Douro Valley Premium Tour: Port Wine Tastings, Cheese, Olive Oil & a River Cruise
A 9-hour premium Douro Valley small-group tour from Porto — visit a prestigious Port wine estate with cheese tasting, cruise the Douro River from Pinhão, sit down for lunch at a typical Portuguese restaurant with three menu options, and finish with a private tour of a boutique table wine producer including olive oil and honey. Max 8 guests. Hotel pickup included. From $149.
About This Activity
Up to 24h, full refund
Book today, pay nothing until later
Hotel pickup from Porto
Porto city only
Included at first winery
Included at second producer
What Portugal Excellence Tours Does Better Than the Standard Douro Day Trip
Portugal Excellence Tours has been running this route for years, and with 825 reviews at 4.8/5, it’s a well-tested operation. The format covers the same Douro landmarks as most full-day tours — winery, cruise, lunch, second winery — but with a few specific differences that reviewers consistently notice.
The first stop is a prestigious Port wine estate where the tasting is paired with a careful selection of Portuguese cheeses. Not every tour adds food to the tasting — cheese with port is a genuinely good pairing and it slows the stop down in a way that feels intentional. The second winery is a small table wine producer — a deliberate contrast to the Port estate, and it includes olive oil and honey tasting. Getting both types of Douro wine production in a single day (fortified Port and unfortified DOC table wines) gives you a more complete picture of what this valley produces.
The guides — Sarah, Alex, Marcello, Ricardo, Herman — are rated 4.9/5 and the transport 4.9/5. Greenslade from Australia: “Our expectations were high but they were exceeded. A truly small group, able to avoid the crowds, comfortable vehicle, great venues and a knowledgeable guide.” That’s what “premium” actually means in practice: not fancier wine, but better logistics and more attention per person.
Infant seats are available on request. Pickup is Porto city only.
The Three Stops That Shape the Day
Prestigious Port wine estate. The first winery is selected for quality rather than scale — a Port producer with a guided tour of the winemaking process and a tasting paired with Portuguese cheeses. The combination of fortified wine and aged cheese is classic for a reason. The guide explains the entire production cycle: the grapes, the fortification, the aging, the different Port styles.
Pinhão cruise and lunch. The 1-hour boat cruise from Pinhão is the natural midpoint of the day — a quiet hour on the water between winery visits, watching the terraced vineyards at river level. Lunch at a typical Portuguese restaurant follows: meat, fish, or vegetarian menu. Pauline from the US: “The highlight of the trip was after lunch when we had the boat ride — the scenery was beautiful and it’s definitely something everyone should try to do when visiting Porto.”
Boutique table wine producer with olive oil and honey. The afternoon winery is a small producer — a deliberate contrast to the first stop. Where the Port estate is prestigious and polished, this producer is intimate and agricultural. You taste DOC table wines (the unfortified Douro wines that have gained international recognition alongside Port), plus olive oil and honey made on the property. Thomas from the US: “Marcelo was an excellent guide who made our trip. We truly felt we were in good hands. The wineries were great.”
What’s Included in the Portugal Excellence Tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Porto — Porto city only. Infant seats available on request.
- Air-conditioned minivan transport — throughout the full 9-hour day.
- Expert local guide — rated 4.9/5, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
- Visit to 2 wine estates — one prestigious Port producer, one boutique table wine producer.
- Wine tastings at both estates — Port wines at the first, DOC Douro wines at the second.
- Cheese tasting — Portuguese cheeses paired with port wine at the first winery.
- Olive oil and honey tasting — artisanal products from the second estate.
- 1-hour Douro River cruise — from Pinhão.
- Lunch — at a typical Portuguese restaurant, choice of meat, fish, or vegetarian menu.
- Bottled water — throughout the day.
Not included: Gratuities (optional). Personal purchases at the wineries. Unaccompanied minors not permitted — an adult must accompany children.
Full Day Route: Porto → Port Estate → Pinhão → Lunch → Table Wine Producer → Porto
| Season | Upsides | Downsides | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept–Oct (Harvest) | Both estates at peak activity, harvest atmosphere | Likely to sell out — book well ahead | Confirm at booking |
| Mar–Jun (Spring) | Green valley, mild temperatures, olive oil and honey freshest | Occasional rain — indoor tastings unaffected | Confirm at booking |
| Jul–Aug (Summer) | Long sunny days, cruise in warm weather | Very hot — stay hydrated | Confirm at booking |
| Nov–Feb (Winter) | Quiet, personal service, fog in the valley | Cooler; fewer vine leaves | Confirm at booking |
Important Information
Hotel pickup is Porto city only. If you’re staying outside Porto, you’ll need to get to the city for pickup. Infant seats are available on request — advise at booking time.
Unaccompanied minors not permitted. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Likely to sell out. With 825 reviews and consistent demand, this tour fills up quickly in peak season. Book ahead rather than last-minute.
Know Before You Go
Comfortable shoes for winery walking. Camera — the cruise viewpoints and vineyard scenery are photogenic throughout. A light layer for the boat. Eat a light breakfast — the tasting with cheese comes early, and lunch is included. The guide speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Not Suitable For
Great for: Wine enthusiasts who want both Port and DOC wines in context, couples, small groups, travelers who want hotel pickup and a structured day without logistics stress.
- Unaccompanied minors — an adult must accompany children at all times.
- Travelers staying outside Porto city — pickup is Porto only.
What Travelers Said
⭐ 4.8/5 based on 825 reviews — Read all reviews on GetYourGuide
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Michael, Canada — April 2026
Sarah was absolutely amazing. She picked great places for tastings and food. The boat tour was a nice break from the van ride. She’s also a great driver and knew a lot about the area and how port/wine was made. Highly recommend this tour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Greenslade, Australia — August 2025
After reading all those good reviews, our expectations were high — but they were exceeded. A truly small group, able to avoid the crowds, comfortable vehicle, great venues and a knowledgeable guide. Don’t hesitate to book this fabulous tour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thomas, United States — October 2024
Marcelo was an excellent guide who made our trip. We truly felt that we were in good hands. The wineries were great. The wines were delicious and the staff both knowledgeable and attentive. Likewise with lunch. All in all a fantastic day.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sandra, Canada — September 2025
We had a wonderful day in the Douro Valley! Marcello was great, very informative and kept the day moving along. He was fun to be with for the day. The wineries, boat cruise and lunch were amazing. Highly recommend.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lorraine, Canada — October 2025
We had a fabulous trip to the Douro Valley. Small group, beautiful wineries, great food, fantastic scenery, all tied together with Alex, our guide, who made it that much more meaningful.
Book the Portugal Excellence Douro Tour
Port wine with cheese, DOC wines with olive oil and honey, a river cruise, and a full Portuguese lunch — all with hotel pickup from Porto. From $149 per person with free cancellation.
Planning more of your Porto trip? Browse all Douro Valley Wine Tours or check out our guides to the sommelier tour, the boat and train combination, and the two-winery format.