Summary
Short description
From spring to autumn, enjoy a gourmet day trip aboard Portugal’s most luxurious train
Highlights
- Follow the Douro River, stopping for wine tastings and paired menus
- Return from private, tailor-made tours of Porto to overnight in one of the city's finest hotels
- Enjoy gourmet dining experiences throughout
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
City | Food & wine | History & culture | Natural world | Rail journey | Short break
The Presidential is the crown jewel of Portugal’s railways. Built in 1890, it served the court of King Luís I, hosting the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Paul VI. And, with all of its original style and magnificence immaculately preserved, it now plies a route through the beautiful Douro Valley, linking Porto with the oenological delights of Portugal’s best-loved wine region. It’s all backdropped by a series of gastronomic experiences, with on-board meals designed and crafted by Chef Chakall. Either side of your Presidential day trip, you’ll enjoy a private tour of Porto’s cultural gems as you stay in one of the city's finest luxury hotels.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
UK/Porto
Flying into Porto, you’ll be met by your private driver to be introduced to the varied delights of Portugal’s second city. Its mercantile past has brought great riches to its terracotta-roofed jumble, with its churches gilded with Baroque fineries and great cathedral rising above the city’s medieval rabbit warren. We’ll spirit you to The Yeatman, a luxuriously stylish retreat set on a slope south of the Douro River and unashamedly dedicated to wine; from the 25,000-bottle cellar to the decanter-shaped infinity pool, life here revolves around the grape.
Relax and unwind in the Caudalie spa, enjoy a sauna or swim in the indoor pool. Soothe any aches or travel stress with a spa treatment such as a Merlot scrub or a signature massage using grape extract. Take a tour of the hotel’s extensive cellar, select your favourite vintage and sit back satisfied in the cosy sofas of Dick’s Bar.
Stay: The Yeatman, Porto (Deluxe)
Day
2
The Presidential
Today you’ll board The Presidential at Porto’s spectacularly marbled São Bento Station, settling into its dark-wood cabins as you strike out into the Douro Valley. Watch as Porto’s urbane charms fade into rolling greenery, terraced into vineyards and dotted with pretty whitewashed villages. And, as you trace the Douro River’s meandering laze, you’ll be treated to a true gastronomic education. You’ll begin with lunch, prepared on the train by a Michelin-class chef and paired with some of the region’s finest oenological offerings. Then, arriving at Vargelas you’ll enjoy the superb Quinta de Vargelas, a unique sensory experience, where you explore the wine tradition and enjoy a Port tasting, perfectly paired with a local dish that celebrates the essence the region. You’ll then board The Presidential once more, retracing the Douro River’s sweeping curves to arrive back in Porto.
Stay: The Yeatman, Porto (Deluxe)
Meals: B L D
Day
3
Porto
Immerse yourself in the city of Porto on a guided walking tour with a local. Let your top guide lead you to essential sights such as the city’s stunning cathedral, Clerigos Tower and the Sao Bento Railway Station with its incredible tiled panels. Spend time in the Bolhao Market too for a flavour of the city. Next, you will cross one of the six beautiful bridges spanning the Douro to explore a Port wine cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, the traditional home of Port, where you will be led through a wine tasting by an expert.
Stay: The Yeatman, Porto (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
4
Depart for UK
After breakfast, your private driver will see you to the airport in time for your flight home.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
4-day city break & rail experience
from £2,210 pp incl. flights
Deluxe
April / October
from £2,210 pp. incl. flights
May - September
from £2,335 pp. incl. flights
Validity:
The Presidential train operates on Saturdays and Sundays between April and October
April: 06, 07, 13, 14, 20, 27, 28
May: 04, 05, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
Jun: 01, 02
Includes:
- Return flights from London to Porto
- Private return airport transfers
- The Presidential train (Porto - Vargelas)
- 3 nights at The Yeatman Hotel, Porto B&B pre and post The Presidential
- Full Day Porto (including Port wine cellars visit and tasting)
- Private return transfers between The Yeatman and Porto São Bento Station
- Pre-departure reception at Porto São Bento Station at 0945
- Departure at 1040
- Tastings of the best wines from Douro estates
- Savour dishes prepared by Chef Chakall, with each trip featuring a main course prepared by a local chef renowned for his speciality
- On-board commentary and live music
- Quinta de Vargelas, enjoy a Port tasting, perfectly paired with a local dish that celebrates the essence of the region;
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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