GRAND JOURNEYS

All aboard Douro Valley

Journey into Portugal’s vineyardthreaded valleys on the Linha do Douro, the country’s most scenic railway line. Embark at Porto’s Sao Bento station, lavished with intricate azulejo tiles, for the 124-mile train ride. You will snake alongside the Douro River, surrounded by hills scored with vines and olive groves, with family-run quintas (wine estates) tucked among them. The final stretch between Pinhao and Pocinho provides staggering scenery and is inaccessible by riverboat.

Purchase tickets through CP Comboios de Portugal (00 351 808 109110; cp.pt/ passageiros/en) from £11. For a more luxurious adventure, Wexas (020 8125 4231; wexas.com) offers a four-day experience on the Presidential Train, from £3,930pp, including tailor-made tours of Porto, wine tastings and gourmet dining

A wild west road trip Vicentine Coast

Enjoy a road trip along Portugal’s unblemished south-west coast. Start at Cabo Sao Vicente, where a lighthouse marks Europe’s most south-westerly point, travelling north to Lisbon. You’ll be blessed with spectacular scenery in the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, which is blessed with dune-backed beaches and seaside villages, such as Carrapateira and Zambujeira. In spring, fields of rainbow wildflowers come to life and autumn brings a host of migrating birds. Fly to Lagos, where a week’s car rental from Lagos to Lisbon with Discover

Cars (discovercars.com) starts at £155. Make your base at the effortlessly chic Hortas do Rio (00 351 912 059452; hortasdorio.com), just outside Carrapateira and a short walk from the beach, which has doubles from £163

Sail away to sea Madeira and the Azores

Portugal’s far-flung volcanic archipelagos, Madeira and the Azores, are best

i explored on a lavish cruise. You’ll pass lighthouses and isolated islets, hopping off to visit the Azores’ shimmering crater lakes, followed by Madeira’s lush trails. As you sail, join experts for whale-watching and stargazing sessions, as well as geology talks and Portuguese cooking demonstrations on board the luxurious Bolette.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (0800 690 6316; fredolsencruises.com) offers the 12-night Wonders and Wildlife of the Azores and Madeira cruise, departing Southampton on Aug 13, from £1,599pp

Experience gourmet dining on board the Presidential Train, travelling from Porto and along the Douro Valley