7-Nights Portugal & Spain Bike & River Cruise: Douro Valley

VBT Bicycling Vacations

Portugal & Spain Bike & River Cruise: Douro Valley

If you’re dreaming of a Douro Valley River cruise with a rich bouquet of cycling options and authentic Portuguese culture—this is the one! Our expert trip designers have uncovered picturesque and invigorating rides through historic fincas and small medieval villages—including Marialva, where you’ll explore its splendid 12th-century hilltop castle. Revel in a gentle spin along the storied shores of the Douro River, passing a landscape of chestnut trees, picturesque villages, and charming vineyards before pausing for a port wine tasting at an exclusive wine cellar in Pinhão. Cross the border into Spain and discover the “Golden City” of Salamanca with its stunning cathedrals and ancient bridges—or perhaps you’ll choose to pedal into the scenic Spanish hills, pausing for rural lunch of local delicacies in a remote Spanish village. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the luxurious amenities of your Emerald Cruises ship—dining on authentic Portuguese cuisine in its five-star restaurant and relaxing outdoors on the sun deck by the pool as the scenic vistas of the Douro drift by.

Tour Highlights:

• Unpack once, then cruise the picturesque Douro River into wine country, disembarking to cycle the back roads of Portugal and Spain
• Luxuriate in the amenities of Emerald’s most intimate river cruise ship, the MS Emerald Radiance
• Pedal through scenic countryside, passing lush vineyards and rural landscapes and pausing to soak in the ambience of historic villages
• Sample the port wines for which the Douro Valley is renowned during a private tasting with a wine producer
• Savor the distinctive cuisine of Portugal, from its fresh seafood to its farm-to-table produce and cured meats

Vacation Inclusions

• 7 nights aboard a deluxe river ship
• 21 meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
• Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
• Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
• Support Vehicle
• Luggage Transportation
• Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
• Welcome Reception
• Facilitated Cultural Experiences
• Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure

Featured Destinations

Vega de Terron Vega de Terron Tours of the wine country along the Douro River often include stops at this peaceful town on the way to Salamanca, Spain.
Pocinho
Pinhao Pinhao Spectacularly located at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers, the small town of Pinhão is the epicenter of the Port winemaking area. Although a sleepy town for most of the year, Pinhão bursts into life in autumn during the annual grape harvest, attracting pickers from all over the country. Popular for its peaceful riverside location and surrounding scenery, Pinhão is a mecca for lovers of fine wine. Built on the site of an 18th century wine estate, the four-star Vintage House Hotel operates regular tastings and courses covering a wide range of aspects, such as the main types, how the wine is made and buying and storing. The railway line passes within view of some of the most famous Port vineyards. Croft’s Quinta da Roeda, Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos and Cockburn’s Tua are all within sight of the train. Further along are two of the grandest of vineyard estates: Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas and the Symingtons’ Quinta do Vesúvio, both of which have their own private railway stations.
Peso da Regua Peso da Regua Peso da Régua is a town in the north of Portugal, on the River Douro. It has a population of about 10,000 and is in the heart of Portugal's port wine-producing region.
Porto (Oporto) Porto (Oporto) Porto (Oporto), Portugal's second largest city, is full of interest, and the district it heads offers the visitor plenty to see. Along the coast, there are resorts like the cosmopolitan beach of Espinho, busy ports like Matosinhos, with splendid seafood, or traditional fishing towns like Póvoa de Varzim, and there is also an animated casino. Charming Amarante has 17th century mansions overlooking the river and is famous for a sweet egg pastries called "papos de anjo" (angel bellies). In Vila Nova de Gaia, there are lodges where Port wine is blended and aged and where tasting are offered, or visitors may take a river cruise along the Douro. The whole district is filled with prosperous towns, but there are also many calm roads with wonderful views over the river and a rugged and still unspoilt coastline.	Destination Guide

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