An exclusive boat trip on the Douro River is one of the most scenic in Europe. The breathtaking Porto historic center and the Douro Valley, both UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, make it a traveler’s favorite.
This yacht experience was tailored for you to have the ultimate experience on the most emblematic and renowned wineries and wine-producing estates in Douro Valley – the oldest wine demarcated region in the world. Depart on this experience by diving into the color pallet that the Douro has to offer on a Princess 56 in the Douro Valley, with an experienced skipper and sailor, enjoy the journey upriver is one of the most scenic in the world, with staggering views of the dramatic valley covered in bright green rows of grapevines.
Spectacular scenery, fascinating history, amazing culture, mouthwatering food are only the beginning. So with such a vast array of delights on offer, you will travel at a leisurely pace, giving you plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere. You will have privileged access to the most authentic wineries and wine tastings, meals with property owners, restaurants and other experiences. You will enjoy the delightful tastings that will grant you a full comprehension of the Douro wines and their characteristics and varied flavors. You will also have some absolutely ravishing gastronomic experiences that will show you to the most iconic venues in the Douro, and delight you with a fantastic meal at one of the most renowned restaurants in Portugal. We are here to make your cruise unforgettable.
Check availability of the suggested private tour or get a fully customized itinerary, add extra days, change your experiences or discover different sights, and refine your luxury tour to suit your preferences. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation bespoke vacation plan.
Transfer from Porto International Airport or your hotel in Porto to Marina do Freixo, by deluxe vehicle with English speaking Chauffeur (service on request).
Please check-in 20 minutes before the start of the experience.
We will welcome you on board at Marina do Freixo, a 35 minute walk from D. Luiz I Bridge. A stylish Princess Yacht will be waiting for you, enjoy a private cruise for a group up to 6 people. During this 5-Day boat tour, we will cruise the Douro River while you relax on the spacious flybridge and deck where you can enjoy the views.
You will be transferred to Quinta da Pacheca. In the village of Cambres, Lamego county, in the heart of the first Pombaline demarcation of the Region, is Quinta da Pacheca, one of the most prestigious and recognized properties in the Douro Demarcated Region. The history of the vineyard in this property dates back to the XVI century when it was a collection of vines that belonged to the Monasteries of Salzedas and St. João de Tarouca, as referred to in a document dating 1551. Here you will get to know its history better as well as the olive oil production processes directly at the Lagares, and the winemaking processes of Quinta da Pacheca’s wines. Stroll the vineyards, breathe Douro Valley’s green nature and join the wine tasting to end this tour in perfection.
Dinner is waiting for you at Quinta da Pacheca Restaurant. The varied and tempting menu respects the concept of traditional Portuguese cuisine and uses the typical products of Douro that the virtuous Chef Carlos Pires works with almost divine inspiration. Each meal is paired with Quinta da Pacheca wine enhancing the flavors adventure.
You will be transferred to Quinta de La Rosa.
Lunch will be served at Quinta de La Rosa Restaurant. With fabulous views over the river, Quinta de la Rosa’s Restaurant was opened in the summer of 2017. Named in honor of Claire Bergqvist, who was famous for her hospitality and generosity, we pair every dish with our own wines upon the recommendation of our esteemed winemaker, Jorge Moreira. The restaurant also add touches that allude to the family’s heritage by including a few of Claire’s favourite recipes. The executive chef, Pedro Cardoso, has worked in the Douro for over 10 years. Using locally sourced products and vegetables from the garden, the Chef has developed many of his recipes from the Tras-os-Montes.
Then, you will visit and have a wine tasting at Quinta de La Rosa Winery. Quinta de La Rosa was built in an unusual location, on a hill with steep stairs that connect the different levels besides the Douro River. Here it is produced the wine that is provided to some of the most important Restaurants and Retailers all over the world. The Bergqvist family has been making Port wine since 1815. The Quinta de La Rosa estate was offered as a baptism gift to Claire Feuheerd, Sophia’s grandmother, in 1906.
Then, a visit to Pinhão Train Station. Pinhão Railway Station is the most beautiful station in the Douro. Built during the 19th century it is known for its tiles depicting the production of Port wine, from the grape harvest, the treading of the grapes to the transport of the wine in rabelo boats down the river to the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. The train arrived in Pinhão in 1880 which contributed to the rapid expansion of what used to be a small village. In 1937 the station received the tile panels that make it famous. They were designed by J. Oliveira, an artist who has also decorated other Portuguese stations, and were built in the Aleluia factory in Aveiro. Observing the panels is like reading a story, told by the images that represent the stages of wine production. It is also a journey into the past where various aspects of the Douro Valley that have already disappeared can be observed.
You will discover one of the finnest Quintas in the Douro Valley – Quinta de Ventozelo. The Quinta was once farmed by Cistercian monks who inhabited the region in the Middle Age. The monks transformed local agriculture and began the production of port wine. One of the largest and oldest of the Douro estates, it has passed through different hands down the centuries, each molding and transforming it into what it is today. You will have a visit to the Museum, Cellar, and a Wine tasting.
Lunch will be served at Cantina de Ventozelo Restaurant. The traditional flavors of Douro and Trás-os-Montes and the Quinta de Ventozelo products will be served. By the terrace, looking at Quinta de Ventozelo and Douro River, food has new flauvor! Housed in the former workers’ dining hall, Cantina de Ventozelo with the help of Chef Miguel Castro e Silva combines traditional recipes with new techniques for a menu inspired by the comfort food that used to nourish farm workers during the olden days and a more refined dinner menu that can be paired with Ventozelo’s own Douro and port wines.
You will be transferred to Quinta do Crasto.
Discover Quinta do Crasto. Out of 1,500 wineries nominated around the world for the World’s Best Vineyard, Quinta do Crasto was selected as the #4 top vineyard worldwide. Its origin dates back to the 19th century. You will visit the famous old vineyards, winery, and beautiful warehouse barrels, which matured table wines and premium Port wines and have a Premium wine tasting. One of the biggest recognitions received by this Quinta came in 2008, when the magazine Wine Spectator considered the Quinta do Crasto Reserve Old Vines 2005 from vines with 70 years, the third-best wine in the world, giving it a 95 rating in one hundred points.
Dinner will be served at Terraçu’s Restaurant. Indulge yourself with the delicacies that the Winery Restaurant has to offer you. The menu appeals to the senses and emotions, in a relaxed and curious way. The proposals are different every day and guests never know the menu, letting themselves be guided by the inspiration of Chef José Pinto.
Lunch will be served at DOC Restaurant. A great restaurant, with modern and creative gastronomy, with Douro flavors. Designed by the architect Miguel Saraiva, in a place of enormous beauty, blending the grandeur of the vineyard-covered mountains and the serenity of the Douro river. The Michelin Starred Chef Rui Paula Team organizes everything in detail, always adding an element of surprise, so as to make the celebration unforgettable.
Enjoy a cultural break in Lamego. The culture, architecture, heritage, historical center justify a visit. The Lamego Castel, within the urban area, Ex-libris of the town, from the top of its walls can be sighted the waters of the rivers Coura, Balsemão and Varosa. The construction of the castle began in the 13Th Century with the goal of protecting the city inhabitants. In the 17th century, a niche in homage to Our Lady Nossa Senhora da Graça was erected. Then, you should visit the Lamego Museum, an astounding collection of ancient art and artifacts, including a fully reconstructed chapel dripping with gold, is displayed within the walls of an 18th century bishop’s palace. Among the many highlights are the set of paintings by one of Portugal’s most renowned painters, Grão Vasco, 16th century Flemish tapestries that depict the Greek legend of Oedipus and colorful 17th Century panels Azulejos (painted tiles) and Lady of Remedies Shrine in Lamego. From one of the central avenues in Lamego, you can climb to the top of the hill up an imposing baroque staircase with 686 steps ending in a shrine built in the rocaille style in the mid-eighteenth century for the worship of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, although it was not completely finished until 1905. The same Nicolau Nasoni who painted the cathedral ceilings designed some of the baroque works that decorate this monument.
Lunch will be served at Quinta do Santo António. A hand-picked restaurant next to the Douro River. A Glamorous Quinta, with both history and tradition, with a variety of natural resources and world heritage that dazzles the eyes, which combined with an unparalleled gastronomic and wine offer, deserves to be experienced in a rustic setting. Chef David Couto welcomes you to the kitchen of Olivetto. Traditional Douro flavours with new textures and presentation awaits you. A Mediterranean-based cuisine where olive oil is the millennial element of excellence.
You will see the city from another perspective. The Porto cruise will take you along some of the most important attractions of Porto and Gaia, like D. Luiz I bridge, Porto Cathedral, Clérigos Tower, Ribeira square, Church of Saint Francis, Tramcar Museum, Monastery of Serra do Pilar, Port Wine Cellars and many more. It’s the most exciting way to do sightseeing while relaxing at the same time.
