Douro Valley

Explore the magical Douro Valley, the natural surroundings, the best cuisine and some of the world’s finest wines, especially Port Wine for which the winemaking region is famous. The bicycle tour begins at the easternmost end of the Douro River in the majestic gorge with its more than 200 metres-high cliffs that serve as the border between Portugal and Spain.  Cycle across the highland plateau through the International Douro Nature Reserve, home of  over 170 species of birds. Make the most of the breathtking landscape as you cycle leisurely downriver along old railway tracks through vast forests, almond groves and vine-covered hillsides. Throughout your journey, the Douro Valley will envelop you with its magic, whether you are viewing the river from on high, cycling alongside it, or from a boat.

The Alto Douro Winemaking Region, a Unesco World Heritage Property, is the oldest demarcated and controlled winemaking region worldwide.  Unique man-made wine terraces  cover the hillsides that rise on either side of  the river valley.  Many of the world-famous Port Wine estates are located around Pinhão, in the heart of the region, and around Peso da Régua, the capital of the district. The accommodations are chosen with the greatest care, and each in his own way offers you a taste of local life and customs. You will stay in a long-standing hotel with a view over the river, on a traditional olive oil estate, in an elegant town house and in a family manor house on a quinta (wine estate).