Portugal: Walking & Wine - Premium Adventure

Take a deep-dive into the premier wine region of Portugal, the Unesco-listed Douro Valley

Portugal has been making wine for centuries, with some estimates placing the first planting of vines as far back as 2000 BCE. The Basto and Douro regions are perhaps the best known and offer rich landscapes and fascinating history to discerning visitors.

Led by one of our expert guides, Lina Ferreira or Ana Carla Moura Parente da Costa, immerse yourself in atmospheric Porto and indulge in a voyage of taste and discovery through the verdant Douro Valley, where port wines are produced. Venture into the region known as Terras de Basto, home of Portugal’s young wine, vinho verde, and stay in handpicked hotels including properties in the heart of the Douro Valley, which have exceptional views. The perfect combination of leisurely walks and authentic cultural visits provide a memorable introduction to this lush, captivating country, once a dominant trading power in the world.

This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

People, Places & Planet

Visa

Portugal

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Portugal. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/portugal
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Portugal.html

Vaccination

Portugal

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners and three wine tastings are included.

Porto and the Douro Valley are known for their excellent wines and the delicious regional cuisine which makes use of the natural resources found here. All meals have strong links with the land and sea, often prepared following old traditional recipes. Local specialities include caldo verde, a cabbage soup that originated here thanks to the fertile green fields. Portugal also has some of the best fish in the world, and in this region a lot of the fish comes from the Douro River. The Douro region is also well-known for an endless number of meat dishes, including roasted goat with rice and potatoes, wild boar stew, posta mirandes (veal steak) and cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and cabbage). The francesinha is unmissable – a multi-layered sandwich comprising cheese, ham, steak and sausage, topped with a fried egg and coated in a spicy tomato sauce.

Although meat and fish dishes are typically the focal point of Portuguese cuisine, vegetarian and vegan options have become more widely available in recent years, particularly in cosmopolitan cities such as Lisbon and Porto. Please let us know of any dietary requirements in advance so we can best accommodate your request.

The Douro Valley, birthplace of port, is one of the oldest and most beautiful wine regions in the world. Considering the importance of the Alto Douro Wine Region, Unesco recognised it as a World Heritage site in 2001. Port is a fortified wine produced under particular and unique conditions. It is still produced in the traditional way, during which the fermentation process is stopped by adding spirits distilled from wine, and the blending of wines and aging still play a vital role. Port wines can be red, white or rosé and during the trip there will be plenty of opportunities to try the different varieties. Vinho verde is also an excellent wine produced in this area. Naturally light and fresh, it is fruity, easy to drink, great as an aperitif or served with light meals.

Weather

The Douro region has a micro-climate, which is an important factor in the quality and style of its wines. Sheltered from the cold and humid winds of the Atlantic Ocean by the Marão and Montemuro mountain ranges, the region has a continental climate, with hot and dry summers and cooler and wetter winters. As you leave Porto behind and travel upriver, the rainfall decreases and temperatures increase. In May, spring peaks, with flowers and greenery in abundance. June still offers this pleasant climate without the stifling heat of July and August. September and October are also particularly pleasant, remaining dry and warm, and from the second half of October, the beautiful red, orange and yellow of the leaves herald autumn.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely).

• Walks: Each day, we walk from two to five hours (excluding the sightseeing or free afternoons). Walking hours stated in the itinerary are approximations only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the pace of the group.
• Routes: The terrain and path type will vary from paved tracks to dirt roads. The walks are easy and taken at a leisurely pace, although there are some short ascents and descents. Some of the drives, although short, follow winding mountain roads.
• Climate: The Douro region can often reach 30C (86F) between June and September.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.