Portugal – Heart of the Douro

Porto, Portugal

Holiday overview

Destination

Portugal


Type

Self Guided


Difficulty

Easy to Moderate


Month

Mar - Sep


Price

£ 975 pp


Duration

7 nights


One-week self-guided walking tour through astonishingly beautiful World Heritage landscape and picturesque traditional villages

This rewarding self-guided walk through the dramatic vine-filled landscape of Portugal’s most scenic wine region offers spectacular views of the terraced hillsides, rivers and valleys of the Douro Valley.

Head into the heart of the Douro wine region to explore the patterned slopes and valleys of this World Heritage landscape. Witness some of the year-round activity involved in tending the vines and terraces as you walk from village to village along unpaved roads and footpaths, pausing for al fresco lunches and visits to local wine estates. You’ll receive a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation and delicious meals at our carefully selected country houses and hotels.

Your Douro walking holiday ends in the fascinating historical city of Porto and the port wine cellars of Vila Nova da Gaia.

 

Price per person:

£975.00 Single Room £300 (from March to end of April and from 16 – 31st October

£1050.00 per person Single Room £340.00 )from 1st May – 15th October

 

Included

  • 7 Nights’ hand-picked accommodation with breakfast – 1 night Porto, 6 nights Douro
  • 5 Packed lunches during the walks (day 3 to day 7);
  • 2 Dinners with drinks (days 3 and 4);
  • In-person welcome briefing; Detailed route notes (in English/German);
  • App with trail information for use on a smartphone
  • Private transfer from Porto airport to Porto Hotel (day 1);
  • Private transfer from Porto hotel to the Porto train station (day 2);
  • Luggage transfer between accommodations from days 3 to 7 and to Pinhão train station on day 8;
  • 24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking).

 

Not Included

  • Train transfer (round trip) between Porto train station and Pinhão train station;
  • Transfer from Porto city to Porto airport at end of trip
  • Meals not mentioned above;
  • Insurance; Tourist taxes; Gratuities; Personal expenses;
  • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above.

 

Additional Extras :

  • Visit a winery and wine tasting at Pinhão: £25 person;
  • River cruise from Porto to Régua with lunch included: £105 person (on day 2);
  • River cruise from Régua to Porto with lunch included: £105 /person (replacing the last walking day);
  • Private transfer from Porto to Pinhão: £220 /up to 3 people | £300 /4 to 7 people
  • Extra night in Porto (4-star hotel): £80 per person in double bedroom; £150 in single bedroom.

 

DAY 1 Arrival in Porto

You will be met at Porto Airport and taken to the hotel where you will have a briefing on the holiday and be given the maps and route notes. Accommodation in a 4-star hotel

DAY 2 Porto to Pinhão

After breakfast you will be taken to Porto train station where you take the train Pinhão – this is a beautiful scenic train ride – not to be missed. Accommodation in a 3-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

DAY 3 Pinhão to Vilarinho de São Romão

After breakfast walk from Pinhão to Vilarinho de São Romão (9km | +587m) Accommodation in a Country hotel Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

DAY 4 Walk on Pinhão River

Circular walk via River Pinhão (13km | +512m) Accommodation in a Country hotel Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

DAY 5 Vilarinho de São Romão to Alijó

After breakfast walk from Vilarinho de São Romão to Alijó (16km | +626m) Accommodation in a 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

DAY 6 Circular Walk

Circular walk via São Mamede da Ribatua (15km | +369m) Accommodation in a 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

DAY 7 Alijó to Casal de Loivos

After breakfast walk from Alijó to Casal de Loivos (14km | +233m) Accommodation in a Country hotel Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

DAY 8 Casal de Loivos to Pinhão and onto Porto

You have the option to walk from Casal de Loivos to Pinhão (6km | +59m) – pick up your luggage and return to Porto by train or take a transfer to the station with your luggage. Meals: Breakfast

End of Tour

Getting to Porto:

Nearest airports are Lisbon or Porto.   You will be picked up from the airport or train station at Porto

 

Accommodation:

A mixture of 4 star and country house hotels – all rooms ensuite