Wine & Food Travel Blog

The memorable 5 Day Tour in Douro Valley in Portugal

Written by Margarida Gonçalves | 01-May-2022 15:25:00

Are you ready to discover one of the greatest creations that join the hand of Man and Nature? The incomparable Port and Douro Wines are produced in the Douro, the breathtaking views are the culmination of each day! Picture yourself taking in the views, we'll take care of the rest... Planning your trip to the Douro? Then this is your signal to buy a tour of the Valley!

To escape the routine, today we present an unforgettable, unmissable, and unique tour. The 5-day tour is complete, unparalleled and with some of the best experiences, you can find. With access to the best wineries in the region, a private cruise in the green valleys of the Douro, and a cooking workshop, this tour promises to be everything you are looking for on your next visit to Portugal. 

Day 1: Discover the Douro Valley

Starting with a pick-up in the center of Porto or at the city's airport, the tour will begin with a private transfer to the Douro Valley. The scenic journey is breathtaking. The stay, of your choice, can be at Six Senses Douro Valley or Quinta de Ventozelo, two of the best hotels in the region, and trust us, they are places you won't want to miss!

Experience the romanticism of Portugal's unspoiled Douro Valley with a stay at Six Senses Douro Valley, a classic-style hotel housed in a renovated 19th-century manor house. This hotel, located in Lamego, has an infinity pool, a spa with treatments and massages, as well as numerous sports activities such as hiking, canoeing, and Yoga.

The charms of Ventozelo are inexplicable, have you ever thought about living the Douro in a Quinta? In addition to the natural beauty of Quinta de Ventozelo, the arrival of wine tourism is an invitation to enjoy the best of the upper Douro wine region without leaving the site. Glass in hand, of course, and with the best delicacies on the table. Award-winning, this is one of the greatest works in the Douro, applauded by the most demanding public. Built from a large amphitheater that runs from the river and reaches an altitude of 600 meters, Quinta de Ventozelo is located in São João da Pesqueira, between Pinhão and Ervedosa do the Douro, and covers 400 hectares, 200 of them of planted vines, 20 of olive groves and the rest of bush. The vineyards, located between valleys and terraces in a very particular terroir, take on slanted contours that not only favor the landscape but also reveal a golden attribute in shaping the character of the wines.

Your day will end with a stay in one of these wonderful hotels, where you can explore the best they have to offer. 

Day 2: Experience a cooking workshop and taste the finest wines

Get ready to wake up in front of one of the greatest wonders of the world, recharge your batteries, and enjoy a Mediterranean breakfast. The private driver will wait for you at the hotel to take you to your first destination of the day, Quinta da Pacheca.

At Quinta da Pacheca you will find charming accommodation, a traditional restaurant, excellent wines, and views of the Douro River. What more can you ask for? Quinta da Pacheca owes its name to D. Mariana Pacheco Pereira, owner, and producer of wine on the estate, who has carried the business forward with vigor and success since 1738. This classic house, typical of the 18th century, is covered by green ivy and surrounded by green vineyards. Get ready to get to know the best of the farm's history and the winemaking process here. The visit to the wonderful farm ends with the tasting of two table wines and two Port wines.

The wine tasting will bring your curiosity and appetite to the fore, so you will then taste the best of the fresh flavors of Portuguese cuisine with a workshop led by the Quinta's chef. During the course, you will relax, learn and taste the best of national cuisine.

© Archdaily 

Your way will head to Quinta do Vallado, it was another wonderful winery I visited on my visit to the Douro Valley in Portugal last year. Quinta do Vallado was built in 1716. In 1818 the descendants of Josefa Traveira sold the property to Antônio Bernardo Ferreira. He was the uncle of Dona Antônia Ferreira, one of the female models of the 19th century in Portugal. When her husband died, she began to run the Ferreira family's business, which was already producing table and port wine. Thanks to its vision of the future and entrepreneurial spirit, the family company became known throughout the world. There you will have a tour of the Winery and Wine Cellar and end the afternoon with a Vallado’s Wines Tasting.

Day 3: The finest wineries in the region

After a wonderful breakfast served at the hotel, you will have a full day, visiting two Douro estates. Quinta do Crasto is the first stop: Located between Régua and Pinhão the winery has more than 135 hectares of total area, 74 of which are occupied by vineyards, enjoying the excellent conditions provided by the Cima Corgo region, where it is privileged to produce wines. Douro and Porto, from some of the oldest and most historic vineyards in the Douro! you will visit the vineyards, including the famous old vineyards of Quinta do Crasto, a winery, and a barrel cellar, where the Premium table wines and Port wines are staged. Then you will have a tasting of 5 wines, duly presented by a manager of Quinta do Crasto, who will guide you through the experience.

© Francisco Nogueira

After the wonderful experience, get ready to enjoy lunch (and the view) at the Terraçu's Restaurant. Here, they say that genuine cuisine is changing the Douro! Take advantage of the return to old recipes, and bet on products from the region and from their own cultivation. There is a revolution going on in these six restaurants on the Douro estates – all accompanied by the good wines of the region! 

Get ready to discover Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, a unique place. Unusually beautiful, Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo follows the northern bank of the Douro River for 1.5 km, located in the birthplace of some of the most famous wines in the world, next to Pinhão, in the sub-region of Cima Corgo - Demarcated Region of the Douro. For the nature lovers and the adventurers, there is a pedestrian circuit with 3 different routes, properly signed, in a certified total trail of 8 km. With a map in hand and the freedom to stroll and explore the estate, you will discover the details at your own pace. A tip: crossing the orchards, make sure you pick some fresh fruit!

 

Day 4: Exclusive Douro River Cruise

The day will start at Quinta das Carvalhas, with a tour of the vineyard, open-air wine tasting, accompanied by cheeses and sausages, and top-of-the-range wines, such as a white Carvalhas and a Touriga Nacional Carvalhas, and a glass of wine from the port to finish. Throughout the EN222 Road, elected the best road to drive by AVIS rent a car, you will enjoy the best views by the riverside. Lunch will be waiting for you at DOC Restaurant, signed by the Michelin chef Rui Paula. Built over the river at Folgosa - just across the pier - this creative and sophisticated spot lives up to the expectations surrounding the Michelin starred Chef, with a colorful menu rooted in both tradition and modernity, smartly paired with a comprehensive wine list. 

Lie back and enjoy the rest of the day on a river cruise aboard a private sailing boat. The journey upriver is one of the most scenic in the world, with staggering views of the dramatic valley covered in bright green rows of grapevines. 

Day 5: Lamego Heritage

The last day will be spent in Lamego. The Lamego Castel, within the urban area, Ex-libris of the town, from the top of its walls can be sighted the waters of the rivers Coura, Balsemão, and Varosa. The construction of the castle began in the 13Th Century with the goal of protecting the city's inhabitants. Nearby is the Lamego Cathedral, a succession of different styles from various periods can be seen on both the outside and inside of Lamego cathedral, and yet, despite this, the building as a whole exudes a sense of beauty and monumentality.

Visit the Lady of Remedies Shrine in Lamego. From one of the central avenues in Lamego, climb to the top of the hill up an imposing baroque staircase with 686 steps ending in a shrine built in the rocaille style in the mid-eighteenth century. In the end, you'll be driven to the Porto Airport or downtown if you plan to extend your stay in Portugal. 

This is a ready-to-book private tour, designed to be enjoyed off-the-rack. If you're looking for something different, we’d be happy to tailor-make you a trip from scratch. Tell us your plan and we'll do the rest!