Uncover the timeless beauty and traditions of Portugal on this enchanting holiday featuring Lisbon and Sintra and a seven-night cruise through the acclaimed Douro Valley

Your Douro cruise holiday begins this morning at London Gatwick, where you meet the Tour Manager and travel group. Together, we board our flight to Portugal, arriving this afternoon.

As our plane touches down in Lisbon, we are greeted by a coach, which takes us to our four-star hotel. We spend the next three nights in the capital of Portugal - a delightful stop before our cruise, where colourful houses in distinctive tones of gold and claret contrast with the deep blue Atlantic.

After checking in to our hotel on arrival, you can take some time to relax in your comfortable accommodation or walk around near our hotel, getting acquainted with this vibrant city. This evening, we kick off our journey with our first dinner together in the hotel's restaurant.

Our excursion today takes us on a tour of Portugal's intriguing capital city. Guided by an expert, we uncover the vibrant colours of Lisbon, and the history of its streets, squares and boulevards. We finish in the waterfront district of Belem, famous for its pastries and grand villas. Here, we stop off at one of the pastry shops to sample the Belem pastries.

This evening, explore the city at your own pace. This is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of one of Europe's oldest cities, wander the cobblestone streets, and experience the soulful melodies of Fado music at a cosy tavern.

Lisbon is known for its seven hills with amazing look out points, and you could watch the light change as the sun sets this evening from St George's Castle or the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte - a unique spot with panoramic views over the city.

After breakfast at our hotel, we walk to Lisbon's train station to travel to the beautiful town of Sintra, located up in the hills behind Lisbon. Once a favourite summer retreat for the Portuguese royals, Sintra has an array of palaces reflecting the town's history and unusual architectural styles.

There is time at leisure to discover the history and people behind the magnificent buildings of this fairytale town. Marvel at the colourful Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, and explore the lush gardens at Monserrate Palace, savouring panoramic views. During your visit, you may also like to wander about Sintra's historic centre, where you can sip Portuguese coffee or enjoy lunch at one of the characterful cafés or restaurants.

We return to Lisbon by train this evening, arriving in time for drinks at the hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.

Leaving Lisbon this morning, we set out on a rail journey through the Portuguese countryside to the historical city of Porto on the northern coast. This destination sits on the golden Douro River with its buildings stacked up the hillsides and alluring bridges and history lining the riverbanks. Porto is famous for the explorers who set out from here to discover the New World, and thus, makes a lovely beginning point for our cruise.

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

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

This morning, we are introduced to Porto on a guided tour. As we wander its winding streets, steeped in centuries of history, we admire townhouses adorned with distinctive blue 'azulejos' tiles, viewing regal churches and the city's iconic iron bridge - an emblem of Porto's industrial prowess and architectural ingenuity.

A highlight of our guided tour is a visit to a wine cellar to sample the famous port wine, hearing tales of the region's viticulture and the craftsmanship behind every drop. From the luscious sweetness of Tawny to the robust complexity of Vintage, each sip unveils a distinct character.

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

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

This 18th-century masterpiece has a classic Italianate exterior, lavishly adorned interiors and lush gardens. Our visit includes the chance to explore the grand halls and preserved rooms of the palace, followed by time at leisure to explore the property's chapel and 16th-century winery.

Returning to our ship in time for lunch, we spend the afternoon cruising through breathtaking scenery to Vega de Terrón on the border with Spain. This evening, over dinner onboard our ship we enjoy an evening of entertaining music and dance during a colourful flamenco performance.

Soak up ever-changing views on today's excursion by coach into Spain and through the countryside to the golden city of Salamanca in the Castille y Léon region. Founded in 1218, Salamanca is the oldest centre of learning in the Hispanic world. This ancient city boasts an impressive array of sandstone university buildings.

On arrival, you can delve into its attractions on a guided city tour showcasing the highlights of Salamanca, including the House of Shells, Plaza Mayor and other magnificent buildings.

Afterwards, there is a free afternoon to wander at leisure and discover the city's hidden gems. You might like to continue exploring at your own pace, or maybe sample Salamanca's culinary offerings in the Central Market. We return to the ship this evening for drinks and 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 for an evening to remember. Filled with delicious food and wonderful company, tonight's Gala dinner is an opportunity to celebrate our Portuguese journey of discovery.

Our day begins with a morning tour in the picturesque village of Lamego, known for its stunning cathedral. Standing at the heart of the village, the cathedral is a wonderful 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 before a relaxing afternoon and evening of sailing. Our route takes us back to Porto, where we began our cruise, allowing us another opportunity to admire the small towns and heavenly scenery along the Douro as we approach the city.

This evening, we sit down to a three-course dinner accompanied by Fado-themed entertainment, experiencing another taste of Portuguese culture.

The morning is yours to have breakfast on board and explore Porto at your leisure. Having spent the last few days on the Douro, you might like to get another perspective of its beauty - and that of Porto - while riding the Gaia Cable Car. You could also revisit favourite sites from our previous tour or find a spot to sit in one of city's squares, soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying a coffee.

After lunch on the ship, 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 and history before we return to our ship later this afternoon.

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

This evocative tour has allowed us to experience the culture, traditions and flavours of Portugal in memorable ways, both on the ship and when exploring the Douro's famous ports of call. Besides exploring the highlights of the Douro River - including the city of Porto, the towns of Régua, Pinhão, Lamego and Guimarães - we also enjoyed an excursion into Spain to the stunning Spanish city of Salamanca,

A coach transfer takes us from the riverside to Porto's airport to begin our journey home. As the plane lands at London Gatwick this evening, your Douro cruise holiday draws to a close.

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 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.