Porto & the Douro Valley
8 Days & 7 Nights 4.4 Read 20 reviews- Explore the Ribeira, Porto’s old town and a World UNESCO Heritage Site
- Take the train from Porto to Pinhão, renowned for its outstanding views
- Follow trails through vineyards and traditional white-washed villages
- Enjoy wine-tasting at renowned local wineries in the Douro region
- End your journey on a scenic Douro River boat cruise from Regua to Porto
What To Expect
Trip Type:
Slower Adventures | Slower Adventures
Activity:
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Foodie
- Wine
Grade & Terrain
This holiday is graded moderate and it is suitable for those who are in good physical condition. The area is undulating with quite significant ascents and descents through the vineyard terraces. During the summer, temperatures are high, and this may slow you down. Most of the route follows dirt tracks although you will occasionally be following minor paved roads.
Navigation
The route is not way-marked. You will receive a digital information booklet approximately 1 month prior to your arrival, including a description of the route, points of interest and local recommendations. For navigation, you will need to use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps and GPS tracks. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost.You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Experience & Fitness
This route is suitable for most regular walkers of average fitness. You should train by walking some daily walks of similar daily distances to your planned itinerary.Accommodation Information
Your 7 night, 8 day Porto & the Douro Valley self-guided walk in Portugal includes 7 nights in 4 & 3* hotels and guest houses set on wine estates. All of the hotels have been specifically chosen for their comfort and some also for their great locations with fabulous views over the Douro River and surrounding vineyards. A warm welcome is assured and some have swimming pools or gardens that you may wander through.
Alternative accommodation
During the high season, you might be booked into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. Any alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard as those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. Solo walkers are also welcome for an additional charge which is unfortunately quite high due to the high cost of the shared transfers not being split.
Meals
7 Breakfasts and 1 lunch on the Douro River Cruise are included. In Porto, you can eat dinner in one of the many restaurants and at the other locales (because they are rural areas) at the hotels. We recommend that you make reservations for dinner, especially at the quintas. We recommend trying the traditional and locally-sourced food, especially the fresh seafood in Porto which is simply delicious. For lunches, you can find local cheeses, meats and breads in local shops or markets, or the hotels may make you a packed lunch on request.
- 7 Nights in 4* & 3* Hotels and Guest Houses
- Transfer on Day 6 from Pinhão to Peso da Régua
- Lunch on Day 7 while on the Douro River Cruise
- The Douro River Cruise
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers
- Transfers at the beginning and end of the tour from the hotels to Porto Airport
- A welcome briefing upon arrival
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- Travel insurance (required)
- Train tickets between Porto and Pinhão (approx. €11 one way)
- Taxi from the Porto hotel to the train station on Day 2
- Luggage transfers on Days 2 and 7
- Taxi from the port to the hotel on Day 7 (post-river cruise)
- Transfer from Pinhao to hotel on Day 2
- Dinners & lunches not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before or after the holiday
When To Go
This Porto & the Douro Valley self-guided walking tour is available April through to June and then September through to March, but please bear in mind the River Cruise is only available from April through to October. If you are travelling outside of these months, you will be transferred back to Porto by car.
As the summer months can be extremely hot, making walking quite uncomfortable the departure dates are limited to spring, autumn and winter months. In the spring there will be lots of wildflowers and in the autumn it is the grape harvest, so it will be a great time to be in this area. Please be aware that in the winter months some of the hotels and hotel restaurants may be closed however there will be options available in the local area and the accommodation you will stay in may not be exactly the same as that in the detailed itinerary however it will be of a similar standard.
Getting to the Start
Porto Airport is the nearest airport and is served by many airlines. All transfers to and from Porto Airport (or to/from train or bus station in Porto) to the first and last hotels are included in the price. If you're not using the transfer, Porto Airport is approximately 11km from the city centre. You can use the metro, bus, shuttle or taxi to reach your hotel in Porto.
Porto is also accessible from Lisbon Airport. If flying into Lisbon Airport, you can take an airport shuttle bus to the Santa Apolonia Train Station and then a train to Porto (approx. 2.5 hours).
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred as per your itinerary. We request that you limit your luggage to 20kg per person and one bag per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
General Information
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please note that for this tour, some ascents and descents can be more than what is stated on the itinerary, and is dependent on where your guesthouse is located.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, a day pack, sun hat, and sunscreen.
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a packing list on what to bring. This includes walking gear, hiking boots, rain gear, day pack and other specifics.
Equipment
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a packing list on what to bring. This includes walking gear, hiking boots, rain gear, day pack and other specifics.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.