£2699pp—Luxury Douro cruise, Madrid stay & tours

Stay at a 5-star hotel in the heart of Madrid. Then, embark on a 7-night cruise on a luxurious ship purpose-built to sail the Douro Valley. There are daily excursions to historic port wine estates, Medieval villages, and more. It's the quiet season, so you'll feel like you have the valley all to yourself.

What's included

• Return flights
• All transfers
• A 3-night stay at the 5-star NH Collection Madrid Paseo Del Prado, in a Standard Room, with breakfast
• A guided tour of Madrid
• An excursion to Toledo
• A full-day tour of Salamanca (en route to the cruise)
• A 7-night full-board cruise on AmaVida, in a Riverview Stateroom
• Daily meals, and drinks with lunch and dinner
• Daily excursions on the cruise

When
Depart on 2, 9, or 16 December, 2026.

All three of these sailings are in Christmas Market season. The markets in Madrid and Porto are the largest and most charming. Iberian specialities include roasted chestnuts, churros, shortbread, and nougat.

For more information, see our partner's website.

Itinerary details
This itinerary operates in reverse on 9 December, with a night in port in Pinhão instead of Regua.

First, spend three nights in Madrid. You'll stay at a 5-star hotel in a Baroque square steps from the Prado. There's an excursion every day. You'll see the highlights of Spain's vibrant capital on a guided tour.

The next day, take a daytrip to the ancient hilltop town of Toledo. It is "truly one of Spain's most magnificent cities", says Lonely Planet, and home of Renaissance Master El Greco. 

Finally, set off for Vega De Terron, on the border of Spain and Portugal. This is where you'll embark on AmaVida. On the way there, tour Salamanca, the jewel in the crown of Castilian Spain. Check out the historic cathedrals (yes, there are two) and the 800-year-old university.

Onboard AmaVida, you'll call at:

• Barca D'Alva... tour Castelo Rodrigo, a historic hilltop village founded by the King in 1209. Explore the grand castle ruins and taste some of the town's best local produce.
• Pinhão... this picturesque town is your introduction to the Douro region. Choose from a quinta wine-tasting session at a local quinta or lunch at Quinta De Avesseda. This is a historic winery and farm estate.
• Régua (overnight in port)... this town is the capital of the Port wine region. Choose to tour of the 18th-century Mateus Palace, or visit the city of Lamego. On the second day in port, enjoy lunch at a local quinta. 
• Entre-os-Rios... enjoy more scenic cruising through the Douro Valley. Stop off for a wine-tasting session at Entre-os-Rios, a pretty riverfront village.
• Porto (overnight in port)...  sail past colourful tumbledown houses into the heart of the city. You'll dock overnight so you can take a full day in Porto. Wander the Ribeira district and visit the iconic wine cellars. We recommend visiting Livraria Lello, billed as the world's most beautiful bookstore.

Ship details
AmaVida is an AmaWaterways ship specially designed to sail the Douro. It is smaller than standard, carrying 102 passengers. It can sail up close to the terraced wine estates, and the lounge has panoramic views. The Main Restaurant serves up locally-sourced cuisine, including the region's signature Port. Meals are all included, plus wine and beer at lunch and dinner. There's a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour, too. Wi-Fi is free.

Other options

• Sail in a Twin Balcony Stateroom from £3199 per person
• Solo travellers an book the same holiday from £3499

Transfers & baggage
All transfers and 20kg checked baggage included.