Leisurely kayaking and wine tasting along the Douro River

An MTS Favorite!

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.

"The Douro speaks to me of old world European hospitality. Sitting on a farm house terrace at sunset, overlooking the river in a sweeping turn, with a glass of special wine and a plate of bread and cheese, inspires the romance in our lives, the contentedness of traveling, the joy of new discoveries. I am drawn to the hearty quality of life in this valley with its appreciation of good food and laughter and stories shared. The nectar of port wine, the river that feeds the grape, and the people who inhabit and work this rugged land provide a medium for an inspired journey. Going to the Douro Valley, for me, feels like going home."- Joe Toback

Activities

5 days easy flat water kayaking (no previous experience required), easy day hikes

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

2011 Prices
$4,795 (5-10 members)

Requested single accommodations are not possible.

Duration: 9 days Start Location: Porto End Location: Porto Best time to go: September - October

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Porto, Portugal

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

• Day 2 : Quinta das Aveleiras

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

• Day 3 : Nossa Senhora da Ribeira

  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 : Quinta Bartol

  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 a private port wine tasting.

• Day 5 : Quinta Bartol

  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 : Casa do Tua, Pinhão

  Paddle to the village of Tua through the Valeira gorge. Then walk to Quinta do Tua for dinner and overnight at the manor house.

• Day 7 : Casal de Loívos, Pinhão

  Enjoy a last paddle from below our hotel through rapids to the port wine docks at Pinhão. Walk up the hill to Casal de Loívos for a private port wine tasting, dinner, and overnight.

• Day 8 : Hotel Infante Sagres

  Return drive to Porto, stopping at Regua for a stroll and lunch. 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

  Depart Porto.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Joe Toback

  Joe fell in love with the outdoors as a kid growing up in California where he backpacked, cycled, and paddled at every possible opportunity. In 1983 he discovered sea kayaking as a means of traveling to exotic destinations. After taking part in MTS exploratories to Irian Jaya and Vietnam’s Halong Bay, he began guiding trips for MTS in 1995. Since then he has led trips back to Vietnam, to the wine-growing regions of Portugal, to the Ionian Islands of Greece, the San Blas Islands in Panama, as well as the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar. “My passion for traveling to new places, for new cultural encounters, grows with each experience. I cherish the opportunity to feel like a child again, to explore my dreams, to learn about the world from people along the way.”

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