Douro Valley

After arrival at Porto airport, the transfer (included) will take you to Porto station for your train journey (exclusive) of approx. 2.5 hours to Pinhão, centrally located in the valley. This is the starting point of your walking holiday through the Doura valley.

Arrive in the afternoon, but don't just walk out of the station but take the time to take a good look at it, it is one of the most beautiful stations in Portugal. Richly decorated with azulejos, the coloured Portuguese tiles that depict daily life. Enjoy the picturesque atmosphere of Pinhão this afternoon, stroll through the vineyards, taste the wines in one of the bodegas such as winery Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta das Carvalhas or take a boat trip on the Douro with a traditional Rabelo boat. In the evening you can enjoy delicious regional dishes in the excellent restaurants in the pleasant town.

You walk on winding footpaths through endless vineyards, surrounded by ancient stone walls, on the western slopes of the Pinhão Valley. You climb the road to the villages of São Cristovão do Douro and Provosende, which are located on the hill. The effort is more than rewarded with a view of the surrounding terraces of the vineyards and the excellent view of the meeting of the Pinhão and Douro rivers. In the evening, your hosts await you at Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão, where you can enjoy a home-cooked dinner of regional specialities and a refreshing dip in the pool.

From Vilarinho de São Romão, the hiking trail meanders to the Pinhão River. Past small villages and wineries, through lush green vineyards with a varied landscape and beautiful views. Relax with a picnic lunch by the river before heading up the hill to Celeirós, a pretty village well worth a wine tasting at Quinta do Portal. In the late afternoon, you will return to Vilarinho de São Romão. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool, and in the evening a delicious traditional dinner of regional specialities awaits you.

Enjoy the view over the wide, green valley on the way to the idyllic village of Sabrosa. You follow the old road between Vilarinho de São Romão and Favaios and walk downhill through vines to the river. Then it goes uphill between vines and olive groves, to a completely different landscape, a rugged mountain landscape. The small, attractive village of Favaio is one of only two places in Portugal where the Moscatel wine is produced and is famous for the quadrangular bread made from locally produced wheat and baked in a wood-fired oven from traditional bakeries. You can learn all about these delicacies in the bread and wine museum and different variations can be tasted on the museum terrace, overlooking the vineyards. Continue to the small historic town of Alijó.

Today a circular walk is on the program, which takes you in constant ups and downs through vineyards and fields to the ancient village of São Mamede de Ribatua, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding rock-strewn mountains. A beautiful church decorated with colourful Portuguese tiles is not to be missed. Enjoy the delicacies in your picnic basket, cool your feet in the river and rest before starting the walk back to Alijó. Follow the hiking trails through the shady pine forests.

You will spend the day walking through the vineyards. Be sure to stop at one of the many wineries for a tour and wine tasting before reaching the ridge at the top of the eastern slope of the Pinhão Valley. Look around and enjoy the magnificent view of the terraced slopes on the other side and try to spot the villages you walked at the beginning of this walking week. A beautiful view of the valley of the Douro River is worth the effort of this climb. 

Your last walking stage to Pinhão is quite short, but with a beautiful view over the entire Douro Valley. Enjoy a late lunch in the village or a picnic in one of the vineyards before taking the train back to Porto (exclusive).

The second city of Portugal has a bustling atmosphere, culture, conviviality, and many beautiful sights and you can enjoy excellent cuisine. No fewer than six bridges connect Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the Douro River. The metal bridges Ponte Dom Luís I and Ponte Maria Pia are real icons of the city. Ponte Dom Luís I, the imposing iron pedestrian bridge is the icon of Porto. The atmospheric old centre of Porto, Ribeira, is located on the River Douro. 

Colourful houses, narrow streets, restaurants and traditional Port boats give the neighbourhood a picturesque appearance. The São Bento train station in Porto is one of the most beautiful stations in the world. As many as 20,000 painted tiles, azulejos, adorn the station concourse. The São Bento train station in Porto is one of the most beautiful stations in the world.

After breakfast, your walking holiday ends and a transfer (included) takes you to Porto airport.