It is a jewel among the cultural and natural treasures of northern Portugal. You have surely heard of it through articles, reports and photos. Your friends, family or colleagues have told you how sublime the Douro valley is, how breathtaking the landscapes are, how divine the wine is…
And they are absolutely right! This UNESCO World Heritage landscape is a blend of natural wonder and human engineering — a perfect balance between the need to produce wine and respect for the environment. The Douro river rises in Spain and flows almost in a straight line into the Atlantic, passing through Porto. You can therefore travel up it by boat on a cruise, or follow its banks by car to discover the picturesque villages and the highly photogenic vineyards.
But here is the thing: you do not really know who to turn to in order to plan this day, or these few days, of discovery. The region is vast, you do not know the spots to see and, above all, you want to visit the valley in a local, authentic way.
How to do it? This is where Voyage à Porto comes in, for your greatest pleasure. We are French-Portuguese locals who have developed a concept of healthy, sustainable tourism, designing personalised travel programmes that respect the traveller’s budget and wishes within a local trip that respects culture and the environment. We are on site, we know Porto and its region — including the Douro valley — from a local perspective, and we have a panel of local providers, artisans and enthusiasts, and genuinely local routes. 100% local!
In short, you will have understood: we do not offer a classic tourist package that fuels mass tourism and completely distorts Portuguese culture. We believe it is impossible to visit a country, a city or a region without the help and advice of people on the ground who deeply love and share their environment.
We therefore create your tailor-made route to discover the Douro valley as it deserves — and as you deserve. It can be simply a day trip with a private wine quinta visit and tastings, lunch in an establishment at the heart of a village free of tourists, a private boat trip… or a 2, 3-day (or longer) itinerary including accommodation, discovery routes and the finest local addresses.
