Review of the Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise with Viator in 2026 | Porto, Portugal Travel Tips

November 4, 2025

Updated July 5, 2026

THE BEST DOURO VALLEY WINE TOUR FROM PORTO, PORTUGAL

When I was planning our trip to Portugal, I knew I’d want to spend a day at the vineyards in the Douro Valley drinking port wine. I just wasn’t sure how we were going to get there from the city of Porto! I stumbled across the Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise by Viator and after reading a few of the reviews, it sounded perfect. A guided bus tour, two vineyard tours and tastings AND a boat ride through the Douro Valley. It sounded too good to be true! I’ve taken many bus tours in my time and I’m always a little hesitant because I tend to get carsick rather easily. I’ve survived tours on St. Lucia’s twisty mountain roads, Maui’s Road to Hana and the treacherous cliffs along the Amalfi Coast so I tried to remind myself that it couldn’t possibly be worse than those. Luckily, it wasn’t bad AT ALL and I would say it was one of my favorite all-day bus tours I’ve been on so far! We saw stunning views from the bus and it was a nice peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of Porto. While it was a tad dreary outside during our tour, it made the day feel even slower and more relaxed, which was much needed after traveling all the way from the United States to Portugal. We had a few stops along the way so there was never too long of a stretch of driving time, which makes a huge difference if you tend to get carsick. Our first stop was in the town of Amarante, a cute town with lots of historic, medieval buildings. We were given about 30 minutes to wander around and grab a pastry and coffee. We popped our heads into a lovely church and took photos along the canal. Having a few moments to sip our coffee and take in the day made a huge difference in our moods and we felt ready to head to the wineries and see the gorgeous views! It wasn’t on the agenda to stop here, so we were pleasantly surprised and also desperately needed that espresso!

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post, you help support Myles Katherine Photography. I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for your support!)

We also had the most amazing tour guide, Margarida. She was super bubbly, informative, and just plain sweet. She told us all about the Douro Valley during the bus ride and made sure we didn’t miss a thing as we passed by dozens of wineries off in the distance. We took the English tour but there are other languages like Portugese, Spanish and French if you need it!

We visited Casa dos Barros winery first. There was a beautiful terrace with ivy-covered walls, with peacocks and cats roaming the property. We ate lunch inside a lovely dining room and enjoyed a three-course meal and lots of wine. They even asked us if we wanted refills! Honestly, for the price of this Viator tour, I honestly can’t believe everything that’s included! The guide who led our tasting at the winery (a different guide than Margarida) was incredibly entertaining and hilarious, and we got to try multiple styles of port in an incredible smelling wine cellar. There was also cheese and crackers for us to munch on while the guide told us stories about the port wine.

Our next stop was the boat ride! We hopped on a traditional rabelo boat for a peaceful ride on the Douro River, soaking in the views of the stunning green hillsides. You can see many of the wineries as you cruise along the river. I’m not going to lie, I got a little sleepy on the boat ride because it was so calming! I kept myself busy taking tons of photos though and I think about this boat ride all of the time because it was so serene. It was longer than I expected too which was nice because it didn’t feel rushed at all. I’m usually a ball of stress when I’m traveling, so it was a lovely respite from the rushing around I’m used to. That’s why I love visiting Europe though, it’s nice taking life at a slower pace!

We ended the day at Croft Port, one of the oldest port wine producers in the world. Croft was probably the most beautiful vineyard I’ve ever seen in my life. It was incredible. They led us around the property teaching us all about how they create and produce their port, and then we had a full port tasting that we could enjoy at our leisure. I still think about this vineyard all the time, because it truly was straight out of a dream. My husband and I were the last ones on the bus because we didn’t want to leave! We ended up buying a bottle of our favorite port wine from our tasting, and it was somehow only 10 euros! If I ever went back to Porto, I will definitely be taking a trip back to this winery. I could have easily spent an entire day there taking in the rolling hillsides and sipping the port. I’ll never forget it!

Croft Port - Terrace

Tour through the Vineyards

I posted a full video on my YouTube channel about our tour so you can decide for yourself if it’s something you’d want to go on! I’d highly recommend it though because the views were gorgeous, the port wine was delicious, and it was totally worth the price. It’s only about $100/person which is crazy to me. The vineyards we visited were absolutely stunning. I’d even take this same tour again if we went back. I loved it so much. It also helped that the weather was perfect, despite a little rain earlier in the day. We were even given two glasses of wine each with our lunch too, which was included with the cost, along with all of the entrance fees, the boat ride, and the tastings! We had also taken a 3 Hour Food and Wine Tour in Porto the day before and we loved that too! You can read more about it on my blog here. :)

It was so nice to be able to relax for the day, instead of staring at the maps on my phone trying to find a restaurant or figure out how to get back to our hotel. I’m always the trip planner when it comes to me and my husband, Chris, mostly because I’m type A and need to be in control of everything. :) Plus, I like to save money where I can, so the fact that this tour was so affordable made it even better.

If you’d like to book this same tour to the Douro Valley, you can find it here!

And if you’re on the hunt for an affordable hotel in Porto, I’d highly recommend Memoria Porto FLH Hotels. It was quiet, beautiful, close to the water, super clean, and we were even greeted with port wine upon our arrival! You can read more about my Portugal hotel recommendations on my travel blog that I run with my sister called C’est Le Brie - Cute & Affordable Hotels in Porto & Lisbon.

If you’re heading to Portugal anytime soon, you absolutely need to visit both Porto and Lisbon. And while you’re in Porto, make sure to book this Douro Valley tour. You won’t regret it. It would even be great for a larger group because it takes all of the guesswork out of traveling. I would have loved for my parents and siblings to have joined us for the tour. Maybe next time! There were people of all ages on this tour and I always love getting to know other travelers from all over the world.

If you’d like even more details about this specific tour, you can find it on my travel blog here! And make sure to check out my Viator shop to see all of our favorite tours around the world so far! And you can watch more videos from our trip to Portugal on my YouTube channel. :)

Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Kentmere Pan 100 Film Review with Sample Photos Using a Holga 120 GCFN Camera | The Best Affordable Black and White Film for Beginner Photographers

October 20, 2025

When I was planning my 16-day trip to England to hike the 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail, I wanted to bring a handful of different film stocks I’d never tried before. I loaded up my film pouch with dozens of color and black and white film rolls, knowing I’d have to carry it all for 102 miles, but knowing at the end of it all, it would be worth it. Or at least, hoping it would be! There is nothing more exciting to me than capturing my travels on film. Taking photos on my phone of a place I’d potentially never be able to visit again in my lifetime, just doesn’t cut it for me. I need memorable, one-of-a-kind images that I could proudly hang on my wall.

Kentmere Pan 100 is one of those films I’ve seen time and time again when shopping online for film, but I’ve never tried because it just seemed too affordable. It made me question whether it could take photos that compared to some of the more expensive black and white film stocks, like Neopan Acros 100 or Ilford HP5. But, considering I had a LOT of film to buy for my trip, I didn’t want to spend my entire life savings on film. Kentmere Pan 100 is one of the cheapest black and white 120 films out there and is often considered a “student grade” film for those who are just starting out or don’t want to spend a ton of money on film. I’m honestly surprised I never tried this one out in college! It’s available in 35 mm and 120 formats, so I’ll have to try out the 35 mm version next!

When I was first scanning film from my trip, I could tell immediately I was going to love this film. There was a soft eeriness to it that perfectly complimented the old churches and buildings I photographed throughout my hike. I was surprised by the level of sharpness that such an affordable film offered. While its not quite as sharp as I’m used to for a 100 speed film, I added just a tiny bit of sharpening when editing in Lightroom and it turned out exactly as I’d hoped. One of the most exciting aspects of this film was how well it handled low light. Oftentimes, when I’m shooting with a toy camera like the Holga GCFN and I’m using 100 speed film, I have to make sure I’m shooting in extremely bright daylight with no shade whatsoever, in order to get the best images possible. However, with this film I noticed that it handled the shadows with ease, offering more detail that I would have expected. While it’s definitely not as contrasty as Neopan Acros 100 (one of my favorite black and white films), sometimes it’s nice to have images that start out a little more flat. That way, you can adjust the shadows and highlights to your liking. There is hardly any noticeable grain at all in this film, which is ideal for fine art printing because you can blow up your images rather large and still get clarity and smoothness. This would be a great film for darkroom printing, which is why I’m assuming it’s often used for students and photographers who are just starting their journey into film photography.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this film. It’s incredibly affordable and is a perfect standard black and white film. While I personally prefer the tiniest bit more contrast, I still love how dreamy and nostalgic these images turned out. I will definitely be including this film stock in my future B&H orders (my favorite place to buy cameras & film!), especially because it’s cheap! But also because it’s easy to work with, offers great detail and sharpness for the price, and captured my hike in the Cotswolds exactly how I hoped it would. :) If you want to find out more about our hike, I have a full video series on my YouTube channel. You can watch it here!

WHERE TO BUY KENTMERE PAN 100 120 FILM

B&H Photo

WHERE TO BUY KENTMERE PAN 100 35 MM FILM

B&H Photo

Adorama

Amazon

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

You can read more about my favorite black and white film stocks here or my favorite color 35 mm film stocks here!

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Ricoh 500GX 35 mm Camera Review with Sample Photos in England! | The Best Compact Film Camera for Travel

October 11, 2025

When I was planning my 16 day trip to England, where we’d be hiking 102 miles along the Cotswold Way National Trail, I knew I needed to choose my cameras very carefully. Not only would I be carrying them the entire time, but I was also potentially encountering various types of weather and lighting. I have a tendency to bring at least 6 cameras with my on my international trips, but I wanted this specific trip to challenge me to downsize. And let me tell you, it was difficult. Of course, I knew I was going to bring my Holga 120 GCFN as my medium format camera and my Canon G7X Mark II as my point and shoot digital camera, but I was having a hard time finding the ultimate 35 mm camera for this sort of adventure. That is, until I found the Ricoh 500GX.

THE STORY BEHIND MY SEARCH

I spent days researching 35 mm cameras. I made spreadsheets. I used Chat GPT like it was my job. When I’m looking for a new camera, there are always a few features I absolutely cannot live without. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m obsessed with multiple exposures. Searching for 35 mm film cameras that easily can create multiple exposures isn’t an easy task. For most people, that feature isn’t a deal breaker. But for me, on a 102 mile hike, it was absolutely a deal breaker. The other feature that was necessary for this trip was a super lightweight and small body. I didn’t want to weigh myself down and make the hike any harder than it had to be. I considered taking my Nikon FE2, one of my favorite vintage 35 mm cameras (you can read more about it on my blog here), but it was a bit too bulky to fit in my tiny camera bag I had purchased for this trip. I had also already decided which point and shoot 35 mm camera I was going to take (don’t worry, I have a full blog post coming about that camera too!) but I wanted to bring along a second 35 mm camera that was higher quality with sharper images and a better lens.

I was also working with a very specific budget. I was hoping to stay within the $200-300 range. There were plenty of cameras out there closer to $500 or $1000 that I would have loved to buy, but I’d already spent way too much money on gear for the hike. (P.S. I have a full YouTube series and downloadable PDF all about our hike, if you’re interested!)

I almost pulled the trigger on the Rollei QZ 35T but when I realized that the camera body wasn’t super durable and would not fare well in a rainstorm, it became too risky to spend that much money on a camera for this particular trip.

Typically, I prefer an aperture priority setting on my cameras. However, when I stumbled upon the Ricoh 500GX (you can usually find one on eBay), it seemed to cover all of the topics I mentioned above, but it had a shutter priority setting instead. Not ideal, but still a partially automatic setting that would allow me to take photos quickly and easily. We had a lot of miles to cover every day, so I couldn’t spend the entire time fiddling with manual settings for every photo. The Ricoh 500GX was also super tiny and was known for it’s durable metal body. The original version of this camera (which also tends to be easier to find) doesn’t have a multiple exposure feature, but the Ricoh 500GX has a designated multiple exposure lever on the front of the camera. It’s also known for it’s sharp Rikenon 40 mm f/2.8 lens. The lens is built-in and non-detachable, which also helps to keep the camera small and compact.

HISTORY

The Ricoh 500GX was released around 1977 in Japan (somehow I always end up choosing Japanese cameras!) and was sold throughout the 1980s. It’s considered a compact 35 mm rangefinder camera and was one of the last styles in the 500-series line that was produced. The Ricoh brand wasn’t quite as popular as some of the bigger brands, which allowed it’s price point to stay relatively low. But that’s precisely why it’s a great camera. You get high quality for a low price.

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

WHY THE RICOH 500GX IS SPECIAL

Not only is it good value for the price, it also offers a few smaller features that most 35 mm cameras didn’t offer at the time. Some of these might seem like minor conveniences, but they truly make a difference. The Ricoh 500GX has a battery check light, a shutter lock (to help prevent the shutter from firing accidentally), a bulb setting for long exposures, a tripod mount, a film-loading indicator, a shutter indicator, and a “coupled” rangefinder focusing system. A coupled rangefinder allows for more precise focusing because the focus ring is mechanically linked to the actual rangefinder system. It can take some patience to get used to manual focus, particularly when it comes to a rangefinder, but this is a great camera to learn manual focus and get comfortable with it. Just as an FYI, the 500GX takes a PX675 mercury battery that is not made anymore. You do not need a battery to use the camera, but it will make the light meter work. The shutter priority setting does not fully function either without a battery, though I seemed to manage just fine in the Cotswolds without a battery in the camera. A modern replacement of the PX675 battery would be a PR44 battery.

All of these features are on top of the shutter priority, compact and durable metal body, sharp f/2.8 lens, and the multiple exposure lever that comes with the 500GX model. It’s a perfect blend between a point and shoot camera and a larger, more professional SLR camera.

HOW TO CREATE MULTIPLE EXPOSURES

I’m so glad I did a test roll before bringing it with me on my trip, because I quickly discovered that my multiple exposure knob was completely stuck and wasn’t functioning at all. My husband and I spent an entire day trying to loosen it. We tried rubbing alcohol, goo gone, grease, everything. The joys of vintage cameras! I swear, someone must have glued the knob in the closed position. I’m not surprised though, because if you’re not a fan of multiple exposures and the setting annoys you, I can see someone getting sick of it and gluing it shut. In order to use the multiple exposure setting, you have to first twist a small circular lock knob into the green, “open” position. This will free the multiple exposure lever, which you then slide into the direction of the arrow until you feel it stop. This has re-cocked the shutter and you can take another photo. Just make sure not to wind the advance lever until you’ve taken your second exposure. In my case, we were able to slowly move the circular knob into the open position (with a LOT of pressure), but it is permanently stuck there. So, essentially, my camera is always primed for the multiple exposure setting. In a fully functioning 500GX, the circular knob would automatically switch back to the red, “closed” position after you’ve taken your second image. I don’t really understand why Ricoh felt the need to make it a two-step process, but I’m just glad that I was able to get mine working!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Looking back on my trip, I don’t think I could have found a more perfect 35 mm camera. While the camera was actually a bit heavier than I’d anticipated, it’s because the body is incredibly sturdy and rugged, ideal for a hike with unpredicatable weather and rugged hillsides. On the flip side, it was much smaller and more compact than I expected, which I absolutely love, of course. I was able to bring 4 cameras with me that somehow magically fit inside my tiny camera bag. I posted a full YouTube video about the various cameras I brought with me. You can watch it on my channel here!

I also just think the camera itself is so beautiful and classic. The black and silver styling, the cute tiny lens, the sharp edges. It’s one of my favorite cameras to look at, that’s for sure. Not to mention, the satisfying click that you get with those vintage 35 mm cameras every time the shutter releases. There’s just nothing like it!

I know with 100% certainty that this camera will be going with me on many more trips. Because it’s so compact, there’s really no excuse for not bringing it with me everywhere! I dropped it into a field of cow manure on our trip and it came out without a scratch! I have a tendency to drop my cameras, so the fact that it is such a sturdy little thing is a major plus for me. And while I’m not as comfortable with shutter priority as I am with aperture priority, I got used to it quickly and I was able to get the images I wanted with some thoughtful planning. I could rave about this camera all day because it really is amazing for the price. I truly think this one flies under the radar so make sure to snatch one up as soon as possible! I’ve included tons of sample photos below from our trip so make sure to browse through to help you decide if this camera is for you!

WHERE TO FIND THE RICOH 500GX OR RICOH 500G

RICOH 500GX

Etsy

Check eBay listings

RICOH 500G & 500 (no multiple exposure option, but easier to find)

Etsy

KEH Camera

Check eBay Listings

RECOMMENDED FILM STOCK

You can read more about my favorite color 35 mm film stocks here or my favorite black and white film stocks here!

<3 Myles Katherine

P.S. I have a full YouTube video about this camera too! Check it out below!

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)