& THE DOURO VALLEY

EXPLORING THE OLD WAYS

PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY SUMMARY From the World UNESCO Heritage Site of the Ribeira, Porto’s old town, to the green and gold geometric landscapes of the Douro River Valley, this area of northern offers a unique sensory experience where the pace of life has been unchanged for centuries.

Follow trails through this timeless terrain, visit wineries that are over a century old and encounter traditional white-washed villages that cling to the hillsides. Also view the captivating landscapes of wine terraces with a legendary train journey from Porto to Pinhão and during a boat cruise along the Douro River. Feel the warmth of the sun on your back as you take in these dazzling and picturesque scenes.

Arrive in the coastal city of Porto which spans the mouth of the serene Douro River. Porto is a fabulous city to explore, with its Baroque churches, village-style plazas, soaring bell-towers, and narrow cobbled lanes. Stroll through the Ribeira district where local inhabitants still mingle and sit on the terrace of a traditional restaurant and see the sun setting over the Douro River; this is indeed a city of romance. Tour: Porto & the Douro Valley Code: WPSPDV Next you will take an unforgettable train journey from Porto to the Douro Valley, so beautiful that it too is a Type: Self-Guided Walk UNESCO World Heritage Site. This journey allows you to soak up the ageless landscapes of the region at Price: See Website your leisure. Also fascinating is the remarkable engineering that went into the building of this railway line as Single Supplement: See Website you pass through 26 tunnels and cross over 30 bridges. Dates: May - June and September - October Duration: 8 days & 7 nights On arrival in the Douro Valley you can anticipate enjoying panoramic walks past that produce Walking Days: 4 world-class wines. Stay in rural accommodations that are within the grounds of these vineyards and Start: Porto perhaps even try some traditional barefoot grape-treading! Finish: Porto Distance: ~46km Even more thrilling is your journey back to Porto via a full day scenic river cruise, available from May to Grade: Easy to moderate October along the mighty Douro. You’ll get a first-hand view of the thousands of wine terraces and the villages that cling to the cliffs overlooking the river and wine tasting.

Your 8 day Porto & the Douro Valley walking tour includes 7 nights in 3* hotels and locally-owned guest Is Porto & the Douro Valley for me? houses, 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, a Douro River Cruise, a transfer on arrival from Porto Airport to your hotel, a A really great aspect of this tour is that it briefing on arrival from our local representative, baggage transfers, maps, route notes, a comprehensive combines spectacular walks through the information pack, loan of a GPS and maps. timeless landscapes of the Douro Valley, including plenty of opportunities for tasting world-famous wines, with a legendary train HIGHLIGHTS journey and a wonderfully scenic boat cruise along the Douro River. As an additional highlight the majority of the accommodations are in traditional guest houses set within the vineyards. • Sauntering through the Ribeira, Porto’s old town and a World UNESCO Heritage Site • Sitting on your private terrace in the Quinta da Seixada sipping world-famous wine What’s Included? • Taking in the awe-inspiring views of the fertile green and golden landscapes of the Accommodation: 7 Nights in comfortable Douro Valley on your train ride from Porto accommodations. • Partaking in wine-tasting at local wineries, such as the DouRosa Branco from the Meals: 7 Breakfasts and 1 lunch Quinta de la Rosa Information Pack: Maps, GPS tracks, route • Enjoying the mighty Douro River as you slowly make your way downstream on a notes and detailed information pack. scenic boat cruise Emergency Support: 24/7 support from our area manager. • Wandering through traditional white-washed medieval villages

PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY

EXPLORING THE OLD WAYS

Today you will take a scenic train ride to the traditional wineries and villages before arriving DETAILED ITINERARY Douro Valley, a World UNESCO Heritage Site. in . This is the home of one of the most The train journey takes around 2 and a half important world navigators, Ferdinand Magellan. hours. However you have the flexibility to decide Day Route Km Walk: 13km; 400m elevation gain when to leave Porto as you may wish to explore 1 Arrive in Porto - more of this amazing city this morning. Marvel at Overnight: Casa dos Barros, Sabrosa 2 Discover Porto. Train - the 14th century ramparts and the Sé Cathedral ride to Pinhão which dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. Casa dos Barros has different types of rooms, 3 Walk to Sabrosa 13 each one with its own decoration, offering you Your memorable train journey from Porto to the 4 Walk to Alijó 13 the comfort and cosy feeling of a home family Douro Valley is a remarkable feat of engineering 5 Walk to Vale Mendiz 16.5 with the services of a small hotel. as there are 26 tunnels to go through and 30 6 Walk to Pinhão 8 bridges to cross. Pass through areas of DAY 4 7 Douro River Cruise - outstanding natural beauty; -covered

Onward travel hillsides that stretch down to the banks of the Sabrosa to Alijó 8 Douro River. Upon arrival in Pinhão Train Begin today’s walk by following a trail through Station take a taxi to your guest house, Quinta vineyards down to the River Pinhão where you de la Rosa which is set in a local vineyard. cross an old bridge. Also surrounded by Tour Code: WPSPDV groves, you will then pass through Duration: 8 Days & 7 Nights Overnight: Quinta de la Rosa, Pinhão village where the bakeries still use their wood Walking Days: 4 A rural retreat, this Quinta is a small family- ovens dating from the late 19th century. After DAY 1 owned vineyard which produces top quality discovering Favaios you may then pay a visit to table wines, ports and olive oil. The very the Quinta do Portal, a vineyard that has won Arrive Porto comfortable and spacious rooms and suites medals in international wine contests. overlook the pool and the Douro River. This self-guided walking tour begins in the city of Make your way to Alijó and to the Pousada de Porto, set on the at the mouth of DAY 3 Barão de Forrester. the Douro River. Explore its old quarter, the Ribeira and its maze of narrow cobbled streets Pinhão to Sabrosa Walk: 13km; 510m elevation gain and beautiful plazas. On arrival at Porto Airport From the doorstep of the Quinta de la Rosa to Overnight: Pousada de Barão de Forrester, you will be transferred to your hotel. Depending your accommodation in Sabrosa you will be able Alijó on your time of arrival, you may wish to begin to absorb the spectacular scenery of the Alto exploring today and have dinner in one of the This beautiful Posada has a lovely restaurant Douro Wine Region. This is a land of traditions many quayside restaurants. offering delicious Douro specialities. and there is much evidence to suggest that wine Overnight: Hotel Teatro, Porto production has been a livelihood here for more DAY 5 than two thousand years. It is the first wine A former 19th Century theatre, the Hotel Teatro region in the world that was demarcated and the Alijó to Vale Mendiz is perfectly located in the centre of Porto and a harvest here is still as traditional as it used to be stone's throw away from all the major After walking back into Favaios and perhaps and still done by hand and foot (with the buying bread in a local bakery for a picnic lunch, attractions. Delightfully decorated to a 'theatre' squashing of the grapes!). theme, this 4 star hotel is the perfect base from you pass an iron settlement from the 1st century which to explore the city. As you walk up and over the hilly slopes you will BC. It is worth paying a small fee to partake in pass through the village of Provosende where some wine-tasting at Quinta de Avessada. This DAY 2 you may rest and admire its old manor houses. Quinta has been producing wine for at least a century and has an interactive museum that you Discover Old Porto, train ride to Come across a small tavern or “tacsa” that has an interesting exhibition regarding the local wine may look around. This type of museum is the Pinhão production. Crossing the plateau, pass by more first of its kind in the country and is full of PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY

EXPLORING THE OLD WAYS

innovative activities that will surprise its visitors. Douro River, back to Porto. See the thousands of Single Rooms & Solo Walkers tiers of vine-lined terraces and the many small Following this visit and after walking through towns and settlements perched on the sloping If you require single rooms within your party we farmland, you will reach a wonderful view point hillsides. On a clear day this scenery is reflected would be happy to accommodate you although where you can see hamlets perched on outcrops in the waters of the river as you sail along. Many there is a single room supplement payable. Solo over the river and within the vineyards. The Vale of these villages have retained their medieval walkers are also welcome for an additional Mendiz, your final destination for today, is one simplicity with tiny communities clustered around charge. such hamlet set over the River Pinhão and you historic churches, monasteries and castles. will be wholeheartedly welcomed at the Quinta Meals Cross 14 locks and descend over 35m at the do Silval. various on this incredible journey. You will 7 Breakfasts and 1 lunch on the Douro River Walk: 16.5km; 320m elevation gain also enjoy lunch on board which includes local Cruise are included (Lunch is not included on wine. Day 7 from November to April). In Porto you can Overnight: Rural Hotel Quinta do Silval, Vale eat dinner in one of the many restaurants and at Mendiz Later this afternoon arrive back into Porto and the other locales (because they are rural areas) make your way to the hotel. As this city is at the hotels. We recommend that you make A charming rustic wine hotel offering rooms with renowned for its world class cuisine, perhaps you reservations for dinner, especially at the quintas. panoramic views to the vineyards and a can seek out a great restaurant as a treat on We recommend trying the traditional and locally- restaurant offering a warm ambience and the your last night. sourced food, especially the fresh seafood in finest of food and wines. Overnight: Hotel Teatro, Porto Porto which is simply delicious. For lunches you DAY 6 can find local cheeses, meats and breads in local DAY 8 shops or markets, or the hotels may make you a Vale Mendiz to Pinhão After breakfast you will be transferred to Porto packed lunch on request. This morning you will walk from Vale Mendiz Airport to fly home. back to Pinhão (along a different route) with Baggage Transfer stunning views over the Douro River and beyond Accommodation All baggage transfers are included. We request to the south, east and west. The scenery of Your 7 night, 8 day Porto & the Douro Valley self- that you have only one piece of luggage per vineyards and mountains carved out by rivers is guided walk in Portugal includes 7 nights in 3* person and it should weigh only 20kg. indeed special and it is no wonder that this area hotels and guest houses set on wine estates. All has been designated a World UNESCO Heritage Transfers of the hotels have been specifically chosen for Site. their comfort and some also for their great You will be collected at Porto Airport and on This afternoon you may like to relax at the Quinta locations with fabulous views over the Douro arrival at the hotel you will be given a briefing de la Rosa and make use of the swimming pool. about the tour by our local representative. A return transfer to Porto Airport is also included. Alternatively you may choose to take a scenic TOUR INFORMATION boat trip along the River Douro to Rabelo where Navigation you can take in more of this fascinating scenery. You will be provided with detailed route maps to Walk: 8km; 200m elevation gain River and surrounding vineyards. A warm help you find your way. As the local maps in this welcome is assured and some have swimming Overnight: Quinta de la Rosa, Pinhão area are basic you will also be given GPS’s and pools or gardens that you may wander through. will receive instructions on how to use them.

Alternative accommodation Experience & Fitness DAY 7 During the high season, you might be booked This tour is suitable for most people that are in River Douro Cruise to Porto into alternative accommodations which are not good physical condition. The daily distances are listed in the description. Any alternative This morning an included transfer will take you not that far, although you should be aware that accommodation will be of the same or better there are some quite significant elevation gains from Pinhão to Regua where you will board your standard as those described. river boat for a peaceful full-day cruise down the through the local vineyard terraces in the Douro PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY

EXPLORING THE OLD WAYS

• Lunch on Day 7 while on the Douro River When you are ready to book Cruise (Lunch is not included on Day 7 from you can do so securely online TRAVEL INFORMATION November to April). at www.macsadventure.com or by phone: +44 (0) 141 530 Valley. • The Douro River Cruise 8886. • 7 Breakfasts Equipment • Baggage transfers (apart from on Day 7) Financial Security Our pre-departure information pack has detailed In accordance with "The Package Travel, advice and a kit list on what to take. This • Transfers at the beginning and end of the tour from the hotels to Porto Airport Package Holidays and Package Tours includes good waterproof gear, walking shoes/ Regulations1992" all passengers booking with boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs. • A briefing about the tour upon arrival at your hotel Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the Travel Insurance • Detailed maps, information pack, route notes, initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all and loan of a GPS and a Portuguese mobile monies paid to us, including repatriation if It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs required (this insurance will not cover repatriation Adventure that you have suitable travel • Organisational assistance and backup from our area manager in Portugal and our office. to the country of origin for the passengers insurance which covers you for the activity and outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or emergency evacuation and hospital care. curtailment of your travel arrangements due to Excluded: Getting to and from Porto the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd • Travel insurance (required) ABTA Member Statement PRICE & AVAILABILITY • Travel to and from Porto or Lisbon Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA. • Train tickets from Porto to Pinhão and from ABTA and ABTA members help holidaymakers Pinhão to Porto (around €11 one way) On arrival in Porto a transfer is included to your to get the most from their travel and assist when hotel. However at the end of the tour you will • 7 Dinners things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged need to make your own way to Porto Airport. It is to maintain a high standard of service to you by only 6 miles from the city centre and you can HOW TO BOOK ABTA’s Code of Conduct. take the metro or a local bus. You may also take a taxi which will cost between €20 and €30. Porto For more information on ABTA, the Code of • 6 Lunches (Lunch is not included on Day 7 Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to is served by many airlines, such as Easyjet, from November to April). Ryanair, KLM and British Airways. Porto is also you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 • Drinks and snacks accessible from Lisbon Airport. From Lisbon Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 Airport take an airport shuttle bus to the Santa • Personal equipment 0581 www.abta.com Apolonia Train Station and then a train to Porto which takes around two and a half hours. Lisbon BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE is also served by many airlines in the UK and from many other gateways in Europe. • Mountain rescue / emergency assistance Availability

This trip is available to start on any day from May Optional Extras: - June and September - October. • Additional nights before or after the holiday

Price • Single room supplement if single room

Please see our website for a current list of prices. required.

• Solo traveller supplement Included: • Optional Rabelo Boat Trip on Day 6 • 7 Nights in 3* Hotels and Guest Houses