Portugal walking and wine : Porto wine trails and Douro river cruise

An intimate itinerary, carefully put together to enable to you explore the narrow streets, small squares and belvederes of the Invicta – the nickname given to the city to represent the pride and courage of the people of Northern Portugal. This city trek leads you to the cathedral and the Clerics tower, taking in the baroque style monuments along the way. 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! We can also organise a private guided tour of Porto. Contact us for details. 

Walk : Porto & Vila Nova de Gaia | 4h | 14km - 8 miles | Elevation : +/-500m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Porto 

A taxi will take you to the train station in São Bento, with its entrance hall covered withfrescoes of azulejos, where you will enjoy a 2h15 journey on the Douro train. This 19^th century train line passes through towns and countryside before rejoining the riverbed with its landscapes sculpted by human hands for centuries. You arrive in the charming small town of Pinhão where you will stay for the next 2 nights. An afternoon transfer (20 mins) will take you to the Quinta Nova. Stroll through the wine estate following a marked out didactic itinerary which allows you to admire the characteristics specific to the quintas of the Douro: vines, chapel, orchards, outbuildings, cellars, and terraced crops, before enjoying sampling the Port wines.
We recommend : 
. Exploring the frescoes of Azulejos that cover the facades of the train stations in São Bento and Pinhão. 
. Having a look inside the butchers at the exit of the train station in Pinhão and discover the secrets of the local cuisine.
. Enjoying a port wine on a café terrace along the Douro river. 

Walk : The Douro vineyards | 2h | 8km - 5 miles | Elevation : +/-250m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Pinhão

A 20 minute transfer from your hotel to the typical perched village of Provensende boasting stunning panoramic views. Descent 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 (add an extra 3km). In the afternoon, enjoy a cruise from the port of Pinhao to the Tua (about 2 hours, round trip), one of the most famous tributaries of the Douro with magnificent landscapes. Upstream, the rocks, the lights and the atmosphere change. A great & unique discovery along the waters of the Douro !

Walk : Provesende > Pinhão river & cruise > Tua  | 2h to 3h | 6km to 9km - 3 to 5 miles | Elevation : +500m/-600m 
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Pinhão

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 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 take you to your hotel in the city centre.
. Please note : the Douro cruise is doable from April 1st to October 31st.  If the cruise is not running or not possible because of bad weather, then the way back to Porto will be by private transfer ( with supplement ) 

Walk : Cruise from Regua > Porto   | 6h 
Meals included : breakfast & lunch 
Night : Porto

End of your trip in Porto. 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. 

Meals included: Breakfast