Travel Program

Portugal’s Duoro River

June 24 – July 5

(with M.I.T. and Smith, Williams, and Dartmouth colleges)

Discover the sights, sounds, and flavors of Portugal on this 12-day river cruise and tour. Your trip begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant capital, before traveling north to Oporto to embark on your seven-night cruise. Float along the scenic Douro River and immerse yourself in the local culture with authentic flamenco and Portuguese shows on board your ship. Enjoy a hearty Portuguese meal at the 14th-century former Benedictine monastery in Bitetos. Stop in Régua for excursions to visit Lamego’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies shrine and the Mateus wine estate.

In Pinhão, experience the center of the Port winemaking region with a visit to the Wine Academy and a wine tasting. A guided walking tour of Salamanca, Spain—a renowned seat of learning since the early 13th century—reveals the 16th-century House of Shells, former bullfighting arena at Plaza Mayor, and the ornate cathedral. Pause in medieval Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo to explore the steep, narrow streets lined with almond trees, visit the castle, and watch for storks, the symbol of this quaint village. Back in Oporto, take a guided sightseeing tour, then travel along the picturesque Atlantic coast and stop at a Port wine lodge to visit the cellars. Return to Lisbon for two hotel nights to explore the city and historic Sintra and Queluz nearby as the culmination of your Portuguese adventure.

Itinerary

Day Destination

1 Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

2 Lisbon, Portugal

3 Lisbon-Vila Nova de Gaia (embarkation)

4 Régua-Excursion to Lamego-Pinhão

5 Pinhão-Barca d’Alva

6 Barca d’Alva-excursion to Salamanca, Spain and Vega Terron, Portugal

7 Vega Terron excursion to Figueira de Castelo and Rodrigo-Pinhão

8 Régua-Bitetos

9 Bitetos-Oporto-Vila Nova de Gaia

10 Vila Nova de Gaia (disembarkation) - Lisbon

11 Lisbon

12 Lisbon. (Your homebound flight arrives the same day.)

Cost: From approximately $3,250 per person plus airfare

For reservations or for more information, please contact Avalon Waterways at 1-888-303-7735.

› Request a brochure

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