Portugal & the Douro River Valley

Day 1-2: Welcome to Portugal!
After an overnight flight, arrive in Lisbon in time for a tour of the Belém District, Lisbon’s historical center that features several monuments such as Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Enjoy the local cuisine during an evening Fado performance, a showcase of Portugal’s music and culture. Check-in for 2-nights at one of Lisbon’s finest hotels, the 5-star Altis Grand. Meals In-Flight, L, D

Day 3: Lisbon & Sintra
Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of downtown Lisbon on a detailed walking tour with an expert local guide. Along the way, explore colorful town squares and the city’s premier shopping and café district. Continue to the mystic village of Sintra, where lavish palaces dating as far back as the 10^th century sit atop rolling hills. Visit the westernmost point of mainland Europe at the impressive Cabo da Roca and stand on the mighty cliffs that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. B, D

Day 4: Knights Templar Medieval Festival
A day you will never forget! Travel with your local guide to Tomar and visit the Knights Templar Convent of Christ, a UNESCO Heritage Site that dates to 1160 as a fortress, temple, and palace. Travel back to the days of the Knights Templar with an exclusive Medieval Event as the Court welcomes us at the castle’s entrance, serves a medieval lunch with live music and dancing, and brings history to life with a variety of colorful characters from the past. B, L

Day 5: Coimbra
Travel to the charming riverfront city of Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, Coimbra University. Led by a student donned in formal cloak, learn about ancient traditions and tour the Biblioteca Joanina, a Baroque library considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Enjoy a private lunch, tour, and tasting at Alianca Winery before a visit to the Underground Museum, where wine caves have been transformed into galleries featuring art and priceless artifacts. Continue to Porto and board your home for the next 7 nights, the 5-star Emerald Radiance, chartered exclusively for our guests. B, L, D

Day 6: Cruising the Douro
Enjoy the sleek modern design and many amenities aboard one of the most stunning ships in Portugal during a full day of sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley. This fascinating area is celebrated because it builds on two millennia of wine producing history, where viticulture has shaped the surrounding landscape and small, sleepy villages are peppered with dozens of sun-drenched vineyards. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktail reception. B, L, D

Day 7: Pinhão / Vega de Terrón
Begin your day with a visit to the scenic Quinta do Tedo Vineyard in the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley, nestled on the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. This 18th-century estate is environmentally sound, creating organic produce by using traditional viticulture methods. This afternoon, enjoy sailing to the Spanish pier of Vega de Terrón, perhaps relaxing on the Sun Deck to enjoy the Portuguese climate. B, L, D

Day 8: Salamanca, Spain
Founded in Roman times, the ancient city of Salamanca and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old quarter have an illustrious past, having been held by the Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors. Travel to the beautiful ‘Golden City’ for a walking tour, which includes exploring the postcard-worthy galleries and arcades that adorn Plaza Mayor. See Casa de las Conchas, a building that has been lovingly decorated with more than 300 shells, and Salamanca’s university, one of the oldest universities in Europe that dates to 1218. B, L, D

Day 9: Pocinho
Arrive in Pocinho and visit the 13^th century village of Castelo Rodrigo, whose medieval alleys and imposing wall enclosure have been kept intact as a reminder of its history as a hotspot for dynastic disputes. Return to the Radiance for lunch and soak up your idyllic surroundings, enjoying a Port wine cocktail lesson on board as we sail towards Régua. B, L, D

Optional – Archaeological 4x4 Tour: Explore the UNESCO region where paleolithic rock art dates back as far as 22,000 B.C. Activity Level: High. (Optional tour occurs at same time as included tour.) $55 per person

Day 10: Régua
Visit the marvelous Baroque village of Lamego, stopping to see the picturesque Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, a structure that stands gracefully over the town. If you’re feeling active, enjoy an invigorating walk down the 686 steps from the Sanctuary to the main square. B, L, D

Optional - Mateus Manor House and Gardens Tour this impressive marvel of architecture and landscape completed in 1744. (Optional tour occurs at same time as included tour.) $55 per person.

Day 11: Porto
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating and eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. On a guided tour, learn about the city’s history as a global wine exporter, and see the fortified structures of Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo, a building whose pentagonal façades overlook the ocean. B, L, D

Optional - Visit Quinta Aveleda Afternoon excursion option to the largest Vinho Verde wine exporter, and winner of the “Architecture, Parks, and Gardens” category of the International Best of Wine Tourism award. $55 per person

Day 12: Return home
After breakfast, disembark the Emerald Radiance for your included flight home, filled with memories of sun-drenched vineyards and new friends. B

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Nights 2-3: Altis Grand Hotel, Lisbon
Night 4: Vila Gale Collection, Tomar
Nights 5-11: Emerald Radiance

Dates:

• Departure Date: April 1, 2025
• Return Date: April 12, 2025

Pricing: See Graphics Below

Enjoy an EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT until October 31, 2024!

*Per person rates

*Included airfare from STL/MCI/SGF (call for other gateway cities)

*Passport Required

Identification
Valid passport required to travel.

Walking Distance
Like most European River Cruises, this tour includes walking tours in historical cities that are not handicap accessible. Above average mobility is required compared to most domestic tours.

To fully enjoy your your vacation, you should be in good physical health and understand there are times when a good deal of walking is involved in our tours. Those who have difficulty walking may not want to take this trip or should discuss their personal situation with their doctor before deciding. You should be able to walk at a steady pace for a mile at a time for a daily total of three to four miles per day and be able to manage steps to board/de-board the motorcoach several times a day. In addition, many US and European airports require lengthy walks to get from ticketing counters to your departure gate.

We are finding that larger European cities are closing their historic districts to motor traffic. This, of course, adds to the amount of walking involved when visiting a city (sometimes on uneven and/or cobblestone walkways).

Optional Excursions
Optional tours are listed in the itinerary, we encourage you to book them as soon as possible.

Average Temps

Lisbon – high of 75°, low of 50°
Porto – high of 70°, low of 45°

Currency
Euro (Portugal and Spain)

Time Zone
GMT+1 (5 hours ahead of New York)

Travel with CTD Friends
This tour will include travelers and staff from our sister company, Country Travel Discoveries.

Hotel Amenities
The Emerald Radiance has an elevator that operates between the Riviera, Vista, and Horizon decks. The sun deck is not accessible by elevator. The Radiance also has a Spa-style Serenity Pool and walking track on the Sun Deck. In addition, a fitness area and hairdresser. Wi-Fi is included in your package onboard the ship. We will travel in rural river landscapes, meaning the Wi-Fi connection at times can be limited.

Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.

Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.

Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available

We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.

We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.

If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.

If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.

If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.

Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.

To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.

Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on the coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.