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Discover a romantic, forgotten area of old Europe with trip leader (and port wine aficionado!) Joe Toback. The Douro River winds through the heart of Portugal’s port wine region, carving a path through deep canyons terraced with grapes as far as the eye can see. Once the river was plied by barcos rabelos, traditional square-rigged, flat-bottomed boats that brought the port wine from the vineyards to the storage cellars in Porto on the Atlantic Coast. Nowadays they are rarely seen, but we’ll follow the river’s ancient route in our own adventurous way—by sea kayak! Our trip is timed for the grape harvest season, when the fields resonate with the sounds of the harvest as the rich, sweet grapes are picked and readied for the crush. All the fun of kayaking, sumptuous port wine tastings, hearty Portuguese country cooking, and luxurious stays in romantic Baroque- style quintas (wine farm manors) add up to a deliciously different experience. You’ll be amazed to find a corner of Europe so untrammeled by tourists and true to its old ways.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy easy flat water kayaking on the Douro River through Portugal’s picturesque port wine district—the most genuine, romantic, and intimate way to see the country
  
• Stay in charming local farm houses and atmospheric 18th-century manor houses
  
• Sample velvety port wine in the region where it originated and dine on amazing local cuisine

Day 1 - Meet in Porto, Portugal. Late evening stroll with a port wine nightcap at a riverfront tavern.

Day 2 - By narrow-gauge train to Pocinho, then spend the afternoon at the port wine farm of Quinta das Aveleiras.

Day 3 - Board kayaks and begin paddling through the stunningly beautiful upper gorge of the Douro, a stretch of the river accessible only by boat (you’ll meet few other souls on the river). Pull over at Nossa Senhora da Ribeira, with great views of the surrounding mountains, cultivated vine terraces, and orchards of almond and olive trees.

Day 4 - Another easy paddling day, with time for a swim in the river. Overnight at the converted farmhouse of Quinta Bartol, the perfect place to get away from it all. Evening private port wine tasting.

Day 5 - Paddle through the dramatic, narrow Valeira Gorge to the epicenter of the port wine district. Take out below the gorge and return to Quinta Bartol for a tour of the family farm.

Day 6 - A relaxing paddle to the Cockburn port wine ramp at Quinta do Tua to enjoy a private blind port wine tasting. Afterward, drive to Casal de Loívos.

Day 7 - From the port wine docks at Pinhão, take a motorboat to Tua. Here we’ll board the kayaks and paddle three to four hours back to Pinhão, then return to Casal de Loívos for a private port wine tasting.

Day 8 - Return drive to Porto, stopping at Amarante, a city as beautiful as its name. Farewell dinner and port wine tasting at a restaurant in Villa Nova de Gaia, where millions of bottles of port mature in cool cellars facing the river.

Day 9 - Depart Porto.

Photo Credits
©David Seaver