2026 Red River Conference Portugal Senior Trip

May 27-June 5, 2026

Total Cost: $3900

Head Coach: Bryan Doze - North American University

Friends, family, and significant others of the players on the trip are welcome to join if they like. The cost is per traveler.

Includes: Flights, Hotels, Transportation, Local Guide, all Group tourist activities, and all basketball activities

May 27, 2026

Depart Dallas (or other agreed airport) on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Connecting flights are likely for this trip.

May 28, 2026

Arrive in capital city of Lisbon, Portugal early to mid-morning. The hotel will be located near the city center by the Marques de Pombal monument and circle in Lisbon. Travelers will be given the chance to either rest after the long travel day or head out and explore the new surroundings near the hotel. The Avenue da Liberdade is a short stroll from the hotel and is the most known shopping district in Portugal for higher end items.

In the evening, we will walk through the city to the popular Timeout Market and Pink Street. The market features an array of 35+ local restaurants, while Pink Street is a row of bars that travelers can hop through. Travelers can stay out as long as they wish. No curfews or limits given. The guide will return to the hotel at a given hour and anybody ready to go can with with them.

May 29, 2026

Travelers will head to the Historic City of Sintra. Sintra is world known for its architecture palaces, castles, and town square. Rumor has it that the water and air quality enhance creativity which attracts authors around the world to come and stay. J.K. Rowling was even a resident as she was writing the Harry Potter Series.

Travelers will have tickets to enter the Pena Palace and Moorish Castle. The palace and castle date back to the 15th century of Portuguese history. The palace is the former royal home for Portuguese leaders, while the Castle sits across the hill as the protection quarters of the palace. The views from the castle walls are priceless!

The 1st basketball practice will take place in preparation for the games to come. 

May 30, 2026

We will set out to explore the beach city of Cascais seeing their old town with narrow streets, seaside cliff views, walking roads with shops and markets, and historic architecture with Fort Walls and Lighthouses. We will spend approximately 5 hours in this area before returning to Lisbon.

The evening will consist of exploring the hills and sights of the most famous parts of Lisbon. Travelers will have the freedom to explore at their own pace as the city is built on a series of hills. The city districts of Chiado, Bairro Alto, Baixa, and Rossio are some of the favorites for past travelers.

Travelers can catch the views from Elevador de Santa Justa (Elevated walkway) or Castelo de Sao Jorge (Castle). Or return to Pink Street and Time Out Market for another round of drinks with their teammates. 

The team will have their second practice on this day. Also, to note, during this time the Portuguese playoffs will be happening. If possible with dates and times we will try to catch a Benfica or Sporting playoff game in Lisbon.

May 31, 2026

The day will begin with transportation from Lisbon in the South to Aveiro in the Central part of the country. Travelers will have a chance to explore "The Venice of Portugal" for a few hours before beginning the preparation for the games against Galitos. 

Galitos has both a men's and women's team. The Men compete in CN1 while the Women finished as a top 5 team in the country in 2025. Following the game the bus will take the group to our resting spot for the remainder of the trip, Povoa de Varzim.

June 1, 2026

We will have our first full day in the beach town Povoa de Varzim. Povoa sits along the Atlantic Ocean boasting 2 miles worth of sand beaches, restaurants, and a casino.

Travelers will have a chance to sleep in following the long day of travel and our first game. We will host an optional shootaround at 11 am with the rest of the day planned for rest and relaxation on the beach.

The evening will feature our 2nd game against our hosts in Povoa. Povoa has a men's and women's team that both compete in the 2nd Divisions. After the game, travelers will have a chance to test their luck at the Casino da Povoa

June 2, 2026

This basketball off day will feature our full tour day in the city of Porto! We will begin our trip with transportation from our hotel to the Douro Marina. From there we will board our 12 passenger sailboats and set sail down the Rio Douro. It is a smooth sail catching the sights from the water.

Following the 1.5 hour cruise, we will be transported to the Gaia Hilltop for a scenic viewpoint and walk across the Ponte Luis I Bridge overlooking the hills and river coast. We will see historic sites like the Porto Cathedral and the old town winding streets before being let free at the riverbend for your own exploration.

Travelers are free to stay in Porto as long as they wish barhopping down the river coast, but the guide and provided transportation will be given a set time. Anybody wishing to leave back to the hotel will be transported and the rest can stay longer and uber back to the hotel.

June 3, 2026

This day is another planned rest day for the travelers as we enter one of our toughest basketball tests of the trip. The men's and women's games are both located near the center of Porto, allowing any traveler looking to get another half day in the city the chance to do so. The games in Porto will be against Coimbroes for the Women and Vasco da Gama for the men. 

Coimbroes lost in the National Championship game in 2025 of the 2nd division, while Vasco da Gama won the championship in the 2nd division. Both teams have now been promoted into the 1st division for the 2025/26 season. 

June 4, 2026

Our final full day on the trip will consist of a beach day activities day. Travelers interested in surf lessons can schedule those for this day. Good aquatic experience is recommended for this activity. Travelers can also choose to uber over to the Vila do Conde Shopping Outlets if they want to do some quick shopping before departing Portugal. It is about a 10 minute ride costing 5-7 euros. 

The games on this day will feature the women playing against CPN, a very competitive all women's club in Portugal. They are competing in the 2nd division. The men will play in Braga against a combination of their team from the 1st and 3rd divisions. 

All games will have full film, stats, and highlights that can be used for promotion to teams and clubs.

June 5, 2026

Depart for the United States as our time in Portugal has come to an end. 

Come join our Red River Conference Eurobasket tour in 2026! Be a part of a truly unique experience to end your college career and possibly have a chance to continue it at the professional level. Its a trip that you will cherish for the rest of your life. We can't wait to work with you!

The Chance to Play Pro:

Meeting with professional teams and coaches is a part of our tours. These interactions provide a unique perspective that no one else in our industry can provide. Getting to interact with professional teams, players, and their staff will give our players the chance to make it at the professional level. 

This unique caveat gives our players a greater chance to be seen by clubs while still being able to explore different cultures and histories. These meetings often inspire players to pursue the professional game more thoroughly and to this day many of our former players are still playing overseas!