Portugal's Douro River Cruise Hiking & Walking Tour
Stunning Salamanca to Vibrant Porto
The banks of the winding Douro carry such a bounty for a pair of restless feet. A feast of remote mountain trails, blooming country lanes and sun-drenched views. And where your feet don’t carry you, our ship will.
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
From $9,879 - $12,279/person
Includes port fees
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Snapshots from the Trip
Trip at a Glance
Highlights
- Journey from Spain to Portugal on this cross-border odyssey along one of Iberia’s most iconic rivers
- Wander a variety of landscapes, from oak woodlands to riverside vineyards to stony mountains
- Explore villages that feel lost in time and sample their delicious local farm products
- Taste Vinho Verde and sweet Port wine at the source: paired with winery picnics and behind-the-scenes cellar tours
- Explore vibrant Porto as we cruise the riverfront in small traditional boats, stroll with a local guide and sit down to multiple meals that showcase the city’s outstanding food scene
Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.
Start Salamanca, Spain Airport & Travel Details
- Start your trip in Salamanca, a city that moves to the rhythm of the flamenco
- Fuel up with tomato toast and Spanish tortilla before wandering through the dehesa, the pastoral oak woodland of central Spain where Iberian ham is raised free-range by swineherds
- Get your first sight of the Douro River Valley and the Portuguese border from the trail
- Taste locally grown almonds in the castle of Castelo Rodrigo village
- Climb to a hilltop sanctuary with grand views over the surrounding serra.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
- Welcome to Vinho Verde wine country
- Zigzag along footpaths through steep vineyards that overlook the Douro River far below
- Pair house wines with a colorful picnic spread at a quinta by the river
- Stroll the cobbled, gaslit lanes of Pinhão, a wine country town lined with whitewashed arches and tile walls
- Get a behind-the-scenes winery tour
- Climb and descend from viewpoint to viewpoint in this steep country of terraced hills where vines cascade to the river.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
- Journey high into the granite mountains to the north of the Douro River Valley
- Hike between massive boulders and by ancient mills to a hidden shrine to St. James
- Stop at a stone cottage in the forest for a taste of Portuguese mountain cuisine, with its emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients and incredibly tender meat grilled over coals
- Listen to the fado, Portugal’s haunting and soulful national folk music
- Hike through lush woods of cork, chestnut and eucalyptus trees between the aldeias do xisto (schist villages), made of stone fragments from the surrounding mountainside
- Enter Porto the way wine merchants from upriver have for hundreds of years: cruising on traditional small boats.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
- Explore Porto with a local guide who brings the city’s colorful World Heritage center to life
- Head to the fishermen’s quarter for a fresh seafood lunch at a humble tavern
- Stroll along the Atlantic or take some time to wander Porto on your own
- Toast the end of our journey at a favorite restaurant in town.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
End Porto or Lisbon, Portugal Airport & Travel Details
This trip has an activity level range of 1-3
All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
All accommodations on your Backroads trip
Access to all ship amenities and onboard activities, plus included excursions
All gratuities for ship staff and included onshore dining
Expertise and services of Backroads Trip Leaders
Lightweight carbon hiking poles
Backroads On Trip App with route maps, elevation profiles, daily snapshots and more
Additional local guides and experts, plus equipment for included activities as detailed in your itinerary
Exclusive activities, tours and cultural experiences, as detailed in your itinerary
All luggage transfers and porterage during your trip
Off-ship lunches in authentic local settings
Snacks and beverages between meals
Wine and beer included with all onboard meals
Private cocktail and wine receptions on the first and last nights of your trip
Choice of Backroads t-shirt or hat, plus water bottle and luggage tag
Detailed Travel Planner with destination tips and pre-trip information
