Explore the spectacular views of the Douro Valley hiking through traditional villages and terraced vineyards.
Douro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some 240,000 hectares of vineyards, producing equal quantities of Douro wines and Porto wines.
The landscape of terraced hills overlooking the River Douro is a breathtaking sight and the best way to explore Douro Wine Region is on foot.
In each hike you have the option for a guided wine tour and wine tasting in different wineries (quintas).
Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro Region for some 2,000 years.
A world commodity, Port wine, a wine of a quality defined and regulated since 1756 is produced in Douro Valley.
Day 1 - Welcome to Porto and transfer to Saborosa
A local Descubra Minho guide will meet you at Porto airport or at Porto - Campanha train station and will offer a private transfer to your hotel in the Douro Valley.
Arriving at the hotel you have time for check-in and our guide will provide a briefing about the tour.
The city of Porto (or Oporto) in North of Portugal is a Unesco World Heritage Site and it is a wonderful place to explore on foot.
You will have time to visit the famous Ribeira Porto's riverside quarter, the Port wine sells in Vila Nova de Gaia or the historical monuments in Porto city centre.
Day 2 - Transfer from Porto to Saborosa
We offer a transfer from your hotel to the S. Bento railway station in the city centre of Porto (departure station).
From S. Bento you will enjoy a great journey towards Pinhão railway station, in the hearth of Douro Valley described as one of the most beautiful train stations in the entire world.
At Pinhão railway station you will be met and transported by taxi to your hotel for check-in.
If you have enough time you can explore Pinhão on foot, visit the local wineries or book a Douro River Tour in a Traditional Rabelo Boat - 1h - from / to Pinhão.
After a short transfer, you start this hike in the beautiful village of Valença do Douro.
During this day, gain excellent views over the River Douro and of the surrounding valleys. Following your hike, you have the opportunity to learn more about the wine making process at Quinta do Seixo - Sandeman (pay locally).
Easy hike: 6 km Moderate hike: 14km
About Sandeman - Quinta do Seixo:
"There are few landscapes in Portugal as rich in beauty and history as Quinta do Seixo's views. With 100 hectares and vines with over a hundred years of history, this place is a mosaic of tradition.
Just strolling through the vineyards and get ready to be dazzled by nature's living colours. A liveliness that gains new tons as the seasons change. In addition to the undeniable beauty, it is here at Quinta do Seixo that our high-quality wines born and take shape. Something that we can only achieve with a winery equipped with the most advanced winemaking technology and by respecting the tradition of producing only great wines".
Day 4 - Hiking tour from Provesende to Pinhão and optional visit to Quinta do Bomfim - Symington Family Estate
Starting this tour in Provosende, a traditional village in the heart of Douro Valley you hike through vineyards down to the Pinhão river. Alon the way you enjoy the stunning views over Douro river.
As you walk down and over the hilly slopes you will pass through many vineyards and olive groves before to arrive in Pinhão.
At Pinhão you can visit Quinta do Bomfim - Symington Family Estate or enjoy a boat trip along the river (pay locally in both cases).
At the end of the day you travel back to tour hotel by taxi.
Easy hike: 7km Moderate hike: 16km
About Quinta do Bomfim - Symington Family Estate:
Acquired by George Warre for Dow’s in 1896, the name of the property derived from Vale do Bomfim, ‘the well-placed valley’, as the area around the village of Pinhão was then known. In 1912, Andrew James Symington became a partner in Dow’s and made Quinta do Bomfim his Douro family home. Since then generations of Symington winemakers have worked the vineyards and enjoyed stays at this beautiful property.
One of the finest Douro estates, Quinta do Bomfim is sited in the heart of the Upper Douro Valley, ideally located in an area of transition between temperate and Mediterranean climates. Predominantly south-facing with ample solar exposure, the schist slopes are arranged in vineyard terraces which have yielded Dow’s memorable Vintage Ports for over a century.
All the grapes harvested at the property are taken to the small on-site winery where they are trodden in modern lagares, faithful to the method developed over hundreds of years which continues to make the finest Ports.
Day 5 - Circular hike between Favaios and Alijó
It is a circular trail which starts and ends in Alijó. The trail goes towards Favaios passing through Castelo de Vilarelho, a fortified settlement where the first inhabitants of the region lived during the Iron Age.
Their remains survived the posterior Roman, Suebi and Arab occupations of the territory.
In Alijó the trail passes through the historical centre of the town, where an imponent century-old sycamore tree can be found. Make sure you make the most of your visit to Favaios, do not miss its rich historical and
cultural heritage: fountains, chapels, churches, manors and stately homes, several granite milestones, which used to demarcate the former Douro Demarcated Region, visit its artisan bakeries where the famous “Favaios bread” is baked in old wood fired ovens, as well as its Cooperative Winery where you can find the well-known and distinctive Favaios Moscatel wine.
Distance: 12 km
Day 6 - Departure
Private transfer from your hotel in Alijó to Porto airport / city or train station.
Optional / on request:
Make An Enquiry
This trip can be enjoyed as shown, made longer or be a tailor made tour combining with our Minho walking tour: https://descubraminho.com/en/toursnorthernportugal/walking-holiday-northern-portugal-minho
Please contact us for full details and to discuss your best trip in Portugal!
