Discoveries Along the Douro: Portugal’s Best-Kept Secrets

After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation. 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops and field trips are subject to change as weather and river conditions could affect the progress of the vessel, making it run late and possibly miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line, which may mean free time in port is limited. The cruise line reserves the right change the itinerary without prior notice. When possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times. In addition to our knowledgeable Group Leader who will also serve as Study Leader, we will have the benefit of local experts. Transportation for field trips and other program-related activities will be via private motorcoach unless indicated otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will gather in the hotel meeting room for the first lecture of the program. Next, we will board a motorcoach with our Group Leader and ride to the beach front and along the Douro River to the old quarters of the historic district, where we will explore quaint old streets.

At a local restaurant.

For our next field trip, we will explore the downtown area of Porto, one of the most beautiful in Europe, that still retains its old-world charm. We will admire the tiles at São Bento station and beautiful Aliados Avenue. Later we will set out on a cruise aboard a traditional Portuguese “rabelo” — a type of cargo boat traditionally used to transport barrels of Porto wine. During the field trip, we’ll have commentary and pass beneath the six beautiful bridges of Porto and Gaia. We will then return to the hotel and from there walk to “Mercado Bom Sucesso” (1949) where we can taste local food such as Portuguese “petiscos” (tapas), appetizers, local pastry, cheeses, handmade ice cream and chocolate. Try to use some Portuguese words there!

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and embarkation tomorrow.

At the hotel.

We will be joined by a local expert for a lecture, then check out of the hotel. We will drive to Quinta da Aveleda for our first visit of the day. This family-owned winery is known for its lush parks and gardens, where rare species of trees flourish, many of which date back over a century. Aveleda is also at the heart of the Vinho Verde Demarcated Wine Region, and we will have an opportunity to taste the white wines produced on site. We’ll then ride to Guimaraes for lunch.

At the historic Pousada Santa Marinha da Costa, a former monastery near the historical center of Guimarães, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site

With our Group Leader, we will explore historic Guimaraes to learn about the town’s evolution from medieval settlement to modern city. Its rich building typology exemplifies the development of Portuguese architecture from the 15th to the 19th centuries through the consistent use of traditional building materials and techniques. After the visit, we will ride for about one hour to the port and board the ship. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to begin becoming familiar with the ship. We will participate with everyone on board in the required safety drill when announced.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will remained docked overnight in Quebrantões, Vila Nova de Gaia.

On board.

Free time. We will spend the morning aboard ship enjoying our progress from Porto to the Douro Valley and the passage of the lock of Crestuma-lever. This was the last dam to be built on the Douro River. The downstream lock opens and closes like a book.

Aboard ship.

As we head upstream this afternoon, we will gather with our Study Leader for a lecture about the history of vineyards of the Douro and great Porto wines. The remainder of the afternoon is free to see and do what interests each of us most.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will be docked overnight in Peso da Régua

On board.

As the riverboat continues upstream, we will visit, with our Study Leader, a Quinta where the local wine expert will provide insight into Douro regional wines. We will also have the option to go for a walk in the vineyard. Afterwards, we will return to our boat at the dock of Pinhão.

Aboard ship.

As we continue our journey, we will gather with our Study Leader for a lecture.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will cross the border into Spain and be docked in Vega de Terron.

On board.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and ride to Salamanca where we will spend the morning exploring the city independently. Our Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

In Salamanca.

We will be joined by a local expert for a field trip that will take us to the university, the Plaza Mayor, and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco museum. We’ll learn about the architectural treasures and Roman, Arabic, and Christian influences found here. The Old City of Salamanca is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription, “This ancient university town north-west of Madrid was first conquered by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century B.C. It then became a Roman settlement before being ruled by the Moors until the 11th century. The university, one of the oldest in Europe, reached its high point during Salamanca's golden age. The city's historic centre has important Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque monuments. The Plaza Mayor, with its galleries and arcades, is particularly impressive.” The ship will recross the border back into Portugal while we are on our field trip. We’ll then ride back to the ship and reboard.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship be docked at Barca d’ Alva.

On board.

We will drive to Vila Nova de Foz Côa and visit the Museum of Prehistoric Rock Art Site in the Côa Valley. With a local expert, we will discover the prehistoric history of the Douro Valley, which has been inhabited continuously since the end of the Paleolithic Age.

At the museum restaurant.

We will then drive back to rejoin the boat in Pinhao.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will be docked at Pinhão.

On board.

We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the picturesque town of Amarante, the birthplace of many Portuguese writers and painters. With our Group Leader, we’ll stroll through the town and become familiar with the area. A highlight of our field trip will be the Amadeo De Souza Cardoso Museum, where we will admire the art collection that introduced Modernism in Portugal in the early 20th century. The bridge at Amarante perpetuates the memory of the local population’s heroic resistance against Napoleon’s troops who invaded Portugal in the early 19th century. Amarante is also renowned for its sweets and cakes found in many of the region’s bakeries.

Aboard ship.

Free time. Enjoy our time on the Douro River as we pass through the two last locks.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will be docked at Quebrantões, Vila Nova de Gaia.

On board.

Back in Porto we will set out on our last group visit to the Museum of Cork in Vila Nova de Gaia where we will learn the whole history about this material, from the planting of the cork oak, to the treatment of cork and the multiple uses. With an expert, you will learn why this is a clean industry with no waste and you will discover the unique properties of cork.

Aboard ship.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Aboard ship. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and departure in the morning. The ship will remain docked at Quebrantões, Vila Nova de Gaia.

Aboard ship. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!