Mrs Cordingley says...
Superb guides, wonderful location, excellent hotels and a fascinating area.
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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 landscapes and fascinating history to discerning visitors.
Led by our expert guide, immerse yourself in atmospheric Porto and indulge in a voyage of taste and discovery through the verdant Douro Valley, where the famous 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 that boast exceptional views over the valley. 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.
Grade: 1 (Leisurely) Each day, we walk for 2 to 5 hours (excluding the sightseeing or free afternoons). 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.
The transfer to Hotel Douro Scala in the Douro Valley takes approx. 1.5 hours. A single group transfer from Porto airport to the hotel will be provided for flight-inclusive clients, and land-only clients may also join this transfer by meeting the group at the airport. Full joining instructions will be provided prior to departure, but the transfer usually leaves Porto airport at 3pm. If you are planning to join this transfer, please contact us prior to departure to request it.
The first trip briefing will take place in the evening, along with a welcome dinner.
Hotel Douro Scala (5*)
This morning we take a private transfer of approx. 40 minutes to the start of today's walk in Povoação, driving along the beautiful roads on the north slope of the Douro Valley and its tributaries. The Corgo walking trail is located in the heart of the Douro wine region and here we will walk along terraced vineyards with unique views of the Corgo River. In the afternoon, we transfer to Vila Real (approx. 20 minutes) to visit Casa de Mateus, a palace set in beautiful gardens that is considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Portugal. After the visit we transfer back to the hotel (approx. 50 minutes).
Hotel Douro Scala (5*)
We start the day with a short transfer (30 minutes) to Quinta de Tedo, an 18th century winery in the centre 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 offers plenty of opportunities for bird watching. After lunch and an included wine tasting at the winery, we take a 20-minute 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 (approx. 20 minutes).
Hotel Douro Scala (5*)
After breakfast we transfer to the region of Mondim de Basto (approx. 1 hour). On our way, we’ll pass through the Alvão Natural Park, a protected area of land that offers majestic landscapes. This region, set on the mountain of Alvão, marks the transition from the coastal and humid regions to the dry and hot regions of Trás-os-Montes.
We start our walk in Bobal, one of the four villages we’ll pass through today. We’ll find a countryside that reflects the carefully-maintained balance in which man and nature coexist. For this balance to be preserved, the Maronesa cow is of the utmost importance. A Portuguese native breed from this region, there are still genes from the ancestral Auroque in its genetics. The fields are cultivated for subsistence farming, with seeds passed down from generation to generation.
After lunch we transfer to our hotel (approx. 30 minutes) and there is free time to enjoy the hotel's amenities or explore nearby, before a group dinner.
Água Hotels Mondim de Basto (4*)
Our walk today takes us to the surroundings of Mondim de Basto in the green wine (vinho verde) region, along the banks of the Cabril River. Here, we are welcomed with uninterrupted views of the forested mountains, side by side with the fertile lands and vineyards of the Terras de Basto region. We finish our walk at the medieval bridge of Vilar Viando, which is still used by pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago.
We will then go to Quinta das Escomoeiras to sample their wines and appreciate the organic vinho verde. In the afternoon on our way back to the hotel, we visit one of northern Portugal's main shrines to the Virgin Mary: the Senhora da Graça, also known as Chapel of Monte Farinha. The chapel is perched in front of a granite mountain range almost 1000m high.
Água Hotels Mondim de Basto (4*)
This morning, we transfer by minibus (approx. 20 minutes) to the village of Vilarinho to start our walk along the Levada de Vilarinho, 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. After 1.5 miles/2.4 km, we leave the rebuilt waterway and meet the old levada as it enters a forest of oaks and pines, with a stream running alongside.
The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel amenities and surroundings.
Água Hotels Mondim de Basto (4*)
In the morning we return to the vibrant city of Porto (approx. 1 hour 15 mins). 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.
Neya Hotel (4*) or Vila Galé Porto Ribeira (4*)
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 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat 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 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Superb guides, wonderful location, excellent hotels and a fascinating area.
An easy going amble through lovely countryside, no long or challenging walks. Lina and Antonio were great guides. Lovely quitas were visited with great tastings and lunches. Accommodation was very comfortable with good facilities but too " corporate" compared with the more individual smaller accommodation usually associated with Headwater. All in all: the holiday was as advertised.
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:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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3rd Sep 2023 | US$3199 | Call us | Tour only: US$3199 Single supp: Call us |
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17th Sep 2023 | US$3199 | Call us | Tour only: US$3199 Single supp: Call us |
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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