Hiking the Douro Wine Region

Introduction
Douro Portugal
Make your way from Porto into the very heart of the Douro region, 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.
End your self-guided walking holidays 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.

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

Accomodation

Accommodations
The accommodation for this programme is in a combination of small, unique hotels and family-run rural lodgings, which give clients an insight into local history and culture. The staff/owners are very welcoming and happy to chat with guests about the area. Some of these accommodations produce their own wine, olive oil and fruit, from which they make and serve home-made jams that can also be purchased as gifts/souvenirs.
 
Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Porto
Night 2: Hotel in Pinhão
Night 3 & 4: Country Hotel in Vilarinho de São Romão
Night 5 & 6: Hotel in Alijó
Night 7: Country House in Casal de Loivos

Room Occupancy
Solo travelers will need to pay a single supplement fee.


Meals
All breakfasts are included as well as lunches days 2 to 6 and dinners on day 2 and 3. Other meals need to be paid extra.

The lunch packs contain fresh local produce and we encourage guests to have dinner at hospitable local restaurants where they can enjoy traditional regional dishes, engage with the owners, chef or servers and, of course, sample Douro wines and port.

Special diets and dietary restrictions:
We can cater to dietary requirements with advanced notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Your private transfer will be waiting for you at Porto airport to take you to your city centre hotel.
A member of our team will meet you at your Porto hotel to give you a full briefing and your Welcome Pack, with all the information you need to fully enjoy this self-guided walking holiday.
If you have free time In Porto, you may wish to explore the city’s historical monuments, revitalised 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 are stored.
Meals included: none
Overnight in 4* hotel in Porto

Day 2: Douro Valley 
Today you travel to the heart of the Douro Valley and you can choose between taking the train (approx. 2.5 hours) or spending most of the day on a river cruise all the way from Porto.
If travelling by train, we’ll pick you up at your hotel and take you to the station. Enjoy the river views all the way to the small riverside village of Pinhão, where the train station is decorated with painted tile panels depicting Douro wine production. Once there, you can take a boat upstream (optional, paid locally) for a different perspective of the valley.
Should you decide to travel by boat, as well as the views, you’ll have the experience of going through two locks that are a feat of engineering which has transformed the Douro River and enabled boats to travel safely between Porto and the wine region.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* Hotel in Pinhão

Day 3: Pinhão to Vilarinho de São Romão 
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 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.
Hiking about 9.4 km (elevation: + 587 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Packed lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Country House in Vilarinho de São Romão

Day 4: Circular walk via Pinhão River 
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 (not included).
Hiking about 12.8 km (elevation: + 512 m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Packed lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Country House in Vilarinho de São Romão

Day 5: Vilarinho de São Romão to Alijó
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.
Hiking about 16.4 km (elevation: + 626 m)
Meals included: Breakfast & Packed lunch
Overnight in 4* hotel in Alijó

Day 6: Circular walk via São Mamede da Ribatua 
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.
Hiking about 15 km (elevation: + 369 m)
Meals included: Breakfast & Packed lunch
Overnight in 4* hotel in Alijó

Day 7: Alijó to Casal de Loivos
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.
Hiking about 13.9 km (elevation: + 233 m)
Meals included: Breakfast & Packed lunch
Overnight in Country House in Casal de Loivos

Day 8: Casal de Loivos to Pinhão & Departure
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 your onward journey (not included).
If you would like to add extra nights in Porto so that you can explore the city in more depth, just let us know.
Hiking about 6 km (elevation: + 59 m)
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Hiking the Douro Wine Region

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Pinhão
Airport: Porto Airport
Transfer: Porto Airport

Climate:
                                                    Alijó area