Driving down the picturesque country road and entering Six Senses Douro Valley truly is a pinch-me moment.

 

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The resort is located on a historic 19^th-century manor estate previously belonged to a winemaking family from the region. You can still see old photos of the family and their vineyard hanging on the walls of the main restaurant. The dusty pink façade of the grand manor stands out splendidly among the golden green hills. Upon entering the reception lobby, guests are greeted by a panoramic view of the Douro River and its royal blue waters winding its way towards the rustic town of Regua.

While the exterior makes you feel like you’re at a classic European estate, inside the rooms, it’s sheer contemporary design and luxury. The interior of the rooms is sleek and understated in order to maximize floor-to-ceiling window views of the hills and vineyards. Or if you’re very lucky, full-frontal views of the Douro River. All the rooms in the main building are oversized, complete with a plush lounge area and spacious bathrooms. Six Senses never skimps on the small details either. Each day, guests will find delightful amenities like all-natural sleep fragrance to spritz on your pillow or custom herbal teas meant to enhance digestion or relaxation.

Wellness is a central offering of any Six Senses resort, from biohacking oxygen therapies to spiritual retreats, and a rotating calendar of workshops with visiting practitioners. Of course, the spa does not disappoint with the Vitality Suite, which includes four different types of saunas and an indoor pool circuit that programs color therapy and underwater sound therapy. Plus, you should certainly treat yourself to a blissful massage or facial in the spa treatment rooms, which overlook gorgeous vineyards.

Sustainability is also a central tenet of Six Senses. Every property operates upon a local sustainability fund through which half percent of all revenue is donated to local causes. Six Senses Douro Valley currently supports 14 local organizations. Specific causes include forest restoration, saving an endangered species of donkeys which are native to Northern Portugal and helping stray cats and dogs in the area. Two stray dogs, Foxy and Acqua, have since become permanent residents whose duties include lounging around the resort and making the rounds at the restaurants to greet guests during dinner time. Every Six Senses property also implements an Earth Lab which innovates sustainability policies to reduce waste and energy consumption for the entire hotel.

Every bite from breakfast to dinner is a delight at Six Senses Douro Valley. The main restaurant Vale de Abraão is divided into an elegant and rustic dining room, an open kitchen and a beautiful outdoor terrace that has breathtaking views of the hilly vineyards. Breakfast is always an exciting affair, since the kitchen features a special breakfast menu which changes daily. A Six Senses breakfast is highly nutritious and plant-forward, tailored to every type of dietary specification; think smoothie bowls with spirulina and rye crostini with probiotic labneh.

For lunch and dinner, Vale de Abraão serves the best of Portuguese land and sea. Expect Aveiro oysters, runny rice with Scarlett prawns, roasted lamb shoulder and Portuguese cod with sweet potato puree. Plus, almost all of the produce served in the restaurants comes from the hotel’s very own organic garden.

During summer months, guests have the pleasure of dining at Garden Barbecue – a rustic dining experience in an al-fresco setting, where communal picnic tables are set out next to the gardens. Guests can feast on a packed set menu of whole fish and meats, which they can watch being prepared by the chefs over an open flame grill. The experience truly feels like dining at a close friend’s home in the countryside, as diners can easily mingle with one another in a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, the waiters bring around a small barrel of port wine to each table at the end of the meal for customers to pour themselves as much port as they’d like.

It wouldn’t be a complete stay in wine country without lots of vinho. Six Senses Douro Valley has an expansive wine library, encompassing an entire hall on the ground floor. There, guests will find the wine vending machine, which pours glasses of different varieties of wine and can be accessed 24 hours a day.

The hotel offers different wine tastings and experiences, including a dreamy ride down the river on a vintage boat, many of which focus on the terroir of the Douro Region and port wine. The daily wine tastings are fun, as various hotel guests come together to drink and have a good time while guided by the upbeat and knowledgeable sommelier.

Not many hotels live up to the standard of high excellence, but Six Senses Douro Valley makes you believe a perfect hotel can and does exist. With the most beautiful natural views, plus exquisite amenities tailored to peace and comfort, a stay at Six Senses Douro Valley is a once-in-a-lifetime experience well-worth the journey and the price tag. Treat yourself to a stay that you’ll never stop dreaming about the most beautiful wine country in the world.