Overview
Make your way from Porto into the very heart of the Douro wine region and explore the picturesque hills and valleys of Northern Portugal. 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 award-winning port and muscatel wines. Relax after each day’s walk at characterful country inns and hotels where you will receive a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation and taste delicious meals. End your self-guided walking holiday back in the fascinating historic city of Porto, which spans the mouth of the serene Douro River.
- The beautiful city of Porto (Oporto)
- Douro Valley
- Taste the local wines
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Porto
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 and 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 ageing wine are stored.
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Porto (Neya Porto Hotel or similar)
Day 2: Porto to Pinhão
Today you travel to the heart of the Douro Valley, and you can choose between taking the train (approx. 2.5h) 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. Instead of travelling by train, you can opt to spend the day on the water and take a river cruise upstream to Régua. This will involve the fascinating machinations of the Carrapatelo Dam (35m) and the Crestuma-Lever Dam (14m). The boat journey takes around 6h to reach Régua, with lunch on board, followed by a private transfer to your accommodation in Pinhão.
- Accommodation: hotel in Pinhão (LBV House Hotel Quinta de La Rosa or similar)
Day 3: Pinhão to Vilarinho de São Romão | 10km
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 historic country house. If weather permits, take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool or simply relax in the comfortable guest lounge.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 2-3h, ↑587m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Vilarinho de São Romão (Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão or similar)
Day 4: Pinhão River Circular Walk | 13km
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.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4-5h, ↑512m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Vilarinho de São Romão (Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão or similar)
Day 5: Vilarinho de São Romão to Alijó | 16km
Enjoy views across the valley on your way towards the pretty village of Sabrosa. Follow an ancient road to Favaios as you head down through the vineyard terraces to the river. Wind your way uphill again across vineyards and olive groves towards a distinctly different landscape. Taste traditional wood oven-baked bread and muscatel wine in Favaios, then continue to the small historic 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 hotel restaurant or in town.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 4-5h, ↑626m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Alijo (Pousada Barão de Forrester, Hotel Rural da Quinta do Silval or similar)
Day 6: São Mamede da Ribatua Circular Walk | 15km
Today’s walk is a circular route from Alijó that undulates through an ever-changing patchwork of vineyards and meadows 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.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 4-5h, ↑369m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Alijo (Pousada Barão de Forrester, Hotel Rural da Quinta do Silval or similar)
Day 7: Alijó to Casal de Loivos | 14km
Spend the day walking in Douro Valley through vineyards, perhaps calling in at a wine estate or two for a tour and sampling 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 for the day. Spend the night in a 17th-century country house with amazing views and a pool.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4-5h, ↑223m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Casal de Loivos (Casa De Casal De Loivos or similar)
Day 8: Casal de Loivos to Pinhão/Porto and Departure | 6km
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 can have lunch in the village or a picnic in the vineyards before taking the train back to Porto for your onward journey. If you would like to add extra nights in Porto so that you can explore the city in more depth, just let us know. Instead of the walk from Casal de Loivos, you can take a river cruise downstream from Régua to Porto as above, with a private transfer from Pinhão in the morning to catch the boat in Régua and lunch on board.
- Walking for the day: 6km, 1-2h ↑59m
- No accommodation is included
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is a mix of characterful 4-star hotels and country inns set on wine estates, some with outdoor swimming pools. They have been specifically chosen for their comfort and the great views over the Douro River and the surrounding vineyards that some of them offer. They all have comfortable private en-suite rooms and provide a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- LBV House Hotel (Pinhão)
- Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão (Vilarinho de São Romão)
- Pousada Barão de Forrester (Alijo)
- Casa De Casal De Loivos (Casal de Loivos)
- Neya Porto Hotel (Porto)
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included as well as five picnic lunches and two dinners. Dinners, when not included, are available at the overnight accommodations or in the villages.
Difficulty and terrain
This walk is graded moderate and includes daily walks of 4-5h on average; the terrain is undulating, but there are no steep ascents and descents (read more about difficulty grades). The routes are well-waymarked, and in general, the itinerary is easy to follow. Most of the walks are on 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 strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until the end of October. The best months to visit are April – June and September – October as in summer months it may become too hot for walking. September has the advantage of being the grape harvesting month. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airport for this tour is Porto.
Airport transfer from Porto airport to Porto train station is included. From Porto, you take the train to Pinhão. Train schedules can be checked here: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in a mix of characterful 4-star hotels and country inns set on wine estates
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 picnic lunches (Days 3-7)
- 2 dinners (Days 3 and 4)
- Welcome briefing
- Detailed journey documentation and practical information
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days and on Day 8 to Pinhão train station (1 pc up to 15kg per person)
- Private transfer from Porto airport to Porto hotel on Day 1
- Private transfer from Porto hotel to Campanhã train station on Day 2
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and departure airport transfer
- Public transport
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned, drinks and snacks
- Wine tastings
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘Included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is NOT available for solo travellers
- Extra nights in Porto
- Departure airport transfer
- Optional river cruise on Day 2 or Day 8
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