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We stay at two of the
region's best located 4 star hotels. Both the Regua Douro and the Pestana
Porto are in superb riverside locations and offer an unrivaled service
and comfort. Maximum participants 40 |
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We honestly believe that you will not better this holiday for enjoyment and scenery. We will be running this renowned trip for the 30th time this year. Thursday (D) Our TAP Air Portugal flight leaves Gatwick at 13.45. Direct flights also available from Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham*, Bristol* and Liverpool* and overland travel from St Pancras via the Eurostar. We will be met at Porto airport by our guides and luxury coach which will take us direct to the 4-star Hotel Regua Douro for our overnight stay. This is our base for the next 7 nights and is on the banks of the Douro (75 minutes from airport). You also have the option to make the journey by rail while our coach takes our luggage on to the hotel. In the evening there will be a welcome meal (included) in the hotel restaurant when we will give a full introduction to the days ahead, hand our a detailed tour pack and you will have an opportunity to meet your tour manager. * flights from these airport are not daily.Friday (B, D) Today is free for your own relaxation and to settle in. In the afternoon we have an optional visit to the nearby town of Lamego. Ancient and picturesque, Lamego houses one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Portugal, the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). In the evening we visit the wonderful Quinta da Casa Amarela vineyard for a guided tour and evening meal.Saturday (B) Morning is free. In the afternoon we join another vintage train. This restored vintage train is formed of 2-8-4T steam locomotive 0186 built in 1925 and five wooden bodied carriages of a similar age. We travel up the river through breathtaking scenery of terrace vineyards and olive trees, to the riverside station at Tua (about a 90 minute run). En-route we stop for water at the picturesque riverside town of Pinhao. Many of the most famous names in port production have quintas close to the railway station which is decorated with dazzling tile panels depicting scenes from bygone days of port production. On board we are treated to traditional singing and served local delicacies and port wine. After a break we return on the steam hauled special to Regua. (14.30 - 18.00)Sunday (B,L) In the morning we catch the regional train east along the river to the railway’s terminus at Pocinho. This is a superb scenic journey with stunning views and we often catch sight of the rare Black Kite which still manages to survive in this remote area of Europe. At Pocinho we join our river cruiser and travelling down river we pass through three of the dams built in the 1970's to tame this once wild river. One of the locks we pass through is 32 metres deep and an unforgettable experience. This is a stunning valley of steep terraced vineyards and dramatic rock cliffs. A full three course lunch with wine is served on board and included in your tour price. (09.00 - 17.15)Monday (B) This morning we take the train west to the lovely country station of Livracao. Here we transfer to the narrow gauge Tamega line for a journey up the Tamega river. Our destination is the pretty riverside town of Amarante, one of the gems of northern Portugal. Here rows of 17th-century mansions with their brightly painted balconies line the narrow streets. There will be time to visit the Monastery and other sites during our guided walk around the town. We then join our coach for the short journey to the vineyards at Quinta da Aveleda, one of the region’s top Vinho Verde estates with its fine gardens. Our coach will drop us back at Penafiel station for our rail journey back to Regua, arriving early evening. (10.45 - 19.00)Tuesday (B, L) Our outing today is to the fabulous Solar de Rede a fabulous 18th century manor house which is now a Pousada. We will have a guided tour of the estate and vineyard before a superb three course lunch in the restaurant with stunning views of the Douro. A chance to see, and photograph, the valley from high up. (12.00-15.00)Wednesday (B) Today’s special train is on the wonderful "Corgo" narrow gauge line. It winds its way up the Corgo river valley from Regua to the provincial capital of Vila Real, including a famous horseshoe bend where the railway doubles back on itself. Definitely one of the great railway journeys of the world. At the end of this breathtaking journey we shall be taken the short distance by road to the Casa de Mateus for a visit to the splendid manor house and gardens. Returning to Vila Real we have a break in the town to visit the shops. A pleasant 10-minute stroll takes us back to the station where our vintage train waits to take us back down the valley to Regua. After 100 years of continuous use the Corgo line was closed in 2009 for a complete refurbishment and is due to reopen in mid-summer 2010. In the unlikely event that the line has not reopened you will have the option of a trip on the Tua or Vouga narrow gauge line instead. (09.00 - 16.30)Thursday (B,L) Late morning we join our river cruiser and cruise down river through the picturesque port wine area of steep terraced vineyards which stretch right down to the waters edge. A full 3-course lunch is served on board before we pass through the famous Carrapatelo dam. At 35 metres deep this is one of the deepest navigable dams in the world; an experience not to be missed. We continue down river and pass through the smaller Crestuma Dam. We are now in an area of woodlands, small vineyards and river beaches. Late afternoon we arrive in the fine city of Porto and get to see this ancient city from the river with its fine collection of bridges, two of which were built by Eiffel. Overnight in Porto at the quite superb Hotel Pestana. This hotel is right on the river in the World Heritage area known as the Ribeira - an area hardly changed since medieval times. This is certainly the best located hotel in Porto. (12.30 - 18.30).Friday (B) Leaving the hotel at 10am we have a short 5 minute walk through the fascinating medieval quarter of the city to Infante where we join our vintage tram for a trip along the remaining route along the waterfront to the tramway museum. After time to visit the museum we continue on another vintage tram up the hill and into the old city finally arriving at Batalha. After time for lunch we visit one of the riverside port lodges complete with port tasting (10.00 - 16.00)Saturday (B) Today is free for your own exploration of Porto. Alternatively join our rail trip to visit the important UNESCO city of Guimarães. Our first stop this morning is Lousado where we have a visit to the narrow gauge railway museum before we continue on the Linha de Guimarães. We have a pleasant 45-minute journey along the Vizela river. At Guimarães we have time to explore this well preserved medieval town famed as the birthplace of the nation. We also visit the superbly preserved 10th-century castle and the palace of Paço dos Duques. In mid-afternoon we transfer by road to Portugal's most spectacular religious sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, complete with a funicular railway dating back to 1882. We return to Porto by rail early evening along a different branch line than that covered this morning. (09.00 - 19.00).Sunday (B) Our coach returns us to Porto airport for our morning flights back to the UK.All days are very leisurely. The approx start and end times are shown at the end of each days itinerary e.g (10.45 - 18.45).
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Holiday Prices Include
Services of our tour guides (holiday is fully escorted) Any other meals listed in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Getting to Slovenia from the UK Recommended Flights |
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