Douro's Valleys & Vineyards

Overview

Douro's Valleys & Vineyards

As you cruise through the Douro River Valley, sail into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, or wine estates, clinging to the slopes. Experience the town of Porto, where you can roam the port warehouses and take in the town’s rich cultural heritage. Visit quaint Régua, Barca d’Alva, and Favaios, home to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. Explore Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO Site and one of Iberia’s oldest university towns.

What's Included:

  • Return flights
  • River-view stateroom
  • All on board meals
  • Quality wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
  • Specialty tea and coffee any time on board
  • An included shore excursion in almost every port
  • No corkage fee
  • Evening entertainment

Hand Picked By

Kate Taylor

You no longer need to book Viking River Cruises direct but can now book them through ourselves.Viking is the world’s leading river cruise line. Inspiring destinations, award-winning ships, spacious, comfortable staterooms and unrivalled food and service. Viking River cruises offers remarkable value for money, with so much included in the price.

Kate Taylor

Additional Information

  • Departure Date: Various departure dates from June 2021 - November 2023
  • Duration: 7 nights
  • Highlights: As you cruise through the Douro River Valley, sail into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, or wine estates, clinging to the slopes.

Ship Overview

Viking Helgrim

These intimate ships were custom built to sail Portugal's Douro River, with state-of-the-art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Like our Viking Longships, you can choose from a variety of stateroom classes, all with sweeping river views.

Viking Helgrim Profile

  • 53 outside staterooms with river view (16 Standard
  • Staterooms, 2 French Balcony Staterooms, 24 Veranda Staterooms, 11 Veranda Suites)
  • All Upper & Middle Deck staterooms feature a full-size veranda or a French balcony
  • Sun Deck with shaded sitting area; swimming pool; organic herb garden; solar panels; putting green
  • Aquavit Terrace, a revolutionary outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship
  • Lounge & Bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors
  • Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views
  • Library & onboard shop
  • Elevator
  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
  • Laundry service
  • 40" flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring - Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, National Geographic & more

Viking Helgrim Deck Plan

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Porto, Portugal

Upon arrival in Porto, proceed to the dock at Vila Nova de Gaia to board your ship. Then, after boarding, you can relax and get settled in your stateroom before a welcome cocktail and dinner is served. (D)

Day 2: Porto, Portugal

After breakfast, take a city tour of Porto, a charming riverside community whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire its graceful bridges, baroque cathedrals and romantic 16th- through 19th-century buildings nestled together on narrow cobblestone streets.

This afternoon you have time to explore Porto on your own, or take an optional excursion to Guimarães and its medieval quarter. Perhaps experience an evening of culinary delights as you indulge in traditional fare paired with wine at Porto’s famed Graham’s 1890 Lodge and sample a selection of their award-winning ports. Sample wines that have been in the making for generations at the historic Quinta da Aveleda estate, or soar over the historic “City of Bridges” on a thrilling helicopter sightseeing tour.

Enjoy your evening at leisure in Porto, where your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Régua, Portugal

This morning we sail along the Douro, arriving at Régua in early afternoon. Disembark for an excursion to Vila Real, site of the extraordinary Mateus Palace (the building depicted on the Mateus Rosé wine labels). This stunning baroque palace was the home of the last count of Vila Real; its pinnacled facade, grand stairway, richly appointed interiors and priceless objects on display will astonish you, as will the palace’s enchanting formal gardens featuring cedar-lined walkways, exquisite sculpted hedges and statuary and serene bodies of water. As you depart, catch glimpses of the town’s ornamental carvings and tiled walls. Visit one of the area’s iconic port wine–making institutions. See its vineyard and tour the facility to learn how these unique Portuguese products are crafted, then sample the libation in their tasting room. Rejoin your ship in Pinhão for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Barca D’Alva, Portugal

This morning, we sail east along the Douro. See dramatic, sheer rock formations, picturesque terraced vineyards, and graceful bridges and trestles along the way; you also pass through two of the river’s locks at the Valeira and Pocinho Dams. We arrive at Barca d’Alva, not far from the Spanish border, in mid-afternoon.

This afternoon, enjoy a tour to Castelo Rodrigo. Located approximately 2,200 feet above sea level and surrounded by almond trees, Castelo Rodrigo is one of Portugal’s 12 historic parishes; its streets are narrow and steep, and its houses still present 16th-century facades and the distinctively Portuguese Manueline-style windows. Here you see Sinagoga Street, a remembrance of the Jewish community established by refugees from the Spanish Inquisition; you can visit the local church as well. As we ride back to our ship, we will stop along the way to admire panoramic views. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Salamanca, Spain

Today you have a full-day excursion to Salamanca, Spain. This ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages; yet it is also a cosmopolitan and multicultural city with a large population of international students. Take a ride through the Iberian countryside to Salamanca, then spend some time exploring the shops and cafés of the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) on your own. Your afternoon guided city tour takes you to the Gothic House of Shells, the 13th-century Salamanca University and the New Cathedral, built from 1513 through 1733. The Old Cathedral still exists and can be visited during free time. Rejoin your ship in Vega de Terrón. (B, D)

Day 6: Pinhão, Portugal

This morning, we sail west along the Douro passing some of the area’s quintas (vineyards), where you may catch glimpses of vintners tending their vines.

After breakfast, disembark for a scenic drive up to the little village of Favaios, and make your way to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro River Valley. Discover how bread was made in the old days and how it tasted with a sample fresh from the oven. Visit the local museum for a wine-and-bread repast, and explore a typical Portuguese village not yet discovered by the masses. Then continue for lunch at Quinta da Avessada, a rustic centuries-old winery in the heart of the Douro Wine District (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and sample some local varieties of port, such as moscatel. Rejoin your ship in Pinhão and set sail to Régua, where you remain docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Régua, Portugal

After breakfast, disembark for a visit to Lamego, a small town known for its baroque Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, dating back to the 14th century and still used by pilgrims today. Visit the shrine, decorated with exquisite tilework in the Moorish manner, and descend the grand baroque staircase. You also see the town’s Gothic cathedral and the ruins of 12th-century Lamego Castle, with its unusual vaulted cistern. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic afternoon sailing along the Douro, back toward Porto. After arriving in port, enjoy a festive farewell dinner; we are docked overnight, so feel free to take an evening stroll or join the activities in the Lounge. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Porto, Portugal

After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time in the region with a 2-night extension to Braga, Portugal and Santiago de Compostela, Spain. (B)

Additional Information

  • Departure Date: Various departure dates from June 2021 - November 2023
  • Duration: 7 nights
  • Highlights: As you cruise through the Douro River Valley, sail into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, or wine estates, clinging to the slopes.

Cabin and Fares

Cabin TypeGuide PriceAdditional InfoCabinEnquire
Outside CabinFrom £1,895ppView Cabin

Outside Cabin

Approximately 150 sq. ft.

- Stateroom size: 155 sq ft - River-view stateroom with half-height picture window - Hotel-style bed 79 in x 63 in (with optional twin-bed configuration); luxury linens & pillows - Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) - 40" flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, - National Geographic & more - 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports - Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control - Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower - Premium Freyja® toiletries; plush robes & slippers available upon request - Bottled water replenished daily - Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping - Space under bed for storing suitcases - Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers - View the Standard Stateroom in our 360° Douro Ship Tour

Enquire Now
View Cabin

Outside Cabin

Approximately 150 sq. ft.

- Stateroom size: 155 sq ft - River-view stateroom with half-height picture window - Hotel-style bed 79 in x 63 in (with optional twin-bed configuration); luxury linens & pillows - Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) - 40" flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, - National Geographic & more - 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports - Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control - Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower - Premium Freyja® toiletries; plush robes & slippers available upon request - Bottled water replenished daily - Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping - Space under bed for storing suitcases - Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers - View the Standard Stateroom in our 360° Douro Ship Tour

Enquire Now