PORTUGAL'S DOURO RIVER VALLEY RAIL & SAIL

Join us for a beautiful cruise as we glide along the “River of Gold” on our brand new 5 anchor river ship the MS Gil Eanes. Our 6-day cruise will meander along the Douro River from Porto to the edge of Spain allowing us to include the beautiful Spanish city of Salamanca to our travels. Currently one of the most popular European river destinations, this trip is sure to sell out. Daily ship excursions are included in all ports. Also complimentary free flowing beer, wine, and cocktails aboard and all meals shipboard. After our cruise we enjoy 3 more nights in 4 star hotel accommodations as we explore and enjoy Porto and Lisbon. Please reserve early as we have limited space on this popular itinerary! (800) 576-4905 or Railandsail.com 

Included in your fully escorted travels: 

· Round-trip flights to Portugal from Seattle, SMF, SFO, LAX*

  *Other gateways by request

· 3 nights hotel in Lisbon/Porto

· Welcome dinner

· Porto city tour with lunch

· High speed Alpha Pendura train Lisbon-Porto

· Lisbon city tour with lunch

· 5 night 5 Anchor Douro River Cruise — M/S Gil Eanes 

· Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner shipboard

· Included wifi onboard

· Unlimited beer, wine, cocktails, & beverages onboard

· Daily included ship excursions

· All airport transfers in Portugal

· Time for personal discoveries

· Experienced USA Tour Manager

· Caring and professional travel arrangements

Day 1 — Wednesday July 24 — Depart for Europe! Make your way to your gateway airport. Check-in for our included flight to Porto, Portugal! Our evening flight will give you the best chance for rest and transition to our new time zone. (in flight services)

Day 2 — Thursday July 25 — Welcome to Porto, Portugal! Arrive mid-day and transfer to our downtown hotel. Time to freshen up before welcome drinks, and our welcome dinner together with new travel companions—"Saude!" (cheers)! (In flight service, welcome dinner).

Day 3 — Friday July 26 — Porto, Tram Museum, Cruise Embarkation We'll board one of the city's trams and partake in this urban-tourism experience all the way to the mouth of the Douro. We'll finish up our excursion with a tasting of some of the local specialties After our tour we will board our rivership the 5 Anchor M/S Gil Eanes. Enjoy our welcome aboard party and dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard)

Day 4 — Sat July 27 — Explore Porto  (Breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard) Today we enjoy touring this UNESCO world heritage city including its stunning cathedral, Sé do Porto, which stands high above the River Douro. Built near the old city walls, some say the cathedral looks as much like a fort as a religious building. Next is Torre dos Clérigos. This impressive tower is 75 metres tall and the views from the top over the city and the river are more than worth the climb up the 240 steps. No visit is complete without Teleférico de Gaia to ride the modern cable car that takes us over the rooftops of Gaia and offers some of the very best views of the city. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard)

Day 5— Sunday July 28 — Explore Mateus Palace and Vila Real — We'll leave from Regua or Pinhão for Vila Real, where aristocrats built grand palaces during the 16th and 17th centuries. The architecture of the religious buildings is here extremely varied. We'll take a panoramic tour of the city by coach, followed by a tasting of the local pastry, Cristas de Galo. We'll then set out to explore Mateus Palace, the most beautiful and astonishing manor in all of Northern Portugal. This 18th-century beauty is set in a hilly landscape reminding us of Mexico. The subtle mixture of granite, white walls and extravagance from the Age of Enlightenment such as ledges covered in statues and Baroque style pilasters is a striking feature. Behind the manor is a delightful garden with box hedges, more statues, and a spectacular 115-foot cedar tunnel. After our tour, we'll return to our ship in Regua or Pinhão. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard)

Day 6 — Monday July 29 — Enjoy Salamanca Spain Since 1988, the Old Town of Salamanca has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We'll visit the cathedral whose successive extensions created a mixture of styles going from late Gothic to Baroque, including Renaissance. Afterwards, we'll visit one of the world's oldest Universities which first opened in 1218. Also known as "Escuelas Mayores”, the University building has a sumptuous gate adorned with the city's most famous design: a frog atop a skull - symbolic of the sin of lust being punished after death. Its wonderful library brims with old manuscripts dating back from prior to the 19th century. You'll enjoy lunch and be free to discover the city on your own. Return on board in Vega de Teron. (breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard)

Day 7 — Tuesday July 30 — The Porto Wine Trail, from Ferradosa Departure from Ferradosa for our excursion along the Porto wine route. We'll discover this incredible vineyard extending over 100 km along the Douro river all the way to the Spanish border. We'll visit San Salvador do Mundo and Sao Joao da Pesqueira, two small towns set among the vineyards in the Rio Torto valley. In Sao Joao da Pesqueira, you will have the opportunity to explore the arcaded main square, the chapel and the white houses with their balconies. You will visit a quinta (wine cellar) to taste the famous Porto. We'll return on board in Pinhao or Folgosa. (breakfast, lunch, dinner onboard)

Day 8 — Wed July 31 —Porto to Lisbon by high speed rail Disembark our ship today where our cruise began in Porto. Transfer to the lovely Porto rail station for our high-speed Alpha Pendura train excursion to Lisbon. On arrival in Lisbon, enjoy lunch and an afternoon city tour before checking into our lovely hotel for the night. Free evening. (breakfast, lunch)

Day 9 — Thursday Aug 1 — Lisbon Enjoy a free day today, perhaps a morning harbor cruise of this magnificent city? Enjoy some free time for exploration and personal discoveries. (breakfast, farewell dinner)

Day 10 — Friday Aug 2 — Farewell Portugal!  A hearty breakfast and we’re off for a swift trip home, or consider joining us for our tour extension to Spain! (breakfast, inflight service)

Not-included: Other meals, beverages, tipping at guest discretion for guides, drivers, and ship crew. Airline baggage and testing fees. Solo Supplement: Call: (800) 576-4905

+Intinerary is subject to change of order, accommodations due to international airline schedules and other unforeseen circumstances.