Wine, Wellness and City Strolls: A Pampering Trip to Porto & The Douro Valley
Harriet and Kate L are here to help give you the inside track.
World class spas, excellent hotels, an eminently walkable UNESCO protected cityscape to explore and one of Europe's most famous wine regions make the Portuguese city of Porto and the neighbouring Douro Valley the perfect destination for a five-day pampering pit-stop.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore the beautiful city of Porto
- Learn about the winemaking process on a visit to the beautiful Douro Valley wine region
Why Book with Original Travel?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: Fly to Porto
When you arrive into Porto airport in northern Portugal, you will collect your pre-booked hire car for the 20 minute drive into the centre of Porto. Your first port(o) of call is the delectable Yeatman Hotel, the finest place to stay in the city, with its unparalleled views of the iconic old town across the Douro River.
The hotel sits among the famous lodges where the major port producers store their wine once it has been shipped down the Douro from the vineyards upstream, so it's only appropriate that the hotel has a wine theme, including a spa offering Vinotherapie treatments using the by-products of the wine industry. This afternoon we have arranged a merlot wrap (or conventional massage) for you in the state of the art spa before you enjoy an evening drink at Dick's Bar, the hotel's elegant bar.
Day 2: Wine & City Tour
After a lazy lie-in, saunter over to Taylor's port wine lodge for a private guided tour of the cellars, where you will learn how the wine is blended and aged. Next it's lunch at the Taylor's restaurant Barão Fladgate where you can enjoy high quality Portuguese cuisine.
After lunch you have a guide for a private half day tour of the city. The tour starts near the Atlantic coast in Foz, where many of the city's finest museums are located, before you work your way back through the Boavista district to the picturesque Old Town, all the while learning about the city's history as one of the wealthiest cities in the world during the Portuguese colonial era.
Day 3: Douro Valley
After a leisurely breakfast it's time to leave the city and head to inland to the lovely Six Senses Douro Valley - a stylishly converted quinta or wine estate manor house overlooking the Douro River.
After lunch it's time to turn the pampering to eleven with an afternoon spent in the superb Six Senses spa, and we will suggest the best signature treatments and, if you like, prebook them. Best in class, in our humble opinion, are the vitamin C and papaya enzyme peel facial, and the schist hot stone treatment.
Day 4: Train Ride Along the River
After breakfast, take a train ride along the river before visiting one of the best local wine producers for a private guided tour of the estate, learning about the picking, pressing and packaging process before a tasting of the estate's delicious wines and ports and finally lunch on the terrace with spectacular views along the valley.
After lunch, head back down to the river to board a beautifully
restored 1950s motoryacht for the hour long cruise back downstream,
all the while being served more local wines and cheeses.
After the short transfer back to the hotel there might be time to
sneak in another spa treatment, or to have a swim in either the
spectacular indoor or outdoor pool before a game of pool and an
evening cocktail before another relaxed but excellent supper in the
Dining Room.
Day 5: Homeward Bound
Depending on what time your flight home is, there might be time this morning to wander around the lush Six Senses Douro Valley grounds on trails down to the river, or climb trees (positively encouraged!) but then again this trip is meant to be all about R&R so you could just sneak back to the spa for one last Thai herbal compress massage, or we can pre-arrange for the hotel to prepare a picnic in the woods.
Sadly it's time to leave now, and after the hour and a half drive back to Porto Airport, drop of the hire car and fly home a good deal more relaxed, and quite possibly a few pounds heavier.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels. Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights.
From
$2,780pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
$2,500pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
$3,340pp
Harriet and Kate L are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.