itinerary idea in detail

With international flights from a choice of airports including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

  • Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Porto. Arrive in Portugal's second city, Porto, where you'll be met by a private escort and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Spend the afternoon at leisure to find your bearings and explore.

  • Today, get a panoramic view of Porto as you uncover the city on foot and by car, wandering through the historical heart before driving down to the Foz do Douro and across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia. Here, look over Porto from the Serra do Pilar viewpoint before driving down to the marina to board your private lunch cruise down the Douro River. When you return to Vila Nova de Gaia, drive to one of the many port wine caves for a private tasting before returning to your hotel.

  • Bid Porto goodbye as you make your way north to the Douro Valley. Along the way, stop in the countryside for a private cooking experience and learn about traditional meals while you enjoy lunch in a family home. After a post-lunch tour of the property, continue north to check in at the Six Senses Douro Valley, the luxury spa brand's first hotel in Europe.

  • Spend a full day exploring the hills and vineyards of the Douro Valley and tasting wines at some of the region's best producers. Begin your day with a port winery tour and tasting before heading to a winery with panoramic views for lunch. There will be time to fit in a final tasting on the way back to your hotel.

  • This morning, depart the Douro Valley and make your way south to Sintra. There, you'll have the day at leisure to relax in your hotel or wander the town.

  • Today your private guide will show you the palaces and gardens of Sintra, which look as if they've been pulled from the pages of a fairy tale. Particular highlights include the Quinta da Regaleira, designed by an Italian opera set designer, and the Palácio da Pena, offering wide views of the surrounding area.

  • Depart Sintra with your private driver and make your way to Portugal's capital city, Lisbon. After some time to check in at your hotel and settle in, your private guide will take you on a tour of the area. Begin by wandering the streets of central Lisbon, tasting local delicacies along the way. Then, take an excursion by car to one of Lisbon's outer districts, Belém, the area from which Vasco da Gama set sail. See the elaborately decorated Jerónimos Monastery and Torre de Belém before returning to your hotel.

  • Take the morning and afternoon to explore Lisbon on your own, revisiting some of the areas you visited yesterday or perhaps setting out to discover new areas such as Castello São Jorge. In the evening, embark on a cruise down the Tagus River where you'll enjoy light snacks and drinks while taking in the sunset.

  • Head east from Lisbon to Portugal's Alentejo region. Stop first in the region's capital, Évora, which is known for its Roman ruins, Gothic cathedral, and Moorish alleyways. Then, just outside the city, have a wine-tasting lunch. After lunch, head to your hotel, São Lourenço do Barrocal, deep in the Alentejo countryside.

  • Spend a full day at leisure enjoying the many facilities that your hotel has to offer. You may want to borrow a bike to cycle through the hotel's sprawling property or indulge in some pampering at the Suzanne Kaufmann spa.

  • With another full day at leisure at the hotel, you can take advantage of some of the hotel's options you did not get to experience yesterday. Tour the hotel vineyards, culminating in a tasting, or go stargazing at night in the observatory.

  • Bid a fond farewell to Portugal today as you journey from the Alentejo back to Lisbon to catch your flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.

Accommodation options

While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.

What our clients say about us

Audley Travel specialist Cara
Contact a Portugal specialist

The specialist who designs your trip to Portugal will have explored the country many times and, in some cases, lived there. Their first-hand knowledge gives us the belief that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip.

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When to go

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Place Daily max temperature (°C) Monthly rainfall (mm)
Porto
 
Douro Valley
 
Sintra
 
Lisbon
 

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