A fascinating region of Portugal, for walkers as much as for wine lovers and foodies, active Douro Valley tours offer a very different experience from that of beaching in the Algarve! Not only do you have the contemporary buzz of modern Porto (also spelled Oporto), but it is also easy to step into the region’s rich history. Examples of which include the legacy of Henry the Navigator and all the amazing architecture, especially from the 17th century, which drop in beautiful tiers down to the Douro riverside in both Porto and the southern riverbank where the city Villa Nova de Gaia is found. Here you can explore town markets and sup coffee while watching the rather gentile street life from a street café.

When walking or boating around Pinhão, you’ll notice various of the Douro’s wine estates mark their territories by big name-boards overlooking the river. Vineyard tours to some of the estates can be organised from the small port shop by the railway station in Pinhão.

Higher up in the village of Vilarinho de São Romão, things usually are a little cooler. From here it is a treat to explore the attractive surrounding towns and villages on foot. Walk into towns such as Sabrosa, Vilela and Provesende and pass through various growing areas of the vineyard estates called quintas.

Tourism in the Douro Valley is a fairly recent phenomenon. Aided by the development of river cruising along the navigable sections of the river and the growth in popularity of city breaks (read Porto). Because of the relatively new development, Douro Valley lacks a large tourist infrastructure, which is however very nice for walkers. Picture quiet trails and country lanes without coming across many walkers or even tourists until reaching the small town of Pinhão.

On our walking holidays in the north of Portugal, you will discover the very different landscape of the Douro Valley and lively Porto.