Overview

Discover more than port wine on our Douro Valley Walking Holiday.

Popular across the world for its rich and complex flavours, it’s often argued that port wine owes its origins to the Romans. They invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 137 BC, seizing the land from its Celtic inhabitants and renaming this new, far-western outpost of the empire Lusitania. They were quick to recognise the agricultural potential of the Douro Valley, using their technological know-how to tame the wild landscape, and their terraced vineyards and olive groves wouldn’t looked unfamiliar to us today.

The inhabitants of the modern-day Douro Valley are proud of this long history, dedicating their lives to producing the highest quality port wines and table wines. It’s also a region where a more-traditional lifestyle is embraced, where local communities nurture and protect their cultural heritage, and homemade, hearty cuisine is still front-and-centre on most menus.

It’s possible to get a small flavour for the region on a day trip from Porto – to experience the true nature of the Douro, you have to spend time here. Our self-guided Douro Valley Walking Holiday connects you to this landscape – cobbled lanes and dusty trails lead you from one rural idly to the next, and from one majestic river valley to the next. There’s the occasional meander through the ancient olive groves and terraced vineyards which those first Roman settlers helped to create – and the opportunity to sample the best of the Douro’s seasonal dishes and local wines which are truly field-to-table.

Itinerary

You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight to Porto. You’ll be collected on arrival for your transfer to the NH Collection Porto Batalha in the Baixa district of the city - our support driver will talk you through your upcoming week and your self-guided walks.
You’ll take a walking tour of Porto – it’s a great introduction to the city, its layout and its history, with visits to the Sé Cathedral, the Mercado do Balhao, the Praca da Liberdade, and the Palacio da Bolsa. Your afternoon’s free – you might like to cross the iconic Ponte de Dom Luis I Bridge into twin city Vila Nova de Gaia, for a guided tour of the famous port wine lodges.
You’ll take the train from Porto’s famous Sao Bento train station, heading up the Douro Valley line to the riverfront port wine town of Pinhao. Our driver will transfer your luggage to your new accommodation at Casa de Casal de Loivos, whilst you take your first self-guided hike through Pinhao's beautiful terraced vineyards (distance: 9km, ascent: 400m, difficulty: moderate).
Your second self-guided walk takes you deeper into the vineyards of the Douro region, (distance: 16km, ascent: 400m, difficulty: moderate), via the D'Origem olive oil museum and the village of Favaios - famous for its Moscatel wines and wood-fired bread ovens. Your day ends at the Forrester Essence Douro Hotel in the Tras-os-Montes town of Alijo.
Your third walk takes you west from Alijo to Vilarinho de Sao Romao (distance: 17km, ascent: 600m, difficulty: moderate to hard). Enroute, you might like to learn more about Portugal’s Denominacao de Origem Controlada - which protects grape varieties and vinification methods – by visiting Quinta da Pedra Alta. You’ll also pass through Sabrosa, birthplace of Ferdinand Magellan, before overnighting at The Manor House Celeiros on the Quinta do Portal wine estate.
You’ll turn south today, (distance: 10km, ascent: 200m, difficulty: moderate), returning to Pinhao for an overnight stay on the banks of the Douro. Your accommodation, the riverfront Vintage House Hotel, is a former 18th century wine lodge overlooking Gustave Eiffel’s iron-beamed Ponta do Pinhao bridge.
Your final hike explores the riverside trails of the Varosa River valley and its hydroelectric dam, (distance: 8km, ascent: 100m, difficulty: easy to moderate). Your week ends in Peso da Reguab at the the Vila Gale Collection Douro, overlooking the triple bridges of Ponte Metalica da Regua, Ponte Rodoviaria da Regua and the Ponte Miguel Torga.
You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

From £2900 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

Direct flights from the UK, accommodation in twin/double en-suite rooms on a B&B basis, with dinner included on Days 3, 5 and 7, and all airport and luggage transfers. OnIine route maps are also included using the Ride with GPS app.

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