Portugal: Sintra, Óbidos & the Coast
Portugal: Minho & the Douro Valley
Guided
When it comes to drinking in the Douro Valley’s panoramas, moderation isn’t an option.
View This TourPortugal: Sintra & Rota Vicentina
Self-Guided Tour
On this Portugal self-guided tour, you’re in good company. Fishermen, farmers, and royalty have all walked these trails before you.
View This TourDiscover Portugal
Thanks to a widespread trail network that features gentle strolls, strenuous mountain hikes, and everything in between, Portugal is revered as one of Europe’s premier hiking destinations. Famed medieval trails and seaside cliff paths are a must on Portugal walking tour itineraries, where you can traverse the same routes used by ancient villagers as their sole means of passage. Here you can encounter white-spotted deer or rafts of otters lounging across a rocky shore break, all under the watchful eye of tawny owls, just as ancient travelers did.
In the secluded mountainsides of Minho and lush terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal’s rich culture and history begins to truly reveal itself. Pair a bottle of locally vinted port with meals like Cozido à Portuguesa—wild boar stew, and fragrant baked goods prepared with local persimmon and tangerines.
Stroll the rustic Soria province, across vast farmlands that point the way to hilltop medieval villages crowned by castles. In the mountainous Minho province, remote stone hamlets filled with friendly faces welcome you at the gigantic Feira de Barcelos open-air market, lined with stalls of fresh fruits and cheeses, artisan handicrafts, and hand-embroidered linens.
Country Highlights
- Trace ancient shepherd trails through breathtaking mountain vistas.
- Walk the medieval pathways that have long linked the charming stone villages of Serra de São Mamede Natural Park.
- Explore the spectacular Rota Vicentina along high Atlantic cliffs, stopping to explore fishing villages and to soak your feet in refreshing waters.
- Savor the rustic farm cuisine and succulent fresh seafood that have made Portugal a global culinary destination.
Listen to the Songs of Fate
Fado—Portugal’s mournful musical tradition—evokes nostalgia and longing like few other styles can. Witness performances by solo singers accompanied by classical Portuguese guitar that will offer fascinating insight into the country’s sea-faring soul, with songs invoking lost love, longing for the departed, and inspirational triumph.
Raise a Glass Prepared for Decades
Meander the dimly lit caves of the ancient city of Porto, which store rack after rack of Portugal’s most famous eponymous drink. Partake in one of numerous tasting sessions while relaxing amid the terraced vineyards of local quintas—winery estates.
Explore the Cork Forests
Stroll through the flowering plains of Alentejo in summer, where sun and shadows fall over vast wine estates, olive groves and centuries-old summer homes. Here, the ancient oak forests have produced cork for millennia—one of the world’s oldest renewable, recyclable and biodegradable products.
Expert Local Guides
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Luis Soares
Luis Soares was born and raised in Portugal and has travelled extensively throughout South America and Africa, including spending a year working in city planning in Angola, a former Portuguese colony. Luis has a special interest in geography and has worked in various aspects of tourism outside of guiding. When not out in nature showing off his native country, you can find Luis enjoying a good book or running trails near his home.
Ana Rodrigo
Born in Lisbon, Ana Rodrigo has roots in the southern and central parts of Portugal. Her rural childhood was spent enjoying nature in the countryside where her family produced wine and olive oil. With a PhD in environmental engineering, she has dedicated her life to marine ecology studies while during her free time she enjoys trekking, climbing, surfing, diving, and traveling the world, experiencing different cultures and landscapes.
Stories from Portugal
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Portugal: Minho & the Douro Valley
Portugal: Minho & the Douro Valley
Portugal: Sintra, Óbidos & the Coast
Portugal: Sintra, Óbidos & the Coast
Portugal: Sintra, Óbidos & the Coast
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