This was published 6 years ago
Douro, Portugal river cruising: 10 reasons to experience the delights of the Douro
The Douro Valley: Home of the good life.Credit: LuisPortugal
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This is the good life. When you're cruising down Portugal's Douro River, glass of local wine in hand, stunning scenery laid out before you, you'll have to agree. When you're exploring the cobbled laneways of Lisbon, when you're checking out the tapas bars of Madrid – you'll have to agree. This is the good life.
Portugal and Spain are truly amazing travel destinations; places where life is lived to its fullest, where family, friends, good food and wine are the most important things of all. To dive into this irresistible culture is to indulge in the good life; truly, this is a journey to inspire, to fulfil, and to fall in love with.
Live the Mediterranean life
All of those dreams you have of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the long lunches in the sunshine, the delicious fresh produce, the familial atmosphere, the affordable, high-quality food and wine – they will come true. Very quickly. On APT's "Douro Delights" tour you'll find yourself enjoying the best of the Iberian lifestyle, tasting cheese and wine at Quinta da Aveleda, eating a family-style lunch in Quinta da Roeda, and taking dinner aboard your river ship surrounded by friends old and new.
Unpack once
One of the standard hassles of European travel is the constant movement, the packing and unpacking of bags, the checking in and checking out of hotels. Aboard a river cruise, however, that isn't an issue. From day four to day 11 of this journey your hotel room will move with you, as your luxury river ship transports you up the Douro River and into some of the most beautiful locales northern Portugal has to offer.
Visit two of Europe's great cities
Douro Delights' river cruise is bookended by visits to two of Europe's greatest, though sometimes underappreciated, capital cities: Lisbon, and Madrid. In Lisbon, ride the city's iconic tramcars, explore its warrens of cobbled streets, and take a detour to the historic seaside town of Sintra. In Madrid, visit the famed Prado art museum, learn about Spanish cuisine on a culinary tour, or explore the Santiago Bernabeu, home of the Real Madrid football club.
Cruise in style
APT's Douro Valley river ship, the AmaVida, is a luxurious vessel custom-built for cruising this magnificent waterway. Seventy per cent of the staterooms feature private balconies, and there are plenty of facilities to enjoy as you make your leisurely way through northern Portugal, including an open-air swimming pool, a spa, a sun deck, a lounge and bar, and a restaurant with both indoor and alfresco dining spaces.
Enjoy free time
Though the "Douro Delights" cruise has plenty of experiences included, there's also ample time to explore on your own, to get to know the places you visit at your natural pace. Walk the cobbled lanes of Lisbon; enjoy a leisurely lunch in Sintra; wander the terraced hillsides of Pinhao; or hop between tapas bars in Madrid. This tour gives you the freedom to discover what makes this part of the world unique.
Wine and dine
The highlight of any journey through the Iberian Peninsula is undoubtedly the food: the cuisines of Portugal and Spain are history, culture and love on a plate. On the Douro Delights tour you'll be treated to the full splendour of Iberian gastronomy, from a private meal at the winemaking estate Quinta da Aveleda, to a picnic by the river in Regua, to the option of a culinary tour in Madrid, to the high-quality, authentic local dishes you'll be served every day by the internationally-trained team on board the MS AmaVida.
Enjoy Signature Experiences
APT offers its guests the chance to enjoy classic parts of Portugal and Spain that few other people ever get to see through its range of "Signature Experiences". At Quinta da Aveleda, explore stunning gardens before indulging in a wine and cheese tasting and private dinner. In the Portuguese town of Lamego, visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. And in Pinhao, relax with a family-style lunch at a winery.
Explore the Douro Valley
The Douro Valley is one of Europe's underappreciated gems, a waterway with looks to match the Rhine, wine-making culture to match the Loire Valley, and history to match the Rhone. Its delights are all there for you to discover on this journey, too: the ancient villages set into hillsides; the blue-and-white-tiled buildings; the terraced slopes catching the warmth of the sun; the wineries with their long lunches. It's a seemingly never-ending joy.
Step back in time
There's some serious history in the Douro Valley: not only is this the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, but there have been settlements on these riverbanks for thousands of years. One of the best places to appreciate that antiquity is Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. This hilltop town features the ruins of Rodrigo Castle, built in the 1200s, and commands panoramic views of the surrounding valley.
Utilise local knowledge
Throughout the Douro Delights tour you'll enjoy the services of APT's expert Tour and Cruise Directors, as well as gain knowledge from local, bilingual guides who will lead you through their specific towns. This is the ideal way to appreciate the history and culture of a few countries that may not be that familiar, but which are truly fascinating and welcoming destinations.
This article produced in association with APT.
Be inspired by the Mediterranean's irresistible culture – from its rich history to its vibrant countryside, everything is taken care of on a luxury APT river cruise.
For more information visit http://www.aptouring.com.au/trips/europe/eupdclm14 or contact your travel agent.
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