Portugal Nature Trails Features Self-Guided Hiking & More
By: Tyler Peterson
Just announced by the local and innovative Portugal Nature Trails (http://www.portugalnaturetrails.com/) is an eight-day, self-guided, hiking adventure plotted along Portugal's Douro River, a renowned wine-producing region, scheduled for March to June and again from September to November (grape harvest).
Hiking the Douro Vineyards begins with a welcome at the Porto airport, hotel transfers and briefing. Day 2 is open for a tour of historic Porto before boarding a train to the vineyards that span the mouth of the Douro River as it spills into the Atlantic from narrow valley slopes. Near Pinhão is an overnight at an historic wine estate engaged in modern agritourism. Day 3 brings a hike across wine country to Sabrosa (home of Ferdinand Magellan) enroute catching a breather from the hills in the village of Provosende offering ancient manor houses and views of rolling landscapes and river. Day 4 hikers cross vineyards flanked by olive trees. A nearby farm, Quinta do Portal, wins medals in international wine contests. Enroute are favaios (villages) with still-operating wood oven bakeries. Hikers encounter the remains of an iron-age settlement from the 1st century BC on Day 5's hike from Alijó to Vale Mandiz, entering into Favaios to cross the famous vineyards of favaios wine. A stop at Quinta de Avessada to taste this wine and others is a must. Vale Mendiz up River Pinhão is tonight's destination for another immersion in agritourism. Hiking back to Pinhão the next day reveals the stunning views of vineyards and mountains along the Douro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here hikers may relax on a two-hour boat excursion or save the cruising for Day 7 when they meander on a boat down the Douro to the Atlantic Ocean in Porto, crossing 14 locks while descending 35 meters. Day 8 is farewell and the transfer to the airport.