Portugal has been making wine for centuries, with some estimates placing the first planting of vines as far back as 2000 BC. The Basto and Douro regions are perhaps the best known and offer rich landscape and history to visitors from around the globe.
This walking tour starts in atmospheric Porto and continues a voyage of taste and discovery through the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, where the famous port wines are produced. We also take in the region known as Terras de Basto where Portugal’s ‘young’ wine – vinho verde – is produced. Leisurely walks and cultural visits provide the perfect introduction to this fascinating country, once a dominant world trading power.
Temporary changes due to COVID-security measures.
Last updated: 16th October 2020
At Headwater, we acknowledge our responsibility to have the most up to date information on anything that will affect our customers on holiday and to communicate this to our customers as effectively as possible.
Our general global COVID security measures are described in our Travel Safety Charter, and changes will be made to these measures as required by the global pandemic situation.
However, we also expect there to be requirements, measures and sometimes itinerary changes that apply to certain trips only, and may well be temporary measures. We have highlighted all known changes in the section below.
Entry requirements.
For all trips, having the correct documentation and visa, if required, remains the customer’s responsibility based on their own nationality. We, therefore, encourage all travellers to check entry requirements using the travel advice of their home nation for the relevant destination. For UK passport holders that is https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all non-essential travel to Portugal (mainland). Information on local restrictions will be provided and updated in 2021, closer to the time when trips be operational again.
Grade: 1 (Leisurely) Each day, we walk for 2 to 5 hours (excluding the sightseeing day). The terrain and type of path will vary from manmade paved tracks and tarmac to dirt roads. The walks are easy and taken at a leisurely pace, although some short ascents and descents should be expected. Please be aware that the Douro region can also be very warm, often reaching 30 degrees in the summer months between June and September. Walking hours stated in the itinerary are given as approximations only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the pace of the group. Some of the drives, although short, follow winding mountain roads.
Our group flight usually arrives in Porto in the early afternoon. A single group transfer from Porto city centre (Hotel Cristal) to the start hotel will be provided for flight inclusive and land only clients. Full joining instructions will be provided prior to departure, but the transfer usually leaves Porto city centre between 4pm and 5pm and will reach the start hotel before dinner. If you are planning to join this transfer, please contact us prior to departure to request it.
This morning we transfer (approx. 40 mins) from the hotel to the start of today's walk in Povoação, driving through the beautiful roads along the north slope of the Douro Valley and its side tributaries. The Corgo walking trail is located on the heart of the Douro wine region and here we will be walking most of the time along terraced vineyards with unique views of the Corgo river. In the afternoon we transfer to Vila Real (20 mins) to visit Casa de Mateus, a palace set in beautiful gardens considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in Portugal. After the visit we transfer back to the hotel (approx. 50 mins).
We start the day with a short transfer (30 mins) to Quinta de Tedo, a winery from the 18th century in the heart of the Douro region. We will have a guided tour of the grounds, following a walking trail that offers beautiful views of the Douro and Tedo Rivers, vineyards and olive groves and plenty of opportunities for bird watching. After lunch and an included wine tasting at the winery we transfer to the town of Regua, where we visit the Douro Museum to learn about the history, culture and identity of the UNESCO World Heritage Douro wine region. In the afternoon we transfer back to our hotel.
After breakfast, we transfer to Ovadas (approx. 1 hour) for our walk in the Cabrum Valley. This region, set on the mountain of Montemuro, marks the transition from the coastal temperate and humid regions to the dry and hot regions of Tras-os-Montes. We discover the landscape of terraces, stone-built walls and villages that have retained the beauty of their rural location. In the afternoon we transfer to Mondim de Basto (approx. 1h50), on our way we cross the Alvao Natural Park, a protected area that offers a haven to endangered bird species. We’ll stop to visit one of the villages within the park's boundaries, an opportunity to see a truly traditional way of life. We stay overnight at a 4-star hotel offering an infinity pool and wonderful views.
Our walk today takes us to the surroundings of Mondim de Basto in the green wine region, along the banks of Cabril river. Here we are welcomed with uninterrupted views of the forested mountains, side by side with the lands worked for the daily food and the vineyards of the Terras de Basto region. We finish our walk in the medieval bridge of Vilar Viando, which is still used by the pilgrims walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. We will then go to Quinta das Escomoeira where we will do the wine tasting, to appreciate the organic 'Vinho Verde' or green wine. In the afternoon on our way back to the hotel 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.
This morning transfer by minivan (10mins) to Levada do Piscaredo, a waterway dating back to the 13th Century where we will start our walk. 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. The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel amenities or the hotel surroundings.
In the morning we travel back to the vibrant of Porto. After a guided visit of the historic centre and Port wine cellars (wine tasting included), the rest of the day is free for further individual sightseeing or optional activities, such as a boat ride along the Douro river; overnight at a Hotel in Porto.
Our trip ends in Porto in the morning of day 8.
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 01606 720199, use our live webchat (we're open from 9am today) or email sales@headwater.com
Our aim is to provide holidays that are unbeatable for choice and flexibility. We've listed our most popular travel options below, however you aren't limited to these - we can tailor-make virtually any holiday to suit.
To find out more about the travel options available call our sales team on 01606 720199, use our live webchat (we're open from 9am today) or email sales@headwater.com
Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can continue to develop, and where necessary improve, our services and ensure our holidays continue to be the best they can be. As this is a relatively new holiday, we don't yet have any customer reviews available from our customers, but here are the comments that have been received from previous Exodus travellers.
This was my first solo trip across the “pond” with a custom trip arranged and set up by agent Sue Flemming. I had heard good things about how she looked after her clients and she did not disappoint. She was on this trip and ensured that we got where we had to without losing track of anyone and ensured that we had a good time. The two guides, Rita Caetano and Lina Ferreira were superb. For such a young gal, Rita went above and beyond to make the trip safe, enjoyable and with good humour. Lina was absolutely an excellent guide as well and so knowledgeable about the area, flora and fauna and if she didn’t have the exact answer, she would look it up and tell us as soon as she knew the answer.
Excellent tour. I would recommend this tour.
If you're looking for a relaxing trip with a varied itinerary and enjoy sampling the local brew this may well be the trip for you. Some of the walks were a little more challenging than others but the pace was leisurely with fabulous scenery. On 2 days we got back to the hotel by 3pm so had time to relax and enjoy the infinity pools.
A very well organised trip with excellent guides, wonderful weather, good hotels and food all bound together with a group of varied, vibrant and interesting companions.
A really wonderful holiday with very different walks and enjoyable/informative visits to wineries well led by Ricardo and András. We enjoyed the holiday with a diverse and fun group that mixed Brits with Aussies and Canadians - keep doing this Exodus it added another dimension to our trip. We enjoyed fantastic weather and it was good to be able to relax in hotels with excellent facilities - two infinity pools overlooking breathtaking scenery in one. Lunches at the quintas were excellent especially the organic winery.
Well thought out Itinery, beautiful scenery, fab Hotels and Great leaders
Fantastic trip in Porto and the Douro valley. Varied walks....every day a different type of walk and scenery, and numerous wine and port tastings.....what’s not to love! There’s a good mix of walking, and sight seeing....nothing too strenuous. For those of a certain age....a visit to The Mateus Palace, where the infamous Mateus Rosé used to be produced, was fun....the palace is featured on the label of the wine.... Accommodation is in 4/5* hotels.....some better than others....but plenty of free time to relax or explore the area. Highly recommend.
A wonderful week of walking with great guides, interesting co-hikers, very nice accommodation in a very lovely setting.
The Douro Valley is a spectacular region to discover with stunning views and lovely walks. On either side of the Douro River terraced vineyards cover the landscape - this is the only area in the world where Port wine is produced and on this holiday we learnt about the Portuguese history and culture surrounding the process. Several of our walks ended up at a local Quinta (wine farm) where we had the opportunity for wine tasting with a lunch on the terrace which everyone enjoyed. It was a very relaxing and interesting week of walking, with varied routes each day. We barely saw another walker on any of the routes so it felt as though we had the region to ourselves!
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night guided walking holiday includes:
All breakfasts, 2 dinners and 3 wine tastings
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
Transfers for group flights
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 (we're open from 9am today) or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Complete our holiday enquiry form - we'll get in touch when it's most convenient for you
Speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 - we're open from 9am today
Use our live chat to ask us a question
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| 10th Apr 2021 | £1499 | £1699 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1699 |
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| 24th Apr 2021 | £1499 | £1699 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1699 |
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| 8th May 2021 | £1499 | £1699 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1699 |
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| 15th May 2021 | £1499 | £1699 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1699 |
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| 5th Jun 2021 | £1599 | £1799 | Tour only: £1599 Including flights: £1799 |
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| 19th Jun 2021 | £1599 | £1799 | Tour only: £1599 Including flights: £1799 |
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| 4th Sep 2021 | £1599 | £1799 | Tour only: £1599 Including flights: £1799 |
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| 18th Sep 2021 | £1599 | £1799 | Tour only: £1599 Including flights: £1799 |
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| 25th Sep 2021 | £1599 | £1749 | Tour only: £1599 Including flights: £1749 |
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| 2nd Oct 2021 | £1499 | £1649 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1649 |
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| 16th Oct 2021 | £1499 | £1649 | Tour only: £1499 Including flights: £1649 |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
This holiday is operated by our sister company, Exodus
7 nights 4 and 5-star hotels, all rooms en suite
5 days short gentle walks and 1 free day
Group normally 6-16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
Well marked trails and paths
Travel by private air-conditioned minibus
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Portugal: Walking and Wine. Simply complete the form below (fields marked * are mandatory) and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 01606 720199 to discuss your requirements in more detail (we're open from 9am today).
