The Douro Valley
The Douro Valley
PREFERENCE EVENTS, EVENTS AGENCY
OFFERS YOU THE DOURO VALLEY, NEAR PORTO IN PORTUGAL, FOR THE TAILOR-MADE ORGANISATION OF YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SEMINARS, BOARD MEETINGS AND PRESTIGE TRIPS.
Portugal’s Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches along the river of the same name from the Spanish border to the city of Porto. Portugal’s ‘Golden River’, the Douro crosses the northern region of the country amid thousands of hectares of vineyards that produce the famous Port wine. During your incentive trip or corporate event, you can discover the Douro Valley in a variety of ways: cruising on the river, hiking, taking a ride on an old steam locomotive train and even taking a helicopter flight…
The Douro Valley offers a wide range of incentive, sports and leisure activities to liven up your board meeting or company trip. After a stopover in the old town of Porto, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, set off to discover the Douro vineyards with their superb terraced hillsides and typical Douro houses, not forgetting to sample some Port wine in one of the valley’s many quintas. The river is still navigated by typical old boats, the ‘barcos rabelos’, the only boats capable of transporting wine from the vineyards to the mouth of the river, before the construction of the various dams that made the river navigable. Their solidity and the expertise of their men made it possible to navigate and transport the large barrels of wine. The barrels were never completely full, so that they could float in the event of an accident.
In the midst of the vineyards, a number of exceptional hotels have taken over historic mansions, often quintas, set amid dazzling panoramic views, to offer discreet luxury and prestige accommodation for press trips, client trips, exceptional seminars or board meetings.
As an events agency, we are driven by a perpetual quest for exceptional destinations that combine natural beauty, accommodation capacity and the possibility of organising original activities, be they incentive, cultural or sporting. The Douro Valley, near Oporto, is one of the leading destinations for these ‘like no other’ events, and is particularly well-suited to the organisation of tailor-made events for medium-sized groups (around 50 people), management committees, incentive trips and VIP client trips in search of exceptional trips.
Accommodation in the Douro Valley
The hotel industry in the Douro Valley is distinguished by its high standards, with luxury establishments, often focusing on well-being and gastronomy, reserved for the organisation of exceptional events: management committees, reward trips, press trips, corporate VIP seminars. But remember, you’re in Portugal: even the high prices aren’t the same as on the Côte d’Azur!
Two recent 5-star establishments, featuring exceptional spas and discreet luxury, are ideal for organising prestigious events: the sublime Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel, housed in an old quinta, and the Aquapura Douro Valley Hotel, with its modern architecture and refined design.
Another 5-star hotel, the Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros (Relais et Châteaux), a superb old house in the middle of the vineyards, offers more classic luxury.
A number of small, charming establishments lend themselves perfectly to privatisation for small events (generally fewer than 20 rooms).
Activities in the Douro Valley
In the Douro Valley, nature imposes its beauty… The organisation of activities as part of your seminar or company trip will naturally revolve around the vineyards and the discovery of the villages and landscapes of this superb valley.
Organise a cruise on the Douro aboard a ‘Barco Rabelo’, a typical old boat, or a more traditional cruise ship or even a luxury yacht.
Excursion on an old steam locomotive train for a trip along the Douro as it was at the beginning of the 20th century. Discover Pinhão station, one of the most beautiful in the country, with its facades decorated with azulejos.
Visit to quintas and tasting of Port wines.
Discover the city of Porto, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Organise walks through the vineyards.
Organise rallies and treasure hunts
Organisation of team-building activities around the vineyards
Helicopter flights over the valley
Evenings in the Douro Valley
The quality of the food and drink offered in your hotel will undoubtedly encourage you to dine there at least once. However, there are some beautiful properties or quintas that can be privatised for the organisation of exceptional evenings.
Gastronomic dinner in your hotel
Wine and food pairing dinner in a quinta
Dinner and DJ evening in a lounge restaurant in Porto
Organisation of a gala evening in a privatised historic building
Program suggestion
Organised by events agency PREFERENCE EVENTS
Arrival at Porto airport - Departure by helicopter for the Douro Valley - Overflight of the centre of Porto, its bridges and the valley's vineyards - Check-in at the hotel and lunch - Afternoon of relaxation under the sign of Vinotherapy: treatments and massages with grape seed oil - Gastronomic dinner at the hotel
Early wake-up call for a hot-air balloon flight over the hillside vineyards - Breakfast at the hotel - Lunch - Departure for a yacht cruise on the Douro - Stop at a prestigious vineyard and tasting of great Port vintages - Gala evening in a historic residence privatised for the occasion - ‘All-Porto’ dinner in 10 variations
Free morning - Lunch - End of this exceptional journey through Portugal's Douro Valley.
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