The hikes were nicely varied in scenery: vineyards, deep wooded valleys, little towns, mountain top views and pine forests. Each day got better than the last and I only wish there had been more days! 

Great hotels and a chance to see the city and valley. A cuisine delight. I enjoyed the wine and the wine tasting. This is not a challenging walking holiday but an all-round experience.

I appreciate that weather is one aspect of the holiday over which you have no control, but we were fortunate to have perfect sunny days during our walking holiday. The inns/hotels were lovely and the meals were very good. (To update your info, the Pousada de Barao Forrester no longer offers wine or water with their 25 Euro menu but will give you 10% off the a la carte menu.) Walk directions were very clear, with a few small exceptions that I can forward to you if you like, but we always guessed correctly when we were in doubt. We enjoyed the company of other Inntravel clients who were a day ahead or behind us when we stayed at the same hotel for two nights and our schedules overlapped. I would definitely recommend taking hiking poles. The picnic lunches provided by the hotels were very generous and we learned to sort through them before setting out to remove heavy items that we did not anticipate consuming in the course of our day's walk. I would have appreciated having an information addendum for Day 7 as to whether arrangements had been made for Mr. Carvalho to collect us from our hotel and take us to the train station (Ursula seemed confident that they had, but agreed to call to confirm) and to let us know the approximate cost of the taxi ride. I would have preferred to have Inntravel add that charge to their invoice and send me a second voucher for this final leg of the trip.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: We followed up the holiday details referred to here and have updated the notes accordingly and contacted this customer with our appreciation.

Weather was perfect. We were really lucky. I'd recommend getting train tickets when you can in advance as queues can be large at times. When you come back from Pinhao check platform. Ticket inspectors will keep you right about whether train goes direct or you need to change. Hop on Hop off bus in Porto isn't worth the money! Metro trams and buses are really good. Streets in Porto are very steep especially going down to river. Get a good map of Porto before you go if you can. 

Great week. Inntravel choice of hotels were excellent & with 3 of them felt like being in a family home. Beautiful area.

A thoroughly enjoyable walk through very attractive countryside. October was the perfect time... not too hot, but sunny and the added interest of seeing the grape picking. 

We had a wonderful holiday helped by the beautiful October weather. Inntravel is one of the best tour companies we have used and the information provided was very impressive, comprehensive and useful which helped us to get the very best from our 9 day trip.

The beauty and the tranquility of this area made one forget all about the stresses of our busy lives - it was magic.

My personal highlight of the trip was the walking from one accommodation to the next each day without the need for transport. It is amazing to me how all of the tracks, cobbled walkways, and roads join together to provide a solitary and scenic path from one place to the next. We only saw six other hikers the entire time on the trails. I loved looking back over the valley and being able to see the way that we had come - it looked like such a long distance! It was beautiful to be out in nature passing through vineyards, orchards, quintas, hamlets, villages, and towns. The local people we passed in the villages were friendly and welcoming.

Tips: Do not be overwhelmed when you receive the directions and maps - they make a lot of sense once you are there following them. They are very detailed and helpful! The hiking can be challenging at times with the elevation changes, do not under estimate the need to train and be prepared. We are very active and still wish we had gone on some hikes with elevation changes to be more prepared. Spend time in the small villages to talk to the local people - we did so and were invited to taste the port made by a local. Allow time each afternoon to arrive at the accommodation early enough to enjoy the lovely outdoor terraces and pools.

I'm already researching where my next walking holiday with InnTravel will be!

A good walk, pretty undemanding. The Cities were rather crowded with tourists and we were told it was high season. Queues at major sights were very long, meaning a wait of over two hours to gain entry. In most cases we gave them a miss. Maybe we did not go at the best time.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Valley of Gold walking holiday with the Cities, Palaces & Wine journey by rail. September is a popular month in the cities.

Well chosen hotels, wish we could have stayed in the ones that were full! Good and accurate walking descriptions. And appreciated the maps.

A truly lovely and active holiday. The countryside is stunning, the food and accommodation excellent and the hospitality second to none. We were fortunate to be there for the harvest (our intention) which added to the enjoyment. The families harvesting the grapes were really friendly and kept offering us bunches of grapes for our lunch. Thank you Inntravel.

A well organised walking trip I would have no hesitation in recommending. The hotels were all comfortable and pleasantly situated. I was impressed that it had been noted that I am vegetarian and most of the meals I was offered were delicious, with a real effort made to accommodate me. The view from the hermitage of San Domingos was spectacular, but I think our favourite day was the longest - that from Alijo to São Romão, for its variety of landscape. When staying in Alijo, we found the recommended restaurant O Pelourinho excellent - such delightful hosts and delicious food, again with great kindness in offering to make a special meal for me. Another of your recommendations, that of Cais da Foz, was very good too. We found poles a must, especially on the descent from San Domingos. Take mosquito repellent: I was tormented at Chanceleiros!

We really enjoyed the walks and different hotels. Good walking paths apart from dusty! We used walking shoes and it was absolutely fine. It was lovely having a pool at all the hotels. It would be nice to arrive at Casa de Casal de Loivos earlier in the afternoon to enjoy the views and lovely terrace. We regretted not taking an earlier train. But then we had had extra days in Porto so would have been happy leaving in the morning. It was worth spending extra nights in Porto - a lovely city. Enjoyed Grahams and Quinta de la Rosa port wine tours. Lots of nice food and of course the port. Particularly enjoyed a Port and tonic before dinner! We’ve been on several Inntravel holidays now and would certainly recommend - and probably do another one.  

The highlights for us of the Douro holiday were the train journey from Porto to Pinhao and the lunch at Manuel's restaurant in Pinhao. Also the circular walk whilst staying at Casa Vilarinho via Sabrosa. By amazing chance, we hit the very day the village was celebrating 500 years since Magellan circumnavigated the globe. We saw acrobats and tumblers performing in the little square and later had a beer in the central bar when players from the band piled in. What an atmosphere!  A local was trying to tell us something but it was too noisy to hear him. It was a lovely walk too, especially going through the pine woods. Made a change from vines!

The wine & port tasting and tour at the Quinta de la Rosa was excellent and well worth the 5km walk down there.

We enjoyed the Minho part of the holiday and felt the highlights were staying at Quinta de Sobreiro and accidently walking to Cruz where we were treated to the church bells at 12pm (Westminster Chimes) and at 12.03 (Ode to Joy, twice round!) while we sat in the bar opposite.

As always, it was good meeting the other Inntravelers and eating at a large table together.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Valley of Gold and Manor Houses of the Minho walking holidays.

A very good holiday. All the hotels varied in character but were all equally enjoyable. The swimming pools were very welcome as the weather was very hot for early September. The cooking was exceptional and we enjoyed the communal tables at 2 of the hotels and the  lively conversations with other guests. All the staff we encountered were pleasant and helpful. The scenery was quite different for us and we enjoyed the lovely long distance views. The visits to the Quinta de la Rosa and Grahams in Porto were both pleasureable and informative,but also very different. We also had a meal at Graham's restuarant but found it disappointing.

Porto was busy and vibrant but we found quite expensive, The Pestana Vintage was good but we found a marked difference in the room between our first night stay and our addon at the end. The restaurant 1858 BBGourmet in a quiet location was really excellent for lunch and had we been there for another night we would definitely have gone back for an evening meal.

As usual Inntravel arrangements went smoothly.

2019 is a year when both of us celebrate our 70th birthdays and the Valley of Gold was planned as a special treat and we added several days onto the holiday in both Porto and Chanceleiros - and what a treat it was! Everything was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed Porto and the visit to Graham's port cellars was incredibly interesting but the only drawback(?!) was succumbing to the purchase of 5 half bottles of port. The Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto recommended a fish restaurant in Matosinhos (25 minute taxi ride) called O Valentim and it was a superb experience - simple surroundings but what wonderful fish. We had a very warm welcome by Maria at Casa de Casal de Loivos and this set the tone for all the places we stayed at and it was here that we thoroughly enjoyed sitting around a large dining table and meeting other visitors and enjoying a beautiful meal. Many reviewers comment about Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros and their regret at not staying longer so we took note of those comments and had the extra night at what was probably the best hotel that we have stayed in regarding location, welcome and wonderful food. It will be difficult to better this holiday so well done Inntravel.

Another wonderful walking holiday. All the accommodation was great but the last, Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros was terrific and well worth a few extra nights. I would definitely recommend dinner in the Atrium of the Graham Port Lodge Restaurant, Vinum. Great food and a lovely view of Porto with the Luis 1 Bridge in the background as the light fades and the streets lights go on. The tour round Graham’s Wine Lodge was also fascinating. The train journey from Porto to Pinhão is very scenic and we thought that the two hour boat trip from Pinhão is a “must”. The heat at that time of the year made the walking quite challenging (we went on 28th August) but the swimming pool in each hotel provided wonderful relief!

The vista from the Casa de Casal de Loivos is probably the most spectactular  I have ever seen and I have travelled quite extensively. It was just paradise sitting on the terrace with a cold glass of Douro wine overlooking the pool, vines and river Douro down below. Perfect !

We enjoyed that all transfers were truly "inn to inn."  Now, at the time of our trip, the trails were extremely secluded and so, this trip put an emphasis on peaceful solitude and tranquility.  Fine for us three but some might be unnerved by the lack of other hikers on the trails.

Dinner on the terrace with fellow guests at Casa de Casal de Loivos - the views, the views! The lady who served us, Maria was super - fun and engaging.

Eating out in Alijo at Restaurant Pelourinho - delicious food that only cost 32 Euros total for two of us, including wine!!

The walk to Chanceleiros hotel - fabulous. It would only have been improved had the sun been shining, instead of it being overcast and raining.

The hotel Chanceleiros was charming in every way - we loved it and wished we had booked an extra night here. The evening meal was quite an event!

Pestana Vintage in Porto - the breakfast is unbelieveable! 

We loved this tour! The countryside was beautiful. We had trails to ourselves. The whole tour far exceeded our expectations. Everyday was different. We had considered bringing walking sticks but didn't need them. We had bright sunny days which added to the experience. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking holiday in the Douro Valley. The walking routes were so scenic and the terrain varied and interesting.  Inntravel did an excellent job of providing walking notes that we could follow and luggage transfers were seamless. The accommodations in most instances were comfortable and the personnel were helpful. 

One highlight of this hike, is that one can see where you are going and where you have been in the open countryside. The walking segments were just right to leave time to rest, cleaning, and a beer before dinner. Each lodging was unique and fun. At two, everyone shared dinner at one table, and we loved meeting others (none of which were actually hiking). Even where tables were separate, conversations between them ensued. We never turned on the television as all the entertainment came from the hosts and other travellers. Make sure you leave time to visit the Quintas and the wine-bread museum enroute.

Along the Costa Vicentina: Wonderful views of the wild Atlantic coast. Some harrowing narrow ledges above the cliff to navigate and lots of sand dunes on this route. Sense of accomplishment at the end!

The Valley of Gold had outstanding views whenever we reached the "next" peak and looked back.  Absolutely amazing how the vineyards are planted and maintained.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Along the Costa Vicentina and Valley of Gold holidays. We offer inland options to bypass the narrowest sections of the Costa Vicentina route.

Our plan for our first visit to Portugal consisted of two Inntravel trips with extra time in Lisbon and Porto. A week’s walk on the Palaces & Pathways of Sintra was followed by a week in the Valley of Gold. Traveling by rail between the two trips we stopped in Coimbra for an interesting tour of the town and campus. We loved both walking itineraries.

Palaces & Pathways of Sintra: We liked the varied walks and the seacoast proximity. We were especially impressed with the proprietors of Convento de Sao Saturnino and Colina Flora. They have worked so hard to create interesting and attractive inns, and to provide an enjoyable experience for their guests.

Valley of Gold: We loved the views, the quiet country lanes, farm roads, and the picturesque villages.  Again the overnight stays were very enjoyable.  The last stay at Casa Do Visconde de Chanceleiros was definitely a cut above, and deserves consideration for an extra night.

This was our sixth and seventh walk with Inntravel. We’ve said it before and we say it again “You Are Tops!” All arrangements and communications are trouble-free. All routes are carefully considered, interesting and delightful.

Another well organised Inntravel holiday. Great scenery and excellent accommodation, Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros being the highlight. Had two extra nights in Porto at the end which was very enjoyable - stayed in Hotel Ribeira do Porto which is much better value than the adjacent Hotel Pestana. Whilst in Porto do make sure that you take the Graham's Wine Lodge tour recommended by Inntravel - the tasting in their Old Library was wonderful and very self indulgent

A visit to Grahams in lovely Porto was very enjoyable. The train journey was very enjoyable with great views of the Douro. The last 2 walks were spectacular for views and changes in scenery.

The holiday was really great and the arrangements made by Inntravel were excellent in terms of the choice of accommodation, the walking routes and associated logistics

We loved the whole concept of discovering Port through a walking holiday. 2 days in Porto was an excellent introduction, the pre-booked Grahams Port tour was very informative with very generous tasting experience in the sumptuous old library (the vintage tasting room) sat in comfortable leather armchairs, it felt very indulgent. We purchased a cheese platter to share to sop up the alcohol! We enjoyed exploring Porto and particularly enjoyed the tiles in Sao Bento Railway station and the quirky street art. We thought the Crystal Palace Gardens were disappointing, much better views from the top of the Pont Luis bridge and the hilltop monastery. Our 1st night we ate at Fish Fixe, sat outside on the waterfront, it was excellent, the 2nd night we had steak in the hotel Pestana restaurant which was expensive but very good. Breakfasts at Hotel Pestana were exceptional.

Our onward journey by train along the Duoro started to build the excitement of the walking ahead as the valley opened up to reveal rolling hills and terraced vineyards. The choices of hotels were excellent, all very comfortable and welcoming. Caso Do Visconde De Chanceleiros for our last 2 nights was very special, we had a suite which was enormous, the complimentary Port in our room both nights was wonderful. The swimming pool was beautiful, I got up early for a swim before sunrise both mornings. I could have happily stayed on for a further week at Chanceleiros and explored the hills we could see from our terrace. (Beds were rather too firm for our liking though) Breakfast and dinners were excellent and staff all so friendly.

The walking routes were excellent as always, fantastic views. We were concerned that there would not be any waymarkers but this wasn’t a problem as the walking notes were very detailed. Loved the changing colours of autumn on the vines, the sheer volume of vineyards was breathtaking. Harvesting was finished but there were still a few grapes on the vines, the advantage of going when we did meant that our walking was very peaceful, with just the sounds of birdsong accompanying us. 

We took the option of the longer circular walk from Vilarinho de Sao Romao which was very manageable, took just under 4 hours even with a stop for lunch. Well worth doing and very glad that the walking notes took us anti clockwise as going clockwise would have left a very long steep ascent at the finish of the walk with all the amazing views behind you. So, thank you Inntravel for taking us the best way round! We discovered that another walking tour does it the other way round and dinner companions had taken a taxi back for this reason. We even managed to fit in the guided tour at the Quinta do Portal with further tasting (7€ each), bought a delicious craft beer there which we enjoyed in our room before dinner. 

Loved the walk from Vilarinho to Chanceleiros, panoramic views from the summit at the hermitage of San Domingos were stunning. The village of Covas do Duoro is so pretty and the cold beer in the square was very welcome.

On our last full day we walked down the road towards Pinhao for the guided tour of the Quinta de la Rosa  with generous wine and port tasting. The road down is windy and care must be taken as it’s a main road, a taxi back is definitely the best option as would not have been an enjoyable walk. Pinhao station has beautiful tiled artwork. We had a light lunch of a shared meat and cheese platter for just 6€ in a small cafe at the far end of Pinhao.

 I would have liked to had a further day to explore the hills around Chanceleiros on a circular walk or have had this as an option instead of the walk down to the Quinta and Pinhao, otherwise it was a perfect week. Thank you Inntravel.

It's a little difficult to pinpoint one highlight because absolutely everything we did was extrordinary. To walk quietly through vineyards and over roads dating to the Romans while seeing ripe grapes and figs, sunshine and flowers is not to be missed. The countryside is more beautiful than you can imagine. The people of Portugal are so kind welcoming. The small inns where we stayed, hosted by gracious patronesses added the personal touch to our adventures. The food was lovingly prepared and served. The company around the dinner table was engaging. We just have never had such a remarkable experience. Thank you.

Really loved the hikes. Organization was very well done. Will have happy memories and will check your website in the event we consider future hikes. No hesitation in recommending your company.

This is our second Inntravel self guided walk (last year with other friends in Umbria). This fall, walking in the Douro, was great as well... great walking, beautiful scenery and great people. We had a hiccup on our first day with the hotel but between Inntravel and the hotel, they more than solved our troubles. The walk was great, enough challenge to keep the runners happy but not too much for the walkers. We had great weather and loved walking in and around the hillsides and small towns. We loved the food, the wines and the ports!

We all really enjoyed the pace of the holiday and the pensions. We were able to talk with the locals as well as meet other travellers. One highlight that was not in the notes was the Food and Wine Museum in Favaios. Highly recommended. We also did the Graham's Port Tour which was excellent as well as the Quinta do Rosa tour. The last two evenings at the Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros was the highlight of the walking trip. Best meal of the trip was at the Rib Beef and Wine restaurant in the Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto. 

Having just returned from two walks in Portugal, Palaces and Pathways of Sintra and The Valley of Gold, I think perhaps the greatest highlight was to be able to interact with the Portuguese people in a variety of settings. Whereas in some locales a foreign visitor is often reminded that they are often on the verge of trespassing on (superior) local cultural norms, in Portugal it seems the visitor can do no wrong and people are absolutely delighted in anyone's interest in things Portuguese.  

The Sintra walk begins along the coast, climbing up to the Serra Sintra above Cabo Roca, and then proceeding more or less along the ridge to the historic summer palace retreat of the Portuguese royalty in the town of Sintra itself. It provides a wonderful mix of historic towns and spectacular coastal scenery. It begins in the late 19th and early 20th century seaside resort town of Cascais which reached its heyday when the unfortunate last king of Portugal, King Carlos, made it the home base for his marine biology studies making it for a while the ultimate seaside destination in the country. The boutique hotel in Cascais is set in a family mansion from the post royalist era, but invokes its spirit in its exuberant tilework and period decor, particularly in the public rooms. The walk begins at Cabo Raso, where the coast makes its right-angle bend to the north and follows the rockbound coast punctuated by a series of small and large sandy beaches north towards the headland of Cabo Roca eventually leading to the Convento de Sao Saturnino set in a small valley about a mile above the lighthouse. The "Convento" is a wonderful warren of buildings, some dating back to medieval times, which was used by monks primarily as a mill. The owners father has collected antiques from all over the Portuguese empire, so that the numerous niches and ledges are filled with his treasures. Cabo Roca lighthouse, which advertises itself as the westernmost structure on the European continent, is set on a spectacular clifftop, but unsurprisingly it attracts multiple tour buses and selfie sticks. The good news is that only a few hundred yards away in either direction, the crowds dwindle to almost nothing and the spectacular coast of cliffs and sandy coves is all but deserted until the Praia Adraga which is a large beach set between rocky headlands very popular with Portuguese and foreign visitors. From the coast the route works its way under the main Sintra ridge in the national park largely through forests with frequent vistas to the north and occasionally to the south back to Cascais, Estoril, and in the distance to Lisbon. A fascinating stop is at the Convento dos Capuchos, an austere Franciscan monastery of 12 cells built into the granite hillside, which was inhabited until the 19th century.  The final two days are spent around Sintra, exploring the extravagant palaces and gardens built up around the original summer palace in the town itself.  Most of the palaces and gardens are 19th century confections of the romantic era, a perfect foil to the austerity of the Convento dos Capuchos. Appropriately the last two nights are spent at Lawrence’s Hotel, where Lord Byron and other luminaries spent many summers.    

The Valley of Gold walk provided a rather different experience, beginning in the busy city of Porto with the walk itself making a long loop to the north of the Douro from the town of Pinhao, about two thirds of the way up the river towards the Spanish border. Porto is a fascinating city that I wish I had had more time to explore, and I think it would be worthwhile to spend at least two nights there to really appreciate it. The Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto has one of the best sites in the city set directly on the waterfront at the centre of the old town directly across from Vila Nova de Gaia where the traditional port wineries are located. The walking notes were very useful in enabling one to see the important visitor sites of the city efficiently, but unfortunately with my particular travel schedule I didn't have enough time to do them justice.
The walk above Pinhao was a wonderful contrast to the urban busy-ness of Porto, winding through the spectacularly terraced vineyards above the river valley through small towns and villages, some of them prosperous, and some of them nearly empty and fading away. The four lodgings provided a nice series of contrasts: The first was in a vineyard farmhouse overlooking the Douro; the second was in a pousada in the former Manor of an English wine baron in the picturesque small town of Alijo; the third was in a restored 16th century manor house, the site if the first potato planting in Portugal; and the grand finale was a restored nobleman's house once again on a hillside above the Douro. As we were walking through one of the little towns, a wonderful aroma was wafting out an open door, an elderly Portuguese gentleman asked us inside to see his home winery in a basement. They were shovelling grapes into a hand press, which drained into an open trough and thence to an open fermenting barrel via some plastic tubing. He asked us in Portuguese and then in broken French with many gestures to sample the finished product, which he siphoned out of a dusty barrel. He said it was thirty years old! Needless to say, it was really good, particularly since we each had two glasses filled to overflowing. It was a true "only in Portugal" experience.

Having been on two previous Inntravel walks, I have come to take for granted that the mechanics of the trip would work seamlessly. The travel and luggage transfers went without a hitch. The walk notes are the best I have used, and far more precise than others I have tried to follow. The lodgings have been consistently good, interesting, and varied, giving a real feel for the cuisine and culture of the local area. Obviously, I am a happy customer, and I am already planning my next trips.  

Take a compass, and study the maps and instructions carefully before setting off, as there is almost no footpath signage. Worth highlighting all the mentioned places on the maps provided, and taking a gadget that calculates distance walked.

An excellent holiday in a beautiful area. Extremely well organised in all aspects, very clear walking instructions ensuring variety and interest. Interesting, comfortable hotels with great hospitality

We highly recommend using Inntravel for holiday planning and specifically this tour of the Duoro Valley. This route was fantastic for the views offered with the changing terrain. Very quiet and peaceful routing, loved the mix of countryside and villages. Very good route selection to avoid vehicle traffic. It was good exercise but not beyond our capabilities. We were tired but satisfied with our pace at the end of each day. Times were close to your estimates.  

Sadly this was not one of our favourite Inntravel holidays.  The scenery was very pleasant and the walking was relatively easy but the routes lacked variety and there was too little walking in the holiday due to the time spent in Porto and travelling to the Douro.  This is, I think, more a reflection on us than the holiday as we prefer changing scenery and slightly more challenging walks.  Inntravel were extremely helpful with regard to the train strike but as there was only one train running it meant that it took us over 12 hours to travel home to Surrey from Pinhao.

We loved the holiday. The scenery was awesome, accommodation was excellent, the walking notes were very good and excellent in their detail. The Portugese people were really friendly.

This was an amazing and memorable holiday, taking us through beautiful and varied countryside and ancient villages. The local people were very welcoming and, in one village, we were invited by a couple to sample their delicious port!! The hotel in Porto (The Hotel Pestano Vintage) is a very comfortable city hotel, offering one of the most extensive breakfast buffets I have ever seen!! The other hotels we stayed in are unique and delightful and the Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros is the icing on the cake!! In Alijo, we had a delicious evening meal at O Pelourinho, where the staff were efficient and attentive. We spent 2 extra nights in Porto, on our return, and used this time to explore the fascinating city and sample far too many pastel de nata!!

Arriving at the hotels at the end of the walks as the weather was very hot so pools most welcome.
We were very glad that we booked a superior room and extra night at the final hotel at Chanceleiros which was superb. 

This holiday was perfect. Walking was great not too challenging which allowed plenty of time to relax and have a swim in the amazing swimming pools each day. The accommodation was some of the best we have stayed in on previous Inntravel holidays. 

Excellent holiday, Armando and his family taxi service were always on time, walking through such lovely vineyards and visiting various wine tastings were all good. We finished off with a day by the pool at the final accomodation Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros with its amazing setting, food and wine.

Lovely walking and the last hotel in particular was a highlight - so glad we booked an additional night there. We were unable to book a superior room but loved the family room we were allocated which had the most spectacular view. 

Despite the intital travel hiccups, we loved the holiday. We'd recommend Hotel Ribeira do Porto as much better value than Pestana Vintage adjoining, which is not as 'special' as many other Pestana hotels we know. So Ribeira do Porto is by no means a second choice! Graham's Port Wine Lodge - don't miss it! And worth having lunch there also. Casa de Casal de Loivos was wonderful and is worth spending an extra day there to enjoy the welcome and incredible view and facilities. Shame to have to leave early in the morning! Chanceleiros has a real wow factor and seemed an oasis of comfort and relaxation when we arrived at the end of a long and hot day's walk. It was well worth the 3rd night's stay. It also enhanced our holiday through meeting up with other Inntravellers with whom we shared many experiences through the week, including the Quinta de la Rosa visit (excellent) - we often find other Inntravellers to be like-minded (perhaps not surprising) and we have made new friends as a result.  

Your customer service is the best we've encountered. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Hiking in Portugal was incredible. During the six days we hiked, we encountered very few people. The solitude and beauty of the countryside will stay with us for a long time. And the hospitality of our hostesses was personal, loving and warm.

Chanceleiros is a great place to stay; well worth an extra night.

Portugal and its beautiful landscape, welcoming people, delicious food and nice weather was our choice for this year’s walking holiday. We chose the Douro Valley as we were looking for an interesting circuit with charming places to stay. The combination was perfect! The hosts were fantastic, the local food and wine were incredibly good and unforgettable scenery.

Starting and finishing the trip in Oporto, a very colourful and vivid city with its peculiar attractions, was a great way to tie the trip together. We extended our stay to join a great crowd coming from all over the region to celebrate St. John's Fete (23 June), a local tradition where they light up thousands of colourful lanterns and have a huge fireworks display on the River Douro at midnight on 23 June. A fantastic way to end the trip. I really recommend it.

The scenery was wonderful as was the hospitality of everyone we met

We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday. Spending a night in Porto was really enjoyable and the hotel was in an excellent location. The Douro Valley is a beautiful part of Portugal with lovely scenery and we particularly enjoyed walking through the quiet, sleepy villages. The only other people we saw were farmers or local villagers - it certainly isn't a well-trodden route.

Porto was a super city and the Inntravel two walking routes we did were very good. The countryside and the walking were very pleasant indeed as were the flowers and the routes easy to find. The weather was uniformly hot (early June) especially after noon but breakfast was not available until 8am meaning that if one delayed at all en route the end stages of the walk were very hot. Maybe, in hot weather, breakfast could start a little earlier. One might also take an umbrella (sunshade). We very much liked the country houses. Had time permitted, we would have stayed on at Chancelerios which was the best hotel. 

At every turn we were in awe of the splendid scenery. The walks were well balanced, just the right challenge. All accommodations were of top quality, each with its own personality and always with the feel of luxury.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking holiday through the Douro Valley.  To go from a busy work day schedule to strolling through vineyards with no noise except chirping birds was a treasure.  As others have mentioned, each accommodation got better and better, ending with the unparalled Casa do Visconde.  Quite an adventure!

Walking poles and plenty of water were good tips.

2 of the venues were a communal table and 3 were no choice menus, so if you have any eating preferences its really important to state them when booking.

The wild flowers in late May were out of this world, better than the Alps. The countryside was more varied than we expected. Everyone we met was very friendly and helpful, even though we did decline the offer by some vine workers to share their box of wine at 11am. The villages felt timeless, a real privilege to wander through them.

Excellent routes through the vineyards, almost all on tracks with few paths, some challenging inclines especially on a hot day but wonderful views.

Chanceleiros hotel was a fabulous way to end the walks.

We were a group of six friends in our 60s and we all thoroughly enjoyed the walk and all the accommodation provided.  The scenery is absolutely stunning and the walking paths and information are all easy to follow.  We were enchanted by the Portuguese who were all, without exception, very hospitable, kind and helpful.  Most of the staff spoke very good English. All the hotels were of a good standard but the Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros is a gem. In every hotel the breakfasts were excellent, with a good choice and a hot option cooked to order. We would definitely recommend the 'Valley of Gold' to anyone interested in seeing this area of Portugal. We also really enjoyed Porto, which is a fascinating city and we should probably have had an extra day there.  We also added a three-night stay in Lisbon on to our trip and again that was a wonderful city, full of history and a great soul. 

This was our first experience of arranging travel through Inntravel and our first organised walking holiday.  Inntravel's arrangements, the documentation provided and accommodation options all exceeded our expectations. We were able to see more and do more than we could possibly have arranged by ourselves while the 'insider' tips on things to see and do and places to eat (partly provided by other Inntravel clients) were an added bonus.  An unexpected pleasure was criss-crossing paths (at overnight accommodation) with other Inntravel clients and sharing stories with them. We are already thinking about 'where next with Inntravel?'  Our number one tip for other guests is to follow the "side-bar" recommendations from other Inntravel travellers around extra nights or add-ons; these are always very good advice.

Once again a perfectly executed trip by Inntravel !  We have come to the conclusion that walking vacations with Inntravel are the perfect European holiday.  They lead us far from the hordes of tourists and lead us deep into the wonder of the country.  Never could we have arranged such wonderful trips on our own. 

This was an amazing adventure. Walking in spectacular scenery, in peace and tranquillity made all the more enjoyable through the kind hospitality of our hosts and the high standard of their accommodation. Unforgettable.

The walking was excellent, seeing vineyards everywhere. All hotels were very good but Casa do Visconde de Chancelerios was amazing! We found walking poles essential.

We enjoyed another excellent Inntravel holiday. We had read and perhaps forgotten the article in The Slow Lane magazine of four Inntravellers being welcomed in Soutelinho into a house to be offered port. We remembered this when after a couple of hours walking we too were approached by a couple of old Portuguese men sitting outside a house in Soutelinho who welcomed us into their garage. They spoke no English and we spoke no Portuguese but after a great ceremony of washing glasses they offered us port - straight from the barrel. Although it was not yet midday we could not refuse and we joined them in a couple of glasses of local port (we could have had more but we still had to complete the walk) accompanied by biscuits. As a parting gift they gave us the rest of the biscuits and we continued on our way to Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão refreshed by the port and the extraordinary hospitality.  

Highlight: Meeting people along the way going about their business. One lady was squeezing grapes in her garage. We stopped to talk. She called her daughter who spoke some English. The daughter appeared with blue legs as she had just climed out of a grape pressing tank! We sampled some of the freshly squeezed grapes and then she poured us some of her port into a beer glass from a tank at the back of the garage. Some of the best port I have tasted!!

We managed to time the holiday to perfection, not only having sunshine for the whole time but seeing the grape harvest in progress on the beautiful hillsides and visiting some Quintas to understand the production of port. The walking routes gave us the opportunity to see the vineyards at close quarters and were the right length to allow time for a relaxing swim in the hotel pools during the afternoon. The friendly atmosphere and excellent food at Chanceleiros was a wonderful end to the holiday. 

We just were blown away by the view at Casa de Casal de Loivos on arrival and that set the mark for the rest of the holiday. We also had some really enjoyable and humorous evenings around Portuguese tables talking with Australians, Canadians and others in the gorgeous private dining rooms of the small hotels you had chosen - some very memorable times.

Advice for walking - do use proper walking boots, do expect to drink a lot of water and never be without a good sunhat!

For Inntravel - the description of the route on leaving Vilarinho is not clear. Having left the village we had to decide whether a left turn had to be taken or not and made the wrong decision - we debated the notes but they were not helpful at that point. Also over a km is too long before the next comment when we could have seen if we were wrong/right. We eventually found our way using iphone maps but this should not have been necessary. That stretch of the walk was nowhere near as well written as all the other days.

An excellent holiday with classy hotels, good food and very friendly and helpful local people.

A good place for lunch in Porto was at the Grande Hotel Porto, 197 Rua Santa Catarina. An excellent 3 course buffet for 16 Euros each in elegant surroundings.

We had a fantastic holiday in the Duoro valley at the beginning of June- the accommodation was of very high standard, some of the long walks were challenging in 30 degree heat but we managed them.  I would suggest going a month earlier.   We met some lovely people along the way and enjoyed our conversations over great Portuguese cuisine and wine.  We enjoyed the wine tours especially the Quinta de la Rosa one.  A memorable holiday.

This was the first time we had used Inntravel. It won't be the last. We usually have a cycling or walking holiday every year and the Inntravel website will be our first reference point when planning for next year.

We spoke to many fellow Inntravel clients whilst away. Many of them had travelled frequently with Inntravel previously and spoke very highly of you.

All the accommodation was excellent but Chancilerios was out of this world. We were so glad we had booked an extra night there. We would strongly recommend it.

Absolutely superb particularly the last stay

This, our 8th Inntravel walk, surpassed our expectations. The beauty and variety of the country, the excellent walk notes, the character and quality of the accommodation and warmth of welcomes made this a holiday to remember. Our ony criticism is that all came to an end too soon!

Make sure you take a sunhat which covers the back of your neck and plenty of UV cream.  Wearing insect-repellent and UV resistant clothing was also a real plus (as the flies find a hot sweaty body particularly alluring!).

Highlights included the abundance and variety of wild flowers and also birds that we don't have here - make sure you've got decent binoculars.

The hotels got better and better with the one at the end (Chanceleiros) being like arriving in Heaven.

If like me you love cherries, that is FREE cherries, shhh don't tell everyone!! this is the time of year to go to The Douro Valley---- and the Wine, and the Welcome, and the Food, and The Port ---- especially 20 year old Dow. Of course the latter are not free!

What a wonderful holiday - amazing scenery, interesting routes, great hotels, good food and wine. Everything went very smoothly and we felt well looked after. We loved staying at the small hotels, sometimes sharing a table with all guests for dinner, eating local cuisine and wine and being able to walk it off the next day. The routes were well thought out, diverse and off the beaten track. The walking was challenging enough to keep us on our toes. The notes were clear and accurate and having topographic maps meant we were confident during the day. We have already recommended Inntravel to others and we'll be back for more.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined Foothills of the Pyrenees in Catalonia with Valley of Gold in Portugal.

An excellent selection of walks and accommodation provided by Inntravel. Hotel Pestano Porto is a very welcoming centrally located hotel in Porto and we made the most of its position for an extra day we had added to our trip. Worth doing some research/organising in advance to make the most of the stay there.

Walking notes and timings were excellent, though we took advantage of the mention of local cafes to enjoy coffee breaks and chat to the very friendly locals. Take plenty of water as recommended as some of the walks could be more serious in hot weather, but the views and scenery are worth it and the final stay at Chanceleiros is a stunning finale. We added further days at the end of our trip to incorporate some further tasting, a leisurely trip up the Duoro from Pinhao and further time in Porto, having booked some restaurants on our arrival. Overall, a stunning trip creating some magnificent memories.

The final hotel at Chanceleiros was beautiful and we enjoyed an extra day there with a walk to another Quinta with guidance notes provided by the hotel. 

We found the arrangements faultless and the detail accurate and up to date.

The accomodations on the Valley of Gold section were individual and fascinating with two fantastic hosts. The walking journeys took us to delightful destinations through idyllic countryside. A perfect de stress activity.

Well done Inntravel!

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined Valley of Gold with Cities, Palaces & Wine.

Perfect holiday