| Duration: | 8 Hour(s) - 0 Minute(s) |
| Tour Category: | Full Day Tours |
Full-day visit to the fabulous Douro Valley wine region - if you can only choose one tour in this region, then this has to be it!
Nestled in northern Portugal, the Douro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's oldest wine regions. Carved by the majestic Douro River, the region is famous for its dramatic terraced vineyards, which produce the world-renowned port wine. Beyond its legendary fortified wines, the valley is also celebrated for its exceptional table wines, rich history, and stunning scenery.
The Douro Valley's breathtaking landscape is a result of centuries of human labor, as people have built terraces and stone walls on the region's steep slopes to grow vines. One of the most unforgettable ways to experience this scenery is by taking a traditional rabelo boat cruise along the river
The River Douro rises in Spain and flows more or less East / West across Northern Portugal, reaching the sea at Portugal's second city, Oporto. Once a fast-flowing river of rapids and narrow ravines, it has been tamed over the past 25 years by the construction of 8 dams along its length, giving it, in most places, a tranquil, lake-like appearance.
The valley is spectacularly beautiful with the hills falling steeply down to the water´s edge, becoming more and more sparsely populated and wild the further inland one travels, with more of the land being given over to terraces of vines and, to a lesser extent, olive groves.
This is a port country and was the world´s first demarcated wine region being established in 1756. Evidence of the port industry can be seen along the valley with all the famous company names - Cockburns, Taylors, Sandeman, and others - appearing on large placards on the hillsides. The color of the land changes throughout the year as the vines mature.
