Six Senses Douro Valley is a five-star spa hotel nestled in a 19th-century manor house overlooking the vine-covered hills of the Douro Valley.
Nature
Restaurant
Spa
Swimming Pool
Pet Friendly
Wine Tasting
Lovely View
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Six Senses Douro Valley is a five-star spa hotel in the North of Portugal. The estate is set amongst eight hectares of wonderful woodland.
The hotel is set amidst eight hectares of woodland and is centred around a beautifully renovated 19th-century manor house. It boasts 41 guest bedrooms, nine suites and seven villas, some with private pools and gardens that offer sweeping panoramas of the vine-covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley.
Six Senses Douro Valley offers a terrific spa with a heated pool overlooking the forest, a mirror-effect outdoor infinity pool, wine tastings, and a range of fun and quirky workshops, such as learning to make natural beauty products, tile painting, pickles, yoghurt, and tea.
The breakfast experience at Six Senses Douro Valley is truly one of the best we've ever experienced, from classic dishes like eggs Benedict alongside colourful and nutritious fruit bowls, Portuguese cheeses, freshly baked bread, energising fresh juices and much more.
There is a good reason why Six Senses selected the Unesco-heritage-listed Douro Valley region in Portugal for their first European venture.
Awesomeness
Sweeping views of the vine-covered rolling hills.
The decadent breakfast.
Both indoor and outdoor pools are fantastic.
The food, harvested from the hotel's organic garden.
Our sommelier was very knowledgeable. We discovered fabulous wines.
Bear in Mind
Views from the rooms vary considerably.
We found the decor in some rooms a bit bland, but all rooms seemed spacious, and the beds were wonderful.
There's little to do within walking distance, hiring a car is recommended.
Six Senses Douro Valley is a five-star spa hotel in the North of Portugal. The estate is set amongst eight hectares of wonderful woodland.
The hotel is set amidst eight hectares of woodland and is centred around a beautifully renovated 19th-century manor house. It boasts 41 guest bedrooms, nine suites and seven villas, some with private pools and gardens that offer sweeping panoramas of the vine-covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley.
Six Senses Douro Valley offers a terrific spa with a heated pool overlooking the forest, a mirror-effect outdoor infinity pool, wine tastings, and a range of fun and quirky workshops, such as learning to make natural beauty products, tile painting, pickles, yoghurt, and tea.
The breakfast experience at Six Senses Douro Valley is truly one of the best we've ever experienced, from classic dishes like eggs Benedict alongside colourful and nutritious fruit bowls, Portuguese cheeses, freshly baked bread, energising fresh juices and much more.
There is a good reason why Six Senses selected the Unesco-heritage-listed Douro Valley region in Portugal for their first European venture.
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We thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at Vermelho. Highlights included the array of Portuguese and French pastries that were brought to your table and the perfectly cooked a-la-carte eggs. Breakfast was delicious but also beautifully arranged, featuring tableware from Vida Dura.
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Elisabeth Lincot's installation, Lagrima de Loros, graces an exterior hearth at Vermelho with glazed and colourful ceramic bird heads.
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Interview
A Conversation with Joana van Zeller about Six Senses Douro Valley
“The fact that the Douro terraces were sculpted for centuries with human hands makes me believe that men are truly capable of achieving overwhelming, almost heroic things.”
– JOANA VAN ZELLER
You're from Porto. When did you start visiting the Douro, and what are your first memories of it?
As a child, Christmas is always the golden season. I vividly remember spending some white Christmas days in the Douro at my grandparent's house. But next in line comes harvest time, and harvest meant for my sister (three years younger) and me very different activities: I would get up early morning, and I would follow my grandfather to the winery and sometimes to other properties that my family owned to overview the grape picking.
How did the relationship between your family and the Douro come about?
My family has been producing Port wine in the Douro for many centuries. Still, it was only when I married my husband that I came across the commercial side of the Douro because his family owned Van Zellers and Co and Quinta do Noval for many generations.
I started working for Aquapura (the previous hotel where Six Senses now lives) just before it opened its doors in February 2007, and I kept on working in this magical place when it became Six Senses Douro Valley.
Six Senses Dourro Valley - a hotel in a magical setting.
The hotel offering in the Douro has changed a lot since then…
Back then, Aquapura was a pioneer project. Together with the Vintage House, they were the only hotel offered in the Douro with quality and international standards.
After we opened as Aquapura, a lot of small country house hotels followed, such as Quinta do Vallado and Quinta da Pacheca (just to name the ones that are close to us).
What sets you apart from other hotels in the Douro?
This magical setting, and these fairytale buildings, help our guests to better understand the Douro, its landscape and its traditions in layers of endless discoveries.
Six Senses offers guests a sense of place and an interior design that feels like home while providing five-star service.
We have put together a range of fun and quirky experiences like tree climbing and various workshops. Of course, we also offer the more expected activities, including winery tours and cultural visits to local monasteries or palaces.
Six Senses has put together a range of very interesting workshops such as the “Pickles, Yogurts and Teas”, a hands-on workshop where food and sustainability go hand in hand. Guests will learn how to pickle the organic produce from the garden, how yoghurts can be produced without using electricity, and how herbs can be dehydrated to make tea infusions.
We enjoyed the many vegan options in the restaurant’s creative menu. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
We are the only vegetarian restaurant in the whole Douro Valley and this has to do with the fact that we would like our guests to leave us in better health shape than when they arrived. Wellness and spa are important but to take this goal to another level we believe that we have also to show that healthy food can look and taste delicious!
“We are the only vegetarian restaurant in the whole Douro Valley.”
– JOANA VAN ZELLER
If a friend came to the Douro for the first time, where would you take them?
I would surely bring them to Six Senses and to S. Salvador do Mundo, a breathtaking sanctuary built in the 16th century, where one can feel the atmosphere that led the monks in ancient times to reclusion.
What do you like to do on a day off in the Douro?
I love walking through the vineyards and discovering new and always beautiful spots. The fact that the Douro terraces were sculpted for centuries with human hands makes me believe that men are truly capable of achieving overwhelming, almost heroic things.
A perfect day would involve a spa treatment at Six Senses or a delicious meal at the DOC Restaurant.
For Joana van Zeller, the Communications Manager at the Six Senses retreat, a perfect day in the Douro involves a delicious meal at the DOC restaurant, headed by renowned Portuguese chef Rui Paula.
What's your favourite object in the hotel?
Difficult to choose, but I really have a soft spot for all the lighting fixtures – the chandelier in the Wine library made out of empty wine bottles and the lighting fixture in the lobby that represents the vines curling around the wires in the vineyards.
Joana Van Zeller said, "I really have a soft spot for all the lighting fixtures at Six Senses Douro Valley – the chandelier in the wine library that is made out of empty wine bottles and the lighting fixture in the lobby that represents the vines curling around the wires in the vineyards."
Thank you very much for this interview Joana.
Thank you too!
Where
Six Senses Douro Valley is a five-star hotel in the Douro, northern Portugal.
After exploring the Douro Region, swim in the Six Senses Douro Valley's indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling forest views and relax in the spa's aromatic saunas. Or retire to the library and peruse a book while enjoying a fine wine or a cocktail.
Six Senses Douro Valley is located in the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. It offers plenty of wine-influenced activities - including being a wine-maker for the day.
Other activities include biking, picnics, tree climbing and a range of interesting workshops, such as learning to make natural beauty products, tile painting, pickles, yoghurt and tea. There's also a well-equipped gym, a yoga studio, and a nail bar.
There are plenty of peaceful spaces to unwind, and the main outdoor pool of the surrounding woodland is perfect for walking, meditating, and breathing in nature.
Foodies will be spoilt for choice. There are some excellent restaurants in Douro. We highly recommend DOC Restaurant (14km), from one of Portugal's most renowned chefs Rui Paula, and Castas & Pratos in Régua (6km).
Six Senses Douro Valley offers multiple dining options celebrating the region's produce. Vale de Abraão Restaurant serves seasonal menus inspired by wood-fired ovens and the Josper grill. For a more relaxed experience, there are cosy bites at Quinta Bar and Lounge, while Wine Library and Terrace is all about tapas and excellent wine.
Watch the video above which we did with Condé Nast Traveller. In it we talk about Foz do Douro - the seaside neighbourhood in Porto where we grew up. check out the Full article on their website.
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Both the heated indoor pool with water jets and the outdoor pool are beautiful and inviting.
The Six Senses Douro Valley Spa has 10 treatment rooms offering wellness and yoga programmes, alongside a variety of therapies including grape and wine-based treatments.
At the Wine Library, guests will find references to more than 750 vintages from the region.
Dining options at Six Senses Douro Valley celebrate the region with much of the produce coming from the verdant valley and surrounding countryside.
There are plenty of peaceful spaces at the hotel to unwind.
The surrounding woodland is perfect for walking, meditating and breathing in nature.
If you fancy a challenge you won't be disappointed, with tree climbing, canyoning, mountain biking and kayaking among the many adventures the Douro region has to offer.
Six Senses Douro Valley Quinta Vale de Abrão 5100-758 Samodães Portugal
Location
Six Senses Douro Valley is a five-star spa hotel nestled into its beautiful UNESCO World Heritage setting fronting onto the River Douro as it winds through the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
By Air
The closest airport is Porto Airport. From there you can hire a car – or the hotel can arrange a transfer for you.
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