Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You arrive in Lisbon with the entire day open to do as you please. This is your chance to wander around the city at your own pace, get oriented, and start getting a feel for the neighborhoods. You might grab coffee at a local café, walk through some of the older streets, or just relax and settle in before your guided activities begin tomorrow.
- Day 2
Lisbon
This morning you'll head out with a local guide to see Lisbon's key spots. Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries are on the agenda, and you'll get some context about what you're looking at instead of just snapping photos. If you're interested, there's an optional gastronomic walking tour where you can try different foods around the city. Later, if you want to stay out, there's a traditional Portuguese dinner with Fado music, which is the local folk music tradition that's really tied to the city's culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lisbon with local guide
- Visit Belem Tower
- Visit Monument to the Discoveries
Optional Activities
- Gastronomic walking tour to learn about authentic Portuguese flavors, aromas, and traditions
- Traditional Portuguese dinner with live Fado music concert
Landmarks/POIs Belem Tower Monument to the Discoveries - Day 3
Cabo da Roca
You'll start at Sintra's National Palace, a UNESCO site that's been important for centuries. Then you're driven to Cabo da Roca, which sits at the westernmost point of continental Europe, and you'll have free time to walk around there. Before all this, there's an optional morning option where you can learn to bake Pastel de Nata, the famous Portuguese custard tart, if that interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided excursion to Sintra
- Visit National Palace, UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Free time at Cabo da Roca
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to learn how to bake Pastel de Nata (Portuguese tart)
Landmarks/POIs National Palace Cabo da Roca - Day 4
Coimbra to Porto
The morning takes you through Coimbra with a local guide who'll fill you in on the oldest university in Portugal and the city's history. After that, you're transferred to Porto where you board the Avalon Suite Ship. By evening, you'll have dinner on board and time to explore the ship before settling in for your first night afloat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city sightseeing tour of Coimbra with local guide
- Learn about oldest university in Portugal
- Explore the ship
- Day 5
Porto
You have two options today. One route takes you on a guided tour of Porto and Matosinhos to see the modern street art scene. The other is a full-day trip to Braga and Guimaraes, both UNESCO sites where you can explore Celtic history and medieval architecture. Either way, you're back in the evening for a Fado music session with local musicians onboard the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Adventure Center activities with Adventure Host
- Guided tour of Porto, UNESCO World Heritage site OR Full-day guided tour of Braga and Guimarães UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Fado music visit with local musicians onboard
Landmarks/POIs Porto Guimarães - Day 6
Pinh ão
Several choices are available today. You can do a farm tour with wine tasting, take a wine painting class, or join a guided walk through Lamego with a visit to the local cathedral. Later the ship sails to Pinhaо where you can stroll around or take optional excursions to an olive mill or Casa de Mateus if you want to see more.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of historic farm in Douro Valley with owner, including wine tasting OR Wine painting class with resident artist OR Guided walking tour of Lamego with tasting of bola de Lamego and sparkling wine
- Short sailing to Pinh ão
- Peaceful stroll through Pinh ão
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to traditional olive-oil mill to learn about Douro Valley's 'liquid gold'
- Visit Casa de Mateus
Landmarks/POIs Lamego Cathedral Casa de Mateus - Day 7
Barca d'Alva
The ship cruises to Pocinho in the Terra Quente region. You'll pick from an azulejo tile painting workshop, a guided kayak adventure on the Douro River, wine tasting at a historic vineyard estate, or a Portuguese language and culture workshop. This evening there's a Flamenco show with local artists performing onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Adventure Host special activities
- Azulejo (traditional Portuguese tile) painting workshop with professional painter OR Guided kayak adventure on Douro River OR Visit to historic vineyard estate with wine tasting OR Onboard workshop on Portuguese language and culture
- Onboard Flamenco show with local artists
- Day 8
Ferradosa
Today offers some real variety. One option is a guided tour of the remote Freixo de Espada a Cinta village in Douro International Natural Park. Another takes you to Castelo Rodrigo with its medieval streets and history. Or you can do a full-day trip to Salamanca, Spain, to see its architecture and get a feel for another country. There's live entertainment onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in Douro International Natural Park OR Guided tour of Castelo Rodrigo with medieval streets OR Full-day excursion to Salamanca, Spain
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks/POIs Salamanca - Day 9
Leverinho
You're sailing through the Douro River today, which is relaxing in itself. You can watch an onboard pastry demonstration, try Vinho Verde wine at a production property, or join a guided tour of Amarante, a town set against the Serra do Marao mountain. Live entertainment plays onboard again this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard pastry demonstration OR Visit wine-producing property for Vinho Verde wine tasting OR Guided sightseeing tour of Amarante
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks/POIs Amarante - Day 10
Porto
You're back in Porto with three main tour options. There's a guided bike tour along the Douro River wharfs and coastline, a Port wine cellar visit with tasting, or a sightseeing tour covering modern and historic neighborhoods. In the afternoon, you can also do optional excursions like an Aveiro canal cruise, visit a cork factory, or take a culinary tour of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided bike tour of Douro River wharfs and coastal Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia OR Guided visit to Port wine cellar with wine tasting OR Guided sightseeing tour of Porto, UNESCO World Heritage site
Optional Activities
- Scenic canal cruise on Aveiro (Venice of Portugal)
- Visit family-owned cork and barrel production factory
- Culinary tour experience
- Stroll through Porto's cobblestone lanes and tapas bars
Landmarks/POIs Porto Vila Nova de Gaia Aveiro - Day 11
Departure
Your trip wraps up this morning with breakfast before you head home, ending your Douro River cruise and Portuguese adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
