Douro River Kayaking and Hiking Getaway, Portugal

Experience the best of Portugal’s natural beauty on an amazing all-inclusive Douro River kayaking and hiking getaway! Join a certified local guide and feel the immensity of nature as you paddle alongside awe-inspiring cliffs and catch sight of rare birds on an unforgettable adventure.

Group

4 Days

Mar, Oct, Nov

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy the towering cliffs and beautiful views as you kayak down the Douro River.
Catch sight of rare birds and spend time in nature, away from the crowds.
Meet local artisans and sample the delicious local wine and cuisine.

Description

On this Douro River kayaking and hiking getaway, we will explore one of the most stunning places in northeast Portugal. Throughout our 4-day adventure, we will enjoy the gorgeous nature and some history too as we explore the region in our kayaks and on foot.

The adventure begins with a pick-up in Lisbon, and from there, we will head to São João das Arribas, a 3-4 hour drive away, in the Douro International region. Once there, we will enjoy a warm-up hike and some delicious local cuisine before setting off on our kayaks the following day. You can find a detailed description in the itinerary below. Keep in mind that the Douro River is famous for its amazing cliffs and also, for its stunning wildlife, especially for its birds, so this adventure is a treat for nature lovers. It is also quite remote and uncrowded.

To join this trip, you will need to be physically fit. It is an intermediate challenge that will require you to stay active throughout. At night, we will sleep in lovely country houses, and all the delicious high-quality meals are included. We will also have the chance to visit some gorgeous historical sites and villages and even catch sight of some Paleolithic art. All the equipment, accommodation, meals, and transfers are included, so you don’t need to worry about logistics either.

So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the beautiful Portuguese wilderness? Then contact us today to plan an unforgettable all-inclusive Douro River kayaking and hiking getaway! We look forward to guiding you!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back

Price details

Included in the price:
Professional kayaking guides certified by the American Canoe Association and the Portuguese Canoe and Kayak Federation.
Transfers from and to Lisbon city center or airport.
All paddling equipment: sea kayaks, paddles, spraydeck, PFDs
All transports onsite
3 nights in highquality rural accommodations.
All meals from dinner of the first day to lunch of day 4.
2 different lodgings during the stay
NOT INCLUDED:
Personal equipment (dry bags for your own clothes, camera, clothing)
Extra drinks
Souvenirs

Itinerary

Day 1: São João das Arribas Hiking 6 Km

First, we will check-in to our wonderful country house accommodation. After settling in, we will hike towards São João das Arribas and its Chapel with majestic views of the Douro gorges and historical traces of Roman occupation.

Later on, we will enjoy our first wonderful dinner together and sample the delicious regional gastronomy.

Day 2: Miranda do Douro and the Granitic gorges, Kayaking 15 Km

We will visit the historic village of Miranda do Douro and paddle alongside the deep granitic gorges. The vibrant colors will mesmerize you. The effects of light on the setting day are unforgettable.

Day 3: Bemposta to Bruçó, Kayaking, 24 Km

This part of the trip is still marked by cliffs, but the scenery becomes more lush with fragrant Mediterranean vegetation. You might be able to grab fruits at the water’s edge. We will enjoy a delicious picnic on the beach!

The arrival in Bruçó is quite stunning and was once the stage of Dr. Zhivago.

Afterwards, we will visit the historic village of Freixo de Espada a Cinta at night.

Day 4: Lagoaça to Congida Kayaking, 16 Km

The valley widens, and orange groves and vineyards line the water trail.

We will stop for a great lunch in the shelter of weeping willows and will have the chance to admire Paleolithic Rock Art!

At Congida, the Douro becomes a peaceful lake. It’s time to say farewell to the Douro before we head towards Lisbon again in the afternoon.

Equipment you will need to bring

Al kayaking equipment is included in the price. You will need to bring your own personal equipment (dry bags for your own clothes, camera, clothing).

FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Olissippo Lapa Palace Lisbon Portugal

See rooms

Verride Palácio Santa Catarina Hotel Lisbon Portugal

See rooms

Hotel Valverde Lisbon Portugal

See rooms

About the guide

Bork

BORK You is an adventure travel agency based in Lisbon, Portugal. Discover Portugal Nature Parks through kayaking, diving and hiking expeditions in Sintra Cascais, Arrábida, International Douro, South-East of Alentejo and Vicentine Coast, International Tejo and Berlenga Archipelago. All expeditions are monitored by qualified instructors who love their job and will share their enthusiasm and passion with you.

Languages

Request more information

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8