We took a thrilling tour of the Douro Valley on the Saturday before Easter, imagining a hobbit popping out around every curve on a misty day. João, our host and driver, picked us up at our hotel in Porto in an impeccably clean Mercedes van, and immediately began our education in the history of the Douro region. One of our party is disabled, and João planned our trip perfectly, making accommodations at every step. Northern Portugal is very hilly, and historically was very arduous to travel through. We drove through tunnels, around curves, over bridges high over rivers, oohing and aahing over the views, and arrived first at Amarente, a lovely village with charming cafe, near an Insta-ready church plaza. Of course, we had to have Portuguese pastries (the first of many to come). Next, we learned the history of the area, while driving to Vila Real. The old part of the town had many shops and church buildings - but first, we took a side trip to the Mateus Palace while discovering that many of the roads were painted for road rallies and that the city was famous for black pottery. I remembered Mateus from my university days with the distinctive bottle - but here, but at the palace, we found amazing grounds, the castle, and some Harry Potter history. Later, we stopped for some savory pastries and a demonstration of how pastries were made. The best was yet to come, as we meandered around the rivers in the region on the way to a wine tasting and vineyard tour. The region takes wine making very seriously and we learned some of the science that goes into maintaining vineyards. Due to the mountainous terrain, almost vertical in some instances, the vineyards are terraced. Wine (not just Port, but whites, reds, and vinho verde) was transported via boat and due to the rapids was known as one of the most treacherous occupations. The views from the vineyard were outstanding, and our vineyard guide taught us about the ecological practices that Douro puts in place to protect the wine making industry. We tasted a red, a white, and port - all of which were delicious, as was the charcuterie plate provided by the vineyard. Aside from all we saw and experienced, what made this trip memorable was João's intimate knowledge of the region and industry that is part of his DNA. Thanks to Luxury Douro Tours for a fabulous day! I highly recommend this type of tour - we would never have seen some amazing details and learned so much in a group expedition. I'm grateful to João for making this a highly accessible, entertaining and educational tour.

Me and my wife have toured with Joao and Luxury Douro Tours before and we had a wonderful time. We have been wanting to go back since we first went in 2020, which we now have done. Joao is amazing, a great source of knowledge and great fun. He organised our whole day for us, all we had to do was show up, sit back in the gorgeous vintage car and enjoy. We started with a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Quinta das Carvalhas where Sr. Fernando taught us so much about the wine, grapes and surrounding wild herbs - and we go to bring some home also! From there we had a boat tour, which gave us a lovely perspective on the views we had just seen from above. Up we went in the mountains - whilst eating a meet pastry Joao surprised us with - this time peaking at 600m high, where we stopped for lunch at a small eatery run by D. Graça, where we had the most delicious home cooked meal - and more wine. At this point we thought we were done, but Joao had other plans! Off we went into Quinta da Fonte do Milho, a small winery and olive oil farm where we had a wine and olive oil tasting. We also got to try some olive pastes and delicious jams - and more wine! As if all that wasn’t enough, when dropping us off, Joao surprised with some more Port and tradicional conventual sweets of the region. I have done it before and I will do it again. Fantastic!

Our experience with João was incredible. From the beginning to the end of the day, João was kind, personable, interesting, and intelligent. He personalized the tour to what he thought we'd find most interesting and took care of every last detail; from having iced waters in the car to scheduling wine tours to booking the boat tour and organizing undoubtedly the most unforgettable meal (lunch) of our entire trip, this was the highlight of our time in Portugal. You'll end the day stuffed, tipsy, and far more knowledgable about the region and its products than you were before. If you're looking to explore everything that the Douro has to offer, learn about the region and its wines, and eat incredible food, João is your guy. Really couldn't recommend the experience more.

Fabulous experience in a classic open top Cadillac. Joao is great, super English, very knowledgeable, attentive but not intrusive. And, most importantly, a great driver! Highly recommend.

For my 60th Birthday, my friends organised a surprise Porto classic car tour with Jaoa. Joaomet us with a fabulous red Cadillac for a driving tour of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and up to the coast line at Matosinhos. The tour includes a picnic lunch with champagne. Jaoa was lovely company, spoke great English and shares his knowledge of the area as we drove along. This trip was the highlight of our stay and I would highly recommend it to anyone. ThankyouJaoa you made it a very memorable birthday!!

Had a morning tour of Porto in a beautiful classic Cadillac. Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. João was amazing. Great communication when booking and making arrangements for a friend's special birthday. Went above an beyond and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Hope to return to Porto soon and will book again. Highly recommend.

The Douro Valley tour (in a 1970’s Cadillac) in Portugal was an unforgettable experience. The stunning landscapes of terraced vineyards and the winding Douro River took my breath away. The wine tastings at the local wineries were exceptional, showcasing the region's renowned Port and table wines. The boat ride along the river offered breathtaking views of the valley. The knowledgeable guide (João Cardoso) shared fascinating insights into the history and winemaking process. João, made the experience of The Valley unique and special. The quaint villages we visited added a charming touch to the tour. Overall, a must-do for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Did I mentioned the tour was in a vintage Cadillac? :)

My husband and I had the most amazing wine tour, thanks to João! He was friendly, knowledgable and professional. We rode on his 70s Cadillac convertible. What an adventure! The wines we tasted were great quality and the locations just beautiful. The lunch was in a traditional restaurant and was exquisite, food made with heart. We highly recommend this tour, it was the best experience in Porto. So special!

I cannot say enough good things about Joao and the fabulous day we had with him! From the red classic Cadillac convertible, to his extensive knowledge of the area and its history ( it is his home after all) he really made Portugal and Douro come alive. Everything was top notch and Joao’s friendly attitude was delightful. We highly highly recommend this tour— you will not be sorry—thanks again Joao!!!!!!

This tour was definitely the highlight of our Portugal/Spain vacation. Our guide, Joao, picked us up in a beautiful ’56 Chevy Bel-Air Convertible. We did a Port Wine tasting and tour at the Graham Winery and then ate a delicious lunch at Marujo restaurant where the locals go. We made stops throughout the tour and Joao took very good care of us. But my favorite part was just driving around town with the top down and soaking in the wonderful sights of Porto. Joao is such a knowledgeable, engaging, and personable guide. Should we return to Porto, we definitely hope to tour with him again.

Extremely professional service, great tour guides and the overall experience is very well organized. We had a fantastic day full of activities and moving around in these pristine vintage cars was the perfect way to do it! Thank you

Thank you Joao for a great day with family and friends. Luxury Douro Tours was contracted through our Art In Voyage tour group to transport us for the day to a vineyard tour and tasting, lunch, and river cruise. We had a pair of Cadillacs to take the 7 of us around the region and had a fantastic time. The cars are beautiful and Joao was a great host (& driver!) as my family rode with him and our other driver for the week took the wheel of the other car. Being from the US, I'm more exposed to the classic cars in the collection, but it was fun to see all of the attention that they had in Portugal. From thumbs ups, waves, and lots of people taking photos of the 2 parked cars (while on our river cruise), it was fun to be a passenger! Thanks again Joao for a memorable experience!

I am going to write my review in English, Chinese, and Korean below, simply because I believe João’s tours deserve to be known by more travelers who are planning to visit Northern Portugal and the Douro Valley! I booked with João online for the Douro Taste Tour and I could now say that was one of the best decisions I made in my life despite initially feeling a bit hesitant because of the price for a one-day tour. João was very approachable and professional from the beginning when I encountered some difficulty in pre-paying for the tour online. He was very understanding and accommodating to our needs of wanting to start the tour from Porto one hour later at 9:30am. On the day of the tour, João was incredibly punctual and waited for us at our hotel entrance as agreed. He made every effort to ensure that we felt comfortable throughout the tour, regularly checking in with us to see if we needed any more bottled water, snacks, and whether we wanted the car roof and windows open or closed. João’s mannerisms were also incredibly appropriate throughout. He is so knowledgeable about the history and the changes of the region and is very good at sharing his expertise and experience with us in English without leaving us feeling either bored or overwhelmed at all. The way he drove was also very stable and comfortable in both his BMW 740 and his Cadillac classic car. The classic car we had on the day of the tour was not only beautifully kept, but also extremely comfortable to sit in throughout the tour which was a pleasant surprise! It did not take long for me to feel a sense of João’s work ethic and passion for his work, as he knew all of the photo-spots along the way of the tour and made sure that we had plenty of time to take lots of pictures and to just enjoy every single stop. On various occasions, João even volunteered to use his own phone to help us take pictures and videos from really nice angles that only he would know because of how experienced he is as the creator of the tour. João particularly warmed my heart when he surprised us with some nice wine and pastries that he bought that morning at 6:40am from a local bakery in his hometown (Vila Real) at one of the stops of the tour. Needless to say, the wine paired really well with the pastries, yet it was more his kindness and thoughtfulness that he put into every single detail of the tour that made me feel it was really special. For lunch, we opted for the ‘traditional lunch’ which was in a small, family-run restaurant in a village on the Douro Valley that only welcomed guests with reservations made in advance. The owners do not speak English, but thanks to João, we got to taste some of the best local dishes that left us feeling pampered (e.g., fresh home-grown olives paired with honey; fresh organic oranges with extra virgin olive oil; braised pork with port wine and roasted potatoes; vanilla pastry and an almond tart)! João’s hospitality along with the views of the Douro Valley has now got a special place in our hearts that we will never forget. I only wish that I can return to Portugal again soon and that my family could also experience the fantastic experience with João’s tours! 一直都好想去葡萄牙波圖同埋杜羅河谷，知道3月份去唔會太熱，所以一早已經做定research，搵由波圖出發去杜羅河谷嘅local day tour。坦白講，João公司嘅團一啲都唔平，但真係好感恩有join到，因為真係一次非常難忘嘅體驗！ João 喺當地出世長大，大學讀歷史同有做旅遊業嘅經驗，再加上佢屋企人有儲開古董車，所以佢就同佢屋企人一齊營運呢間小公司，專做 Porto & Douro Valley 嘅 Private tours。我同我男友參加嘅係 Douro Taste Tour 一日遊，當中包括參觀大中小型酒莊，遊船河，杜羅河谷傳統午餐二人份，同埋全日坐住開薘古董車喺世界文化遺產嘅山谷入面一邊遊車河一邊欣賞景色嘅機會。João 好專業好有禮貌，同時亦都好親切同好好人，不停主動幫我地影相拍片，同埋主動去唔同停車點比我地慢慢觀光。佢全日都好落力去介紹同解釋好多相關歷史同典故，但又好識得攞個好嘅平衡，唔會令我地覺得好悶或者覺得有太多資訊要記。杜羅河谷真係好靚，每一個景點都令我嘆為觀止。坐住佢架開薘古董車真係一次非常特別嘅體驗，絕對係一生人一定要試一次的一種享受。 特別令我覺得窩心嘅係 João 佢專登喺tour當日早上6點半喺佢自己嘅 home town (Vila Real) 買左新鮮出爐嘅傳統葡萄牙包點比我地喺一個 Douro Valley 嘅 viewpoint 度一邊飲佢準備左嘅紅酒，一邊享受佢介紹同買比我地嘅 “tea time” 糕點，物輕但情義重，重點係啲 pastry 配 port wine 再配埋個靚景真係一流 :) 旅程完結時，我地為左想爭取時間遊覽波圖，所以問 João 可唔可以載我地去到Jardim do Morro 落車。佢非常樂意，由始至終都十分好客同專業，令我同我男友都有好美好嘅回憶，對波圖同埋杜羅河谷留下非常深刻嘅印象！ 한국어를 조금 할 줄 아는 홍콩 사람입디다. 이 투어가 정말 기대이상으로 좋았던 것 같아서 더 많은 사람들에게 알리기 위해 한국어로도 리뷰를 써보려고 한다. 서툰 한국어를 이해해줬으면 좋겠습니다 :) 처음에 인터넷에서 투어를 예약할 때 가격 때문에 조금 부담스러웠지만 그래도 망설였다가 2023년3월 15일에 Douro Taste Tour 를 가게 되었다. 되돌아보면 정말 맞는 선택이 아닌가 싶다. João 님 덕분에 처음부터 끝까지 최고인 경험이었던 것 같다. 투어 내내 항상 친절하게 잘 챙겨줬고, João 님이 대학교에서 역사 전공을 해서 그런지 지역의 역사와 지난 10년동안 있었던 변화까지 재미있게 잘 설명해줘 온종일 정말 즐거웠고 덕분에 포르투갈에 대해 많이 배웠던 것 같다. 투어가 원래 아침 8:30에 포르투에서 픽업하고 시작하기로 했지만 저의는 좀 더 여유롭게 여행을 다니고 싶어서 한 시간 뒤에 시작하는 걸로 미리 신청을 했다. 큰 문제없이 João 님이 스케줄을 잘 계획해주고 시간을 맞춰 줘서 되게 고마웠던 것 같다. 제가 클래식 카를 타본 적이 없어서 그 날에 처음 타봤는데 정말 특별한 경험이었다. 생각보다 소파가 되게 편했다. Douro Valley가 정말 생각했던 것만큼 아름다웠고 클래식 카도 너무 멋져서 하루 종일 인생샷을 많이 찍었다~ 점심은Douro Valley 한 마을에 위치한 작은 포르투갈 분식집같은 개인 레스토랑에 갔었는데 모든 메뉴가 다 맛있었다. 가게 주인님이 영어를 잘 못하시고 가게도 작아서 그런지 예약 없이 못 들어간다고 들어서 정말 João 님이 아니었으면 이런 전통적인 풍미를 절대 경험하지 못했겠다고 생각한다. 포르투갈에 가면 꼭 이 투어를 경험해보았으면 합니다!

This was one of the best things we did in all of Portugal. Adults & teenagers both agreed! Joao was a history major & went to University in Porto—perfect to orient us both geographically & historically. His English was excellent and his car was even better! The number of smiles and waves we got, the happiness he spreads, was immeasurable. At first I thought it was pretty pricey but by the end it was worth every penny (and earned him a tip on top). Book ahead bc he’s very in demand — he also uses the cars for weddings. The only average part of the day was the river cruise (which he books but has nothing else to do with). You might ask him for an alternate on that hour. Or maybe his tour and hospitality were just so good we couldn’t wait to get back to the car!?

A wonderful tour! Everything was perfect- The beautiful car, gorgeous views and João- an excellent host! We learnt so much about the area and got to experience things only a local would know! Highly recommend!