Go beyond the standard Portugal itinerary to explore all that’s great about the north. Discover two distinct wine regions, the Douro Valley and Dão; enjoy authentic interactions with the local people on a traditional moliceiro boat cruise, visit to a marnoto salt harvester and local farm tour; and discover the landscape in memorable ways, including a scenic train ride. It ends in the coastal city of Porto, exploring the UNESCO-listed historic centre – a fitting finale.
Activity Areas
Culture
Food and Drink Holidays
Region & Country & City
Europe: Porto, Portugal
Included in the Price
All accommodation: 2 Premium nights (hotel), 5 Superior nights (hotels) - All breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and two wine tastings - Immersive itinerary with all transport (private air-conditioned minibus) and listed activities - Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure, chosen for their experience and great customer feedback - Group arrival transfer available, departure transfers for any flight
Not Included In The Price
Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, the Porto city tax (approximately €5) and tips for the tour leader are not included.
Map
Itinerary
Day 1 Begin the adventure in Aveiro
Begin your adventure in coastal Aveiro, which is known as the Portuguese Venice for the network of canals that criss-cross the city. If you have a bit of time to spare, you can make use of the indoor swimming pool at the hotel.
Around 6pm, say olá to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Portuguese welcome by arranging a group dinner together.
Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Upgrade to a premium room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Day 2 Cruise along the Ria de Aveiro • Enjoy a guided walk in Ovar following the Azulejo Route
Transfer (approximately 40 minutes) to the Cais do Bico quay this morning. Here, we board a moliceiro, a traditional gondola-style boat, for a scenic two-hour cruise, exploring the channels and islands of the Ria de Aveiro, while learning about the region’s history and culture.
Arriving in Ovar, we disembark for lunch before a guided walking tour. Ovar is known as the City of Tiles, with many of the 19th– and 20th-century public buildings decorated in azulejo tiles. We follow the Azulejo Route for around 1mi (1.5km), exploring the historic streets at a gentle pace.
We then visit a pão de ló workshop, indulging in a culinary treasure as we sample the famous Portuguese sponge cake and see how it’s made. We then transfer (30 minutes) back to the hotel in Aveiro.
Upgrade to a premium room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Day 3 Guided tour of the Figueira da Foz salt flats • To Viseu
Take a one-hour transfer to the city of Figueira da Foz this morning, where we visit the salt flats for a guided visit led by a marnoto (salt harvester) who shares the traditional methods of saliculture (salt production). Their ancestral techniques, which date to the 12th century, are entirely done by hand and are differentiated according to the environmental conditions.
We then have a relaxing picnic lunch at an old farmhouse, now converted into a charming space with a wood-fired oven. It will be a light lunch where salt and flor de sal feature prominently, along with regional specialities from Figueira da Foz. After, we transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) to Viseu. You have the rest of the afternoon to unwind in the hotel pool and spa or explore this beautiful hilltop city.
Day 4 Guided tour of Viseu • Guided farm tour with a picnic lunch and wine tasting
Embark on a guided tour of Viseu this morning. Our 1hr 30min to two-hour tour takes in the highlights of the city, from the impressive Viseu Cathedral to the Solar do Vinho do Dão, the headquarters of the Dão Regional Wine Commission.
We then transfer (35 minutes) to Quinta da Comenda, a farm that has been growing produce without synthetic pesticides or any chemical fertilisers since 1987. The quinta is a historic agro-vinicultural farm with roots that date to before the foundation of the country, as it belonged to D. Teresa, the mother of Portugal’s first king, D. Afonso Henriques.
Here we take a guided tour of the farm with the owners, before a picnic lunch of local delicacies and a wine tasting. After, we return to the hotel in Viseu, where we have the rest of the day free to explore.
Day 5 Douro Museum tour • Scenic train journey alongside the Douro River
Bid farewell to Viseu this morning and transfer (one hour) to the Douro, one of Portugal’s great wine-making regions. We head straight to the Douro Museum, which showcases the history of wine production in the region from a converted wine warehouse.
After Régua, we board a train to Pinhão where we have free time for lunch. It’s a scenic journey alongside the Douro River, where carefully cultivated slopes leading to the river are striped with terraced vineyards. We also see historic wine estates and grand manors. In Pinhão there is the option of a boat ride (additional cost) or a walk along the river.
We then transfer (45 minutes) to the hotel.
Day 6 Tour Lamego • Visit the village of Raposeira with wine tasting
We explore Lamego today, a small yet historic town in the Alto Douro region. Here, we tour the highlights, including Lamego Castle, the cathedral founded in the 12th century, and the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary – an ornate two-spired church at the top of a baroque staircase with 686 steps.
After, we visit the village of Raposeira for a wine tasting. We then have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day 7 Tour Porto's historic centre • Celebrate our adventure with a farewell dinner
We transfer (1hr 45min) this morning to Porto, where we take a guided tour of the historic centre. Our adventure takes us to the highlights, from the grand São Bento Station to the double-deck Luís I Bridge over the Douro River.
After lunch, we head to our hotel to check in and then have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the city. There are various options you can choose, including a boat tour along the river, a visit to the Palácio da Bolsa, or a coffee at the Majestic Café, a Belle Époque establishment that opened in 1922.
At 7pm, we have a farewell dinner, an excellent chance to enjoy more great food and relive some of the adventures we’ve had together.
Day 8 Adventure ends in Porto
You’ve cruised the channels of the Ria de Aveiro aboard a traditional moliceiro, learned about Portugal’s salt- and wine-making heritage, and travelled alongside the vineyard terraces of the Douro, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
