Douro River, Portugal
Paddling Down Portugal’s Historic River of Wine: Adventure Kayaking and Hiking in Portugal’s Port Wine Region
Trip Overview
- Flat-water Kayaking and Day Hikes
- 2 Nights in Hotels, 7 Nights in Quintas (Wine Farms)
- Plus 2 days travel to and from Your Home
Join Explorers’ Corner for an exclusive travel experience in one of Europe’s “secret” adventure travel destinations - the Douro River Valley in northern Portugal. We’ve spent nearly a decade refining this special adventure with our Portuguese friends, who have long-term relationships with Douro River Valley families. This is a rare opportunity for us to share our warm personal connections with these lovely families.
This trip combines fun and good exercise between stays in one fabulous wine farm (Quinta) after another. There will be plenty of opportunities for long hikes in addition to fun paddling. The local port, wine, and great Portuguese meals are good complements to the physical activities. However, the heart of this adventure is the hospitality of the Portuguese families who warmly receive us in their Quintas and share stories of their craft and deep ancestral roots - steeped in the “Old World Tradition” that still lingers by the banks of the river. The best way to enjoy this travel gem is from the comfortable seat of a quiet kayak or by walking through the hillsides and vineyards along the river. Just imagine picking juicy, ready-to-be-eaten Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, or Touriga Nacional grapes off the vines from the seat of your kayak as you float down a glassy river.
Our adventure begins on a charming train that travels up the river valley from Oporto. We arrive at the end of the line at the medieval town of Moncorvo. Here, we overnight at a family farm (a Quinta) whose buildings date back to the late 18th Century. In the evening we wind down and sample the traditional regional cuisine as prepared by the family, delicacies such as saffron duck rice, sheep cheese, and homemade honey, accompanied by a few bottles of wine from our host’s private stock.
The next days on the Douro River are spent paddling leisurely along the river and through a gorge where ancient, unused terraces and walls indicate the toil of forgotten times. We may encounter an occasional shepherd, and, if we’re lucky, a pair of fish eagles who favor the solitude of this place. There will also be plenty of opportunities to do long day hikes (they are offered optionally for those who want more exercise) along the river or in the hilly vineyard terrain of the surrounding mountains.
Our route takes us downriver from Bruco to Barca D’Alva to Senhora Ribeira and then on to the towns of Tua and Pinhão. Each evening we will enjoy the rich wine and delicious food of our hosts at the hospitable Quintas. At the lavish 18th century Manor House of Casal de Loivos, each of our bedrooms opens onto a grand terrace with the full glory of the Douro spread out below. A private tour of this beautiful Quinta with our host will be a prelude to a special wine tasting. When we leave Casal de Loivos, we paddle to Pinhão to our final take out and a leisurely drive back to Oporto. That evening, we will celebrate our trip during our farewell dinner at the excellent Palacio da Bolsa. Here we will dine one last time together on the savory Portuguese fare and reflect on our journey along this old European wonder.
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10 days
2008 Dates
Jun. 7 - 16
Sep. 12 - 21
Sep. 21 - 30
2009 Dates
Aug. 31 - Sep. 9
Sep. 9 - Sep. 18
Sep. 18 - Sep 27
2008 Fees
Land Cost
Group size 8-10: $4,040*
Group size 6-7: $4,340*
Single Supplement: $550
2009 Fees
Land Cost
Group size 5-12: $4,390*
Single Supplement: $550
*Price does not include international airfare or mandatory trip insurance. Prices are given in US Dollars.
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