Compare Villages and Vintages: Cruising the Douro River Valley 2021 by Tauck vs Flavours of Porto - The Food & Wine Experience by Iberian Escapes

Day 1 Arrive Porto

Tour begins 5:00 PM. A transfer is included from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto Airport) to your riverboat, ms Andorinha, on the Douro River. Settle in, then join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner and onboard entertainment.

MEALS : D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal

Day 2 Porto and The Douro Valley

Rising on staggered hills along the river, colorful Porto beckons you to its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, Baroque churches, fountains, and bell towers, Beaux-Arts buildings, and bohemian neighborhoods. Choose a walking tour of the town's historic center or a guided stroll through Ribeira, the riverfront district. It's hard to take a bad picture in Porto, where houses are clad in painted tiles and beguiling, eclectic architecture is around every corner. Return to your riverboat and sail to the Douro River Valley and its astonishing landscapes.  All along the winding river, rugged conical mountains and shale hills carved by concentric vineyard terraces tell of a winemaking history thousands of years old.  Inhospitable to most kinds of farming, the terroir is perfect for Portugal's indigenous wine grapes, whose hardy roots can go down 30 feet or more in search of water.  And since the 18th century, when Portuguese vintners created a sweet fortified wine –  now famous as Port – that could make the long sea voyage to Britain without spoiling, the Douro Valley has been the only supplier of Port to the world, and the oldest demarcated wine region.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal

Day 3 Peso da Régua and Pinhão

Dock in the historic town of Peso da Régua, once a busy hub where wooden boats called rabelos, laden with barrels of Port, sailed downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia. At the Museo do Douro, housed in a renovated 18th-century mansion, multimedia exhibits offer a history of viniculture in the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site; you also have the choice of a port cocktail-making workshop. This afternoon, sail to the idyllic, tranquil village of Pinhão, nestled at a dramatic bend in the river; Pinhão is known as the gateway to the valley's quintas (vineyards) and large wine estates.  From here it's a short drive to Quinta do Portal, a family-run estate in the Cima Corgo region where renowned Port and non-fortified wines are made. Your visit includes an introduction to the vineyards and a private dinner with wine pairings.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

Day 4 Along the Douro to Vega de Terron

The Douro River Valley and its unique landscapes of terraced mountains, villages, and wine estates unfolds today on a full day's sail to the small Spanish port town of Vega de Terron, where the Douro forms the border between Spain and Portugal. The landscape, at a confluence of rivers, is tranquil, beautiful and unspoiled, at the edge of Douro International Natural Park. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

Day 5 Castle Ruins and Paleolithic Art

At the town of Pocinho you have a choice of shore excursions. Visit Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval hilltop village with a turbulent history, where battles were once fought against Moors and Spanish rule; the empty ruins of its 13th-century palace still stand guard over the walled town with its churches, Manueline pillory, cistern, and panoramic vistas. Alternatively, travel to the Museu do Côa in the Vale do Côa Archaelogical Park, for stunning exhibits of rock art from the valley's Paleolithic era, discovered in the 1990s when excavations began for a Côa River dam; unlike cave art found in other parts of Europe, the thousands of petroglyphs in the Côa region were created in the open air by the valley's earliest inhabitants, and the museum explores their mystery through state-of-the-art multimedia exhibits. Return to the riverboat for lunch and sail back to Pinhão, arriving this evening. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

Day 6 Pinhão and Mateus Palace

Your choice of excursions this morning includes a walking tour of Pinhão and its early-20th century train station, adorned with blue-painted tiles (azulejos); or a vigorous hike in the hilltop vineyards with striking views of the town and river. Sail to Régua, and drive to Vila Real for a visit to 18th-century Mateus Palace, a lavish Baroque residence designed by Nicolau Nasoni, now a museum with period furnishings and artwork, a heraldic hall, formal gardens, a winery, and a chapel with tombs and reliquaries. Begin the return trip to Porto, and dock overnight in this verdant wine country, where some traditional farms grow vines on pergolas and fences so high the grapes must be harvested with ladders.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

Day 7 Guimarães or Amarante to Gaia

Today, you have a choice of full day excursions; one option offers you a chance to explore the medieval town of Guimarães, known as the “Cradle City; the kingdom of Portugal was born here after a famous battle in 1128. The city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a wealth of architectural treasures, including the ruined Castle of Guimãraes, with its tempestuous history and sweeping views, the opulent Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, lush with 17th-century furnishings and tapestries, and the 13th-century Church of São Miguel do Castelo. You also have the choice to take a bicycle ride (for experienced cyclists in good physical condition) through the Vinho Verde region before arriving in the pastoral town of Amarante, famed as being the hometown of São Gonçalo, Portugal’s St. Valentine. Enjoy lunch before your late afternoon arrival into Porto where you’ll cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, the destination of wines shipped from the vineyards, and home to many Port wine warehouses and cellars; visit one of its "caves" for a tour and tasting, and toast the end of your Douro River journey. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner aboard ship.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : ms Andorinha

Day 8 Journey Home

Tour ends: 8:00 AM Porto. Disembark and fly home anytime.  A transfer is included from your riverboat to Porto Airport. Allow at least 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal

Day 1: Airport Pick Up + Hotel Check In

As your flight is approaching the airport, be transported by the fascinating views of the city of Porto! Soon, you will be wandering around those typical unique streets, which are full of culture and authenticity. Upon your arrival at the airport, expect a short drive, where your chauffeur will take you to your luxury wine Hotel & Spa:

The Yeatman Hotel

The Yeatman Hotel, renowned as the best hotel in Porto, you´ll be staying for the following 5 nights. We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacular interior design The Yeatman has to offer.

Overnight: Porto

Day 2: Private Flying Gourmet Program + Lunch + Wine Tour

Meals included: Breakfast

Welcome on board and fasten your seatbelts! Enjoy your own private helicopter tour with exceptional views of the Douro River and the old town of Porto. Admire the wonderful views of the city, the traditional port wine cellars and the remarkable D. Luís Bridge at 10 000 feet of altitude. We will fly you to a wonderful vineyard, located in the heart of the Douro Valley called "Quinta da Pacheca" where you will be spending the day, with a guided winery tour through the fields, a port-wine tasting and a lovely relaxing lunch, overlooking the picturesque Douro Valley vineyards. You will be fully immersed into the rich Port Wine history, along with the current vineyard and winemaking processes currently used in Portugal.

Overnight: Porto

Day 3: Market Tour with Cooking Class - Local Market Visit And Drive

Meals included: Breakfast

Be ready for a hands-on session for our real Foodie lovers. During the day, before your cooking class, you will be taken to the local market, where you'll be introduced with the Chef, to all the local ingredients. After the market visit, you'll be invited for a Traditional Cooking Class based on local ingredients adjusted for the season. Our chef will teach you in a very relaxed environment the best of the Portuguese Traditional Cuisine with a modern look and touch. After the class and all the work and love put into the Menu, you'll have the pleasure of savouring your meal whilst engaging with other participants and sharing different experiences.

Overnight: Porto

Day 4: Organic Tea Field + Guided Tour + Infusion Tasting

Meals included: Breakfast

Welcome to Cantinho das Aromáticas! One of the few organic urban farms that produces aromatic plants. The agricultural ecosystem brings together one of the largest private collections of aromatic, medicinal and spice plants in the Iberian Peninsula, of which this brand has been known to provide some of the best infusions, herbal teas and condiments in the world, several times awarded internationally. Enjoy your tour around the herbal farms and the little tea tastings session where you will get to choose and even "design" your own brew!

Overnight: Porto

Day 5: Porto Discovery Tastings

Meals included: Breakfast

Be ready to enjoy Morning Brunch at the one and only - The Majestic Café. This is one of the most beautiful and meaningful examples of Art Nouveau in Porto, open and successful since 1921.  Enjoy the unique designs of the plaster-decorated ceilings and of the endless Flemish mirrors, you'll truly feel special. After this stop for brunch, we invite you for a little stop at the famous Arcádia Chocolate Store. Known for its chocolates, Arcádia’s traditional assortment has maintained its original forms and flavours since 1933 where each individual chocolate is crafted with care and each one hides some of Arcádia’s magic in its interior!  After your leisurely day around the town, we invite you to a little wine tasting by the hotel with a view of the sunset. Afterwards - enjoy a Iconic Port Wine Tasting for a relaxing evening and with a lovely dinner reservation at your choice.

Overnight: Porto

Day 6: Departure

Meals included: Breakfast

It is time to say goodbye to the city of Porto, as your private chauffeur is driving you to the airport. We believe you are now richer in experiences and emotions and have made unforgettable memories for the rest of your life. Get comfortable in-flight and look outside the aircraft's window upon take-off. You will certainly recognize a few reference points you have discovered!

Promise yourself “I’ll be back” – as we will be waiting for you for your next adventure.