Luxury bespoke holidays to Six Senses, Douro Valley
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location The hotel is located near Lamego on the bank of the Rio Douro
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Porto
Distance from airport 90 minutes' drive
Hotel facilities and services
Spa with Indoor Pool, Outdoor Pool, Gym, and Bar. Vale de Abraao Restaurant with Dining Room, Open Kitchen and Chef's Table, and Terrace; Quinta Bar and Lounge, Wine Library and Terrace, Organic Garden, and Alchemy Bar and Workshop.
Complimentary
Free Spa access.
Out and about nearby
The Six Senses Douro Valley is in an ideal location for further exploration of this riverside area. The nearby wine towns of Penafiel and Amarante are recommended for wine-tasting, as they have an abundance of wine lodges. Out of the two, Amarante proves the most popular as it is believed to be the most beautiful in the area. Nearby Lamego is an ancient pilgrimage town, most recognisable for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios, which sits at the top of a high, decorative zig-zagging staircase. A longer drive will take you into Porto, which sits at the mouth of the river. The 17th century Baroque Se Cathedral alone is worth the drive. It is believed to be one of the greatest artistic triumphs of 17th century Portugal, particularly due to the incredible carvings that adorn every column, every archway, and the altar. For something a little more self-guided, trace the roads alongside the Rio Douro to see the panoramic views and pass the picturesque mediaeval towns and villages.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Quinta superior room for 7 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1869
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Six Senses, Douro Valley
Overlooking the Douro River and the patchwork fields and vineyards of the valley, the five star Six Senses Douro Valley is housed within a 19th century manor house and has eight hectares of land. Traditionally peach-coloured walls and white-stone-framed windows are crowned by a red tiled roof. The primary tower, with peaked roof and all-stone walls, rises up above the rest of the hotel and is visible from the fields around. The Six Senses Douro Valley takes us from a majestic traditional exterior, surrounded by landscaped gardens and delicate water features, through heavy and aged iron doors into a sleek, contemporary interior. Monochromatic spaces are enlivened by the vibrant views through the windows, and they gain warmth from clever lighting. All of the design is built around the natural materials found in the Douro Valley, particularly the stone and wood, which is then polished and shaped. The hotel restaurants, fed by their own organic garden, offer a wide array of regional dishes. Included under the umbrella-name of Vale de Abraao are the Dining Room, the Open Kitchen, and the Terrace. The Dining Room forms the main section of the restaurant, offering fine-dining and gourmet cuisine in a setting that has hints of classical decoration, a wide open fireplace, and panoramic windows with field and vineyard views. The Open Kitchen encourages guests to watch the talented chef in action; small groups can dine at the Chef's Table, watching the flavour combinations come together and the bread rise in the wood-fired oven. Pair your delicious food with fresh Portuguese air and unbeatable views on the Terrace. Tables are laid out on a stone-paved courtyard, around a tinkling water fountain. In the afternoons and evenings, tapas, afternoon tea, and drinks are served in the Quinta Bar and Lounge, where rustic furnishings are accompanied by contemporary features to create a 'designer' feel. The Six Senses Spa specialises in a range of different treatments, many including the grapes and wines produced nearby. After a treatment, guests can relax in the indoor pool or sauna. Somewhat unique to the Six Senses Douro Valley is the Wine Library. Here, guests can select from over 750 wines produced in Portugal to sample outside on the terrace with side dishes of tapas and cheese. Each aspect of this hotel, be it the terraces, the garden, the wine, or the panoramic windows, seems to draw the focus back out onto the landscape. This devotion to the stunning Portuguese countryside is reflected in their commitment to eco-friendly developments. Spend anything from a few nights to a week at the Six Senses Douro Valley enjoying the wide range of facilities, marvelling over the lush, green landscape, and exploring the wine towns and cultural heritage of the area. Then, perhaps move on to another Portuguese hotel to form a two- or multi-centre touring holiday.
Room descriptions
Six Senses Douro Valley has 57 rooms and suites with air-conditioning, king, queen, or twin beds, safe, minibar, hair dryer, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen television, spacious sitting area, and some rooms have a terrace.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Quinta superior room for 7 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1869
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Six Senses, Douro Valley
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to Six Sense Duoro Valley, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Oporto.The hotel is about 1 hour 20 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book a private car transfer for you, or include the use of a hire-car for the duration of your holiday.
Additional information
Minimum stays: There is a 3 nights minimum stay between 2 December and 4 January. The hotel is closed to departure on 29, 30 and 31 December. There is a 3 night minimum stay between 10 to 12 April 2020.
Children: Extra beds or cots can be added to all rooms. Children up to 11 years stay free in their parents' room and children under 6 years eat free from the child menu. Guests under 14 are allowed in the Spa from 9am to 12pm.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Quinta superior room for 7 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1869
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Six Senses, Douro Valley
About Portugal
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Portugal's countryside bursts with pretty villages, glitters with historical treasures and World Heritage sites, as well as converted mediaeval monasteries, and elegant manor houses now hosting some of the finest hotels in Europe. Though Portugal's spirit is undoubtedly rural, its big towns Porto and Lisbon are lively, magical places making full use of their waterside setting, offering rich picking for those that like to wander, with colourful waterside cafes and boutiques, leafy boulevards and old-fashioned trams still rattling through the streets. Smaller towns offer their own enchantment, with well-preserved medieval quarters that invite exploring in towns like Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga. Outside the cities, travellers can enjoy Portugal's warm sunny weather, exploring centuries-old vineyards, visiting stone villages in the mountains or soaking up rays on the magnificent southern shoreline. Dramatic scenery lies all along the coast from windswept cliffs with edge-of-the-world views to wild dune-covered beaches. More than just a static backdrop, the scenery sets the stage for outdoor adventure. Hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horse-riding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving, golfing, and mountain biking are a few ways to spend a sun-drenched afternoon. 600 miles southwest of Portugal lies the island of Madeira, home to Reid's Palace Hotel, an elegant and glamorous five star hotel in a superb location, ideal for holidays all year round, due to the mild winter climate, and on an island renowned for its beautiful vegetation.
Highlights of Lisbon
The area close to the city of Lisbon is known for its variety of attractions. Moorish architecture left over from Arabic rule can be seen in the Castelo de Sao Jorge in the Alfama. Collections of Portuguese art are on display in the Museu Gulbenkian, the Museu de Arte Antiga, and the Berardo Collection. For a taste of Portugal's maritime history, visit the Monasteiro dos Jeronimos. Sintra, the favourite haunt of Lord Byron, is home to twin-peak-top castles and royal palaces. Beautiful, golden sandy beaches can be found in Cascais to the west of Lisbon, or on the Costa da Caparica to the south; particularly idyllic are the coves between Setubal and Sesimbra. Peniche is a picturesque seaside town renowned for being one of Europe's best surfing spots. You can explore all that the area around the city of Lisbon has to offer with our Tour of the City and Countryside of the Lisboa Region.
Highlights of the Algarve
Known for having some of Portugal's most scenic beaches, the Algarve is a popular destination for those looking for a beach or water sports holiday enjoying the Portuguese sunshine. Sagres and Tavira are recognised as the best places for this. In Albufeira, Armacao de Pera, and Lagos you will find an abundance of the light-catching rocky outcrops and peaceful coves that the Algarve is so well known for. Salema, Burgau, and Sagres were once busy little fishing villages, and now still stand as testament to this important aspect of Portuguese culture. The Reserva Natural da Ria Formosa lies just off the southern coastline, the islands of which can be accessed from many towns, including Faro, Olhao, Fuseta, Cabanas, and Tavira; most of which are also ideal starting points from which to try a little surfing. White-washed and serene Alcoutim is an example of the less-developed Portuguese towns, with a hint of Andalucia in its appearance, and Loule is the perfect place to wander around a bustling market. You may also wish to visit the Roman ruins at Milreu, the Moorish town of Silves, or the Spa town of Caldas de Monchique. For outdoor pursuits, head into the Serra de Monchique Mountain Range.
Highlights of Porto and the Douro Valley
At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies Porto, an atmospheric town with a dramatic aspect and almost Parisian lifestyle. Its streets are lined with historic buildings and wine lodges serving the best of Portuguese wines. The nearby wine towns of Penafiel, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, and Amarante are also recommended for wine-tasting, but have a much more rural location. Amarante, in particular, is believed to be the most attractive wine town in the area, with a central triple-arched bridge, tall stone red-roofed houses interspersed with verdant trees, and a gently flowing river. To witness a sample of Portuguese Baroque architecture, visit the pilgrimage town of Lamego. The main attraction of this town, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios, lies at the top of an elaborate and intricately decorated set of zig-zagged stairways that pass through archways and across viewing balconies. In Porto, some of the greatest artistic triumphs of 17th century Portugal reside, the Se Cathedral in particular, in which every inch of the columns, archways, and altar have been adorned in golden floral and religious motifs, in true Baroque style. For something even more historic, visit the Palaeolithic rock formations of Vila Nova de Foz Coa, the largest outdoor gallery of stone age remains in the world, which have since been neighboured by flourishing vineyards. Along the rocky gorges of the river, you will find a number of castle-towns, including the Medieval walled town of Trancoso and the fortress town of Almeida.
Highlights of Madeira
A green and fertile island in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is situated off the coast of Morocco. Its coastline combines beautiful sandy beaches with rocky cliffs, the latter of which can be best appreciated at Cabo Girao. The island's capital, Funchal, is packed full with historic buildings, including 15th century churches and convents and a Se Cathedral as ornate as the one in Porto. Enjoy the relentless joviality of the street markets, or visit more peaceful attractions, such as the basalt cave of Capela de Sao Vicente or the island's protected nature reserves. Rare Laurissilva forests can be walked, trekked, or hiked through, affording guests sensational views; and the crystal clear waters off the coast can be swam through, perhaps below the water's surface so the ecosystems that live in the reefs can be appreciated. One of the greatest pleasures of Madeira, however, is wandering over the beaches, surveying the rock pools, and taking in the sights from the clifftops. Aside from the key regions that our Portuguese programme focuses on, there is much to find and see in Portugal. Those willing to drive a little further during the day will enjoy a much more diverse touring holiday.
Facts in brief
Capital LisbonAirport There are international airports at Lisbon, Porto and Faro, served by a variety of airlines from the UK, including British Airways, EasyJet, bmibaby, TAP, Jet2.
Size 35,000 sq. miles
Population 10 million
