Discover Northern Portugal - Premium Adventure

Experience 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
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 nights in Premium hotels — Guided visits and sightseeing on foot — Group normally 4-16, plus leader. Minimum age: 18 — Travel by private air-conditioned minibus — Option to travel by train to your adventure
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 nights in Premium hotels — Guided visits and sightseeing on foot — Group normally 4-16, plus leader. Minimum age: 18 — Travel by private air-conditioned minibus — Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us. Walking: Although this itinerary is mostly based on sightseeing, please prepare for a reasonable amount of walking between sites. Walks involve some steep climbs and the ground can be uneven underfoot, with cobblestones commonplace in Portugal. Weather: Portugal can reach the high 30Cs (around 100F) in summer.
Eating Drinking
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.
Transportation
Transport from and to the airport is by minibus. Other transport mentioned in the itinerary is by private vehicle.
Joining Instructions
Key information Key information Start hotel: Hotel Meliá Ria Hotel & Spa, Cais da Fonte Nova 5, 3810-200 Aveiro, Portugal Phone: +351 234 401 000 Recommended arrival time: Welcome meeting and main briefing is at 6pm in the hotel reception Airport: Porto Airport (OPO) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are: Take an Exodus transfer Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport which departs at 3pm. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer. If you can’t join the group transfer and would like to organise a private transfer, or would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Make your own way You can reach the start hotel in Aveiro by taking the metro from Porto Airport (OPO) to Campanhã train station in Porto, which has hourly trains to Aveiro and the whole journey takes between 1hr 30min and two hours, depending on connection times. From Aveiro station, Hotel Meliá Ria is a 15-minute walk or a two-minute taxi ride. Catching your return flight The trip ends in Porto, approximately 20 minutes’ drive from Porto Airport. There are free transfers back to the airport to coincide with any flight departure time on the last day of the tour. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
Portugal has a fairly mild climate. It can be rainy and windy during autumn and winter, but spring and summer see temperatures hit 35C (95F) in the north. Departures in March, April and October have a higher chance of rain and cool temperatures, especially at night, so it is important to pack warm clothing and rainproof gear. Between May and September, chances of rain are slimmer and days will be long and hot.
Spending Money
Allow €20-€25 for lunch and €25-€30 for dinner (taken in a standard restaurant), excluding alcoholic beverages. Alternatively, you may choose to contribute €40 to an optional kitty that covers three lunches. You also need some extra cash for drinks or ice creams in cafes or bars during the walks or in the hotel bar in the evening. Typically, a beer costs around €2 and a coffee costs around €1, with a reasonable bottle of wine at dinner about €15.
Tipping
On all Exodus Premium Adventures, tipping for any local support staff is included and is normally taken care of by your tour leader (or in some cases through our local partner), so there is no need for any tipping kitty contributions or to give your own tips during the trip. Our ‘included tips’ are normally distributed among drivers, local guides, certain hotel staff and serving staff for included meals. Amounts are in line with the local standard. Of course, if you wish to make a further tip for extra special service you may do so. Tips for the tour leader are not included. Whether to tip at all and the amount is entirely at your own discretion, but as a starting point we suggest around €20-€25 per person for the guides.

Highlights