The Heart and Soul of the Douro Valley

Tour Number 15

The Heart and Soul of the Douro Valley

Make your way from Porto into the very heart of the Douro region before exploring the picturesque slopes and valleys of this World Heritage landscape on foot.

 Follow unpaved roads and footpaths as you walk from village to village, pausing for picnic lunches and visits to local wine estates where you can sample not only award-winning table wines but also port and Moscatel wines.

Museums such as the Bread and Wine Museum in Favaios will give you a greater appreciation of local traditions and wine production. You’ll also witness some of the year-round activities involved in tending the vines and terraces.

 Relax after each day’s walk in Douro Valley at carefully selected country houses and hotels where you will receive a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation, and delicious meals.

End your self-guided walking holidays in Douro Valley back in the fascinating historical city of Porto where you can visit the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia as well as the exploring Porto’s many sights and views. You can choose to return by train or by river cruise.

 

 

Highlights

The highlights of this tour are the wonderful UNESCO city of Porto, the Douro wine region, wine estates, wine-producing villages, scenic train ride, vineyard hikes, boutique hotels, country houses, local produce, breathtaking views, wine tasting, port wine, moscatel wine, artisanal bread, wine-producing villages, local customs and culture, varied landscapes.

Availability 

March 1 – October 31

      Itinerary

      Day 1

      Arrival in Porto (not included)

      • A member of our team will be at the airport to meet you and drive you to the train station in Porto where you’ll receive a full briefing about your self-guided walking holidays in Douro Valley.
      • Take the train from Porto to the small riverside village of Pinhão (2.5 hours) where the train station is decorated with painted tile panels depicting Douro wine production. Walk or take a taxi to a working winery with attractive guest rooms, stunning views of the Douro River and an outdoor pool.
      • Stroll around the vineyards, sample their wines or take a boat trip along the river (paid locally). Enjoy tasty local dishes this evening in the onsite restaurant or head into the village for other options.

      Accommodation in a 3* hotel 

      Day 2

      Linear walk from Pinhão to Vilarinho de São Romão – 9.4 km

      • Explore the western slopes of the Pinhão Valley today as you climb to the hillside villages of São Cristovão do Douro and Provesende. The views of surrounding vineyards more than compensate for your efforts.
      • End this journey with a warm welcome and home-cooked meal at a historical country house.
      • If weather permits, take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool or simply relax in the comfortable guest lounge.

      Accommodation in a Country Hotel

      Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner

      Day 3

      Circular walk via Pinhão River – 12.8km (7.9 miles

      • With Vilarinho de São Romão as your base, today’s circular route winds down to the Pinhão River via a couple of small villages and wine estates and along the opposite hillsides, through the vineyards, with varied landscapes and splendid views throughout.
      • Relax at a riverside picnic spot before making your way uphill to the village of Celeirós where you can stop to taste the wines at Quinta do Portal before returning to your delightful accommodation. Take a taxi up the hill if you’d prefer an easier day.

      Accommodation: Country hotel

      Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner

      Day 4

       Linear walk from Vilarinho de São Romão to Alijó – 16.4km (10.2 miles)

      • Enjoy views across the valley on your way towards the pretty village of Sabrosa. Follow an ancient road between here and Favaios as you head down through the vineyard terraces to the river. Wend your way uphill again between grape vines and olive groves towards a distinctly different landscape.
      • Taste traditional wood oven-baked bread and Moscatel wine in Favaios then continue to the small, historical town of Alijó.
      • Settle into your comfortable accommodation for the next two nights.
      • Explore the town or relax by the pool before having dinner at the onsite restaurant or in a nearby restaurant.

      Accommodation: Country House

      Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

      Day 5

      Circular walk via São Mamede da Ribatua – 15km (9.3 miles)

      • Today’s walk is a circular route from Alijó that undulates through an ever-changing patchwork of vineyards and fields towards the ancient village of São Mamede da Ribatua with spectacular views of the surrounding rock-strewn mountains and the glittering lake below.
      • Leave the village via a different route to return to Alijó or take a taxi back for a more relaxing afternoon.
      • A third option involves a walk down to the lake before calling a taxi.

      Accommodation:  4* Hotel

      Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

      Day 6

      Linear walk from Alijó to Casal de Loivos – 13.9km (8.6 miles)

      • Spend the day walking in Douro Valley through vineyards, perhaps calling in at a wine estate or two for a tour and tasting session before reaching the ridge at the top of the eastern slopes of the Pinhão Valley.
      • Look back at the terraced slopes opposite to identify the villages you walked to earlier in the week. You’ll have magnificent views of the Douro River before reaching the last village of the day.
      • Spend the night in a 17th-century country house with amazing views and a pool.

      Accommodation: Country Hotel

      Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

      Day 7

       Linear walk from Casal de Loivos to Pinhão – 6km (3.7 miles)

      • Today’s short but glorious walk down to Pinhão leaves you with time for a final winery tour and tasting session (optional, paid locally) overlooking the River Douro. You could have lunch in the village or a picnic in the vineyards before taking the train back to Porto for a night in the heart of the city in a stylish modern hotel.
      • Take some time to explore the city’s historical monuments and revitalized areas such as Rua das Flores and the riverside Ribeira district.
      • If you have time, cross the river and visit at least one of the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia to see and smell where the barrels of aging wine is stored.

      Accommodation: 4* Hotel

      Meals: Breakfast 

      Day 8

      Departure

      • Check out of the hotel in time for your homeward journey
      • End of our services

      The Tour At A Glance

       

      Duration of Tour 8 days, 7 nights
      Activity Type 6 walking days
      Type of Tour Self-Guided
      Walking Distance 45.5 miles/73.5km
      Fitness Level Moderate
      Availability Mar 1 – Oct 31
      Meals Breakfast (7) Packed Lunch (5)
      No of Persons From 2

       

      What’s Included

      • 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast included
      • Packed lunch on days 2-6
      • Dinner on days 2 and 34
      • App with trail information for use on your smartphone
      • Detailed route notes
      • In-person welcome briefing on day 1
      • Private transfer from Porto airport to Porto train station or city center on day 1
      • Luggage transfers between accommodations days 2-6 and to Pinhão train station on day 7
      • 24/7 Emergency support

      What’s Not Included

      • Flights
      • Train tickets
      • Lunch on days 1 and 7
      • Dinner on days 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7
      • Winery tours and tastings
      • Museum entrance fees and other optional expenses
      • Insurance
      • Personal expenses and gratuities
      • All items not mentioned in the “What’s Included” section

      What You Should Bring

      • Most of this walking holiday is off-road on a rugged terrain so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support.
      • There is little shade so adequate weather protection is also vital.
      • We recommend you bring walking poles.

      Like what you see but it’s not quite the perfect fit?

      Just give us a call and tell us what you are looking for.  We can adapt this itinerary to fit your interests, needs, and schedule to create your ideal trip.

      Sign Up For This Tour or Ask Us Questions

      Send us an email using the form

      or give us a telephone call at +1.201.805.5570

      We will be glad to help you with any questions you may have or to tailor this trip to your desires.

      Payment Methods We Accept

      Credit Card Payment through PayPal ~ make payment to :  chadventures@outlook.com

      Zelle ~ make payment to :  201.805.5570

      Venmo ~ make payment to :  Arlena Mourier

      Cancellation Policy: 

      A $500 deposit is required at the time of registration.   Full payment must be received by 90 days prior to leaving for your tour or retreat.

      • Any cancellation will result in a total loss of your deposit.
      • If you must cancel your reservation, your money will be refunded minus the deposit up until 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour or retreat. 
      • After 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour or retreat, no refunds will be made. 

      We reserve the right to cancel the trip, should we do so your deposit and all monies paid will be refunded in full.

      Trip cancellation insurance is always recommended when making travel plans.  We suggest Travel Guard Insurance which can be found online.