Internationale groepsreis Portugal: Walking & Wine - Premium

The trip begins in the beautiful historic city of Porto, famous for one of the most appreciated wines in the world - Port wine. Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its old architectural and landscape value. Today, depending on the arrival time of the group, we might have some time for a quick orientation tour accompanied by the tour leader. A full day of sightseeing in Porto is scheduled on the last day of the itinerary. Overnight in Hotel Vila Gale or similar.

After breakfast, we will transfer to Cinfaes (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes journey) for our walk in the Bestanca Valley. Within the valley is Portugal's hidden gem, the Bestanca River, with plenty of waterfalls, a medieval stone bridge and villages that have retained the beauty of their rural location. There are many walking paths in the valley, allowing us to combine several different routes, but the highlight is the walking trail of 'Vilar de Mouros', which passes through the medieval bridge of Covelas and Biodiversity Stations. We then transfer to our 5-star luxury hotel at Mesao Frio (approx. 1 hour journey) via a scenic road that follows the Douro River (7 km, approx. 3hrs and 30 minutes walking).

We start the day with a short transfer to the town of Regua, where we visit the interesting Douro Museum, an ideal place to learn about the history, culture and identity of the UNESCO World Heritage Douro wine region. Regua also marks the point at which the famous Douro railway turns from a good route into a great one, sticking closely to the river and clinging to the precipitous rocks as the river passes through the Douro gorge. We will have the opportunity to experience this scenic landscape made of terraced vineyards and olive groves as we travel by train to our next stop, the small port-producing village of Pinhão. After some free time for lunch and relaxation, we explore the Quinta de Tedo, a winery farm from the 18th Century in the heart of the Douro region. We will have a guided tour of the winery grounds, following a walking trail that offers plenty of opportunities for some bird watching. There is also time to enjoy wine tasting before we return to the hotel. (4 km, approx. 2 hours walking).

This morning we have an early transfer from Mesao to Regua to Vila Real, where we visit Casa de Mateus, a palace set in beautiful gardens considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in Portugal. In the afternoon, we continue to the Alvao Natural Park, home to endangered bird and animal species. Located within the park is the Olo River, a mountain river with several watermills and waterfalls, including the 200m high Fisgas do Ermelo, one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. The walking trail will take us to fantastic viewpoints of the waterfalls and villages and there is also a chance to go for a swim in some of the natural pools along the way. We then transfer to our 4-star hotel in Mandim de Basto, where we can enjoy a stunning infinity pool and views. (5 km, approx. 3 hours walking)

This morning we visit one of the main shrines to the Virgin Mary found in northern Portugal: the Senhora da Graca, also known as Chapel of Monte Farinha. The chapel is perched in front of granite mountain range at almost 1000m high. Our walking trail today takes us down old stone paths from the top of the mountain, passing the Chapel of Sao Goncalo, water sources and quarries. The trail then continues by the famous Levada do Piscaredo, a waterway dating back to the 13th Century. These rural constructions were indispensable for the irrigation of the fields of the Terras de Basto region, due to water scarcity in the past. We follow the waterway to the center of Mondim de Basto village, where we then take a very short transfer back to our hotel (8km, approx. 3 hours walking).

Our trip ends in Porto in the morning of day 8.