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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Vintage Port

Douro Valley wine tour from Porto with vintage trains and river cruises

Illustration of Vintage Port

PTG Tours' Vintage Port is an 8-day escorted tour of Portugal's Douro Valley, the world's first demarcated wine region. Based in Regua for six nights, the tour follows the River Douro upstream from Porto, exploring steeply terraced vineyards that produce fine wines and ports. The itinerary includes two vintage train rides (one on restored 1920s wooden carriages that climbs to Tua, stopping at Pinhao's 1938 tiled station), two river cruises through major dams, and three visits to working wine estates with tastings and meals. Day trips by coach and rail reach the UNESCO rock art site at Foz Coa, the baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios in Lamego, and the riverside town of Amarante with its 17th-century mansions. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout. Flights depart from major UK airports (London Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, and others), or you can travel overland by train from London St Pancras. This is well suited to repeat rail travellers, wine and food enthusiasts, and those who prefer a fully guided and inclusive itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed for 2026, 10 September; confirm availability directly with PTG Tours.
  • The from-price (£1,650) applies to this single scheduled departure; prices for other potential dates may vary.
  • Activity level requires ability to walk steep hills, stairs, and cobbled streets; some Portuguese railway platforms are low, and in Porto you walk several hundred metres from the river pier to the coach.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Regua

    Arrival in Porto and transfer to Regua

    Direct flights to Porto from Bristol, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester, with a transfer to Regua, home for the coming nights (all rooms have a river view). Overland by rail from London St Pancras is available with nights in Hendaye and Vigo; the overland fare includes a first class Interrail pass giving free first-class travel from your home UK station to/from London. Dinner in the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Regua

    Pocinho and the Foz Coa rock art

    Regional train east along the river to the line's terminus at Pocinho, a scenic journey with a chance of spotting the rare Black Kite. Road trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Park and Museum near Vila Nova de Foz Coa, including a visit to a prehistoric rock art site (capacity limited to 24 people, allocated in booking order). The day ends with a short trip across the river to Quinta da Pacheca for dinner and wine/port tasting.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Regua

    Casa de Mateus and the Douro Historic Train

    Coach to Casa de Mateus, the palace featured on Mateus Rose labels, for a guided house tour and time in the gardens. Free time for lunch back in Regua, then the afternoon highlight: the Douro Historic Train, a restored vintage train of five wooden-bodied 1920s carriages, running up-river through terraced vineyards to Tua (about 90 minutes), stopping at Pinhao to see its 1938 tiled station pictures. Traditional singing, local delicacies and port wine served on board. Dinner in a local restaurant.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Regua

    River Douro cruise to Pocinho

    Regional train (Schindler carriages) east to Pocinho, then the first of two Douro river cruises, passing through three of the dams built in the 1970s-80s (one lock 32 metres deep), through the most scenic stretch of the valley. Three-course lunch with wine served on board.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Regua

    Amarante and Quinta da Aveleda

    Train west towards Penafiel, visiting the riverside town of Amarante with its 17th-century mansions and monastery, then Quinta da Aveleda, a leading Vinho Verde estate, for a guided garden walk and three-course lunch with wine tasting. Train back to Regua from Penafiel station.

  6. Day 6overnight: Regua

    Lamego

    Visit to Lamego, with the ruined 12th-century castle and the baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios reached by a granite staircase. Lunch at Quinta da Casa Amarela, including wine and an explanation of the port-making process. Free afternoon in Regua.

  7. Day 7overnight: Porto (airport hotel)

    River Douro cruise to Porto

    Cruise down the River Douro to Porto, passing through the Carrapatelo Dam (one of the deepest locks in Western Europe at 35 metres) and the Crestuma-Lever Dam, approaching Porto under the Maria Pia and Dom Luis I bridges. Three-course lunch with wine on board. Coach transfer to the airport hotel with luggage collected in Regua.

  8. Day 8

    Departure

    Short walk from the hotel to the airport for flights back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Regional train east to Pocinho, then a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Park and Museum near Vila Nova de Foz Coa to see a prehistoric rock art site.
  • Day 3The Douro Historic Train, a restored vintage train of five wooden-bodied 1920s carriages, runs up-river through terraced vineyards to Tua, stopping at Pinhao to view its 1938 tiled station.
  • Day 4First river Douro cruise to Pocinho, passing through three dams built in the 1970s-80s, with a three-course lunch and wine served on board.
  • Day 5Train west to Amarante, visiting the riverside town with 17th-century mansions and monastery, then Quinta da Aveleda estate for a guided garden walk and three-course lunch with wine tasting.
  • Day 7Cruise down the River Douro to Porto, passing through the Carrapatelo Dam (one of Western Europe's deepest locks at 35 metres) and approaching Porto under the Maria Pia and Dom Luis I bridges.

Included

  • All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Accommodation as detailed
  • Meals as shown in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Services of our Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes all travel by rail, coach, boat, and air (or overland by rail from London St Pancras if chosen) as outlined in the itinerary, plus the services of a Tour Manager throughout.
Which trains does the tour use?
The tour includes regional trains on the Linha do Douro between Regua and Pocinho, the Douro Historic Train (vintage 1920s wooden carriages) from Regua to Tua via Pinhao, and a regional train from Regua to Penafiel via Amarante.
How many nights are in the main hotel?
Six nights are spent at Hotel Regua Douro in Regua (all rooms have river views). One night is at Park Hotel near Porto airport on arrival.
What meals are included?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included as shown in the itinerary. Dinners on Days 1-6, lunches on Days 2-6 (three-course meals with wine on cruise and estate visit days), and breakfast daily.
Can I take the train from the UK instead of flying?
Yes. PTG offers an overland option by rail from London St Pancras with nights in Hendaye and Vigo; the fare includes a first-class Interrail pass for free first-class travel from your home UK station to/from London.
When does the tour depart?
The tour departs 10 September 2026. PTG Tours can be contacted to inquire about other possible dates.

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