Flavors of Portugal & Spain: featuring the Douro and Rioja Wine Regions

What's Included

• Accommodation

  Experience the charm of Portugal and Spain with stays at the Turim Boulevard Hotel in Lisbon, Turim Porto Hotel in Porto, The Wine House Hotel - Quinta da Pacheca in the Douro River Valley, NH Collection Palacio de Castellanos in Salamanca, Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja in La Rioja, and NH Collection Aranzazu in San Sebastian.

• Transport

  Travel through Portugal and Spain with a mix of public funicular rides, scenic drives, and traditional wooden rabelo boat cruises on the Douro River.

• Meals

  Enjoy a welcome dinner in Lisbon, an included lunch in Braga, and a farewell dinner in San Sebastian.

• Guided Tours

  Participate in guided tours of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Salamanca, Burgos, Pamplona, San Sebastian, and Bilbao.

• Wine Tastings

  Explore wine cellars in the Douro and Rioja regions and enjoy wine tastings.

• Cooking Class

  Enjoy a petiscos cooking class in the Douro River Valley.

• Cultural Experiences

  Visit a bullfighter’s family home in Pamplona and learn about this iconic Iberian tradition.

What's Not Included

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions such as the tour to Ericeira and Sintra, and the Porto Home-Hosted Experience are not included.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as shopping, additional meals, and gratuities are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
  
  

• Flights

  International and domestic flights are not included in the tour package.
  
  

Experiences

• Call a picturesque quinta estate in the Douro River Valley your home for 2 nights.
• Climb to “Bom Jesus de Braga” UNESCO site and walk the streets of Braga’s historical downtown.
• Visit a bullfighter’s family home in Pamplona and learn about this iconic Iberian tradition.

Options

Lisbon: Seaside Villages to Mountainside Palaces

Take a step away from the bustling streets of Lisbon for an excursion to charming seaside Ericeira, once a thriving fishing village. This beach town is now world-renowned to surfers and that aesthetic can be seen everywhere from the coast to the cozy cafes. Take some time to tour the quaint downtown along with your Tour Manager. Next, explore the town of Sintra (UNESCO), the summer residence of Portuguese kings. Your Tour Manager will show you around the Old Town before letting you explore as you’d like. After, venture to one of the most notable Romanticism inspired landscapes in Portugal, the Park of Monserrate. Find the pathways running between the ruins, lakes and waterfalls into the property’s palace, which itself is the exotic dream of a 19th century British visionary. Duration approximately 7 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Get a different perspective on Porto as you step across the threshold of your hosts’ home and inhale the tantalizing aroma of traditional Portuguese cooking. Enjoy the warm hospitality of a local family welcoming you with open arms. Feel like a local in their cozy, inviting home on the outskirts of Porto, and savor a homemade meal warmly seasoned with laughter and paired with delicious Portuguese wine. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 6 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Culinaries

• Explore wine cellars in the Douro and Rioja regions and enjoy wine tastings.
• Enjoy a petiscos cooking class in the Douro River Valley.
• Go on a “pub crawl” to taste pintxo tapas.

Must See

• See Lisbon from the windows of a public funicular during a unique city tour.
• Stroll along the scenic Ribeira waterfront of Porto, famous for their Port wine.
• Visit the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, hailed as a true icon of architectural culture.

Choice Highlights

Lisbon

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colorful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets. The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. It’s mingling with Lisboêtas at a neighborhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.

Porto, known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and is located in northern Portugal. The city dates back to the 4th century. Porto’s city center is one of the oldest city centers in Europe. One of Portugal’s well known exports, port wine, is named for Porto since the metropolitan and surrounding area was responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine.

Northern Portugal is known for its port wine – enjoy opportunities to taste this local favorite at more than one tasting. The city Porto is known for this wine – which is alluded to in the wine’s name. The Douro River Valley is also famous for its green hills and port wine grapes.

Braga is the home to the revered Bom Jesus, a towering cathedral sitting on top of a hill. Its gray-and-white zigzagging staircase invites visitors to climb to the top. At the peak, stand in awe before views of the town below that are worth the twisting ascent.

Home to seemingly endless rows of flourishing grapes, the Douro River Valley is a prominent wine region in Portugal. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been producing wine for an estimated 2,000 years. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century that the region started creating its famous port wine. Traditionally, the barrels of wine were transported down the river by means of a wooden rabelo boat. These flat-bottomed boats would carry wine from the vineyards into the surrounding regions.

Marvel at the rows of twisting vines, lush trees, and colorful houses from a different perspective on a Douro River Cruise. Navigate along the most picturesque landscapes of the Douro River on a traditional wooden rabelo boat. These boats were used to transport port wine down the river.

Salamanca is a city in northwestern Spain, and is the capital of the Province of Salamanca. It sits 120 miles west of Madrid and 50 miles east of the Portuguese border. Salamanca is one of the most important university cities in Spain and attracts many international students. The university, the University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, along with tourism are the primary sources of income in Salamanca.

La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province in Spain, located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. This region is known for the Rioja Destination of Origin wines. This area of Spain has over 500 wineries and is internationally known for the quality of its wine. This region of Spain also offers a range of activities in and around the vineyards, such as horseback riding, hot air ballooning and more.

Pamplona is the historical capital city of Navarre, in Spain. Pamplona is located in the center of Navarre, in a rounded valley, that links the mountainous North with the Erbo valley. It is 37 miles from Bilbao and 253 miles from Madrid. The historic city center is on the left bank of the Arga River. Pamplona is most famous for the running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival, which is held every year from July 6th to 14th.

San Sebastián is a coastal city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 12 miles from the French border. The main economic activities here are commerce and tourism, and it is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain partly because of its picturesque shoreline. San Sebastián was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2016.

Explore the San Sebastián region your way with the choice between three different ways to discover this beautiful coastal region. For your first choice, join a local guide to explore two beautiful seaside villages: Zumaia and Getaria. Bring your camera, because Zumaia is home to the world’s longest continuous rock strata and Getaria sits between the sea and mountains covered in lush green vines. The second choice brings you to the coastal St. James’ Way, a medieval Christian pilgrimage trail. Take in the views alongside a local guide on a beginner’s 3-hour hike. The last choice provides the ultimate flexibility: spend the day however you choose. Whether you take time at leisure to appreciate the seaside views, visit local shops or enjoy the exquisite cuisine, take your final day on tour seeing San Sebastián how you want.



Zumaia & Getaria Villages

Activity Level: 3



Coastal Saint James Way Hike

Activity Level: 4

Travelers must have comfortable shoes. Walking sticks are recommended but not required. Return to San Sebastián is made by public bus.



Free Time in San Sebastián

Activity Level: 1

Bilbao is a borough and the capital of the province of Biscay in northern Spain. Bilbao is situated in north central Spain 8.7 miles south of the Bay of Biscay. The borough of Bilbao was founded in the 14th century. Bilbao as a city was not an emerging tourist destination until the late 1990s with the inauguration of the Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is also a popular destination for business tourism with its new conference and exhibition centers.

The Guggenheim Museum is a museum of modern and contemporary art located in Bilbao, Spain. The museum is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao. The museum Is one of several belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibitions of works by Spanish and international artists. The museum was designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. The museum was inaugurated on October 18th, 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who was the king of Spain at the time.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Portugal and Spain with a mix of public funicular rides, scenic drives, and traditional wooden rabelo boat cruises on the Douro River, offering a unique perspective of the picturesque landscapes and vibrant cities.