Walk the Highlights of Northern Portugal
About
Discover the Douro Valley Wine Region, Alvão Natural Park & PenedaGerês National Park
In Northern Portugal, you’ll find the perfect setting for unforgettable outdoor adventure. This guided program brings together three of the region’s most spectacular walks, carefully selected to showcase the diversity and beauty of three remarkable destinations — the Douro Valley Wine Region, Alvão Natural Park and PenedaGerês National Park.
Your journey begins in the iconic Douro Valley, where the terraced vineyards that climb steep hillsides create one of the most stunning wine landscapes in the world. The valley’s fertile slopes have long produced the grapes used in crafting the legendary Port wine, earning the region its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From there, you’ll travel to the Alvão Natural Park, a pristine natural treasure steeped in rural traditions. Here, you can explore the historic irrigation channels, or levadas—ancestral watercourses that trace their origins to rivers like the Olo. For centuries, these channels have nourished crops and pastures, supported local cattle (especially the native Maronesa breed) and powered watermills that served as the lifeblood of the rural communities surrounding villages like Lamas de Olo.
Finally, your adventure culminates in PenedaGerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park and a paradise for nature lovers. Here, rugged peaks, verdant hills, and sparkling waterfalls form a landscape of breathtaking beauty. Along your walk, you’ll encounter rare flora and fauna, as well as traces of ancient human presence—from shepherd shelters and Roman roads to traditional granite villages—revealing the deep cultural heritage that has shaped this extraordinary region.ble outdoor adventures. This guided program brings together two of the region’s most spectacular walks, carefully selected to showcase the diversity and beauty of three remarkable destinations — the Douro Valley Wine Region and the PenedaGerês National Park.
Your journey begins in the iconic Douro Valley, where the terraced vineyards that climb steep hillsides create one of the most stunning wine landscapes in the world. The valley’s fertile slopes have long produced the grapes used in crafting the legendary Port wine, earning the region its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the Douro Valley, you’ll travel to PenedaGerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park and a paradise for nature lovers. Here, rugged peaks, verdant hills and sparkling waterfalls form a landscape of breathtaking beauty. Along your walk, you’ll encounter rare flora and fauna, as well as traces of ancient human presence - from shepherd shelters and Roman roads to traditional granite villages - revealing the deep cultural heritage that has shaped this extraordinary region.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in the Douro Valley
Take the scenic train journey from Porto to Pinhão, following the winding course of the Douro River through terraced vineyards that mark the heart of Portugal’s wine country. Upon arrival at Pinhão train station, a member of our team will greet you, provide a brief introduction to your holiday and arrange your transfer to your Hotel.
Your adventure in one of Portugal’s most beautiful landscapes begins here.
Day 2: Ervedosa do Douro Walk / 6km / loop / Easy
Setting out from Pinhão, you will discover Ervedosa do Douro, a hidden gem tucked away in the hills of the Douro Valley. This off-the-beaten-path walking tour invites you to explore a side of the region that few visitors ever see — where time seems to slow down and the true rhythm of the Douro reveals itself.
Your experience concludes with a delightful picnic lunch at your guide’s home, featuring products his family grows. Enjoy olive oil and honey tastings and savor the simple, honest flavors of the Douro — a heartfelt expression of the land and the people who call it home
Day 3: Sabrosa - Pinhão / 14 km / linear / Easy to moderate
Begin the day with your guide immersed once again in the heart of the Douro wine region. The trail winds through rows of vines heavy with grapes, the terraces following the contours of the hills like living sculptures. Along the way, we have a break to visit a wine estate and to taste their wines.
Their welcoming cellars offer not just tastings of fine Port and Douro wines, but stories of generations who have shaped this unique terrain. And the traditional Portuguese cuisine will be present with lunch at a family-owned restaurant.
By the end of the walk, you’ll have truly traced the spirit of the Douro: from riverbanks and terraces to hilltop villages — a journey woven together by wine, history, and breathtaking views.
Day 4: Water channel walk / 8 km / linear / Easy to moderate
Departure to Alvão Natural Park.
Change the scenery but keep the magic. Get ready for an unforgettable walking tour in the heart of the Alvão Natural Park, where nature still thrives in its purest form. The «Levadas» of Alvão are a centuries-old heritage of the Basto region. The ancestors of Madeira Island levadas. These man- made water channels began to be built in the 14th century to supply mills and irrigate agricultural fields.
Their easy access and scenic trails invite visitors to explore the landscape while enjoying breathtaking views and a close connection with the rich biodiversity of the surrounding nature.
At the end of the walk, enjoy a visit and tastings at a «Vinho Verde» wine producer.
Day 5: Alvão traditional villages / 9 km / Loop / Easy to moderate
Today’s journey you will walk with your local guide along the old sidewalks marked by the wheels of rural oxcarts until we reach the villages that are part of a group of vernacular villages on the slopes of the Serra do Alvão, built with local materials, such as schist, slate, granite, thatch, wood and others.
As we pass through the villages, we will see a variety of granaries, also called corn cribs. These structures, usually made of stone and wood, were primarily used for drying corn. The size of the granary reveals the social status and wealth of its owner.
After a typical homemade picnic lunch, depart to Peneda-Gêres National Park.
Day 6: Soajo walking tour / 8km / loop / Easy
New scenery, new adventure. Discover the mountains and the village of Soajo. Here every stone tells a story, every corner recalls a past of tradition and so even today Soajo is felt by those who visit it and especially by its proud inhabitants. In the heart of the National Park, this beautiful mountain village maintains its original design as well as the monuments of a storied past, stories that are still told every day to those who pass by.
At the end of this walk, lunch will be in a typical restaurant or a traditional picnic. In the afternoon, visit with your guide the Soajo ethnographic museum and in the summer we can even take a dip in one of Soajo’s wonderful lagoons.
Other infos
Tour Grade: Moderate
These tours are for regular cyclists / hikers and demand a better standard of fitness and ability, usually gained through regular exercise. Expect some long days with climbs (4 to 7h per day).
Tour Elevation Gain: 60m – 625m ascent and 140m – 570m descent
Accommodation: Rural Tourism or Classic / Charming 4-star hotels, offering a special atmosphere and a cozy design, with a superior level of service and a fantastic comfort that will let you relax and get prepared for the next stage of the tour.
Start and Finish: Pinhão (Douro Valley)
Day 7: Mata da Albergaria walking tour / 6km / loop / Easy
This walk takes place through the most protected area of the National Park. This forest is a true sanctuary of nature, with a rich variety of plants and animals, the Albergaria forest is an intense contact with nature. Greenery surrounds us and as we walk the forest takes care of us, it is impossible not to notice the centuries-old oaks, the slopes dense with vegetation and the treetops that shelter us from the sun, the silence is only interrupted by the sound of animals and at every corner there is a fountain, a lagoon or a lost waterfall.
At the end of this walk you will have the opportunity to have a picnic with views of the mountain, finish with a visit to the Campo do Gerês museums.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to the Northern Portugal area. Enjoy a comfortable transfer to Porto city or Porto Airport, depending on your onward travel plans. Take with you unforgettable memories of the three regions you have visited.
Highlights
• Local guides
• Douro Valley - Unesco World Heritage site
• Breathtaking landscapes
• Wine-producing villages
• Insights into rural community lifestyles
• Authentic mountain villages
• Peneda Sanctuary
• Lakes, rivers and forests
• Summer settlements
• Traditional gastronomy
• Wine tastings
• Boutique hotels
• Local customs and culture
• Varied landscapes
Conditions
Included
• 7 nights at charming 3-star and 4-star hotel
• 6 guided walks with local guides
• 6 lunch meals
• 3 wine tours and tastings
• On the road – National Park and Alvão mountains
• All transfers from region to region
• Private transfer from National Park to Porto (at the end of the program)
Not Included:
• Transfers not mentioned above
• Personal expenses
Optional
• Extra nights and tours
• Private transfer from Porto to Douro Valley
Payments
The payment can be made by bank transfer. A 30% deposit will be requested upon confirmation,
and the remaining 70% up to 30 days before the arrival date.
Cancellation policy
More than 30 days before the expected arrival date – no costs;
From 29 to 15 days before the expected arrival date – we retain 50% of the total cost;
Less than 14 days before the expected arrival date – we retain 100% of the total cost.
Booking
Price per person: from 1580 € / Minimum 2 people