ITINERARY

Day 1 You will be collected from your home by taxi and taken to the coach for the journey to Gatwick Airport for your flight to Porto. A local coach will transfer you to the boat. A welcome cocktail will be served in the lounge before dinner. There will be an optional evening excursion to explore Porto by night.

Day 2 After a buffet breakfast, there is some free time in Porto for your own exploring or an optional guided tour. Lunch on board and we sail for Regua through the locks at Crestuma and Carrapatelo, at 36 metres, the highest in Europe. We will arrive in Regua at about 20.00 so after dinner you could enjoy a stroll in the town or join the dancing in the lounge.

Day 3 This morning there is an optional excursion to Vila Real and the gardens at Solar de Mateus and you will rejoin the boat at Pinhao for lunch, or spend the morning on board watching the scenery go by. This afternoon we are sailing in the heart of the vineyards of Porto, magnificent hillsides, covered trellised vines plunging majestically down towards the river. There are more locks at Valeira and Pocinho and we will reach Barca d’Avla in the evening. After dinner tonight there will be a flamenco show.

Day 4 Today after breakfast there is an optional excursion to Salamanca in Spain, classed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This town is a dazzling array of Romanesque, Arab and Christian architecture. Later we sail for Vega de Teron, with after dinner entertainment on board.

Day 5 We sail early morning and enjoy our buffet breakfast and pass through the locks again at Valeira and Pocinho. At Ferradosa you will have the chance to join an optional wine tasting excursion and rejoin the boat in Pinhao. Tonight is the gala dinner evening.

Day 6 After breakfast there is an optional excursion from Pinhao to Lamego. You will discover the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary and the Cathedral. The boat will have sailed and you will rejoin at Regua in time for lunch. Later that night we arrive back to Porto. After dinner there will be a Fado evening on board.

Day 7 A free morning in Porto. After lunch there is an optional excursion to Braga, also known as the ‘Rome of Portugal’ due to the high quality religious architecture. After dinner there will be a traditional show on board.

Day 8 Disembarkation will take place after breakfast and you will be transferred to the airport by local coach for your flight to Gatwick airport. On arrival you will be met by the Woods coach and transferred to the local area and then your home by taxi.