An enchanting Douro river cruise, this journey unveils fascinating Portuguese ports and destinations, including Porto, Mateus Palace and Lamego

Your holiday begins today as you arrive at London Gatwick and meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers. Together, we board our flight to Portugal, with the charming city of Porto as our destination. This city is famous for the explorers who set out from here to discover the New World, and thus, makes a fantastic starting point for our cruising adventure.

Upon arrival, a coach transfers us to the waterfront, where our floating hotel awaits to welcome us aboard. After getting settled in your cabin, take some time to explore the ship's layout and get acquainted with its amenities. This evening, we enjoy an official welcome with a drink before our first three-course dinner on board.

After, we set out on a panoramic evening coach tour of Porto. We see the preserved areas of the city - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and hop off the coach at the São Bento railway station, where we admire its magnificent azulejos before returning to our ship.

This morning, we begin to discover Porto on a guided tour. We wander its winding streets, steeped in centuries of history. Admire townhouses adorned with intricate azulejos, the ornate details of regal churches and the iconic iron bridge - an emblem of the city's industrial prowess and architectural ingenuity.

We also visit a wine cellar to sample the city's famous port wine, hearing tales of the region's viticultural legacy and the meticulous craftsmanship behind every drop. From the luscious sweetness of Tawny to the robust complexity of Vintage, each sip unveils a distinct character.

After lunch back on our ship, there's free time to explore the city independently. You might like to get another perspective of its beauty while riding the Gaia Cable Car or find a spot to sit in one of city's squares, soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying a coffee. This evening, we enjoy drinks, a three-course dinner and traditional folk entertainment on board.

After breakfast this morning, we visit the charming medieval city of Guimarães, known for its well-preserved 10th-century buildings, vibrant squares and picturesque castle gardens.

A guided tour presents the city's most enticing sights, including its historic Old Town brimming with Gothic fortifications, cobbled squares and traditional timber-framed houses. Afterwards, there's free time to uncover the history of this fascinating city at leisure before we return to Porto.

Rejoining our ship for lunch on board, we begin our cruise along the Douro. Enjoy the river's picturesque landscapes enroute to Régua, a picturesque town that is rich in history and culture and surrounded by terraced slopes. After docking this evening, we enjoy drinks and a three-course dinner before the evening's entertainment.

Another Portuguese attraction lies ahead this morning as we disembark our ship and make our way by coach to Mateus Palace, one of the most beautiful and astonishing houses in northern Portugal.

This 18th-century masterpiece is a delight, with a classic Italianate exterior, beautifully adorned interiors and lush gardens. Our visit includes time to explore the grand halls and carefully preserved rooms of the palace, and then we enjoy time at leisure to explore the property's chapel and winery, which dates to the 16th century.

Returning to our ship in time for lunch, we spend the afternoon cruising through astounding scenery to Vega de Terrón on the border with Spain. Soaking up the views as we sail along, we dock this evening and enjoy a three-course dinner with drinks before we are entertained by a colourful display of music and dance during an onboard flamenco performance.

Soak up the changing views as we venture by coach into Spain and through the countryside to the golden city of Salamanca in the Castille y Léon region today. Known as the academic capital of Spain, this ancient city boasts an impressive array of sandstone university buildings and, founded in 1218, is the country's oldest and most prestigious centre of learning.

On arrival, you can delve into its attractions on one of two optional excursions. The first is a guided city tour showcasing the highlights of Salamanca, including the House of Shells, Plaza Mayor and other magnificent buildings. Alternatively, you could join a discovery tour, which features a tapas tasting.

Afterwards, there is a free afternoon to wander at leisure and discover the city's hidden gems. You might like to continue admiring the architecture of this ancient location or explore Salamanca's culinary side while perusing the Central Market. We return to the ship this evening for drinks and a three-course dinner on board.

We begin our cruise back downstream through scenic landscapes to Ferradosa today. Spend some time relaxing in the ship's lounge or have a seat on one of the loungers on the sun deck, admiring the views while the route unfolds.

After having lunch on the ship, we discover the wines of Portugal on an excursion along the Porto wine route. Our excursion takes us to São Salvador do Mundo and São João da Pesqueira, two small towns set amongst the vineyards on the Rio Torto valley. We also visit a local quinta, where we indulge in a tasting of some of the region's finest ports.

We rejoin our ship in Pinhão this evening and tonight's dinner is followed by Fado-themed entertainment, offering another taste of Portuguese culture.

Our day begins with a morning tour in the picturesque village of Lamego, renowned for its stunning cathedral. Standing at the heart of the village, the cathedral is a breathtaking example of Baroque architecture. But the real highlight of this masterpiece is the 700 steps leading up to its doors, beautifully decorated with cheerful white and blue tiles.

We return to our ship in time for lunch and then enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening of sailing. Our route takes us back to Porto, where we began our cruise, providing yet another look at the small towns and breathtaking scenery lining the Douro as we approach our final port of call.

Tonight, a three-course farewell dinner and a traditional Fado performance on board offer the perfect conclusion to our time in Portugal.

Today marks the final day of your journey along the Douro. We say goodbye to our wonderful crew and disembark the ship for the final time in Porto. A coach transfer takes us from the river to Porto's airport to begin our journey home.

This week-long discovery has allowed us to experience the cultures, traditions and flavours of Portugal in memorable ways, both on the ship and while in fantastic ports of call. Having explored favoured Douro destinations like Porto, Guimarães, Régua, Salamanca, Pinhão and Lamego, your holiday draws to a close this evening as we land at London Gatwick.

Named after the famous Portuguese navigator, Gil Eanes is a Premium three-deck ship specially designed for the river Douro. Its elegant taupe, bronze, and white interior are perfectly combined with blue shades to match Portuguese tile designs and colours. Along with great cuisine, you'll experience comfortable cabins and modern amenities on every deck. These include a lounge and bar area with a dance floor, evening entertainment, a restaurant, a sun deck with loungers and a terrace area. Wi-Fi and air-conditioning are featured throughout and there's also a 24-hour reception.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.