Discover Northern Portugal - Premium Adventure
Discover Northern Portugal - Premium Adventure
Discover Northern Portugal - Premium Adventure
8 Days Starting in Aveiro and ending in Porto
Visiting: Portugal
Tour Overview
Discover all that’s great about northern Portugal: the scenic waterways of the Ria de Aveiro, salt flats of Figueira da Foz, wines of the Douro Valley and Dão, and timeless majesty of Porto. Scenic tours by train and traditional moliceiro boat allow us to see the region from a different angle, while staying in a Premium hotel each night makes the trip extra special.
Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start At Our Premium Hotel In Aveiro
Meals Included: Dinner
Begin the adventure in coastal Aveiro, which is known as the Portuguese Venice for the network of canals that criss-cross the city. Our expert tour leader holds a welcome briefing at 5pm, followed by a welcome dinner. If you have a bit of time to spare beforehand, you make use of the indoor swimming pool at the hotel.
Premium accommodation: Hotel Meliá Ria
Day 2 : Cruise Along The Ria De Aveiro And Guided Walk In Ovar Following The Azulejo Route
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Transfer (approximately 40 minutes) to the Cais do Bico quay this morning. Here, we board a moliceiro, a traditional gondola-style boat, for a scenic two-hour cruise, exploring the channels and islands of the Ria de Aveiro, while learning about the region’s history and culture.
Arriving in Ovar, we disembark for lunch before a guided walking tour. Ovar is known as the City of Tiles, with many of the 19th- and 20th-century public buildings decorated in azulejo tiles. We follow the Azulejo Route for around 1mi (1.5km), exploring the historic streets at a gentle pace.
We then visit a pão de ló workshop, indulging in a culinary treasure as we sample the famous Portuguese sponge cake and see how it’s made. We then transfer (30 minutes) back to the hotel in Aveiro.
Premium accommodation: Hotel Meliá Ria
Day 3 : Guided Tour Of The Figueira Da Foz Salt Flats; Transfer To Viseu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a one-hour transfer to the city of Figueira da Foz this morning, where we visit the salt flats for a guided visit led by a marnoto (salt harvester) who shares the traditional methods of saliculture (salt production). Their ancestral techniques, which date to the 12th century, are entirely done by hand and are differentiated according to the environmental conditions.
We then have a relaxing picnic lunch at an old farmhouse, now converted into a charming space with a wood-fired oven. It will be a light lunch where salt and flor de sal feature prominently, along with regional specialties from Figueira da Foz. After, we transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) to Viseu. You have the rest of the afternoon to unwind in the hotel pool and spa or explore this beautiful hilltop city.
Premium accommodation: Montebelo Viseu Congress Hotel & Spa
Day 4 : Guided Tour Of Viseu; Visit To São Pedro Do Sul, Guided Tour Of Organic Farm And Wine Tasting
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Embark on a guided tour of Viseu this morning. Our 1hr 30min to two-hour tour takes in the highlights of the city, from the impressive Viseu Cathedral to the Solar do Vinho do Dão, the headquarters of the Dão Regional Wine Commission.
We then transfer (35 minutes) to Quinta Da Comenda, a farm that has been growing produce without synthetic pesticide or any chemical fertilisers since 1987. The quinta is a historic agro-vinicultural farm with roots that date to before the foundation of the country, as it belonged to D. Teresa, the mother of Portugal’s first king, D. Afonso Henriques.
Here we take a guided tour of the farm with the owners, before a picnic lunch of local delicacies and a wine tasting. After, we return to the hotel in Viseu, where we have the rest of the day free to explore.
Premium accommodation: Montebelo Viseu Congress Hotel & Spa
Day 5 : Douro Museum Tour; Scenic Train Journey Alongside The Douro River; Dinner Of Regional Dishes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Bid farewell to Viseu this morning and transfer (one hour) to the Douro, one of Portugal’s great wine-making regions. We head straight to the Douro Museum, which showcases the history of wine production in the region from a converted wine warehouse.
After free time for lunch in Régua (plus the option of a boat ride, additional cost), we board a train to Pinhão. It’s a scenic journey alongside the Douro River, where carefully cultivated slopes leading to the river are striped with terraced vineyards. We also see historic wine estates and grand manors.
Following a transfer (45 minutes) to the hotel, we have a dinner of Douro specialities.
Premium accommodation: Lamego Hotel & Life
Day 6 : Tour Lamego; Visit The Village Of Raposeira With Wine Tasting
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We explore Lamego today, a small yet historic town in the Alto Douro region. Here, we tour the highlights, including the magnificent 12th-century cathedral, the art-filled Lamego Museum, and the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary, an ornate two-spired church at the top of a baroque staircase with 686 steps.
After, we visit the village of Raposeira for a light lunch and wine tasting. We then have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the hotel facilities.
Premium accommodation: Lamego Hotel & Life
Day 7 : Tour Porto's Historic Centre; Farewell Dinner
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We transfer (1hr 45min) this morning to Porto, where take a guided tour of the historic centre. Our adventure takes us to the highlights, from the grand São Bento Station to the double-deck Luís I Bridge over the Douro River.
After lunch, we head to our hotel to check-in and then have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the city. There are various options you can choose, including a boat tour along the river, a visit to the Palácio da Bolsa, or a coffee at the Majestic Café, a Belle Époque establishment that opened in 1922.
At 7pm, we have a farewell dinner, an excellent chance to enjoy more great food and relive some of the adventures we’ve had together.
Premium accommodation: Moon & Sun Porto
Day 8 : End Porto
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip draws to end this morning, and the tour leader is available to provide recommendations if you have planned to extend your stay in Porto. If you’d like more time in this fascinating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners and two wine tastings
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All premium accommodation
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Tipping for all hotel staff, local staff and drivers
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Named tour leader, chosen for their expertise
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All transport and listed activities
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Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
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City tax of €2 to be paid in Porto (in cash)
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Tip for the tour leader
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Travel insurance - information on insurance through Exodus is available here
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
Enjoy a selection of superb hotels on this Premium Adventure through northern Portugal, each selected for their style, location and excellent service.
Aveiro: Hotel Meliá Ria (nights 1-2)
Begin the adventure at the waterside Meliá Ria in Averio. This Premium hotel has contemporary rooms, plus a modern Mediterranean restaurant with river views and bar serving cocktails. There’s also an indoor swimming pool for a quick dip, plus a spa and health club if you really want to treat yourself.
Viseu: Montebelo Viseu Congress Hotel & Spa (nights 3-4)
Enjoy a five-star stay at this contemporary Montebelo hotel.There’s an outdoor swimming pool with views over the mountains, plus a restaurant-bar serving regional and international dishes. There’s also a wellness club with two heated indoor pools, one with hydromassage and waterfalls, plus two gyms.
Douro: Lamego Hotel & Life (nights 5-6)
Occupying a hillside spot in the Douro Valley, the Lamego Hotel & Life offers plenty of scenic vistas, plus an orchard, vineyard and seasonal pool. The food menu at O Comendador is inspired by the travels of the estate founder 100 years ago, while 1926 Bar serves local wines, regional tapas and signature cocktails.
Porto: Moon & Sun Porto (night 7)
Right next to the beaux arts buildings of Avenida dos Aliados, the Moon & Sun occupies an excellent position for exploring Porto. Head to the rooftop for views over the city, but make sure to visit the bar to pick up a cocktail first.
Worth knowing
The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance; however, we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance, which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.
For the departure starting on 27 September 2025, the final hotel (night 7) is Porto River Infante, rather than Moon & Sun Porto.
Food
All breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners and two wine tastings are included.
Porto and the Douro Valley are known for their excellent wines and the delicious regional cuisine, which makes use of the natural resources found here. All meals have strong links with the land and sea, often prepared following old traditional recipes. Portugal also has some of the best fish in the world, and in this region a lot of the fish comes from the Douro River.
Although meat and fish dishes are typically the focal point of Portuguese cuisine, vegetarian and vegan options have become more widely available in recent years, particularly in cosmopolitan cities such as Porto. Please let us know of any dietary requirements in advance so we can best accommodate your request.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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