Hiking the Douro Valley 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. Walking Tour Meeting: Pinhão Airport:   Porto Airport Transfer: Porto Airport Trip Brochure (PDF)

Packages and Options

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Transfer and Other Charges:

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

                                                    Alijó area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	49	53	59	62	70	77	82	83	77	66	55	49
Average Low Temperature (°F)	37	37	41	43	48	54	57	58	55	49	41	37
Average High Temperature (°C)	9	12	15	17	21	25	28	28	25	19	13	10
Average Low Temperature (°C)	3	3	5	6	9	12	14	14	13	10	5	3

Source: NOAA


Seasons
The Douro's climate is influenced by the nearby mountains, serving as a barrier against precipitations. Located in deep valleys, protected by mountains, the region is characterized by having very cold winters and very hot and dry summers.

Precipitation distribution varies regularly throughout the year, with higher values in December and January (in some places in March), and lower values in July or August.
In the rainiest months, rainfall ranges from 50.6 mm (Barca d'Alva - Douro Superior) to 204.3 mm (Fontes - Baixo Corgo) and in the less rainy months, the precipitation values range between 6.9 mm (Murça - Cima Corgo) and 16.2 mm (Mesão Frio - Baixo Corgo).
In terms of annual values, these vary between 1,200 mm (Fontes) and 380 mm (Barca d'Alva).

The north bank of the river is under the influence of dry winds from the south, the south bank being exposed to the winds from the north, which are colder and more humid.

We take care of transferring your luggage between each accommodation (limit of 1 bag per person - 15kg max per bag).

What you need to bring:
- Most of this walking holiday is off-road 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 recommend you use walking poles.

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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.

Tack:		--
Horses:		--
Pace:		Total walking distance: 73.5 km
Level:		(3 out of 5)    Moderate
Riders:		Min 2	Max 8

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:

1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Passport Note

(a) Sufficient funds are required for all except EU nationals. (b) Portugal is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.



Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 90 days.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/consulate to check visa requirements 

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	1
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No
Return Ticket Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No