Duration
Walking Tour: Douro & the Côa Valley
From 1,045 € pp
Bookable From
Feb. 1st - Jun. 30th Sep. 15th - Nov. 15th
Trip Style
Self-Guided
Country
Portugal
Physical Rating
Average
Overview
Journey through prehistoric lands and witness dramatic rock formations, endangered wildlife, historical villages, and ancient cultures on this walking tour through the Douro International Natural Park and the Côa Valley Archaeological Park.
Begin your trip in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, Portugal, where you'll be met by a private local driver and taken to your hotel. On your walking route, you will venture along the Douro River to the Spanish border by train. You'll be surrounded by mesmerizing scenery, including the amazing Douro Valley and its renowned wine region, and Paleolithic rock art near the Douro and Côa Rivers.
Along the way, you'll visit medieval villages, learn about local culture and traditions, and feel welcomed at cozy guesthouses throughout northeast Portugal.
Highlights
- Enjoy a scenic train ride through the Alto Douro wine region
- Experience a night visit by moonlight to an incredible prehistoric rock art site
- Visit a cheese producer, stay in a shepherding village, and stay on a farm
- Pass by 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Côa Museum
- Spot endangered birds of prey
About as far as you can get from the madding crowds, you’ll be staying on a working wine estate and olive farm for the first few days while you explore the Douro International Natural Park. In this wild, rocky landscape, endangered bird species such as the Egyptian vulture and the griffon vulture are protected, so keep your eyes peeled for these birds.
The wonders of this area include prehistoric human activity. Your walk will take you past a 10,000-year-old rock engraving of a horse! To make your stay at the Douro International Natural Park even more memorable, you will rest at a beautifully converted stone farmhouse, where your host will prepare delicious meals from local produce.
In the Côa Valley Archaeological Park area, you’ll be staying in a quaint and charming shepherding village and get to visit a local cheese producer. The highlight of your journey will undoubtedly be the spectacular night visit to the Palaeolithic rock art site on the banks of the Côa River. Under the moonlight, your eyes will witness the ancient, breathtaking art that has survived for thousands of years.
Walking through the medieval village of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, you can marvel at the surprising amount of Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) architecture. You’ll pass through other smaller villages too as you make your way along trails that are over a thousand years old.
Walk through old paths to immerse into the Portuguese serene country life. As you hike, notice how the main crops of grapes, almonds, and olives are cultivated in this remote part of Portugal and learn about some traditional agricultural practices. Through the rocky plains local sheep graze, so, you may see local shepherds taking their flocks there.
Are you ready to take the plunge and embark on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Book this incredible trip with a partner or a small group of walking buddies and leisurely walk through scenic landscapes where the magic of Portugal is vibrantly alive.
Like what you see but it is not quite a perfect fit?
Simply tell us what you’re looking for. We’ll happily adapt this itinerary to suit your personal interests, needs, and schedule to create your ideal trip.
Seasonal Notes
You can book this itinerary from February 1st - June 30th, and from September 15th - November 15th each year.
The end of winter through spring (late February through May) is a great time to do this trip if you enjoy cooler weather and blossoming landscapes.
If you’re lucky enough to do this walking tour of the Douro International Natural Park and the Côa Valley in late February or early March, you will see the countryside transformed by the pink and white puffs of almond trees in blossom. You may even catch a festival dedicated to the almond blossoms in Vila Nova de Foz Côa towards the end of your adventure. Wait a little later in the year and you’ll be surrounded by colorful spring wildflowers and lush greenery during your walks. Days can be warm and sunny, and rainfall can be frequent during this season. So, come prepared for changeable conditions.
Summers in Portugal can be hot and dry, which might be challenging for long walks during the day. Summer coincides with the high season, meaning it is also likely to be the most crowded with tourists. We don’t recommend doing this Douro walking holiday in July and August, as temperatures regularly exceed 30°C (86°F). June can be a good balance of warmer weather and fewer visitors than in July and August.
Early fall (September and October) is also a very pleasant time to do this walking trip. Similar to the spring, days can be sunny and warm with chances of wind and rain. If your trip aligns with the grape harvest, which is usually in September, you will have the opportunity to experience the hustle and bustle of grape picking and transportation to the wineries. With a bit of luck, you can even participate in grape treading or harvest celebrations.
Traveling during the low or shoulder seasons is generally considered a sustainable tourism practice as it helps with tourism dispersal: spreading out where tourists go and how their money supports locals throughout the year.
Itinerary
Day 1 Porto [Portugal] (Arrival day)
Day 2 Porto - Pocinho
Day 3 Mazouco - Freixo de Espada à Cinta (16.8 km | 10.4 | +268 meter elevation gain)
Day 4 Ribeira do Mosteiro - Freixo da Espada à Cinta (15.8 km | 9.8 miles | +611m, -239m)
Day 5 Barca D’Alva - Vilar de Amargo (15.2km | 9.4 miles | +635m, -153m)
Day 6 Vilar de Amargo - Castelo Melhor (16.1km | 10 miles | +147m, -386m)
Day 7 Castelo Melhor - the Côa Museum (12.5km | 7.7 miles | +381m, -423m)
Day 8 Return to Porto (departure day)
Optional Extension
Route Map
![Route Map for the self guided walking tour of Douro International Natural Park and the Coa Valley Archaeological Park in Portugal.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.prismic.io%2Fyugen-earthside%2F874567ae-463f-4a08-a739-5f57921cd115_Route%2BMap%2Bof-Douro-International-and-the-Coa-Valley-Website-600x600.jpg%3Fauto%3Dcompress%2Cformat%26rect%3D0%2C0%2C600%2C600%26w%3D770%26h%3D770&w=3840&q=75)
Inclusions & Exclusions
Detailed route notes & welcome kit
App with trail information for use on a smartphone
7 nights’ hand-picked accommodation with breakfast
Packed lunch on days 3-6
Dinner with drinks on days 2, 3 and 4
Private transfer from Porto airport to Porto hotel on day 1
Private transfer from Porto Hotel to Porto Campanhã train station on day 2
Train tickets from Porto to Pocinho on day 2
Transfers to/from trails on days 3-7
Transfers to/from the Pocinho train station
Luggage transfers
Visit to a cheese producer and tasting of regional products
Guided visit to Penascosa rock art site
24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking)
Flights to and from the destination
Meals not mentioned above
Train ticket from Pocinho to Porto
Côa Museum entrance fees and other optional expenses
Insurance
Touristic taxes
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
Pricing
Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.
Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.
Prices are the same regardless of when you travel.
Deposit per person
30% of the trip price
Group of 2 Travelers - price per person
1,265 € pp
Group of 4 Travelers - price per person
1,045 € pp
Single Supplement
405 € pp for groups of 2 travelers 385 € pp for groups of 4 travelers
Optional Add-ons
- Extra night at Porto Hotel: 110 € pp in a shared double room, 175 € pp in a private single room
Payment & Cancellation Policy
A deposit of 30% is required to hold the reservation. The balance is due no later than 6 weeks prior to the arrival date. Clients may pay the full amount due all at once if they choose.
- 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
Sustainability
This walking tour was crafted using extensive local knowledge and designed to respect both the way of life of local populations as well as the natural environment. We firmly believe that travel should be a safe and rewarding experience for all concerned, including the destinations that you visit and the people you meet.
Environmental Initiatives
Rural Tourism:
Our self-guided hikes follow rural backroads and paths through a fascinating landscape with the undulating countryside, vineyards, valleys, and villages, offering you the chance to enjoy the local flora and fauna with negligible environmental impact.
Green Transportation:
We focus on green transportation by taking the train out to the valley and then beginning the walking tour. We use some accommodations for multiple nights in order to reduce the need for luggage transfers. When necessary (to avoid some luggage transfers), we'll use local taxi drivers to reduce carbon emissions and support the local economy.
Water:
Since the quality of tap water is excellent in Portugal, we supply a refillable bottle that clients can use during their walking holiday and beyond.
Sociocultural and Economic Initiatives
Preventing Economic Leakage:
To make sure that money stays within the small local communities that our clients spend time in, the accommodation for this program is in a combination of small, unique hotels and family-run rural lodgings, which give clients an insight into local history and culture. Some accommodations produce their own wine, olive oil, and fruit, from which they make products that can also be purchased as gifts/souvenirs.
Food:
The daily lunch pack contains fresh local produce and we encourage guests to have dinner at hospitable local restaurants where they can enjoy traditional regional dishes, engage with the owners, chef, or servers, and, of course, sample Douro wines and port.
Local Life:
Most of the walking days involve passing through small hillside villages where you are welcome to stop at local cafés, bakeries, and grocery or craft stores in order to get a sense of what local life is like and interact with the residents. You will also get to see cheese production in action.
Natural Parks:
This trail is in two very special parks near the border with Spain, where rural traditions and agricultural practices are still evident. You’ll probably see shepherds with their flocks in Vilar de Amargo and you’ll be staying at a farmhouse for a few nights where Margarida will be happy to share her local knowledge. Marco, your host in Vilar de Amargo, is also a font of information about the local history, culture, flora, and fauna and he’ll be taking you to the cheese factory and the rock art site.
Health & Safety
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
FAQs
What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
With potentially longer walking days, this tour is designed for experienced, regular walkers and can be enjoyed by anyone in good health who has prepared sufficiently in advance.
Distance: Max 16.8 km (10.4 miles) per day
Elevation gain: Max 635 m per day.
What are the accommodations like?
The accommodations include a combination of restored manor houses, village cottages, farmhouses, and charming hotels. All rooms have their own bathrooms. We’ve chosen these accommodations for their hospitality, comfort, and location.
In the Douro International Natural Park, you'll stay on a working wine estate and olive farm. In the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, you’ll stay in a shepherding village (this is where you'll also visit a local cheese producer).
What is a self-guided tour?
On a self-guided tour, you navigate the route yourself with the aid of our Roadbook and GPS with all the tracks. We provide all the information you need including suggestions, maps, instructions, directions, and things to see. Our self-guided tours are a complete and affordable holiday, tailored specifically for independent travelers. They offer the same quality, style, service, and comforts of typical guided trips with the freedom and flexibility of making your own decisions about how you spend your time. Read more about self-guided tours here.
How many days are walking days, and what's the total distance covered?
There are 5 walking days on this itinerary. Total distance covered is 76.4 km (47.5 miles).
How do I prepare for a walking tour?
We recommend that before starting you should adapt your body for long walks. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. You should be comfortable with walking for 4 to 6 hours for consecutive days with some ups and downs on varied terrain, from tarmac roads to dirt paths and rocky or muddy tracks. Hill walking, with a reasonable amount of ascent and descent, is the best training for a walking holiday.
What do I need to bring?
Most of this walking holiday is off-road on rugged terrain so you will need:
- Proper walking shoes with cushioning and support.
- Weather protection (there is little shade so adequate weather protection is vital).
- Walking poles are recommended.
Reviews
Bill R.
Jan 10, 2024
Do yourself a big favor and contact Yugen Earthside
This was an amazing self guided walking trip to Portugal's Douro Valley vineyard country. What really made this trip awesome was Yugen Earthside. These people are incredible with their first rate customer service and attention to detail. We would give them 10 stars out of 5. So if anyone is contemplating any type of sustainable walking/biking trips to any of the incredible locations throughout the world, please do yourself a big favor and contact Yugen Earthside.
Jeannine R.
Oct 20, 2023
Wonderful walking trip through Douro
We really loved every aspect of our trip (though the daily hikes were a lot more challenging than I expected). Hilary was amazing and an extremely talented communicator. The pre-trip support was a 5/5 and the local partner provided an awesome orientation. Highlights: Great customer support, lovely accommodations, lunch!!
Joanna R.
Walking Holidays in Portugal
We had a great hike in Douro valley, all the accommodations were perfect, and the people we met were so nice. In every place we stopped we had great hotel rooms and a pool to rest after a day hiking (mostly up). Especially Quinta do Portal was really excellent and had the best chef and meals we have ever had in Portugal. Thank you!
Zosia W.
May 1, 2022
Walking in the Douro Valley, Portugal
Douro Valley Portugal. It was great !!!!