Overview
The Peneda-Gerês National Park is the only national park in Portugal and spans the Peneda, Soaja, Amerela and Gerês mountain ranges. Exploring the park on foot gives you the chance to witness mountaintop splendours carved during the Ice Age and to meet the friendly inhabitants of the numerous traditional villages in the area. You will walk through woodland, meadows and pastures, and if you are lucky, you can also spot wolves, golden eagles and the elusive Pyrenean desman. In the evenings, savour some of the local delicacies: goat meat, ham, cured sausages, traditional stews and soups, and of course, the famous “cozido de feijão” (bean stew) with cauliflower grown locally in Rio Caldo.
- The beautiful city of Porto (Oporto)
- Peneda-Gerês National Park
- The imposing stone Castle of Castro Laboreiro
- The historic town of Ponte de Lima
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ponte de Lima
Make your way to the charming riverside town of Ponte de Lima, where you will be greeted at your accommodation by a member of our team for a full briefing about your Peneda-Gerês National Park program and handover of the road notes. Then explore at leisure its renowned gardens, medieval centre and Roman bridge before enjoying the traditional Minho cuisine with a glass or two of locally produced vinho verde at one of Ponte de Lima’s excellent restaurants.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Ponte de Lima (Imperio do Norte or similar)
Day 2: Castro Laboreiro Circular Walk | 13km
Private transfer in the morning to Castro Laboreiro. After leaving your luggage at the hotel, you will walk out of the village into the rugged hills and gorgeous countryside full of quirky rock formations. Once in the valley, a pleasant area of woodland leads to an ancient bridge where you may like to bathe your feet in the untainted waters. Enjoy the shade of the trees and the sound of the stream as you climb steadily to the plateau, full of smooth granite boulders and sweeping views across the valley to other hills, valleys and ridges. The trail ends back in Castro Laboreiro.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 3-4h, ↑440m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Castro Laboreiro
Day 3: Castro Laboreiro to Peneda | 15km
Set off from your hotel, through the village, and cross wild rocky highlands with glorious views over the surrounding mountains on the way to Lamas do Mouro park gates. From here, the enchantment of the forest takes over as you make your way towards the sanctuary at Peneda, at times following ancient stone paths built for local pilgrims. Transfer back to Castro Laboreiro for the night.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 4h, ↑311m
- Accommodation: countryside hotel in Castro Laboreiro
Day 4: Peneda to Lindoso | 19km
Short morning transfer from Castro Laboreiro to Peneda. Leave Peneda Sanctuary by walking down the valley along a centuries-old pilgrim route used by people from surrounding villages to attend religious festivals at the religious complex. Dramatic mountain scenery and enormous rock faces surround you as you follow the Peneda river through the small village of Tibo and continue down the valley to a place where two rivers converge. From the village of Várzea, it is an easy walk along a paved road beside the spectacular dam across the River Lima to nearby Lindoso, with its impressive castle. Spend the night in a beautifully restored traditional cottage and take a while to examine the traditional tools and examples of embroidery on display.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 5-6h, ↑372m
- Accommodation: a country cottage in Lindoso (Casa dos Espigueiros or similar)
Day 5: Serra Amarela Circular Walk | 21.5km
Walk through the ancient streets of Lindoso village and through a forest to follow an unpaved road that leads gently uphill, offering spectacular views of the Soajo Mountains. Once you begin your descent, the views get even better. Enjoy the utter peace and quiet and pure mountain air as you make your way downhill to the village of Cidadelhe, then take a taxi back to your hotel in Lindoso (not included). For those who want a longer walk, you can complete the circuit and walk all the way back to Lindoso.
- Walking for the day: 21.5km, 6-7h, ↑745m (optional shorter walk with taxi transfer from Cidadelhe)
- Accommodation: a country cottage in Lindoso (Casa dos Espigueiros or similar)
Day 6: Avelar to Soajo/Viana do Castelo | 19km
A private transfer will bring you to Avelar, a small village of shepherds in the heart of the spectacular Soajo Mountain, from where you will start your walk to Soajo. After a rather steep start, you will be rewarded with striking views of the peaks and valleys of the Peneda and Soajo Mountains and the lush Ramiscal Valley. You will also see rare examples of local heritage in the form of wolf traps and shepherd shelters. As you make your way down to the Mezio Park Gate, the walk gets considerably easier. Stop here to learn about the natural and cultural treasures in this part of the vast national park. Make your way to Soajo through mixed woodlands and mountain meadows. The views extend across the Lima Valley to the Amarela Mountains. The trail ends In the village of Soajo. While you wait for your transfer to Viana do Castelo, you can pop into a local café or visit the collection of espigueiros and the unique pillory. End the day in the small, attractive city of Viana do Castelo and explore the medieval town centre in the evening.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 6-7h, ↑576m
- Accommodation: a hotel in Viana do Castelo (Hotel Laranjeira or similar)
Day 7: Viana do Castelo/Porto
You can choose to spend part of the day discovering the charms of Viana do Castelo, which has several interesting sights, including the Santa Luzia Basilica, the Costume Museum and the Gil Eanes Hospital Ship. When you are ready to leave Viana do Castelo, take the train or bus to Porto for the last stop on this adventure. The rest of the day is yours to explore Porto at leisure. Roam the historical streets, go souvenir shopping, admire the views or go on a port wine tour and tasting in the cellars of Vila Nova da Gaia. With a plethora of restaurants to choose from, you can end your holiday with a fine dining experience or in a more traditional setting.
- Accommodation: a hotel in Porto (Hotel Porto Trindade or similar)
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast, or you can extend your stay in Porto.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a mix of welcoming 3-star hotels and country cottages. They all have comfortable private en-suite rooms and provide a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Imperio do Norte (Ponte de Lima)
- Casa dos Espigueiros (Lindoso)
- Hotel Laranjeira (Viana do Castelo)
- Hotel Porto Trindade (Porto)
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included as well as five picnic lunches. Dinners are available at all overnight accommodations or in the villages.
Difficulty and terrain
This walk is graded moderate to strenuous and includes daily walks of 5-6h on average; the terrain is undulating, but there are only a few steep ascents and descents (read more about difficulty grades). The routes are not well-waymarked, but we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. Most of the walks are on rugged terrain, so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support. There is little shade, so adequate weather protection is also vital. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until the end of October. The best months to visit are April – June, and September – October as in summer months it may become too hot for walking. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airport for this tour is Porto.
By train or bus
Airport transfers by public transport are recommended for this trip. Ponte de Lima is 1.5h from Porto by bus with AV Minho. From Porto, you can use the metro, bus, shuttle or taxi to reach Porto Airport. You can check the various options here.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in a mix of welcoming 3-star hotels and country cottages
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 picnic lunches (Days 2-6)
- Welcome briefing
- Detailed journey documentation and practical information
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (1 pc up to 15kg per person)
- Private transfers from Ponte de Lima to Castro Laboreiro (Day 2); from and to Peneda (Days 3 and 4); Lindoso to Avelar (Day 6), and Soajo to Viana do Castelo (Day 6)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Dinners and 2 lunches, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘Included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is NOT available for solo travellers
- Extra nights in Porto
- Private airport transfers, transfer from Porto to Ponte de Lima; from Viana do Castelo to Porto
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