Portugal Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro River with 3-Nights in Lisbon

September 26, 2026

– October 7, 2026

12 Days

Explore the dreamy Douro River and discover its gleaming waters as you sail Portugal’s breathtaking panoramic beauty. Marvel at the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, cozy towns, and charming villages!

Before sailing, begin your vacation with a three-night stay in beautiful Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Enjoy guided sightseeing to see the city highlights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Join an excursion to magnificent Palacio Nacional de Sintra. Stop in Coimbra for a city sightseeing tour before reaching Porto where you will board your Avalon Suite Ship® to start a delightful river cruise!

Like a blue-ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along its sloping vineyards. Rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. You’ll be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations.

Daily Itinerary

Your journey begins with an overnight flight from Chicago O’Hare to Lisbon, Portugal

Welcome to Lisbon – The day is yours to relax and explore.

Hotel: Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa (or similar)

Explore Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, with a Local Guide. Do not miss the must-see sights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries.

You might opt to join an optional gastronomic walking tour to learn about the authentic flavors, aromas, and traditions of Portugal.
This evening you might join an optional excursion including a traditional Portuguese dinner, followed by a live concert of traditional Portuguese Fado music.

Hotel: Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa (or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

This morning enjoy some free time before we embark on a guided excursion to Sintra, where you will visit the National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Cabo da Roca and enjoy some free time in the westernmost point of continental Europe.

Hotel: Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour. Accompanied by a Local Guide, you’ll explore the historical area of the city and learn all about the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world.

Transfer to Porto to board your Avalon Suite Ship.

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. Overnight docking in Porto.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a guided bike tour, OR enjoy a guided visit to one of the many Port wine cellars, where a guide will accompany you through the cellar’s facilities, explaining where the grapes are harvested and how the wines are made. At the end of your explorations, taste some of the wines, OR join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art.

Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.

Overnight docking in Porto Antigo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including an olive oil and wine tasting, OR: Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Lamego —Enjoy a taste of the local bola de Lamego with sparkling wine and stroll past iconic landmarks like the majestic Lamego Cathedral, OR Join a wine painting class with the guidance of a resident artist for a unique and new experience to portray an image linked to the culture of wine through an innovative process.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.

Overnight docking in Pinhão.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region. Join a Workshop conducted by a professional painter to discover the process of painting azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile). OR experience the stunning beauty of the Douro Valley on a guided bike tour through its picturesque vineyards OR experience the charm of the Douro region with a visit to a historic vineyard estate. Enjoy a tasting of exquisite red, white, and port wines while soaking in stunning views and uncovering the rich heritage of this renowned winemaking

Overnight docking in Barca D’alva.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR: Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and “Plateresque” architecture. OR Enjoy a guided tour to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo, which, from the top of a hill, dominates the plateau that stretches from Spain in the east to the deep valley of the Douro in the north. Stroll through its medieval streets and discover the small details that give it color, such as the Hebrew inscriptions and crosses carved on the doorposts.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Overnight docking in Foz Do Sabor

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

During your morning sailing, join an onboard pastry demonstration.

Join us to visit a wine-producing property, and taste the freshness and lightness of iconic Vinho Verde wine, considered one of the world’s unique white wines OR join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.

This evening, enjoy onboard entertainment.

Overnight docking in Leverinho.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. OR this afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife.

Overnight docking in Porto

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast before transferring disembarking in Porto and transferring to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

Explore Lisbon with a local guide including Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries
Excursion to Sintra to visit the National Palace a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour with a Local Guide.
Entre Os Rios choice of tours:
- An exclusive visit the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque, an era XIII century church.
- A full day guided tour of Braga, including UNESCO San Miguel church in Guimarães
Peso da Régua choice of tours:
- Personal tour of the oldest farm in the Douro Valley including olive oil and wine tasting
- A guided tour of Régua and Casa do Douro
Pocinho choice of tours:
- Vila Nova de Foz Côa, an amazing archaeological site
- Guided tour of Freixo de Numão, filled with Roman, Medieval and modern ruins
Barca D’Alva choice of tours:
- Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey
- Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca
Caldas De Aregos
- A morning sail with a professional painter teaching the process of painting an azulejos
- Guided sightseeing of Amarante
Porto choice of tours:
- A bicycle tour along the wharfs of the Douro River, the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia
- Guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Complimentary pre-paid gratuities to your shipboard staff, local guides, and coach drivers
And many more onboard events and activities!

Fox Tour Manager! *

A Tour Manager from Fox World Travel will accompany the group, offering peace of mind as you travel!

Accommodations

3-nights hotel accommodations in Lisbon at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa (or similar) with included daily breakfast
Deluxe 7-night Avalon River cruise in a river view stateroom on the stunning Avalon Alegria

Dining

All meals onboard Avalon Alegria
Chef-inspired regional recipes with wine pairing!
Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Transportation

Roundtrip air from Chicago O’Hare to Lisbon, Portugal, returning from Porto, Portugal
Round-trip airport/hotel motorcoach transfers

Avalon Alegria

Explore Portugal’s dazzling Douro River on Avalon’s newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships®. The Avalon Alegria delights river cruisers with exceptional experiences and the elegant yet relaxed luxury you’ve come to expect from Avalon Waterways. As the newest addition to our fleet of Suite Ships, the Avalon Alegria certainly lives up to its name, meaning happiness, which flows from stem to stern on this 262-foot ship.

Choose from 14 deluxe staterooms or 37 Panorama Suites® with a spacious capacity of just 102 passengers.

Choose from two full decks of award-winning Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transform your living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony.

The 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, with Avalon’s signature window-facing “Beds with a View.” spectacular views!

Luxuriously appointed river view staterooms with Comfort Collection beds, fabulous L’Occitane bath products, bottled water refreshed daily, hair dryer, safe and flat-screen TV with satellite, complimentary movies and entertainment, ample storage space
Remarkable service from your English-speaking crew and on-board tour director

Pricing

Deluxe Stateroom (Categories E-D)

Deluxe Staterooms (Categories E-D)

180 sq. ft.
Two windows
Two twin beds that may convert to a queen-size bed

Air + Cruising Pricing:

$8,586.00 - $8,957.00

Cruise Only Pricing:

$7,036.00 - $7,407.00

*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy

Panorama Suite (Categories B-A-P)

Panorama Suite (Categories B-A-P)

200 sq ft
Wall to Wall and Floor to Ceiling Panoramic Windows
Two twin beds that may convert to a queen-size bed

Air + Cruise Pricing:

$10,815.00 - $10,975.00

Cruise Only Pricing:

$9,265.00 - $9,425.00

*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy

Early Booking Discount

Book and deposit by December 31, 2025, and receive a $250.00 discount per person.

Discounts are subject to change at any time.

Important Information

Not Included: Airline flights on land-only packages, air-imposed baggage fees, gratuities for airport porters, tour guides, motorcoach drivers, meals (other than those included in the package), optional excursions, travel insurance and any items of a personal nature.

Terms: Minimum of number of travelers is required for the tour to operate and send a Fox World Travel tour manager to accompany the group. In the event the minimum number is not reached, the tour will operate with a professional, local guide in the destination. Hotels and daily itinerary are subject to change. In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program. Included visits and specific features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.

Group Air: A minimum of 10 passengers is needed for the group air. Air is non-refundable after ticketing. Flights are currently pending. The air-inclusive package includes air that has not yet been assigned, the identity of the carrier, which may include the carrier`s code-share partner, will be assigned and disclosed at a later date. Air package pricing is subject to change until contracted due to the volatility of airfare costs. Checked baggage fees may apply. Pricing and flight options from other cities available upon request.

Initial Deposit: $400.00 per person

Fox Professional Fee: Package price includes a $50.00 non-refundable Professional Fee per reservation. Fee will be charged at the time of deposit and will show as an additional payment from Fox World Travel.

Requirements: A valid US passport is necessary with a minimum validity of 6 months from date of return.

Insurance: For peace of mind, we recommend purchasing travel protection insurance. Your travel advisor can discuss options with you, including medical expense coverage, pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers, trip cancellation, trip delay, lost, delayed, or damaged baggage and more. To cover pre-existing conditions, most policies must be purchased within 14 days of making your initial deposit. Travel protection insurance prices are based on your age and the trip cost.

Cancellation Penalties:

From date of deposit to May 28, 2026: Initial deposit of $400.00 per person

May 29 – July 23, 2026: 50% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees

July 24 – August 22, 2026: 75% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees

August 23, 2026 to Day of Travel: No refunds

Fox World Cancellation Fee of $100.00 per reservation will apply in addition to any Fox Group Vacation or vendor cancellation penalties. Air tickets are non-refundable once ticketed.

You will receive customized, informative travel documents containing trip details and helpful packing and planning information approximately 2 weeks prior to departure.

Note: Daily Itinerary is subject to change. Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to uncontrollable factors.

RESPONSIBILITY: We and any sponsoring organizations act only as agent for the suppliers of travel services such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tour operators, restaurants, sightseeing companies, entertainment providers, and cruise lines (the “Suppliers”). We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of the Suppliers that cause losses or damages arising from physical or emotional injury, property or other economic damage, consequential damages, or monetary losses, or arising from any other causes beyond our control. We reserve the right to make any changes in the itinerary deemed necessary, and also the right to decline or retain any person as a member of the Trip. If you choose to arrange your own transportation for any portion of the Trip, we are not responsible for any arrangements or associated costs should there be a change in date that requires changes or cancellation to transportation arranged by you. We are not responsible should there be any changes with vacation hosts, tour managers, or entertainment. You grant to FWT and its designated agents the right to acquire and use the audio, photographic, video and other portrayals of your image, likeness, and voice in any medium of any nature whatsoever, including the Internet, for the purpose of trade, advertising, sales, publicity or otherwise, without compensation.

We will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but we are not responsible in the event we are unable to do so nor are we responsible for any denial of services by Suppliers. The American with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including a touring motor coach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret we cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motor coaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well-being. Motorized scooters are unsuitable for most vacations.

We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the Suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. For information concerning possible dangers at destinations, we recommend contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or www.travel.state.gov. For medical information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel. You assume full and complete responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of your destination(s), and all conditions regarding health, safety, security, political stability, and labor or civil unrest at such destination(s). You hereby release us from all claims arising out of any problem covered in this paragraph. You agree that the courts in Winnebago County, Wisconsin will be the exclusive jurisdiction for all claims brought by you or us, and you hereby submit to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

We work vigilantly with the Suppliers to maintain integrity of the price you were originally quoted and placed on deposit. There may be certain circumstances where your vacation may be subject to a price increase prior to full payment due to a supplier or government issued surcharge. Prices will not increase after you make full payment, except for charges resulting from increases in government-imposed taxes or fees, fuel surcharges, exchange fluctuations or any combinations of these. Fox World Travel will make a reasonable attempt to contact you prior to issuing charges.