7-day Kayaking expedition in the Douro International Natural Park

We’ll start the day by checking in to a charming country house. Then, we’ll hike to São João das Arribas. From the chapel in the town, we’ll get amazing views of the Douro gorges. That night we’ll all eat together for the first time and enjoy the local food.

We’ll visit Miranda do Douro, a historic river town. We’ll then take to the water and move between the deep granitic gorges in our kayaks. We’ll take in all the different colors as we go, and as the sun gets lower in the sky the light on the water becomes even more beautiful.

On day 3 we’ll start at Picote Dam. This is one of the seven wonders of the Trás-os-Montes area and is a beautiful valley. We’ll spend the night in accommodation which was once a school and has amazing views.

On this part of the trip, we’ll paddle around awe-inspiring cliffs and rock faces. We’ll then move into greener, more lush scenery rich with Mediterranean vegetation. If you’re lucky you may be able to grab a piece of fruit as you kayak by the shore. We’ll stop for a picnic on shore. Then we’ll spend the night in sculptors home where you’ll be able to admire the works of art.

With the sculptor’s house as our base, we’ll head out hiking, visiting the village of Mogadouro. We’ll learn about the history of the area from the Mesolithic to the XVIIIth century. There are both vineyards and olive plantations in the area and we’ll take the time to visit them. We’ll then hike to higher viewpoints and even see vultures.

As we return to the water, the valley widens. We’ll pass orange groves and vineyards that have existed for centuries. We’ll eat lunch in the shelter of weeping willows and admire Paleolithic Rock Art. We’ll reach Congida which turns into a peaceful lake. We’ll finish the day with a visit to historic Freixo de Espada a Cinta village.

On our last day, we’ll head back to Porto together where we’ll leave you with your many wonderful memories of the trip.