Viana Do Castelo, Portugal

Portugal is a country of many colours and contrasts - blue seas and skies, 500 miles of golden sands, white snow capped mountains, rich green forests and acres of purple vineyards. Up in the country's northwest you'll find the Costa Verde - the Emerald Coast, and popular Viana do Castelo. Once a bustling port, it lies sandwiched between the Atlantic and the River Lima, amongst pinewoods and terraced vineyards that produce the renowned "Vinho Verde". Its attractive old town invites exploration with age-old churches, monuments, museums excellent shops; long sandy beaches washed by foaming waves glistening under the hot midday sun, delicious sardines caught fresh from the sea, relaxing gardens running down to the edge of the River Lima. All these, combined with the unique friendliness of the Portuguese, make Viana do Castelo an ideal holiday choice.

Your Holiday Itinerary (From Dover, England to Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

Monday - To Dover and across the Channel by ferry to Calais, then on through Northern France for our first night in Amiens.

Tuesday - Past Paris, the glittering French capital, and into the Chateaux region, across the meandering River Loire past Poitiers to reach the famous wine - producing centre of Bordeaux for the night.

Wednesday - Across the Spanish border and through Basque country, past the famous resort of San Sebastian and historic Burgos to Valladolid, our overnight destination.

Thursday - Continuing northwest towards the Atlantic coast before descending to Portugal's coastal plain to reach Viana do Castelo for our seven night stay.

Friday to Wednesday - At leisure in Viana do Castelo, with plenty to do and see. The interesting town of Oporto, noted for those famous port wines, and the market town of Barcelos are among the choice of optional excursions on offer, full details of which will be supplied by your courier.

Thursday - Into Spain then on to Valladolid.

Friday - Retracing the steps of our outward journey to Bordeaux for another night.

Saturday - Continuing northwards, crossing the Loire once more around Tours and on to Vai de Reuil, near the Joan of Arc city of Rouen staying overnight.

Sunday - Return to Calais for the homeward sailing to Dover.