Portugal's Douro River Cruise Full Ship Celebration Family Bike Tour - 20s & Beyond
Magical Salamanca to Timeless Porto
Set sail with your family on an exclusive Backroads celebration of epic proportions. Cruise west on the Douro River into Portugal's legendary wine region. Ride through sunlit terraced vineyards and villages that seem lost in time. Then join your fellow active travelers on board for a brilliant sunset and decadent meal. It's said that it matters not where you are but who you're with. Come celebrate with us!
THIS ITINERARY: 8 days, 7 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Small Luxury Ship
Portugal & Spain
Start Salamanca, Spain / End Porto or Lisbon, Portugal
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
- Pedal across the illustrious Douro wine region's undulating countryside of terraced vineyards and old-world villages
- Experience the splendor of the Douro Valley by bike and elegant river ship on this exclusive Backroads charter
- Savor luscious port in its birthplace and raise a glass to an extraordinary biking journey with friends, old and new
- Relish Portugal's rich history and culture, from wistful Fado music to World Heritage sites and landscapes
8 Days Small Luxury Ship
DAY 1 Venture through the Spanish countryside from the World Heritage site of Salamanca to quaint Lumbrales | Bike through the Spanish highlands past pastures and sleepy villages on wonderfully tranquil roads | With views of Portugal unfolding before you, descend into the Douro Valley and arrive at our ship.
DAY 2 Bike amid a patchwork of pastures, almond orchards and olive groves | Pedal to a fortified hilltop village for epic vistas into Portugal and Spain | Before arriving in Pinhão, kick back on the Sun Deck as you cruise along the upper Douro River, marked by steep and sparsely inhabited slopes.
DAYS 3-4 Cycle along the river and the lovely terraced vineyards of the Alto Douro, a World Heritage region with a 2,000-year-old wine-making history | Savor breathtaking views as you spin through postcard-perfect landscapes | Explore Lamego, home of one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal.
DAYS 5-6 Cruise and bike the final stretch of the Douro into Porto, renowned for its namesake wine | A glorious ride offers perfect vantage points overlooking the river—you might even spot our ship as it passes below you | This alluring World Heritage city charms with its splendid architecture, winding alleyways and ever-changing views.
DAYS 7-8 Get a feel for local life in the Vila Nova da Gaia neighborhood as you bike along the Atlantic Ocean | Back at our ship, take in the beautiful vistas of Porto.
A luxurious custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, French balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. (pool)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Please note: Due to the multiple stateroom options available on this trip, reservations can only be made by contacting one of our Trip Consultants on 800-462-2848 or via email.
Click on dates for specific ships, pricing, and itinerary variations. Price is per person, double occupancy.
- 2022
- Sep
Activity Level: 2-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package—it’s built for hard-core riders.
$400 rental fee
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners
- Expert Backroads Trip Leaders, on ship and on shore
- Off-the-beaten path exploration
- Access to all ship amenities
- Impeccable and personalized service from ship staff and Backroads Leaders
- Exclusive activities that amplify your appreciation and understanding of the local culture
- Exclusive biking routes with multiple options at varied paces
- Custom Titanium bike
- Gratuities on ship and on shore handled by your Backroads Leaders
- Exploring lesser known routes away from busy ports
- Dedicated support vans
- Easy-to-use route directions so you're free to explore independently
- Private walking tours with expert guides
- Access to all ship activities and excursions
- Wine included with all onboard meals
- Private cocktail/wine receptions
- Off-ship lunches in genuine settings
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
Backroads has booked the entire ship for this special sailing. This trip is a unique celebration of cycling and offers a much different Backroads experience with up to 96 guests (compared to an average of 16 guests on a typical Backroads trip). We anticipate couples, solo travelers, families and perhaps some small groups traveling together. You can look forward to a very social atmosphere with active travelers who share a common interest in seeing the world in the most interesting way possible. You'll also be supported by a team of 14 Backroads leaders—6 on board and 8 land-based—plus 8 vans ready when you need them. Note: If a minimum group size is not met nine months prior to departure, this trip will proceed with non-Backroads guests sharing our ship.
If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don't mind a set schedule of port departure times, you'll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and inventive meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. High water levels may mean the ship cannot pass under a bridge, low water levels result in slower sailing, and a disabled lock can also lead to some extra cruising time. Should any unforeseen change happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with AmaWaterways' captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow.
Most port conditions require that ships tie up alongside each other, in which case you may need to walk through another ship to access our ship. This is a part of river cruising due to its popularity. You may experience obstructed views from your stateroom when the ship is double-docked, but rest assured that as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
In contrast to our usual land-based trips, which have similar room categories, the AmaWaterways ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
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