When the trees part on the curvy A4 and you get your first glimpse of the Douro Valley, you immediately feel like you have just entered heaven. The rolling hills, perfect rows of vines, and the scenic Douro river will leave you breathless. We've traveled to many wine regions, and the Douro has something altogether unique.

We were already in awe of the exquisite landscape as we entered the little town of Peso da Régua but little did we know what truly awaited us as we crossed the bridge and into Samodaes. We had wanted to visit Six Senses Douro Valley for at least two years or ever since one of our friends told us it was the best place she had ever stayed.

Of course, we'd seen the pictures and visited their online site, so we indeed had high expectations. Yet when we rounded the curve and saw the magnitude of Six Senses amongst the fields of vines, pictures could not do it justice. We knew we were in for a treat, and as little kids in a candy store, we were anxious to get there to enjoy all that it had to offer. We entered the pathway and drove to the reception.

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Six Senses Douro Valley

Quinta Vale de Abrão, 5100-758 Samodães, Portugal

From the moment our car door was opened, the experience began. And I do mean experience because, in everything Six Senses does, it seeks to provide you with the very best experience, even if it's the small things such as checking in or picking up your car for the day. And while this resort is definitely one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen (we'll come back to this), what truly makes your visit a magical experience from beginning to end is without a doubt the exceptional staff. Even with masks on (due to COVID-19), you can feel the warmth and sincere hospitality. You are cared for in every way, and every detail of your stay is intentional with the hope that you should not have a worry in the world.

Arriving in the reception is like entering a calming spa. If you are lucky, you'll be greeted by Aqua, the hotel dog, and the official greeter. Checking in, you will receive a warm cloth to cleanse your hands, a small treat to vanquish any hunger, and of course, your very first port to prepare you for the vineyard visits that lie ahead.

The view from the reception cannot be described as you get to see the Douro valley and river laid out before you. We arrived before check-in time, so we were cordially provided a tour of the hotel and it's grounds before heading to lunch at the Vale de Abraão Restaurant. As we walked around, you can't help but be wowed by the resort's pure architecture and design.

It is stunningly beautiful – modern yet warm, vast yet intimate. The Six Senses Architecture & Design team indeed did an exceptional job. The feel of Portugal is evident. Even the furniture invites you to come, sit for a while with a drink in hand. We would live here forever if we could!

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Settling Into Paradise

We were informed that our room was now available and was escorted there by the team. The rooms are modern yet inviting, and you are greeted with so many personal treats! Chocolate truffles, port wine, homegrown vegetable snacks, and nuts! As if we weren't already full, we for sure wouldn't go hungry during our stay. Our room was the Quinta Superior and included a beautiful terrace with an overlook of the vineyard and river. But without a doubt, the best part of the room is the bed. We could have slept in this cozy, pillow heaven for days without coming out, and if it weren't for the lure of wine tastings, we probably would!

The afternoon we arrived, we wanted to explore the Six Senses property because we knew we wouldn't have time on other days given our busy schedule. The property is extensive and includes so many fun and romantic things to do. We decided to take the footpath through what feels like a nature preserve. It included waterfalls, river overlooks where you can have private picnics, swings where you can feel like a kid again, olive orchards that create homemade oils, and delicious vegetables and herb gardens that provide a glimpse of what might be served as dinner later in the evening. But the most impressive area is the pool, which looks directly out into the vast Douro landscape. You can sit in the sun, swim in the refreshing pool, or eat whatever your tummy desires.

The Sixth Sense

One evening while enjoying a bottle of wine, we started a conversation about the six senses. We could only come up with five (taste, smell, vision, hearing, touch). What was the sixth? We hadn't thought to explore this question before arriving, silly us. So, of course, we googled it. The sixth sense is the sense of awareness & balance. How appropriate as that's precisely what we felt while in the Douro. A sense of calm, peace, and balance. 

In summary, if you want to have every detail of your stay cared for by the most genuine and kind staff... if you want to be awed by beauty whether it be the land, fresh smells or your dinner plate... if you want to feel as though there weren't a worry in the world, go to Six Senses Douro Valley. We assure you, you won't be disappointed. We sure weren't. 

*This website, it’s content, text, and images are all the work of Cocktails and Carry-Ons® unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced or copied in any form. All rights reserved.

Experiencing Six Senses Douro Valley

Vale de Abraão Restaurant

Our first taste of food was indeed a delight for the senses! We started with fresh vegetables from the garden, warm homemade bread, and local olive oil. Then followed by some of the best fish and Portuguese rice that has ever crossed these lips! You can't be in the Douro without indulging in the wine, of course, but given the heat and our fish course, we decided to try a white wine recommended by the Sommelier – Vallegre Reserva Especial. It was so good!! Our instinct told us this was going to be a memorable 3 days, and we certainly were hoping that time would just slow down. There was so much to look forward to, yet everything about Six Senses makes you want to breathe, take it all in and slow down.

Wine Tasting

As we had a little bit of time between our hike and dinner, we decided to try a wine tasting. Six Senses has a beautiful room designed just for tastings and offers daily tastings at specified times or a private tasting. Each tasting includes meats, cheeses, nuts, and chocolate to get the wine's full experience and profile. We did a private tasting and loved exploring the Douro from a local's perspective, learning about each typography and how it contributes to the wine taste.

Chef’s Table

One of the most exciting agenda items on our Douro trip was the Chef's Table experience. This is literally a table inside the kitchen, exclusive for your reservation, where the Chef personally prepares and presents your dinner. He designs a menu reflecting his love and passion for the food.

The Executive Chef, Marc Lorés Panadés, moved to Six Senses Douro Valley from Bali earlier in the month. Marc is originally from Lleida in Catalonia and has an impressive resume after training at some of Spain's best restaurants, including El Bulli and Mugaritz. He was also the head chef of Cal Xirricio, a modern fine dining restaurant that Michelin recognized for its impressive dishes using the freshest ingredients. We were so fortunate to get to experience his take on fresh and healthy foods. Marc is incredibly talented, kind, and was a pure joy that evening.

We tasted so many courses of lovingly prepared smoked papaya, scallop, celery rice, monkfish, milk-fed lamb, and more. One of the more mindblowing dishes was a watermelon carpaccio. It had a meatlike texture and was just incredible. We also selected the wine pairing, which was the best way to truly sample a variety of unique and delicious wines. It may be blasphemous to say because the Portuguese are so proud of their delicious red wines, but we truly enjoyed the white wine examples. We infrequently drink red wine in the summer, and we were unsure what to expect with the white wines, but the team at Six Senses had us covered. If you haven't given Portugal's white wines a try, it's an absolute must. We are forever fans!

Breakfast

While the bed may want to keep you locked away in your room all day, the breakfast will be just the lure to get your day started. We looked forward to breakfast each day because the food was so excellent, and each day offered a different experience. Your morning begins with a detox juice (believe me, you need it), an assortment of fresh fruits, bread, and a chef specialty.

One morning the Chef's specialty was chia seed in bananas. Sounds simple, but the tastes were explosive! Trust us, the morning breakfast gives you everything you might need to be well prepared for a day of vineyard tastings.

Unfortunately for us, we had only planned 3 days in the Valley and were very keen to explore as many vineyards as possible. However, on our next trip, we plan to take advantage of all the Six Senses activity offerings such as the spa, river tours, tree climbing, mountain biking, 4x4 tours, or cooking classes. There's something for everyone! We'll share our personal favorites at a later point in time because we will definitely be back at the Six Senses soon.

Quinta Bar & Lounge

It's cocktail time! Wait. Cocktails? We're in the Douro Valley - the wine capital of Portugal. Hey, everyone needs a little variety in their life, especially after several vineyard visits. It just so happened that our Chef's Table experience started with an aperitif - the Dipolmatico Immunity. This cocktail was unbelievably good, and it allowed us to meet David Pinto, the talented and passionate Six Senses mixologist. He shared with us his recent learnings from making homemade tonic, and his excitement was contagious. We agreed to meet the next evening for a special one on one cocktail experience. The cocktail lounge looks like something like a mad scientist experiment but cooler. David shared his cocktail inventions and tales of mixologist competitions. It was David that taught us about the infamous port tonic apero, which is simply delicious and an excellent alternative for those who don't like Aperol spritz. All of his cocktails were almost too good to taste...almost. A few absolute MUST try cocktails, as pictured in the gallery below, Made in Douro, Train to Pinhão, Mare e Terra, No Ideas, and of course, one of his award winners, Diplomatico Immunity!

*This website, it’s content, text, and images are all the work of Cocktails and Carry-Ons® unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced or copied in any form. All rights reserved.