Douro River

"I cannot overemphasise how worthwhile this experience was, while I planned this to be initially a birthday present for my girlfriend it evolved into a plan to propose to her and I could not have asked for a better day, customer focused staff, historical journey and A+ dining experience. The food was exquisite and personal while I'm not very fond of fish I would gladly dine on every dish that was served on our trip. The chefs and wait staff were super focused, courteous and helpful throughout the trip. The view, if you had to choose one thing about this trip it would be the views (but there is so much more to this experience) - the Douro Valley/River are simply stunning and you get a view so few get to enjoy, especially in such style, and appreciate through the day and into the evening. The vineyard you visit at the end is breathtaking and a step back into their history and information on how it works is perfectly provided in English and Portuguese by the owner Gonçalo Castel-Branco (Thank you!). This is simply one trip you cannot afford to miss and with the limited number of runs each year I highly recommend making this journey at the very least once in your life. To Sofia and staff - thank you. You made our engagement perfect and made planning it a very easy task. You will see us again at some point as this is now part of our life story and a part we will want to revisit."

"Even though the weather was not the best, it was a fantastic experience. The train is a museum piece that is worth a visit in itself, the views are beautiful and the food excellent. The quinta do Vesúvio and its porto wines was a cherry on the cake! If you can, do it."

"Everything was perfect !! Food, Wine, Staff, View, Weather. I recommend this trip to everyone because it’s so unique and delicious."

"This is a unique experience in every aspect! It starts with the Train, that has a special place in the modern history of Portugal, we had Chef Sá Pessoa that prepared a superb meal, the Niepoort wine selection had great surprises and the Vesúvio Estate is a special isolated place. Then there is the Douro river valley, providing a magical background to all this... Gonçalo and his team really make everything feel special. Highly recommended!! This is an experience that allows you to travel in time and enjoy the very best Portugal has to offer!"

"From the reservation to the end, we were treated like super guests! The train journey, which we already knew, became nothing short of glorious with fantastic food, excellent service and a memorable tour of the Vesuvio winery."

"The Presidential was truly a one of a kind experience. From the most amazing food (Michelin star chefs) to the most scenic views of the Douro valley, topped off with first class hospitality and service by The Presidential team - I can only recommend this trip as the best way to experience the Northern interior of Portugal. We took the two-day package which includes a night at a vineyard boutique hotel (Casa do Rio - Quinta do Vallado) which was absolutely stunning. Don’t forget to pack your swimming trunks and be prepared to drink lots of wine."