The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
Combines the hallmarks of any B&R itinerary (excellent hotels and beautiful routes) with the freedom of pacing each day exactly the way you like.
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain with a few small hills—all very manageable for people trying their first biking trip.
Walking – 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day on country lanes, footpaths and coastal or forest trails, all on relatively flat terrain, perhaps with an occasional hill.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over terrain that’s relatively flat but will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.
Walking – 8-12 km (5-7 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain, with occasional steeper climbs.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day in gently rolling countryside, with occasional longer climbs to points that are well worth the effort.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints or places of interest.
Biking – Roughly 50 km (30 mi.) a day in consistently rolling countryside, with repeated climbs and longer options available.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) over terrain that varies between rolling and hilly, with a few steeper climbs.
Biking – 50-60 km (30-45 mi.) a day over both level and tougher, hillier terrain with multiple 100 km (62 mi.) options. The routes are designed for avid cyclists and include plenty of chances to push yourself.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over fairly hilly terrain offering lots of challenges. Routes are along high meadow paths and/or well-maintained cliffside or alpine trails, with a few steep ascents to make you feel invigorated.
Venture from the buzzing alleyways of colourful Porto to the quiet hillside terraces of the Douro Valley on our journey through Portugal’s northwestern corner. Tiptoe down cobblestone paths, travel by boat along the Douro River and explore the mystical quintas that not only produce great wines but also make up an important part the Douro landscape. We visit our friends in traditional villages, sip on the finest Ports and Vinho Verdes, and revel in the unspoilt views. Add to this luxurious accommodation, a trending arts scene, and ticking off a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and you have a Douro to Porto excursion that is set to be a truly unforgettable experience.
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Ready-to-Book private tours are designed to be enjoyed off-the-rack, but there is room for minor adjustments to fit the trip to your needs. If the gap is too great, then we’d be happy to tailor-make you a Bespoke trip from scratch. Simply tell us a few details about your group and select your preferred date. One of our Trip Designers will spring into action, confirming the details or exploring alternatives, over the next 48 hours.
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REQUEST A QUOTEWelcome to Portugal! For morning arrivals, begin your trip with a walk by the river to familiarize yourself with the city. Enjoy lunch at the historic W&J Graham Port Lodge, followed by a guided tour of the estate and a tasting with spectacular views over the old town of Porto.
Visit some of Porto’s must-see sites such as the neoclassic S.Bento train station, the Clérigos Church, and the Porto Cathedral. Then it’s off to Matosinhos, home to the largest fishing port of the world-famous Portuguese sardine, where you’ll lunch at a traditional-style restaurant.
Traverse along the footsteps of the Douro, between the verdant hills and vineyards of the Vinho Verde wine region. Meander by the Tâmega river, passing stone bridges and ancient hamlets, before arriving in Amarante, a charming and historic town best-known for its famous egg pastries.
Today’s walk begins in Sabrosa, the birthplace of the great navigator, Ferdinand Magellan. Lunch is at Papas Zaide restaurant in Provesende, where host Graça Monteiro cooks up a daily menu of classic Portuguese dishes that are always accompanied by a family-like welcome.
Begin today’s journey in Tua, a village wedged between the river and the hills. A traditional Rabello boat awaits to whisk you downstream into a cathedral of vines while you enjoy a picnic lunch aboard.
Bid farewell to the Douro and its lovely terraced hillsides. However, spending an extra day at Six Senses to fully enjoy this lavish resort is highly encouraged.
Where tradition is a way of life.
Six Senses Douro presents a superbly renovated 19th-century manor house set high on a hill overlooking the rolling hills of the valley and the river below. A spa, restaurants, wine library, swimming pools and organic garden are just a few of the many amenities available.
Soak up the breathtaking views over the colourful rooftops of Porto and onto the Douro Valley from your private terrace at The Yeatman Hotel. Each room is uniquely decorated in a sophisticated style, subtly themed with artifacts and pictures by a well-known Portuguese wine producer. The elegance extends to its indoor and outdoor infinity pools and luxurious Caudalie Spa.
I don’t know how B&R does it – the quality of their trips is so consistently high! Just when we think they couldn’t do anything as good as our last trip, they do! Another fantastic experience with B&R.
— Carolyn Zaslaw
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— George Butterfield
Daily walking distances range from 8-15 km (5-9 mi). Walks are generally oriented downhill, however, if you prefer a bit of a climb, the routes can easily be adjusted.
In a word: everything. In ninety words? Signature B&R guides; local experts; unique, unforgettable biking and walking routes; private tours; authentic local cuisine; lessons and demonstrations; local artisanal wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; interesting, fun and like-minded travel companions; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery.
Included with all walking trips are telescoping walking poles and custom-made padded waist packs, which comfortably carry one full half-litre water bottle. The walking poles get “recycled” for use by another B&R traveller, but the waist pack is yours to keep at trip’s end. See Equipment Details
Walking Poles
Waist Pack
Sometimes your B&R trip simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in region either before or after your official B&R trip, and need assistance making those plans, your B&R Travel Advisor can help.
Call us to create an independent travel experience that fits your needs—we can also arrange for a local guide.
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