Itinerary
- Day 1
Bordeaux
You'll board the Scenic Diamond riverboat in Bordeaux and meet your fellow travelers. This is where things kick off, so take time to settle in and get oriented. The city itself sits right on the water, and you'll have a chance to see the waterfront architecture from the boat while everyone gathers for the welcome reception.
Included Activities
- Board Scenic Diamond cruise ship
Landmarks Bordeaux Waterfront 
- Day 2
Bordeaux to Libourne
The riverboat heads toward Libourne, sailing along the Dordogne River. After lunch onboard, you'll visit Saint-Émilion, a medieval village perched on a hillside. The big highlight here is the Monolithic Church, which is literally carved out of limestone underground. By evening you'll dock in Libourne, a 13th-century town that's been the center of wine production in this region for centuries.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Sail to Libourne
- Guided tour of Saint-Émilion
- Visit Monolithic Church
Landmarks Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church Libourne 
- Day 3
Libourne
This morning in Libourne, you can pick what sounds good: a walking tour through the old town, a wine tour in the Saint-Émilion vineyards, cycling through the countryside to Château Siaurac, or a paint and sip class with local wines. Later in the afternoon, the boat sets sail again toward Fort Médoc for another overnight dock.
Included Activities
- Explore Libourne
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Libourne with local guide - explore wool, wine, salt and wood trade history
- Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion - countryside tour and wine tasting
- Biking and tasting at Château Siaurac - cycle through wine region and visit estate
- Paint and Pour - watercolour art class on Sun Deck with local artist and wine tasting
Landmarks Libourne Château Siaurac Fort Médoc - Day 4
Fort Médoc
Fort Médoc is your base for exploring the Médoc wine region, where they produce some of the world's best red wines across massive vineyards. You can take a coach tour along the 'Route des Châteaux' with tastings, or if you're up for something more active, there's an e-bike option through the countryside visiting grand estates. In the evening, there's an optional classical concert at Château d'Agassac if that interests you.
Optional Activities
- Médoc wine tasting by coach - travel through vineyards along 'Route des Châteaux' to local winery
- Médoc wine tasting by bicycle - e-bike tour through countryside visiting grand châteaux and prestigious estates
- Classical Concert at Château d'Agassac - live classical music performance at 13th-century estate
Landmarks Médoc Wine Region Château d'Agassac - Day 5
Fort Médoc to Cadillac
You'll have a quieter morning onboard while sailing toward Cadillac. If you want to stay active, there's a French cooking class or optional spa treatments available. After lunch, you'll arrive in Cadillac, a town founded back in 1280. It turns out the explorer Cadillac got his name from this place, which eventually became famous when it was attached to the American car company.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Sail to Cadillac
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment onboard
- French cooking school class at Scenic Culinaire
Landmarks Cadillac - Day 6
Cadillac
Cadillac gives you access to the Sauternes wine region, known for its sweet fortified wines. In the morning, you can choose between a coach or bike tour through rolling vineyards. The afternoon opens up several options: the ancient Roquetaillade Castle, cycling through the Loupiac wine region, or touring Château Toulouse-Lautrec with its historic rooms.
Optional Activities
- Sauternes by coach - vineyard tour and wine tasting
- Sauternes by bike - cycling through vineyards
- Roquetaillade Castle - guided tour of ancient castle with family descendants
- Biking in the Loupiac wine region - cycling with views of Château Benauge
- Château Toulouse-Lautrec - guided tour including apartments of famous painter
Landmarks Sauternes Wine Region Roquetaillade Castle Château Benauge Château Toulouse-Lautrec - Day 7
Cadillac to Bordeaux
Back in Bordeaux, you'll have multiple ways to spend the day depending on what appeals to you. There's a guided city tour covering the Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse, or a cycling tour sampling local specialties like canelés. You could also shop at a local market with the onboard chef and then watch a French cooking demonstration. Later, there's oyster tasting and optional access to Bassins des Lumières, a digital art installation.
- Meals
- Dinner (Oyster tasting from Arcachon Bay)
Included Activities
- Oyster tasting at Arcachon Bay
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux - highlights including Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse
- Cycling tour of Bordeaux - guided cycle through historic city sampling local treats
- Shop with a chef - visit local food market with onboard chef, tasting ingredients and cooking demonstration
- Afterhours access to Bassins des Lumières - exclusive evening visit to former WWII submarine base with digital art installation and Champagne reception
Landmarks Bordeaux Cathedral Place de la Bourse Bassins des Lumières Arcachon Bay - Day 8
Bordeaux to Bourg
Still in Bordeaux, you have more choices. Take a local tram to the Cité du Vin Museum, or go for something different like a motorbike with sidecar tour through the city. There's also a walking tour of Arcachon finishing at Baltard food market. You'll have free time in the afternoon while the boat sails toward Bourg.
Optional Activities
- Cité du Vin Museum - local tram transfer and interactive wine discovery experience
- Tour Bordeaux by motorbike and sidecar - guided cruise through the city
- Visit Arcachon - walking tour of bayside town finishing at Baltard food market
Landmarks Cité du Vin Museum Arcachon Baltard Market - Day 9
Bourg
Bourg is a small medieval town with twisting alleyways set on a rocky hillside, complete with old moats and bell towers. You can visit the Carriages Museum at Bourg Castle, check out the charming town of Saintes with 2,000 years of history, or take a full-day excursion to Cognac with a walking tour, lunch, and a tasting at Rémy Martin estate.
Optional Activities
- Bourg with Carriages Museum - visit museum inside Bourg Castle grounds to see collection of horse-drawn carriages
- Historic Saintes - guided tour of charming town with 2,000 years of history and lush gardens
- Full day excursion to Cognac - walking tour of fortified city, lunch, and Rémy Martin estate tour with cognac tasting
Landmarks Bourg Castle Saintes Cognac Rémy Martin Estate - Day 10
Bourg to Blaye
The boat arrives in Blaye, where you'll find a UNESCO World Heritage citadel originally built to defend Bordeaux. You can do a leisurely walking tour of the town, or get more active exploring the citadel and its Vauban defense system. There's also cycling along the Captain's Road or a guided visit to Château de la Roche Courbon and its gardens.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Blaye - guided stroll through charming city viewing World Heritage citadel overlooking Gironde Estuary
- Active walking tour of Blaye - tour citadel learning about architect Sébastien Vauban's defence system
- Cycling along the Captain's Road - active cycling tour
- Visit Château de la Roche Courbon - guided visit to fortified castle with manicured gardens
Landmarks Blaye Citadel Gironde Estuary Château de la Roche Courbon - Day 11
Bordeaux to Porto
You'll fly from Bordeaux to Porto, then transfer to the Scenic Azure riverboat. This marks the start of the Portugal portion of your trip. After you get onboard and meet the crew, you'll have time to settle in before heading out on the Douro River.
Included Activities
- Flight from Bordeaux to Porto
- Board Scenic Azure cruise ship
- Day 12
Porto
Porto has 2,000 years of history, and the whole country of Portugal takes its name from this city. You can take a guided city tour visiting the Palácio da Bolsa, or go for an active option that includes a cable car ride to Dom Luís bridge, walking past the Porto Cathedral and São Bento railway station. Later there's a tile painting workshop where you'll create Portuguese decorative pieces.
Included Activities
- Tile painting workshop - learn history and create Portuguese decorative tiles
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto - discover culture and history including visit to Palácio da Bolsa
- Active tour of Porto including cable car - travel to Vila Nova de Gaia, cable car to Dom Luís bridge, walk across bridge with visits to Porto Cathedral, São Bento railway station, and Rua das Flores
Landmarks Palácio da Bolsa Dom Luís Bridge Porto Cathedral São Bento Railway Station Rua das Flores Vila Nova de Gaia - Day 13
Entre-os-Rios to Régua
Start the day in Entre-os-Rios with options to fit your interests. You can hike the Paiva Walkways if you want to get active, take a tour through Quinta da Aveleda's wine estate, or head into the historic city of Guimarães to walk through its medieval streets and plazas. After you finish your morning activity, there's lunch before the cruise downstream to Régua. Once you arrive this afternoon, the Douro Museum is on the schedule. It focuses on Port wine heritage and gives good context on what makes this region's wine production distinctive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Douro Museum
Optional Activities
- Paiva Walkways hike along the Paiva River
- Quinta da Aveleda wine estate tour
- Excursion to Guimarães with palace and tapestries collection visit
Landmarks Douro Museum Quinta da Aveleda Paiva River Guimarães Palace 
- Day 14
Régua
The morning is yours to choose from. You might explore the Varosa Valley and check out Tarouca monastery, or visit a family Quinta to learn how they produce olive oil. There are other options available too depending on what appeals to you. Lunch happens onboard the ship, then you'll pick an afternoon activity. Lamego has a baroque Sanctuary worth seeing, or you could tour Mateus Palace. If wine interests you more, there's a Port wine blending class at Quinta de Pacheca where you'll actually get hands-on making your own blend.
- Meals
- Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Varosa Valley, Tarouca and Ucanha excursion with Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca visit
- Quinta visit with olive oil tasting
- Excursion to Lamego with Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies tour and local produce tasting at a Bodega
- Mateus Palace coach transfer and tour
- Port Wine Blending Class at Quinta de Pacheca
Landmarks Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca Fortified Bridge of Ucanha Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies Mateus Palace Quinta de Pacheca - Day 15
Regua to Vega de Terrón
Today is more relaxed as you cruise through the Vinhateiro wine region, which was officially established as a wine area back in 1756, the first of its kind. The landscape here is striking with terraced vineyards, traditional red-roofed farmhouses, and small villages dotting the hillsides. The entire area is UNESCO World Heritage listed. You'll arrive in Vega de Terr ón this evening.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Vinhateiro wine region
Landmarks Vinhateiro Wine Region Douro Valley - Day 16
Vega de Terrón to Salamanca
This morning you'll wake at Vega de Terrón right on the Portugal-Spain border. Pick between two fairly different experiences. Salamanca is just across the border and has two cathedrals plus a busy local market if you want a bigger city vibe. Or stay closer and visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a smaller village where you can learn about traditional handcrafted silk production that's still done there. After touring the silk workshops, a local Quinta offers regional products to taste, so you get a real sense of what the area produces.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Salamanca Full Day Excursion with guided tour of two cathedrals (12th and 16th century), market visit for local delicacies tasting, and free time for exploration and lunch
- Freixo de Espada à Cinta village visit with silk museum tour and local Quinta estate tasting
Landmarks Salamanca Cathedral (Old) Salamanca Cathedral (New) Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 17
Pocinho to Pinhão
You'll wake in Pocinho where the historic Douro Railway terminus sits. Your morning choice depends on what interests you more. The Côa Valley Museum covers Paleolithic rock art and gives insight into the region's ancient history. Alternatively, you can spend time in Freixo Numão experiencing village life with traditional demonstrations showing how locals go about their daily routines and crafts. From there, the cruise heads south toward Pinhão this afternoon, so there's travel time built in but it's part of the river journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Côa Valley Museum coach transfer with pre-historic workshop
- Village life in the Côa Valley excursion with Casa Painova estate visit, sugared almond production demonstration, and local product tasting
Landmarks Côa Valley Museum Freixo Numão Casa Painova - Day 18
Pinhão
Pinhão sits on one of the Douro River's most scenic sections, surrounded by terraced vineyards producing exceptional Port wine. You can visit the charming village of Provesende on a plateau with views for miles, check out the church and old bakery, and see traditional handicrafts. There's also Morgadio da Calçada, a historic manor house where you can taste bola. For the afternoon, choose between kayaking on the Pinhão River, a vineyard hike, or a quinta estate tour with tasting.
Included Activities
- Visit Provesende - wander village, visit church, old bakery, traditional handicrafts, historic manor Morgadio da Calçada with bola tasting
Optional Activities
- Kayaking along the Pinhão River - glide past impressive landscapes on tributary of Douro
- Quinta vineyard hike - guided hike through vineyards at Quinta da Roada in Douro Valley
- Quinta tasting - visit Quinta da Roada estate for guided walking tour learning vineyard secrets and region's Port wine tasting
Landmarks Pinhão Provesende Morgadio da Calçada Pinhão River Quinta da Roada - Day 19
Pinhão to Porto
Spend today cruising back toward Porto along the spectacular Douro River with leisure time to relax onboard. You'll arrive in Porto this afternoon, and this evening there's an exclusive classical concert at São Francisco Church, a 13th-century building with an ornate gold-decorated altar inside.
Included Activities
- Classical concert in São Francisco Church - performance of classical music in 13th-century Gothic church with gold-decorated altar
Landmarks São Francisco Church Douro River 
- Day 20
Porto
Your final full day in Porto offers several choices. You can take an excursion to Aveiro, a city known for its canals, and cruise on colorful moliceiros boats. There's also 6 holes of golf at Quinta do Fojo, or a visit to Cockburn's Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia for a guided tour and tasting. The afternoon is free for exploring Porto. Later, you'll cruise past six bridges as the city lights up, then enjoy a farewell dinner on the boat.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Illumination cruise through Porto - evening cruise past beautiful city including six bridges spanning Douro River
- Farewell dinner onboard
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Aveiro with a cruise - guided walking tour of canal city and cruise in brightly colored moliceiros flat-bottomed boat
- Round of golf - play 6 holes at Quinta do Fojo Golf Club
- Wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia - visit Cockburn's Port cellar for guided visit and tasting
Landmarks Aveiro Quinta do Fojo Golf Club Cockburn's Port Cellar Vila Nova de Gaia - Day 21
Porto to Madrid
You'll fly from Porto to Madrid and transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay. Madrid is Spain's capital and has a completely different energy than the river regions you've been exploring.
Included Activities
- Flight from Porto to Madrid
- Hotel transfer
- Day 22
Madrid
A local guide leads a morning tour through Madrid's 17th-century Austrian Quarter, the Sabatini Gardens, and shows you the Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains. You'll see the traditional bullfighting ring, get panoramic views of the Royal Palace, and visit Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple from the second century BC that the Egyptian government gifted to Spain. Dinner at a local restaurant rounds out the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Madrid - explore Austrian Quarter, Sabatini Gardens, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains, bullfighting ring, Royal Palace panorama, and Templo de Debod
- Dinner in local restaurant
Landmarks Sabatini Gardens Cibeles Fountain Neptuno Fountain Royal Palace Templo de Debod - Day 23
Madrid
Choose between visiting the Prado Museum for a guided tour through art and history spanning the 12th to 20th centuries, or a walking tour that focuses on local cuisine and includes Mercado de San Miguel market where you can try jamón ibérico and croquetas. Spend your afternoon shopping at boutiques or relaxing in Madrid's manicured gardens and exploring at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Prado Museum visit - guided tour of collections dating 12th to 20th century art and Spanish history
- Tastes of Madrid walking tour - guided food tour tasting local cuisine including jamón ibérico and croquetas at Mercado de San Miguel
Landmarks Prado Museum Mercado de San Miguel - Day 24
Madrid
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Madrid airport, bringing your journey through France, Portugal, and Spain's wine regions and historic cities to a close. It's been quite a trip through three countries and countless memorable moments.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Madrid airport
