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Portugal uncovered : gourmet walks & boat cruise
    • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • 8 days
    • Walking
    • Self-guided
      • From February to November
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior
      • Trip code : K1107
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About the Portugal uncovered : gourmet walks & boat cruise trip

About the walking tour in Portugal 

In just 1 week, explore Lisbon, the Sintra hills, Porto and the magical Douro valley on this easy self-guided walking tour. The beauty and diversity of this itinerary will satisfy both nature and culture lovers. The trip starts in Lisbon, the proud capital city on the majestic Tagus River. In Sintra, castles, palaces and quintas emerge from granite chaos or from a luxuriant sub-tropical forest where plants from all continents have been introduced. The Moorish castle or the Palacio da Pena allow us to better understand the intricacies of Portuguese history. At the end of the Sintra massif, Cape Roca emerges, the westernmost point of continental Europe and a spectacular site on cliffs that rise 140 meters above the Atlantic Ocean.

The journey continues towards the Douro Valley, long stone cellars stand proudly along the river and the rabelo boats that were once used to transport the barrels adorn its banks, a symbol of a golden age and prosperity, largely linked to the international wine trade. The Douro valley with its centuries old terraced crops is classified as a World Heritage Site. It is the very first distinctive wine region in the world, from as early as 1756. Its history is carved in the stones of the schist terraces or on the facades of the quintas, the estates of the great wines of Porto.

You have a boat excursion on the Douro river. This day cruise offers a viewing point and a rhythm particularly adapted to this magnificent valley. It is indeed the best way to arrive in Porto and discover its 6 bridges and its colorful facades. The itinerary allows you to discover Porto through its gastronomic delights, including the visit of the wine estates of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the precious nectars of the great Porto wines mature before being exported all over the world.

On this trip, you uncover the wonders of Portugal taking the time to stop and admire, explore, discover and taste. The warm hospitality will make your encounters wonderfully authentic and sincere. A walking holiday in Portugal, where culture and nature are totally intertwined and tell the same story of an exceptional land.

Please note : the boat cruise is doable from April 

Highlights of the trip

  • The Best of Portugal in one tour : Lisbon, Porto, Sintra & Douro valley
  • Explore Sintra, with its many palaces and quintas surrounded by lush vegetation
  • La Cap da Roca, Europe’s most easternmost point
  • Porto, Unesco World Heritage city :  with a food tour and a guided visit of the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia
  • Boat cruise along the Douro, with 1 lunch on board 
  • Walking through the famed vineyards of the Douro Valley
  • The small town of Pinhão, nestled in the river bank

    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

Portugal uncovered : gourmet walks & boat cruise: Day by Day

Day 1 - Arrival in Lisbon

Lisbon walk tour

  • Arrival at Lisbon airport. Transfer to your hotel
    Depending on your arrival time, you can stroll through the black and white mosaic streets of the city, take a tram or walk up to the belvedere offering a panoramic view of the capital and the Tagus estuary where you can just picture the scene from years ago with the galleons returning from Brazil, Mozambique, China….
  • Night in Lisbon

  • Market in Lisbon: Mercado da Ribeira, the famous market in Lisbon close to Cais do Sodré station. Open everyday with many places to eat and regular events and entertainement. 

  • We recommend : 
    . Having an extra night in Lisbon and enjoy strolling through the streets of this beautiful city on the Tagus river ! 
    . Taking the number 28 tram for an animated tour of the historical districts of Lisbon.
    . Visiting the Saint-Jorge castle that boasts panoramic views of the city and Tagus estuary
    . Enjoying an evening of Fado music in the districts of Mouraria or Alfama

  • Access:
    . Regular flights to Lisbon. Regular metro and bus to the centre of Lisbon : info here

Day 2 - Sintra : Sub-tropical forrest and palaces

hike tour from sintra in Portugal

  • Walking day in the hills of Sintra
    5h - 12kms / 7,4 miles - Ascent : 400m / Descent : 400m
  • Private transfer to Sintra. The small streets of the historical centre lead to the foot of the massif. You begin the ascent on a path borded by giant granite rock, through lush green forest. The old walls of the Moorish castle offer incredible views of the Sintra massif and stretch as far as the ocean. A series of paths will take you to the park and Palace of Sintra. Many different species of plant and tree from around the world flourish here as you enter a 19th century Romanticism sub-tropical paradise, adorned with small pools, bridges and sculptures. The Pena Palace, the architechural fantasy of King Fernando II, dominates atop the massif summit.
  • Night in Sintra
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

  • We recommend :
    . Visit the National Palace in Sintra / visit la Quinta da Regaleira / visit a typical pastry shop in Sintra

Day 3 - Cabo da Roca and the wild coastline

sintra walk trip along cabo da roca beach

  • Walk – Cabo da Roca > Adraga beach > Praia grande Beach
    3h - 9kms / 5,5 miles - Ascent : 250m / Descent : 250m
  • Private transfer to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, overlooking the breaking waves of the Ocean from the top of 140-metre cliffs. Take the time to soak up the raw beauty of the landscape. The itinerary then follows the coast through multicoloured moors or along cliffs, taking in the beaches of Adraga and Praia Grande and Praia das Maças with several swimming opportunities and a choice of seaside cafés and restaurants.
  • Return to Sintra by private transfer
  • Night in Sintra
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

  • We recommend :
    . Visit the National Palace in Sintra / la Quinta da Regaleira / a typical pastry shop in Sintra

Day 4 - From the mountains of Sintra to the wild genuine Douro

douro best tour with beautiful train ride in ruralportugal countryside

  • Today you have 2 options :
  • 1/ To the Douro by train
    Private transfer (30 min) from Sintra to the train station in Lisbon. It is unique and special to travel along the Douro coiuntryside by train. Train ride from Lisbon to Pinhao (6h) with 1 train change in Porto : the train has great views of the river and countryside.
  • 2/ To Douro by private transfer with Porto tasting and 1 lunch in a quinta -  with a supplement
    . Private long transfer (3h30 to 4h) to the Douro valley. You cross the northern part of Portugal to reach the Quinta do Tedo estate. You enjoy a Porto wine tasting and lunch at the quinta. Visit of the quinta and afternoon walk in the vineyard along the Tedo, a beautiful tributary of the Douro. Return transfer (20 mn) to Pinhão, one of the most emblematic villages of the Douro, on the banks of the Golden River
    . Supplement from 320 €uros / person ( based on 2 persons ) -  Contact us 
  • Night in Pinhao
  • MEALS included : Breakfast - If you choose the private transfer : Porto wine tasting & lunch included

  • We recommend:
    . Visit the azulejo frescoes of the small train station in Pinhao, which depicts the life of the vineyard

Day 5 - Quintas & Vineards in the Douro valley

self guided walking holiday in portugal from lisbon Sintra Porto douro river

  • Walk - Provesende > Pinhão river
    3 hours / 9 kms - 5.5 miles / Ascent: +100 - Descent: - 600m
  • 20 mn transfer to the typical perched village of Provensende boasting stunning panoramic views. You walk among the high schist terraces covered with vines, olive trees or almond trees to reach the Pinhão river that runs along to reach the village of the same name. You can choose to visit the Quinta de la Rosa estate at the end of your walk.
  • Night in Pinhao 
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

  • We recommend :
    . 1 Porto wine tasting at the Quinta de la Rosa 
    . 1 boat excursion on the Douro river ( 1h,  supplement around 16€, please contact us ) 

Day 6 - Cruise from Regua to Porto along the river Douro

portugal walk stay in genuine Porto

  • Boat cruise Regua port > along the River Douro > Porto
  • Please note : The boat excursion on the Douro is running from early  April to late October). If the boat is not running, then you will have a taxi transfer with supplement. 
  • Transfer (30 min) to the Regua river port. From there, you cruise downstream for 6 hours, descending the Douro all the way to Porto. Treat yourself to a leisurely day on the water admiring the landscape of terraced vineyards that this region is so famous for, experience the thrill of passing through two locks (one 14 metres the other 35 metres deep!) and enjoy a lunch on the boat's panoramic deck. You head to Porto along the wine route where boats used to transport barrels of wine and arrive in Porto under its impressive bridges.
  • A taxi awaits you upon arrival at the port in Porto to pick up your bags. You can then walk to your hotel and discover Porto on foot.
  • Night in Porto
  • MEALS included : Breakfast & lunch on board

  • We recommend :
    . Enjoying a swim in Lake Alqueva (weather permitting)
    . Visiting the medieval fort in Monsaraz

Day 7 - Food tour in Porto and wine cellar visit Nova de Gaia

self guided walking holiday in portugal porto sintra and Douro

  • Loop Walk - Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia
    4 hours / 14 km - 8.6 miles / Ascent: + 500m - Descent: - 500m
  • Specially concocted for you : you discover the city of Porto and its gastronomic treasures. First, a food tour takes you from the Bolhao Market to some of the city's most emblematic places to taste cod fritters, cold cuts, cheese or the famous pasteis de Nata. This city walk leads you to the cathedral and the Clerics tower, taking in the baroque style monuments
  • You then cross the majestic Douro river to discover the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, where ripens the precious nectar of the great wines of Porto. After a guided tour of the many cellars and some tasting : the famous Vintage, LBV and Colheita will hold no secrets with you!
  • Night in Porto
  • MEALS included : Breakfast 

Day 8 - Bye bye Portugal

portugal hike trip

  • Transfer from your hotel to the airport (planned 2h30 before your flight departure). Depending on your flight time, you can enjoy some free time to stroll through the city.
  • End of your trip in Porto. Bye bye Portugal ..
  • MEALS included : Breakfast

  • Return:
    . Regular flights from Porto & Lisbon airport   
    . Regular train Porto > Lisbon

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    Trip details
    Portugal uncovered : gourmet walks & boat cruise
        • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
        • 2 adults (2x1430€)
        • 0 children (0x1430€)
      • 8 days
      • Comfort
    Total 2860€
    Deposit 1000€
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