Vacation Overview
Tour Details
Portugal: Coastal Walks, Vineyards & Villages of the Douro Valley
Walking Portugal's coastline delights and inspires with rocky cliffs and sweeping views of the Atlantic. Continuing inland, you'll discover medieval villages and picturesque countryside towns that are best appreciated on foot. Walk alongside fig and olive trees and see castles in the distance, sparking the imagination of royal counts and historic kingdoms. Follow trails next to vineyards in the Douro Valley, stopping to savour the wine and the views while treating yourself to delicious regional food before capping off the adventure in Porto. Discover Portugal through all of your senses and it will leave you longing for more.
Highlights
Hike the coastal trail from Cabo da Roca, Visit the lush gardens and the Palace of Monserrate in Sintra, Hike through the scenic countryside near the Spanish border, See picturesque terraces drawn in the landscape and taste wines overlooking the Douro Valley.
Accomodation
On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations.
Note that most accommodation in Europe does not have air conditioning units in rooms. Air conditioning is not routinely installed in European homes and workplaces. However, nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights. If you do not already have one in your room, please ask your CEO to organize one for you with reception.
Group Leader
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEOs). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. If you wish to take a guided city tour in any location where this is not already included in the itinerary, your CEO will do their best to help you arrange this and pay locally.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12.
Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
What's Included
Your Foodie Moment: Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour, Lisbon
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Monsanto Visit with Local Guide, Monsanto
Your Foodie Moment: Lunch With a View and Wine Pairings, Peso da Régua
Your OMG Day: Walking Tour of Porto or a River Cruise with Port Wine Tasting, Porto.
Complimentary arrival transfer. Lisbon Food and Wine welcome dinner. Hike the coastal trail from Cabo da Roca with a local guide. Visit the Monserrate Palace. Hike in Serra da Estrela National Park to the Vale do Rossim Lagoon. Hike past vineyards in the Douro Valley along the Corgo River. Hike to the Casal de Loivos from Pinhão. Farewell Dinner. All tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Daily Itinerary
G Adventures: Portugal: Coastal Walks, Vineyards & Villages of the Douro Valley
Day 1: Lisbon: Welcome to Portugal
Speckled with charming and picturesque villages, Portugal will enchant you as you move from coast to mountains. Dream of village-to-village hikes and delicious food as you head off into the countryside toward the Spanish border in the coming days. We welcome you to Lisbon, and to Portugal, where we invite you to savour the sights, sounds and flavours of the adventure before you.
Arrive in Portugal before 1:00 pm and meet your included arrival transfer at the airport. Join your CEO and group at the hotel for a welcome meeting before heading out for an unforgettable food and wine tour through the city.
Day 2: Lisbon: Cabo da Roca Hike
Sand-coloured cliffs dive to meet the vibrant contrast of the ocean blue with statue-like stone stacks that jut out of the sea, while waves crash along their sides. These are your views along your breathtaking morning hike. But the spectacle doesn't end there. We head east to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, where you can smell the flowers and explore the amazing garden of Palácio Monserrate. After a beautiful day, the night is yours to explore the city of Lisbon.
In the morning, depart for Cabo da Roca, the point known for where the land ends and the sea begins. And so begins your hike along the coastal cliffs, passing immaculate views like Pedra de Alvidrar and Buraco do Fojo towards Praia de Adraga. After a rewarding hike, take a tour of Palacio Monserrate in Sintra then set off for an evening at leisure in Lisbon.
Day 3: Medelim: Portugal's Countryside
Bid farewell to Lisbon as you head into the picturesque Portuguese countryside. Get your bearings in a small town before setting off on a pleasant hike that will take you on a winding trail near the Spanish border.
Depart Lisbon in the morning toward the border of Spain to a town called Idanha-a-Velha with a lunch stop on the way at a local restaurant. Enjoy a moderate 3km walk through varying terrain ending at the Ichnofossils. Later, drive to the town of Medelim for the night.
Day 4: Medelim: Historic Village Hikes
Travel back in time over 1000 years to an era of castles, legends and traditions. Deemed one of Portugal's 12 Historic Villages, hiking to Monsanto will connect you to the time of conquerors as you traverse the paths through historic stone walls and castles. Enjoy the tales of this region's fascinating history under fig and olive trees.
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Relva for a short hike followed by a guided walking tour of Monsanto. After lunch, continue down to Carroqueiro before heading back to the accommodation for a free afternoon and dinner with your group.
Day 5: Manteigas: Hike to a Castle in the Sky
The enchanting Sortelha Castle stands on a crag at an altitude of 760 meters. It looms over the most mysterious of all the historic villages, where you will soon lose yourself in a maze of alleys and lanes as you hike up to the lofty castle. It is a place where time seems to have stood still. The wind whistles round the corners and hardly anyone passes by. This sentiment lingers when you arrive to the town of Belmonte after your visit to Sortelha.
In the morning, transfer to Sortelha and visit the beautiful castle before heading to the grandiose town of Belmonte. In the afternoon, check into your OMG Stay.
Day 6: Amarante: Explore Serra da Estrela National Park
In Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in continental Portugal, rolling hills are interrupted by giant slabs of granite that protrude out of the ground. Pause to admire the beauty of this stark environment as you cross Corgo da Mós before the hike leads you to the beautiful Vale do Rossim Lagoon. In the afternoon, transfer north to Amarante.
Hike through the Serra da Estrela National Park to the Lagoon of Vale do Rossim. Return for a delicious lunch before heading to Amarante for the night.
Day 7: Amarante: Douro Valley Walk Along the Vineyards
Head to Casa de Mateus for a guided tour of the palace and museum before transferring to a family-owned vineyard and winery, where a variety of Vinho Verde (green wine) is produced. Join a guided walk through the estate, enjoy a regional lunch, and soak in the incredible views as you taste some of the local specialties.
After breakfast, transfer to Casa de Mateus for a visit before continuing on to a world-class vineyard for lunch and a guided tour.
Day 8: Amarante: Hike to Casal de Loivos
Mesmerizing mazes of vineyards scale the sides of the Pinhão hills. You will weave through historic village streets, beautiful buildings and up through paths draped with green grape vines. This hike allows for an endless panoramic riverscape and gorgeous views of the Douro River.
Spend another day in the Douro wine region with a longer hike through the hills and town of Pinhão. In the afternoon, return to Amarante and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9: Porto: Your OMG Day
Porto is yours to discover today with a choice of two activities. Explore the best of Portugal's second largest city on a walking tour through picturesque neighborhoods, or choose to climb aboard a river cruise followed by a port wine tasting in the historic Vila de Nova Gaia area of the city.
Travel from Amarante to Porto in the morning. Choose between a walking tour through Porto or join your CEO on a Douro river cruise and walk through Vila Nova de Gaia to Porto Augusto for a wine tasting. Enjoy a free afternoon before joining your group and CEO for one last dinner together in the evening.
Day 10: Porto
Today your adventure comes to an end and you can depart at any time.