Landscape around Pinhão, Douro Valley Portugal

Are you having trouble deciding whether or where to stay in the Douro Valley? If so, this insider guide will help you with your choice. The breathtakingly beautiful Douro wine region has become one of Portugal’s “must see” destinations. While it’s possible to get a quick glimpse of the Douro’sRead More →

Douro vineyards and quinta from Miradouro de Frei Estevão

The Douro valley in northern Portugal has more than just the perfect climate and soil for cultivating grapes and a wine-producing culture that dates back centuries. The undulating curves of the Douro wine region’s hillsides create a beautiful and dramatic landscape which changes with the seasons and is so specialRead More →

Views from the top of the hill. Douro walking holiday

The southern side of the Douro Valley gets far less attention than the north, which makes it perfect for an off-the-beaten-track walking holiday. I had the privilege of experiencing this 1-week, self-guided hiking vacation in the Douro wine region while working on the written descriptions and route instructions that theRead More →

Wine tasting, Quinta dos Murças, Douro Valley rivate tour

I’ve visited the Douro Valley countless times and every time I go, I learn, see and experience something new. On this occasion, instead of the small group Douro Valley tours I’d previously tried, I decided to go for the private wine tour experience to see how it differs from smallRead More →

View of the Douro Valley on a hike from Ervedosa do Douro

I get lots of enquiries from people who are interested in hiking in the Douro Valley. After all, it’s a stunning part of Portugal with its ever-changing mosaic of terraced vineyards, olive groves and small villages. When the weather is not at its extremes, exploring this region on foot canRead More →

Overlapping animals, rock art at Pensacoso, Foz Côa Portugal

Carved into the rugged rocks of the Côa Valley near the town of Vila Nova de Foz Côa you’ll find the very origins of animated art. The two-headed animals scratched into these ancient stones weren’t monsters roaming the Portuguese countryside. The extra heads represent movement, pretty clever for rock artRead More →