MS Infante Don Henrique, 7 Night Hike in Porto, the Douro Valley (Portugal), and Salamanca (Spain) ex Oporto (Porto), Portugal Return

Embark on a cruise through the heart of authentic Portugal and explore beautiful and unspoilt areas such as the Douro Nature Park and the Portuguese vineyards. Our hiking and walking programs offer you the opportunity to contemplate the natural beauty of these magical places. Far from the hustle and bustle of city life, this cruise is ideal for the nature and scenic enthusiasts.

Day 1
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 5:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Presentation of our hiking program. In the evening, depending on the weather, we'll cruise to the mouth of the Douro River.

Day 2
We'll set out for a guided tour of Porto. The afternoon will be spent sailing towards Regua. Enjoy an evening of dancing or a stroll through the city on your own.

Day 3
Hikers' Program: Hike to Provesende. You’ll wind your way up through the low brush, green forests, and rolling hills to the one of the oldest villages in Portugal, Provesende. (2.5- to 3-hour hike, 4.3 miles (7 km), 1,050-foot elevation gain (320 m).)Non-hikers' Program: Trip to Vila Réal and stroll through the beautiful gardens of the Mateus Palace.The afternoon will be spent sailing through the very heart of the most famous vineyards in Porto. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.

Day 4
Join us on a guided tour of Salamanca, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We'll return on board in the end of the afternoon. Enjoy an evening of Flamenco entertainment.

Day 5
Hikers' Program: "Vultures' Cliff” This hike begins in a wild mountainous setting with magnificent panoramic views of the Douro River and Spain. Picnic lunch. (Length 3 hours, 8 km (5 miles) with about 530m (1,740 ft) of elevation gain).Non-hikers' Program: Excursion to Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.We'll return on board. The afternoon will be spent sailing to Senhora da Ribeira. Tonight's our gala evening and dinner.

Day 6
Hikers' Program: Hike through the vineyards. Discovery of a real paradise where nature has been protected (picnic lunch). (Length 4 hours, 14 km (8.6 miles) with about 500m descent (1,650 ft))Non-hikers' Program: "Wines of Porto” excursion with a tasting of Porto wines.We'll cruise to Bitetos, reaching it in the evening. Enjoy an evening of Fado entertainment.

Day 7
This morning will be spent sailing to Porto.Hikers' Program: Hike along the banks of the Douro River to its estuary, admiring breathtaking views of the city and the ocean. (Length 2 to 2½ hours, 8 km (5 miles) on flat, level ground)Non-hikers' Program: Excursion to Guimaraes, birthplace of Portugal in the 12th century.Enjoy an evening of traditional folk entertainment.

Day 8
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

Welcome on board the MS Infante Don Henrique! Renovated in 2014, the interior is nicely decorated in fuchsia and plum colors. Most of the cabins are located on the upper deck, they have panoramic large windows. Those on the middle and main decks have large windows. Located on the main deck, the restaurant is where all meals are served during the cruise. The lounge / bar is located at the front of the middle deck and will welcome passengers during evening entertainment, aperitif games ... The sun deck has a swimming pool, armchairs and sun loungers, offering a place to relax while enjoying the panoramic views of the countryside.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.