Visit Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges,”; and Salamanca, the “Golden City,” on this 8-day Douro River cruise on MS Amadouro. Taste wines from historic wineries and soak up the genuine beauty of one of Europe’s most unadulterated landscapes. Rambling vineyards and charming native farms cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions and Port country — the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.
Highlights
Tour the São Bento Railway Station, depicting scenes from Portuguese history
Sample local traditional specialties, such as Bôlas de Lamego
Visit Salamanca, recognized by UNESCO as the "Golden City"
Visit the Baroque-style Palacio de Mateus and its gardens
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
This peaceful village provides a genuine glimpse of life along the Douro River. Enjoy an authentic Portuguese lunch with fellow travelers at a local Quinta—a country estate—in Regua, offering a true culinary experience. In the afternoon, explore the Baroque-style Palacio de Mateus and its gardens. Inside the palace, find fascinating furnishings, artwork, and a ceiling with intricate wood carvings. The gardens are renowned as some of the most beautiful in Portugal.
In the morning, spend time soaking up the beauty of this picturesque port before you visit Castelo Rodrigo, a small fortified village perched high on a hilltop with centuries-old walls, steep narrow streets and fantastic views. You can also opt to hike up to the village should you wish a more active exploration.
Drive to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built of golden sandstone, Salamanca is known as a “living museum,” and you will have an opportunity to step back in time to the Middle Ages during your escorted tour, which includes the city’s elegant university buildings, the New Cathedral, the intriguingly decorated House of Shells and Plaza Mayor.
Spend time soaking up the beauty of the Douro River as you cruise to Pinhão. Be treated to an exclusive lunch at Quinta da Avessada, where you’ll enjoy an authentic and traditional dining experience complete with entertainment. Quinta da Avessada is also a fascinating interactive museum commemorating the history and culture of wine in the Alto Douro region, so you’ll have fun discovering all the various stages of wine production as well as doing plenty of tasting. Savor the flavors of Portugal’s renowned fortified wine, vinho do porto, made exclusively in the Douro Valley. Head to a local quinta for your authentic Port-wine tasting experience and enjoy the sweet nectar of this fascinating region.
Travel to picturesque Lamego, home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal, where you’ll go to the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). The shrine features a staircase of nearly 700 steps, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles, which the more active adventurer will want to climb on a guided hike. Concluding both tours, you will have the opportunity to sample local traditional specialties, such as bôlas de Lamego, bread filled with smoked ham; presunto, a type of dry-cured ham; and Espumante, a Portuguese sparkling wine.
The colorful city of Porto blends the best of old and new, which you can discover on an escorted tour of the historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments; and the São Bento Railway Station, known for its blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. If you prefer to get more active, you can go on a guided hike. In the afternoon, you’ll also enjoy a tasting of Port, Portugal’s most renowned contribution to the world of wine. In the evening, relax on board during scenic cruise to Afurada, a magical fishing village, where you can explore during your free time.
Day 8: Porto | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark the ship and you prepare for your flight home.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,6992-3 travelers
Cat E
Panoramic Window, 161 sq. ft. Private, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
Cat D
161 sq. feet. 9 cabins on Main Deck. Picture windows, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
Cat C
161 sq. feet. 18 cabins on Main Deck. Picture windows, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
Cat B
215 sq. feet. 10 cabins on Upper Deck. Private balcony, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
Cat A
215 sq. feet. 28 cabins on Upper Deck. Private balcony, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
Suite
Outside Balcony, 323 sq. ft. Private balcony, TV, A/C, hairdryer, ample closet space, vanity with sitting area and full length mirror.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Adventure Life went above and beyond to care for all our travel needs!!! From the flights, to the accommodations, the tours, the tour guides, the transfers, the scheduling, everything was top notch and our minds were blown away!! It was so nice to be able to travel to another country that we’d never been to before and have every detail laid out for us!! No stress, no searching where to go, what to do, fighting with tourist crowds, getting rental cars, etc…..,it was all done for us, very organized and worth every penny!! We will definitely use Adventure Life for our future travel plans!!! A+++
Becky Light
3 months ago
Claudia and Ghezzel are extremely professional, courteous, patient and knowledgeable. We booked a cruise with Claudia but within 24 hrs we wanted to switch to another cruise, fortunately with the same company. The transition was executed flawlessly including reserving the cabins we wanted. Ghezzel was working in the background and picked up when Claudia left for
vacation. There was no difference in the great service. I'd give the team 10 stars if it was possible.
Bruce D.
6 months ago
Sandra was wonderful, very helpful and planned a beautiful fun-packed itinerary that we are very excited to do!!
Becky Light
6 months ago
Adventure Life couldn’t have provided a better travel experience, from the start of planning through the entire trip itself. The agents were very helpful and quickly responsive to our questions and needs. We were well taken care of and the trip was smooth sailing, both literally and figuratively. The cruise line, the hotel, and the extra excursions that Adventure Life provided were superb and without flaws. The price was reasonable when we compared the planned trip to what was offered by others. We would highly recommend both Adventure Life and Emerald Cruise Line to anyone interested in an enjoyable, relaxing, and informative travel experience.
Julie Mabel
7 months ago
Cheska is a great asset for your company she is very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with