Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with Lisbon
Overview
Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.
Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or start exploring the city with guided sightseeing. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming town of Lamego, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. From Pocinho, enjoy a wine tasting in a local quinta or join a kayak adventure on the Douro River. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Discover the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) following the guide of a professional painter. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante or taste the unique Vinho Verde.
Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley.
Itinerary
Welcome to Lisbon.
Your day in Lisbon is free to explore at your leisure.
Portuguese Treasures
- Classic: Explore Lisbon, Portugal's capital, with a Local Guide. Do not miss the must-see sights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries.
You might opt to join an optional gastronomic walking tour to learn about the authentic flavors, aromas, and traditions of Portugal. This evening you might join an optional excursion including a traditional Portuguese dinner, followed by a live concert of traditional Portuguese Fado music.
A Resplendent Royal Residence
- Classic: This afternoon, join us on a guided excursion to Sintra, where you will visit the National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Cabo da Roca and enjoy some free time in the Western most point of continental Europe.
In the morning you might join an optional excursion to learn how to bake the most well-known Portuguese tart, known as Pastel de Nata.
Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding
- Classic: Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour. Accompanied by a Local Guide, you'll explore the historical area of the city and learn all about the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world.
Transfer to Porto to board your Avalon Suite Ship® Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO
Portuguese Panoramas
Visit the Adventure Center on board for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
- Classic: Join a guided tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to Avant-garde graffiti street art, OR:
- Classic: Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site*
Later, feel the passion of Portugal's soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO
*On March, October & November departures this excursion will be offered on day 7 and replaced by bike tour or Porto wine tasting.
Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal
- Discovery: Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including a wine tasting, OR:
- Discovery: Join a wine painting class with the guidance of a resident artist. An unique experience to try something different and portray an image linked to the culture of wine through an innovative process, OR:
- Classic: Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Lamego. Enjoy a taste of the local bola de Lamego with sparkling wine and stroll past iconic landmarks like the majestic Lamego Cathedral.
Enjoy a short sailing to Pinhão. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley's “liquid gold” at a traditional olive - oil mill or to visit Casa de Mateus.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO
Kayaks and Quintas in the Douro Valley.
Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region. Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
- Discovery: Join a Workshop conducted by a professional painter to discover the process of painting azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile)
- Active: Discover the Douro River by kayak on a guided adventure through Portugal's stunning valley. Enjoy breathtaking views and unforgettable moments (operates April to September only – weather dependent)*, OR:
- Discovery: Experience the charm of the Douro region with a visit to a historic vineyard estate. Enjoy a tasting of exquisite red, white, and port wines while soaking in stunning views and uncovering the rich heritage of this renowned winemaking region.
- Discovery: Join us for an onboard workshop to learn Portuguese language and culture. Discover essential words, charming stories, and clever tricks that bring this centuries-old language to life in an interactive and memorable way.
This evening, enjoy an onboard Flamenco show with local artists.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D'ALVA
*On March, October & November a bike tour will be offered to replace this excursion.
The Reign in Spain
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
- Classic: Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR:
- Classic: Enjoy a guided tour to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo, which, from the top of a hill, dominates the plateau that stretches from Spain in the east to the deep valley of the Douro in the north. Stroll through its medieval streets and discover the small details that give it color, such as the Hebrew inscriptions and crosses carved on the doorposts and voussoirs, OR:
- Classic: Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and "Plateresque" architecture.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN FERRADOSA
Mountains and Moving Music.
This morning enjoy a nice and relaxing sailing through the Douro River.
- Discovery: Enjoy an onboard pastry demonstration.
- Discovery: Join us to visit a wine - producing property, and taste the freshness and lightness of iconic Vinho Verde wine, considered one of the world's unique white wines, OR:
- Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.
This evening, enjoy an onboard live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LEVERINHO
Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde
- Active: Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a guided bike tour, OR:
- Discovery: Enjoy a guided visit to one of the many Port wine cellars, where a guide will accompany you through the cellar's facilities, explaining where the grapes are harvested and how the wines are made. At the end of your explorations, taste some of the wines, OR:
- Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to Avant-garde graffiti street art.
This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family - owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production or a culinary tour experience. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto's cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto's buzzing nightlife.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO
*On March, October & November the Porto sightseeing excursion, the bike tour and the Porto wine tasting will be offered on day 2. The full-day excursion to Braga and Guimarães originally planned for day 2 will be offered on this day. As an alternative, enjoy a sailing morning and free time in the afternoon in Porto.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Life On Board
Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Explore Portugal's dazzling Douro River on Avalon's newest addition to thier award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® - the Avalon Alegria. Read more
Having the only Open-Air Balconies in the industry, experience river cruising with a view like no other in one of Avalon's Panorama Suites. Read more
Avalon features all the right inclusions which heighten your relaxing river cruise experience. Read more
Avalon Alegria's attentive and helpful staff will take care of you every step of your river cruise journey, making you feeling right at home. Read more
Choose whichever included excursions intrest you the most with Avalon Choice and make your cruise your own. Read more
Enjoy familiar favourites and delicious cuisines made from the freshest local ingredients throughout your cruise. Read more
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