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Cruising the Douro - Wine, gardens, history and architecture from Porto to the Spanish border
- A cruise of immense beauty through the vineyard-clad Douro valley, one of the most secluded and scenically spectacular corners of Europe.
- We are accompanied throughout by two experts who give talks on the history, gardens and wine-growing heritage of the region.
- Exclusive charter of a first-class ship, the MS Estrela, launched in 2024.
- Visit hill-top towns, castles, quinta estates and gardens.
- Option to spend two additional nights in Porto before boarding the ship.
The upper reaches of the river Douro in northern Portugal present a landscape bewitching in its splendour and scenic drama. The banks rise steeply into mountains whose flanks have been hewn and blasted into terraces of vineyards, silvery olive groves and glossy citrus orchards. Tightly-packed villages and landscaped quintas (wine-growing estates) are interspersed with patches of wild mato vegetation.
Other than for leisure purposes, there is virtually no commercial river traffic on the Douro, which until recently was one of the least accessible regions of western Europe. Nor is there any more entrancing way to experience the region than on a voyage into mountains that begins at Vila Nova de Gaia facing Porto (Oporto) across the river near its mouth. Along the way, the history of this most spellbinding of wine-growing regions will unfurl as a main theme. Starting more than three centuries ago, pioneering British merchants first ventured in the upper Douro in search of alternatives to the wines of Bordeaux, which wars with France were denying their customers. Thus was born the port wine trade. Descendants of these venturers are still involved in the trade today.
We are accompanied by two experts who both have deep knowledge of Portugal. Martin Symington was born in Porto and his ancestors were among the early pioneers of the port wine trade. He maintains close contact with his homeland where his family remain port producers and shippers. Gerald Luckhurst is a landscape architect and garden historian who has lived in Lisbon for the past 30 years. His broad interest in Portuguese history and culture spans historic palaces and botanical gardens to contemporary designs.
Itinerary
Fly at midday with TAP (Air Portugal) from London Gatwick to Porto. Board MS Estrela and remain moored in Gaia overnight. Introductory talk before dinner on the river, the region and its transformation.
Sail in the morning to the town of Régua through the Carrapatelo lock, the deepest in Europe at 35m, into increasingly rural and beautiful countryside, with vineyards and quintas clinging to the hills. Morning talk in preparation for a visit to the Solar de Mateus at Vila Real, an 18th-century manor house with exquisite furnishings and gardens; a Nasoni design made familiar by the rosé wine label. Evening talk on the port industry and the British legacy in Northern Portugal. Sail in the early evening to Pinhão, the heart of the wine-making area.
Visit either the Quinta de Bomfim or Quinta de la Rosa, two of the valley’s finest vineyards for a tasting. Continue upstream to Pocinho in the afternoon, through the impressive Valeira Dam. Evening talk on the history of Portugal.
Sail in the morning to the Spanish border. All-day excursion to the walled, medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo with its ruined castle and rich historical heritage. Then continue to Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain above the rocky bank of the Agueda. Lunch is at the Parador, which occupies a castle rebuilt in 1372 by Henry II of Castile after he conquered the city from the Portuguese. Evening talk on São João de Tarouca and Lamego.
Sail in the morning back to Pinhão for a visit and tasting at either the Quinta de Bomfim or Quinta de la Rosa. Sail in the afternoon to Régua where we moor overnight. Evening talk on the gardens of the Quinta da Aveleda.
In the church of São João de Tarouca there are paintings by Grão Vasco (1506–42) and Gaspar Vaz (1490–1569) beside which are the ruins of the first Cistercian abbey in Portugal (1169). Continue to the busy little town of Lamego, replete with Baroque mansions and dominated by the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios atop an astonishing baroque staircase. Time for the cathedral, largely Renaissance behind a Romanesque belfry. Sail in the evening to Porto Antigos. Evening talk on the Fundação de Serralves.
Continue sailing to Entre Os Rios. Morning excursion to the Quinta da Aveleda in Penafiel, home to the largest producer of vinho verde in Portugal, whose woodland gardens are famous for their follies and camellias. Sail in the afternoon to Porto, viewing the city’s six bridges including the celebrated Dom Luís I double-decker. Afternoon lecture on 20th-century Portugal. Evening tour, tasting and dinner at Grahams Port Lodge located high above the river with spectacular views.
Excursion to Fundação de Serralves where Jacques Gréber’s modernist garden complements the clean lines of an Art Deco house built in 1935 and Álvaro Siza’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Elsewhere are modern sculptures including ‘Sky Mirror’ by Anish Kapoor and remains of the pre-existing 19th-century garden. Either spend all day here, or drive to the centre of Porto for some free time. The TAP flight to London Gatwick arrives at c. 8.30pm.
Fly at midday with TAP (Air Portugal) from London Gatwick to Porto. Settle into your hotel before dinner.
Begin at the cathedral, basically 13th-century with later embellishments, many by the painter-architect Nicolau Nasoni. The Clerigos Church with its wonderful Baroque tower is also by Nasoni, the church of the Misericórdia has good Flemish paintings and São Francisco has an amazingly rich carved and gilded interior. Also see the magnificent decorative tiles, azulejos, in the railway station. Visit the Factory House (by special arrangement), a club of British port wine traders founded in the 18th century for a tasting and dinner steeped in ceremony and tradition.
Walk through the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, with far-reaching views across the city, to the nearby Museu Romântico in the Quinta da Macieirinha, with a garden and 19th-century furnishings. Some free time before boarding MS Estrela in the late afternoon.
Expert speakers
Dr Gerald Luckhurst
Landscape architect and garden historian based in Lisbon with an extensive knowledge of sub-tropical and Mediterranean garden flora. His work involves both historic restoration and contemporary garden design. Books include The Gardens of Madeira, Luigi Manini: Imaginário & Metodo, Sintra: A Landscape with Villas and The Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz. He is currently working on projects in Portugal, the Atlantic Islands, Africa and the Middle East. Twitter: @GeraldLuckhurst
More tours led by Dr Gerald Luckhurst
Mr Martin Symington
Travel journalist and author who was born and grew up in northern Portugal. He contributes to many national newspapers and magazines and has won awards across the English-speaking world – including The British Guild of Travel Writers ‘Travel Writer of the Year’. His books include the Dorling Kindersley Portugal Eyewitness Guide and Sacred Britain: a Guide to Places that Stir the Soul. He has also taught courses in travel writing at the University of Bath, been Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Reading, and delivers workshops on writing skills to businesses.
More tours led by Mr Martin Symington
Practicalities
Upper deck, owners suite, 22m2 with large sitting area and queen size bed. Corner cabins with dual aspect, floor to ceiling, electric slide-down windows. Two sharing: US$8,000 or US$7,530 without flights.
Upper deck, Large French balcony cabin, 18m2 with floor to ceiling electric slide-down window. Small seating area. Two sharing: US$7,410 or US$6,940 without flights.
Upper deck, Standard French balcony cabin, 15m2 with floor to ceiling electric slide-down window. Small seating area. Two sharing: US$6,550 or US$6,080 without flights. Single occupancy: US$9,830 or US$9,360 without flights.
Main deck, Standard French balcony cabin, 15m2 with floor to ceiling electric slide-down window. Small seating area. Two sharing: US$6,160 or US$5,690 without flights. Single occupancy: US$9,240 or US$8,770 without flights.
Lower deck cabins, 14.5m2 with a shoulder-height window that does not open. Two sharing: US$5,000 or US$4,530 without flights. Single occupancy: US$7,500 or US$7,030 without flights.
Additional cost for extension: Two sharing: US$1,650. Single occupancy: US$2,000.
Travel by private coach; ship accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners (of which 2 are in restaurants ashore) with wine, water, coffee; tastings as indicated in the itinerary; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; lectures onboard by two experts; an experienced team of Martin Randall Travel staff; a printed booklet including practical details, maps and background information.
An additional 2 dinners are included with the extension.
Extension only: Pestana Vintage, Porto: a small, 5-star hotel excellently situated on the Douro river bank in a series of historic houses.
Ship: MS Estrela: a first-rate, 60-cabin river cruiser, launched in 2024. The multinational crew is dedicated to the highest standards of service.
All cabins have windows to the outside and are equipped with the facilities one would expect of a first-class hotel such as adjustable air conditioning, television, telephone, safe and hairdryer. Bathrooms have showers only.
Those on the upper two decks are the largest and most desirable with floor-to-ceiling windows which open and better views. Cabins on the lower deck have smaller windows which do not open. There are no single cabins as such but we are allocating some for single occupancy.
Public areas are generous with an air-conditioned dining room and lounge which opens onto a terrace. The sundeck has ample seating with a shaded area, an additional bar and a swimming pool. There is a lift to all floors except the sun deck.
A good level of fitness is necessary for the visits to small towns where coaches can not access the centre and steps, cobbled streets and hills are standard.
For the extension: Visits in Porto are on foot and uphill (via some flights of steps and steep, cobbled terrain). A good level of fitness is necessary.
A maximum of 104 participants.
For the extension: Between 10 and 22 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2026
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
15th - 22nd October 2026
Speaker:
Dr Gerald Luckhurst & Mr Martin Symington
Price:
from US$4,530
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Gerald Luckhurst was a fantastic lecturer. Great depth of knowledge, wonderful communication skills, a delightful sense of humour.
”
“Having Martin as lecturer with such intimate knowledge of the region, with so many historic and current connections to the area, was a treat.
”
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