Set amidst the untouched, natural splendor of Portugal’s Douro Valley, the 71-bedroom Six Senses resort made its European debut in 2015. It features the country’s top hotel spa, showcasing the group’s commitment to wellness, and offers guests a fully immersive experience in the world of Douro wines.
If there’s a symbol of enduring, universal love that transcends boundaries of race, religion, and culture, it’s the Taj Mahal mausoleum, famously built by a sultan as a tribute to his wife. But there’s a lesser-known yet equally romantic tale from Portugal. It all started when João Lourenço de Seara (a valet to King Afonso V) leased a vineyard to Abraão Farah, in picturesque spot where the Douro River gently bends in an “s” shaped curve. It took the name Vale de Abraão.
At the end of the 19th century, Laura Pereira Leitão, an ancestor of the esteemed Serpa Pimentel family, and her husband, Alfredo Passanha, settled at Quinta Vale de Abraão. Alfredo’s love for his wife was so profound that he pledged to bring her every tree in the world to create the most exquisite garden imaginable. Gardens and lakes were designed, exotic trees were planted in the woods, and paths and follies were constructed to enhance the beauty of the property. Vale de Abraão became the most fashionable and beautifully-appointed quinta in the Douro Valley. Though the estate no longer remains in the family’s possession due to a devastating fire, the garden still flourishes along the breathtaking banks of the Douro River valley, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Site.
Nestled amidst terraced vineyards and overlooking the meandering Douro River, the former Quinta now hosts Six Senses Douro Valley, marking the luxury group’s inaugural property in Europe in 2015. Perched atop a lush hillside in the scenic Valley, it is situated near the picturesque Baroque town of Lamego. Not only does the location of Six Senses Douro Valley Resort captivate its guests, but also its architectural charm. The focal point is a strikingly restored 19th-century villa, meticulously preserved during renovation and tastefully expanded. Seamlessly integrated with a modern extension mirroring the villa’s aesthetic, the resort evokes a sense of timeless elegance. Walking through its grounds, one is transported to a bygone era.
Six Senses Douro Valley is far from your typical luxury hotel; it epitomizes the brand’s ethos of holistic well-being and sensory experiences. Sustainability and culinary excellence featuring local ingredients are integral to the Six Senses experience, evident across all their properties.
The project highlights the wine-producing capabilities of the region, boasting over 700 selections in its cellar and offering various wine-related activities, including tastings and the opportunity to stomp grapes at nearby wine presses. Additionally, some spa treatments feature grape-derived elements. A Six Senses experience is incomplete without its renowned spa, which remains one of its standout features.
A HISTORIC PORTUGUESE MANOR HOUSE
Clodagh Design, headquartered in New York, has infused vitality and character into this 19th-century structure, evoking a distinctive ambiance with blue and white azulejo tiles, granite flooring, cork ceilings, and gold leaf accents. Complemented by modern artworks for a contemporary flair, the hotel exudes a remarkably serene atmosphere, deeply connected to its surroundings.
Waking up to the sunrise casting its glow over the sprawling vineyards is truly enchanting, especially when the river-view rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows that make leaving the bed a challenge. With handmade mattresses and temperature-regulating pillows ensuring a blissful night’s sleep, the temptation to linger is irresistible.
The 71 rooms and suites prioritize local craftsmanship, featuring Portuguese oak floors, cork accents, and locally made ceramics for the cosmetics on display. A minibar stocked with Portuguese products adds to the sense of place, while a convenient control panel allows you to adjust the blinds from the comfort of your bed.
For those seeking more seclusion, villas tucked away in the gardens offer private pools and gardens, along with kitchens for self-catering or the option of a chef to cater to your needs. Multiple rooms cater to various group sizes, ensuring a personalized and luxurious stay.
DINING EXPERIENCE
Dining options at Six Senses Douro Valley are a celebration of the region with much of the produce coming from the verdant valley and surrounding countryside. An organic garden of vegetables and herbs is located right on the estate. Fresh ingredients are harvested only as needed, assuring ultimate freshness and flavour.
Mornings commence with an outstanding buffet breakfast (served until 11 am) featuring a variety of options, from fresh fruit to waffles and pancakes, alongside traditional cooked breakfast items like eggs and bacon, as well as lighter fare such as cereals, granola, and yogurt. Frankly, you might find yourself skipping lunch, though they often indulged in three hearty meals daily. Lunch at the hotel restaurant typically presents a Mediterranean-style array of flatbreads and small tapas-style dishes, while dinner revolves around meats grilled on the Josper grill or cooked in clay pots. Much of the fare is sourced from the hotel’s organic garden. A standout experience was a port tasting in the library with a local wine producer, where we learned about the nuances between tawny and ruby ports and how to pair them with cheese and charcuterie. Both educational and delectable.
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Treading consciously is at the heart of Six Senses’ ethos and this Portuguese outpost is no exception: its energy committee oversees conservation issues, keeps staff apprised of green best practices and regularly sets new energy consumption targets. The resort is plastic free since the end of 2022 and has robust recycling and composting programmes. The restaurant menus are mindful of waste avoidance and fruit and vegetables are either grown on site or sourced from local suppliers. The resort has been regenerating a five hectare section of local forest, hosts neighbourhood clean-ups and has partnered with local organisations that specialise in eco-friendly landscaping. It hosts workshops and talks about sustainability for guests and staff, supports three organisations that help families in need in the Douro Valley and donates to donkey-saving foundation Aepga (among other animal-protecting charities).
THE SPA
2,200 square meters of relax. The spa at Six Senses is renowned globally, requiring little introduction. It seamlessly combines water, stone, and wood with impeccable taste, offering an indoor heated pool with stunning views of nature, ten treatment rooms, sauna, herbal bath, laconium and steam room. Book one of the rooms for indulgent massages, facials and ayurvedic treatments using luxurious Organic Pharmacy products and potent local ingredients such as grape pulp, citrus fruit and schist stones. For underwater sound therapy, colour therapy and calming water jets hit the spa’s indoor heated pool. Pampering programmes over several days offer nutritional advice and relaxing experiences tailored to each guest.
An organic herb and plant garden provides key ingredients that are used in spa treatments. In addition to the external pool, a large outdoor yoga deck blends beautifully with nature and is ideal for individual sessions and group training.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Golden by name – Douro – the sun-kissed valley is also golden by nature, with the River Douro owing through amber-hued vine- lled terraces in the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Guest Experience Makers at Six Senses Douro Valley can present a host of options. They can arrange a trip to the prehistoric rock art sites in Côa Valley, visits to some of the oldest wineries in the world; excursions by foot or vehicle to picturesque villages, historic churches and castles plus cruises and water activities on the river.
There are mountain bikes and kayaking on offer for the outdoor enthusiast or for the indoor one, tile painting or conjuring up lotions and potions in the Six Senses Alchemy Bar, where herbs and fruit from the gardens are brought in to create scrubs and oils. At the Earth lab, you can learn how to pickle vegetables from the garden or create your favourite infusion.
