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Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid

Tauck
Select the year you would like to take this tour in. Pricing and other details may change depending on the year you select.
  • Length

    10 Days

  • Quality
    This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities.

  • Starts in

    Vega de Terron (Spain)

  • Ends in

    Porto (Portugal)

  • Available Tour Start Dates

    JUN 15, 2028 to JUL 19, 2028 These are the tour start dates for instances of this tour that were available the last time Tauck sent us such information. There may be other departures for this tour that are not available (i.e. sold out or cancelled).

  • Activity Level

    No Rating Provided These are tours that the vendor has not electronically communicated an activity level for. Contact us if you would like to know the activity level for any of these tours.

  • Style

    Fully-Guided

  • Language

    English

  • Guaranteed Date(s)
    Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).

    No

From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price for at least one departure date of this tour. Price is for the tour only. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare (unless noted otherwise), travel insurance, and more, are additional.
$7,690.00

Overview

Visit an opulent royal palace, cycle through Madrid's historic Casa de Campo, and immerse in art at the Prado. Ride a 4x4 to an archaeological site; breathe romance and heroic legends in Salamanca and Guimaraes; navigate mazes of colorful streets on a bicycle in Porto; kayak on the Douro River; learn the origins of azujelos and Fado music; wind along scenic bicycle trails in Vinho Verde country; and sail to postcard villages, castles, winetowns, and vineyards in the Douro Valley, a winemaking region unlike any other in the world.  This ten-day tour of Portugal and Spain includes Madrid, Salamanca, Porto, and a riverboat cruise deep into the Douro River Valley for an authentic taste of life in a seldom-visited region steeped in a wine-making culture thousands of years old. Along the way, sightseeing choices offer an array of excursions and possibilities. Begin in Madrid, where you can get a taste of Spain at an historic food market, take a bicycle tour of the city's largest park, and peruse art masterpieces at the Prado. Explore the medieval university-town of Salamanca, where the gorgeous architecture seems to glow. Board a luxury riverboat and wind along Portugal's Douro River Valley, the world's oldest demarcated wine region, where you'll find miles of mountains and hills carved into vineyard terraces. Explore prehistoric rock-art on a 4x4 safari in Foz Coa. Visit medieval towns, castle ruins, and palaces, and immerse yourself in local history and culture, kayaking on the Douro River, and bicycling through Vinho Verde country. Ride a cable car and a three-wheel taxi on a sightseeing tour of Porto, an enticing labyrinth of winding streets and stairways, baroque churches and palaces, street art, and colorful bohemian enclaves, and cycle from the waterfront Ribeira district, one of the city's oldest, liveliest, and most picturesque neighborhoods.

Visited During Tour

Madrid (Spain) | Peso da Regua (Portugal) | Pinhao (Portugal) | Pocinho (Portugal) | Porto (Portugal) | Vega de Terron (Spain)

Dates, Offers & Prices Dates
Tour Itinerary Itinerary
More Details Details
Dates, Offers & Prices

The following are Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid tour dates available from Tauck. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.

Pricing Type: Double Occupancy
Pricing is per person, based on two people per reservation
Start Date  End Date  Bonus Offers From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price available on this tour date. Price is for the tour only, unless noted otherwise. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare, travel insurance, and more, are additional.
Guaranteed?
Yes means that that the vendor guarantees that tour date will occur. No means that the vendor does not guarantee the tour will occur on that date, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on that date in order to confirm it. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).
Thursday Jun 15, 2028 Saturday Jun 24, 2028 Tauck Sale
No Booking Fees!

No Booking Fees!

We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.

You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!

Contact us for pricing and availability.
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.

Bonus Offers are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the application of any applicable promotions. Additional restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the right to correct errors.

$7,690.00
Yes
(Departure #ZD2028-240)
Wednesday Jun 21, 2028 Friday Jun 30, 2028 Tauck Sale
No Booking Fees!

No Booking Fees!

We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.

You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!

Contact us for pricing and availability.
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.

Bonus Offers are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the application of any applicable promotions. Additional restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the right to correct errors.

$7,690.00
Yes
(Departure #ZD2028-241)
Thursday Jun 29, 2028 Saturday Jul 8, 2028 Tauck Sale
No Booking Fees!

No Booking Fees!

We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.

You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!

Contact us for pricing and availability.
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.

Bonus Offers are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the application of any applicable promotions. Additional restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the right to correct errors.

$7,690.00
Yes
(Departure #ZD2028-242)
Wednesday Jul 19, 2028 Friday Jul 28, 2028 Tauck Sale
No Booking Fees!

No Booking Fees!

We do not charge booking fees on any Tauck vacations.

You're sure to enjoy an affordable Tauck tour package when booking with us!

Contact us for pricing and availability.
Available for new bookings made starting 09/16/20. Subject to expire without advanced notice.

Bonus Offers are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. Pricing may already reflect the application of any applicable promotions. Additional restrictions apply. Certain terms and conditions apply to each offer. Additional restrictions apply. We reserve the right to correct errors.

$7,690.00
Yes
(Departure #ZD2028-243)
Tour Itinerary
Tauck Tour Code ZD2028

Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid

Tauck Tour Code ZD2028

Map of Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid from Tauck
  • Day
    1

    Arrive Madrid

    Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá. Welcome to Madrid! A transfer is included from Madrid Airport to Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá, in the Madrid de los Austrias, next to the Royal Palace and the Almudena. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.

    • Meals Included:
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia
  • Day
    2

    Madrid as you please

    You have a choice of sightseeing today. Explore a neighborhood market where you can get a taste of tapas, artisan foods, and delicacies from all over Spain; your visit ends sweetly with churros and hot chocolate! Or go on a bicycle excursion through the city's largest park, Casa de Campo; once a royal hunting estate, the 4,000-acre park is still inhabited by deer and rabbits; it also features an amusement park and the Madrid Zoo. This afternoon, you can choose to take a guided tour of the Museo del Prado – one of the most famous art museums on Earth alongside a local expert. Or, immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Spain with a flamenco workshop; led by professional dancers, this hands-on experience introduces you to the passionate art form's rhythmic footwork, graceful hand movements, and emotive expression. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend as you wish in Spain's storied capital city.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Accommodations:  Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia
  • Day
    3

    Salamanca & Barca d'Alva

    Drive to beautiful Salamanca, a center of learning since medieval times, where a walking tour through the Old City reveals opulent Baroque, Moorish, and Gothic architecture, Romanesque cathedrals steeped in glorious frescoes, and the enchanting courtyards of the University of Salamanca, chartered in 1218, where Cervantes went to school; the area is nicknamed "La Dorada" (Golden City) for the warm glow that seems to emanate from its sandstone buildings. Then head to the riverside village of Barca d'Alva – a quiet town on the Portuguese border surrounded by placid, reflecting waters, close to the unspoiled wilderness of Arribes del Douro Natural Park – where your riverboat awaits; the hills are rich with olive groves, vineyards, and almond orchards that bloom with white flowers in spring. Embark, settle in, and join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    4

    A rock safari at Vale do Côa Archaelogical Park

    After a morning walking tour of the hilltop village of Castelo Rodrigo, return to the ship for lunch and sail to Pocinho; from there you'll set off on a rock-art safari in Vale do Côa Archaelogical Park, to see stunning examples of rock-art from the valley's Paleolithic era, 20,000 years ago. Unlike cave art found in other parts of Europe, the thousands of petroglyphs in the Côa region were created in the open air by the valley's earliest inhabitants; the site is accessible only in 4x4 vehicles.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    5

    Valeria Gorge & Charming Pinhão

    Spend the morning cruising the Douro River Valley where rugged conical mountains and shale hills carved by concentric vineyard terraces tell of a winemaking history thousands of years old. Since the 18th century, when Britain discovered that Portugal's fortified wine could travel long sea journeys without spoiling, the Douro Valley has been the premier port supplier to the world, and the oldest demarcated wine region. Sail the dramatic Valeira Gorge, where the river ran wild and treacherous before it was tamed by dams; in earlier centuries, small wooden boats called rabelos, heaped with barrels of wine, would negotiate rocks here and shoot the rapids on their way downriver. Arrive in the idyllic, tranquil village of Pinhão, nestled at a riverbend in the valley's premier Cima Corgo region, home to prestigious port-wine estates; a walking tour of Pinhão includes the enchanting railroad station, built in the 1930s and covered in azulejos, pictorial blue tiles that illustrate the region's winemaking heritage.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    6

    Pinhão to Régua

    Explore the picturesque area around Pinhao by kayaking along the slow, easy river, or drive to a nearby hilltop village for spectacular views over the valley, and hike back down; on the way, you'll be able to appreciate up close the workmanship of the steep terraced vineyards. Lunch aboard ship and sail to historic Peso da Régua in the Baixo Corgo region of the valley. After docking, enjoy a visit to the Museu do Douro in Régua. Housed in a renovated 18th-century building, the museum features multimedia exhibits that tell the history of viniculture in the Douro River Valley; also on exhibit is a restored rabelo, one of the slender wooden vessels that used to ply the river in great numbers, carrying wine to Porto and the sea. Tonight, dinner is aboard your ship.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    7

    A choice of excursions in Regua

    Before there was a railroad, Peso da Régua was an important shipping hub where rabelos took on cargoes of port from the local wine estates. Roads from here reach in many directions, offering you a choice of sightseeing possibilities. Take a bicycle tour through Vinho Verde country. Light and effervescent Vinho Verde is not actually green wine; depending on whom you ask, the name refers to its youth or the region it's from: a fertile, temperate land of vineyard-clad mountains and lush green valleys rich with scenic bicycle trails. Or drive to the medieval town of Guimaraes for a walking tour; known as the Cradle City, the kingdom of Portugal was born here after a momentous battle in 1128. The city center is a panorama of architectural treasures, including the ruined Castle of Guimaraes, with its tempestuous history and sweeping views, the opulent Dukes of Braganza Palace, and the 13th-century Sao Miguel do Castelo Church. Return to your ship this afternoon for lunch.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    8

    Cruising to Porto

    Wind through the Baixo Corgo region of the Douro Valley, where quintas and terraced vineyards rise on both sides of the river, showing their age; the oldest terraces are buttressed by stone walls, others have dirt walls; the valley's heritage is written in the stone walls, centuries old, but as they crumble they are too expensive to replace. Arrive in Porto by the sea in late afternoon, and dine aboard ship; after dinner, enjoy a performance by a local "Tuna" ensemble – a youthful academic string band that plays festive traditional music.  

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    9

    Porto Sights

    Rising on staggered hills along the river, colorful Porto beckons you to its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, baroque churches, fountains, and bell-towers, beaux-arts buildings, and bohemian neighborhoods. It's hard to take a bad picture in Porto, where houses are clad in painted tiles, street art is everywhere, and beguiling, eclectic architecture is around every corner. Ride a three-wheeled taxi on a tour of iconic sights, including the Clerigos Belltower, a soaring baroque landmark, and 12th-century Porto Cathedral standing fortress-like on a hilltop overlooking the city; walk across the scenic Dom Luis I Bridge that spans the river and soak up the fabulous views; the bridge links Porto to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, and you'll ride a cable car down to the Gaia waterfront. Or take a cycling tour along Porto's colorful riverfront, starting in the picturesque and lively Ribeira neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and ending where the river meets the Atlantic. Lunch on the riverboat, then enjoy free time to explore on your own. Join us this evening back aboard ship for a farewell dinner.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations:  ms Andorinha
  • Day
    10

    Journey home

    Tour ends: Porto. Fly home anytime. Disembarkation is at 9:00 am. Transfers are included from the riverboat to Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport or Porto train station.  Allow at least three hours for flight check in.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
More Details

Tauck is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid tour:

Tauck Values

The following is being included by Tauck on this tour:

  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Three-wheel taxi tour of Porto's historic center
  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Choice of a vineyard hike or kayaking on the Douro River
  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Bicycle tour through Vinho Verde wine country
  •  Seven nights on the Douro aboard a new riverboat designed for Tauck
  •  Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $3,059
  •  A bicycle tour of Porto's colorful Ribeira district
  •  Ride a 4x4 in search of prehistoric art at an archaeological site in Foz Coa
Pricing listed above for tours is per person, in US Dollars, and is based on double occupancy. Pricing may change for other occupancy types. Pricing is based on the last time the vendor electronically sent us pricing data, which varies by vendor (usually occurs overnight or multiple times throughout each day). Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Tauck. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Tauck (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.