Northern Portugal’s Atlantic Coast Walking Holiday
8 days | from 890€
Experience Portugal's breathtaking Atlantic Coast with our self-guided walking holiday. Explore scenic trails, charming villages, and the vibrant culture of Northern Portugal.
1- Week self-guided hiking holiday through the unexplored, rural side of the Douro wine region with orchards, vineyards and typical villages to explore.
After making your way from Porto to the riverside town of Peso da Régua, you’ll spend most of the week hiking in the area south of the Douro River, in places where few tourists venture. The wine production here is mostly smaller producers, which means a greater variety of vineyard patterns and a very local feel to the experience.
You will also experience the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of the Alto Douro wine region, which spreads out from both banks of the Douro River, from multiple vantage points that give you a sense of its magnitude.
As well as wine, the Douro is famous for producing cherries, apples, elderberries, figs and other fruits, so you’ll encounter orchards as far as the eye can see around Armamar. Depending on the time of year, the fruit trees may be in blossom or in fruit, adding extra colour and flavour to your time in the Douro Valley.
Our self-guided walking holiday route takes you to many typical villages. Some, such as Salzedas and Barcos, stand out for their historical monuments, including a Romanesque church and a Cistercian monastery. Others are unassuming places where you will see how local people manage their vegetable plots, vineyards and fruit trees. Hang out in a café and watch life unfold around you. Better still, you can make some new friends!
The final walking day starts in a hillside village on the north side of the Douro River, which gives you an opportunity to see where you’ve already walked from a different perspective.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Porto
A private driver will meet you at Porto International Airport and take you to your hotel in Porto.
When you check into your Porto hotel, you will receive your Welcome Kit, which contains all the information and necessary documents you need to fully enjoy this self-guided walking holiday in the Douro wine region.
If you would like us to include a cultural or food tour of the city today and/or tomorrow, just let us know (additional costs apply).
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Porto city centre
Day 2: Scenic train to the heart of the Douro Valley
The scenic train journey takes you along the Douro River to the town of Peso da Régua. There is a wide array of bars, restaurants, and nearby wineries that you can arrange to visit if you have time, as well as the Douro Museum (optional, paid locally).
Settle into your boutique hotel and rest well for the week ahead or stretch your legs on a riverside stroll.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Walk from Peso da Régua to Aldeia de Baixo
Distance: 15.9 km (9.9 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +706m / -226m
Shorter option: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Once you leave the bustle of Peso da Régua and the traffic behind, you’ll enter into a landscape filled with birdsong and vineyards. You’ll pass through several villages where tourists seldom venture and life goes on as normal and you can stop at a local café to interact with local people.
As well as offering remarkable views, the landscape is an interesting mix of rugged, untouched hillsides and those which have been cultivated for growing grapes, olive trees, cherry and apple trees. In early spring, the fruit tree blossoms add colour and joy to the landscape while the spring flowers that follow are an endless source of delight, as are the fruits once they are ripe for picking.
Accommodation: Country house
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 4: Walk from Salzedas to Aldeia de Baixo
Distance: 14.6 km (9.1 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +348m / -322m
Shorter option: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
A short, scenic drive takes you to a magnificent Cistercian monastery in the village of Salzedas, dating back to the 12th century. Take the opportunity to look around the church and village before starting your walk.
You’ll spend the day walking between apple and cherry orchards, olive groves and small vineyards punctuated by villages. Depending on the time of year, you might enjoy an abundance of fruit blossoms, a myriad of wildflowers, ripening fruit or a harvest in progress.
In addition to the endless orchards, there are mountains in the near and far distance, including the undulating hillsides of the Alto Douro wine region and the majestic Alvão Natural Park.
Accommodation: Country House
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 5: Walk from Armamar to Quinta do Tedo
Distance: 14.2 km (8.8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +356m / -814m
Shorter option: 6 km (3.7 miles)
After a short taxi ride to the nearby small town of Armamar, you will start your day with fabulous views but the best are yet to come! The first part of the day takes you through typically rural landscapes with plenty of olive and fruit trees as well as small vineyards.
The journey to the village of Vacalar and offers marvellous views – a taste of what’s to come later. As you progress through gorgeous vineyards, the expanse of the UNESCO World Heritage Landscape of the Douro Valley, with its endless terraced slopes and the mighty Douro River, comes into view.
End the day’s walk with a wine tasting session at Quinta do Tedo before transferring to the small town of Tabuaço.
Accommodation: Boutique guest house
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 6: Tabuaço circular walk via Adorigo
Distance: 16.5 km (10.2 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +417m / -431m
Shorter option: Linear walk | 9.7 km (6 miles)
Today’s walk offers a variety of scenery, from the boulder-strewn hills that overlook Tabuaço to the Douro Valley and its undulating slopes, as well as flatter areas at around 500 metres altitude.
You will pass through the centre of one of the Douro’s six official Wine Producing Villages, namely Barcos. Around and beyond Barcos, you’ll see many vegetable plots and flat vineyards belonging to smaller producers than the vast estates nearer the Douro River.
The route is tranquil and allows plenty of opportunities to enjoy a peaceful time in the countryside surrounded by birdsong and the various scents of flowers and trees. At the half-way point, you will have fabulous views of the Douro River and UNESCO landscape as you make your way to the village of Adorigo and back to Tabuaço.
You also have the option of visiting a family-owned winery that’s over 100 years old (additional cost).
Accommodation: Boutique guest house
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 7: Walk from Valença do Douro to Pinhão
Distance: 15.4 km (9.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +325m / -635m
Shorter option: 7 km (4.3 miles)
Today’s walk starts in the village of Valença do Douro, which overlooks the hilltop building of the Quinta das Carvalhas estate. You’ll walk through the heart of the village then out into the vineyards and countryside.
This is the landscape of small producers and the patterns of the grape rows are interesting and varied on the way to the next village. Head uphill through a wine estate and be prepared for some extra special views as you wend your way down the hill to Pinhão.
Zig-zag your way downhill through the grape vines to reach the tasting rooms of Real Companhia Velha, where a port wine tasting awaits you.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 8: Walk from Vilarinho de Cotas to Pinhão
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +131m / -482m
Shorter option: 6 km (3.7 miles)
Experience the views from the north side of the Douro River today on this mostly downhill walk. You’ll start in a small village high in the hills and views of the Pinhão Valley. As you start your descent, you’ll have views of the Douro Valley to your left.
As you round the hillside towards Casal de Loivos, your views of the Douro Valley arrive and will accompany you all the way down to the river through the vineyards of Quinta da Roeda and Quinta do Bomfim back to Pinhão.
Catch the afternoon train back to the captivating city of Porto.
Meals: Breakfast
NOTE: All the shorter options require a transfer that must be paid on-site.
Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?
Simply get in touch to tell us what you’re looking for. We’re happy to make changes to create your ideal holiday.
Map
The Other Side of Douro Walking & Hiking Tour
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 7 nights | 6 walking days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 2
Walking grade: Moderate
Total walking distance: 85.5 km | 53.1 miles
Region: Douro Valley
Highlights: Stunning views, UNESCO World Heritage wine region, rural life, typical villages, historical monuments, fruit trees, wide range of vineyards, small wine producers, wine and port tasting.
Available: From 01st March to 31st October
Price per person:
Low season: 01st March to 30th April | 16th October to 31st October
> In double room occupancy: 995 euros
> Single room supplement: 415 euros
High season: 1st May to 15th October
> In double room occupancy: 1.090 euros
> Single room supplement: 430 euros
What’s included?
- 7 Nights of accommodation with breakfast included;
- 5 Packed lunches (day 3 to day 7);
- Detailed route notes (in English);
- Pre-tour briefing;
- App with trail information for use on a smartphone;
- Tour and tasting session at Quinta do Tedo winery (day 5);
- Private transfer from Porto airport to Porto hotel (day 1);
- Private transfers between accommodation and the start or end of daily walks, where relevant;
- Luggage transfer between accommodations (days 3, 5 and 7);
- Welcome kit and pre-departure information
- 24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking).
What’s not included?
- Transfer from Porto hotel to Porto train station; Train tickets; Lunches and dinners (except for the packed lunch between day 3 and day 7); Insurance; Gratuities; Personal expenses; All items not mentioned in the “Included” section.
What you need to bring:
- Most of this walking holiday is off-road on rugged terrain so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support.
- There is little shade so adequate weather protection is also vital.
- We recommend you bring walking poles.
Optional extra services:
- River cruise from Porto to Peso da Régua, with lunch included: 110 euros per person.
- River cruise from Peso da Régua to Porto, with lunch included: 140 euros per person.
- Visit a winery and wine tasting in Pinhão: 35 euros per person.
- Extra nights in Pinhão (3-star hotel): On request.
- Extra nights in Porto (4-star hotel): On request.
- Transfer from Porto to Peso da Régua: 230 euros for up to 3 people; 310 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from Pinhão to Porto: 255 euros for up to 3 people; 350 euros for 4 to 7 people.
OPTIONAL RIVER CRUISE
(Additional costs involved. See the General Conditions)
Day 2: Option 2 | Travel to Douro Valley by river cruise
Instead of travelling by train, you can opt to spend the day on the water and take a river cruise upstream to Régua. This will involve the fascinating machinations of the Carrapatelo Dam (35 metres) and the Crestuma-Lever Dam (14 metres). The boat journey takes around 6 hours to reach Régua with lunch on board.
Day 8: Option 2 | Return to Porto by river cruise
Instead of the walk from Vilarinho das Cotas, you can take a river cruise downstream from Régua to Porto as above, with a private transfer from Pinhão in the morning to catch the boat in Régua and lunch on board.
Options for extending the standard Douro hiking programme by a day or more
Option 1: Instead of returning to Porto by train after walking to Pinhão on day 8, you could spend an extra night in Pinhão and take the train the following day.
Option 2: You could also spend an extra night in Pinhão and take the river cruise the following day.
If you would like us to add one or more nights in a Pinhão or Porto hotel, just let us know.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
At Portugal Green Walks, we firmly believe that travel should be a safe and rewarding experience for all concerned, including the destinations that you visit and the people you meet.
Find out how we embrace sustainable and responsible travel.
Environment
Our self-guided hikes follow rural backroads and paths through a fascinating landscape with undulating countryside, vineyards, valleys and villages, offering you the chance to enjoy the local flora and fauna with negligible environmental impact.
We use some accommodations for multiple nights in order to reduce the need for luggage transfers. When these are necessary, we use local taxi drivers to reduce carbon emissions and support the local economy. Encouraging public transport from Porto is another way of doing our bit for the environment.
Since tap water quality in Portugal is excellent, we recommend that our clients bring a refillable bottle to use during their walking holiday.
We provide an app for clients to use during their tours with us to reduce the need for printing information. It is a simple and straightforward navigation tool that will give them all the directional information they need and peace of mind that they are on the right track. It also contains information about points of interest along the route and the location of useful services such as cafés and grocery stores.
Community
To ensure that money stays within the small local communities where you spend time, you will stay in a combination of small, unique hotels and family-run rural lodgings. These accommodations offer an insight into local history and culture. Some of these accommodations produce their own wine, olive oil, and fruit, from which they make and serve home-made jams that can also be purchased as gifts/souvenirs.
The daily lunch pack contains fresh, local produce, and we encourage you to dine at hospitable local restaurants to sample traditional regional dishes, engage with the owners, chefs or servers, and, of course, taste Douro wines and port.
Most of the walking days involve passing through small hillside villages, where you are welcome to stop at local cafés, bakeries, and grocery or craft stores to get a sense of local life and interact with the residents.
This trail is in the heart of the renowned Douro wine region, so in addition to observing the manual labour that goes into tending the endless grape vines, there are plenty of opportunities to visit local wine producers to taste and buy their wines and learn about the unique family histories of these quintas (wine estates).
DIGITAL DETAILED ITINERARY
Click on the button below to download the itinerary with day-by-day details, highlights, prices and the respective general conditions.
