Hiking Portugal's & Galician Wine Regions

After a welcome briefing at the meeting point, we will go for lunch before exploring Porto ́s historic center. We will discover the old quarter, walk by the river and Ribeira. This area offers remarkable testimony of the city ́s rich commercial past, and presents a lively and welcome atmosphere. Later in the afternoon we will be trans- ferred to Monção, a medieval town at the northern border with Spain.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch, Dinner

Included Activities:  Visit to Wine cellar & Wine tasting

Monção is a perfect gateway to start discovering the Vinho Verde DOC region and learn about the Alvarinho wine. We will hike along green fields, visit and have a wine tasting at the imposing Brejoei- ra Palace, and its grand gardens and wine estate. Back in Monção, you will have free time to wander by the river Minho and the ram- parts of Monção Town and visit the Alvarinho museum.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner

Included Activities:  Visit to Brejoieira Paace & Wine tasting, visit to Monção wine museum.

Morning transfer to the Ribeiro wine region, one of the oldest wine regions in Spanish territory. This lush and green region is making a comeback to traditional winemaking, by replanting the native grape varieties, recovering the hillside terraces and taking ad- vantage of the latest technology for a better winemaking. Today ́s hike takes us through the old trails that connected San Clodio Monastery to a small hillside hamlets, along the river Avia. Before our afternoon transfer to the town of Allariz, we still have time for a wine tasting to discover and enjoy the region ́s wines. Allariz, is one of the most scenic medieval towns of the Ourense province and is the gateway to the Área de Allariz Biosphere Reserve.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner

Included Activities:  Visit to winery & wine tasting.

The incredible schist terraces on the Sil river canyon are so small and narrow that only a single line of vines is planted and work must be done by hand. The hike in this area of Ribeira Sacra, with a DOC denomination, will take us to beautiful viewpoints on lands planted with vines for 2000 years.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner

Included Activities:  Visit Winery & Wine tasting

Favaios is one of the six wine-producing villages in the Douro re- gion, high on the plateau. This is a picturesque region, with vine- yards spreading all around. It is the perfect area to produce the muscatel grape variety, used to produce the fortified wine of Favaios. Hiking along the rows of vine we will discover how this unique wine is produced, have a wine tasting, and savor the deli- cious wood-fire baked bread of Favaios.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner.

Included Activities:  Visit Winery & Wine tasting

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas, from the 12th century, was one of the largest Cistercian monasteries in Portugal. The dynamic spirit of these monks shaped the Douro region as they work the land, grew vines, and instilled rules and traditions that are in still in place today. One of them is the production of spar- kling wine, following the traditional champagne method. Our hike will cross this wine-producing area and the villages of Salzedas and Ucanha. I

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner.

Included Activities:  Wine tasting & Visit to Sparling wine Winery

We will explore the western part of Douro region, and witness how a mountain chain affects the wine culture. The weather is no longer dry, and we are under the influence of the milder and moistened winds of the Atlantic. The region here makes it better suited for green wines. During our hike we will pass through old villages, and cross terraces of cherry trees, olive trees and vineyards.

Accommodation: Superior

Meals:  Lunch Box, Dinner

On this departure day a transfer will take you to the airport or oth- er departure place you have in mind.

Meals:  –