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PORTUGAL: FOOD, WINE & WALKS
Dublin . Cork . Blarney . Killarney . Galway
Explore Portugal through all of your senses and it will leave you longing for more.
Visit Lisbon and Porto - Portugal's iconic cities, and enjoy immensely scenic hiking trails in between. Walking Portugal's coastline delights and inspires with rocky cliffs and sweeping views of the Atlantic. Continuing inland, you'll discover medieval villages and picturesque countryside towns that are best appreciated on foot. Walk alongside fig and olive trees and see castles in the distance, sparking the imagination of royal counts and historic kingdoms. Follow trails next to vineyards in the Douro Valley, stopping to savor the wine and the views while treating yourself to delicious regional food before capping off the adventure in Porto.
Hike the coastal trail from Cabo da Roca, Visit the lush gardens and the Palace of Monserrate in Sintra, Hike through the scenic countryside near the Spanish border from the small town of Salvaterra do Extremo, Walk on a medieval road from Casteleiros to Sortelha, See picturesque terraces drawn in the landscape and taste wines overlooking the Douro Valley.
Discover the best of Portugal at your own pace.
Details
Duration:
10 days / 9 nights
Price:
From $4674 per person sharing
Departures:
Please enquire about small group
or private group departure dates
Includes:
Transportation by private vehicle and on foot
2 nights Lisbon hotel
2 nights Medelim hotel
1 night Belmonte hotel
3 nights Amarante hotel
1 night Porto hotel
Guided experiences as per itinerary
Wine and food experiences
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Sustainable/Responsible notes:
This itinerary is a series of linked hikes, village and city visits. Vehicles are used to transfer walkers to trailheads.
Accommodation is in small, family-run guesthouses, or locally-owned hotels in excellent locations.
Visits to local wineries support community-based tourism.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Lisbon
Arrive by 1:00pm. You will be transferred from the airport to your accommodation for the following two nights. Meet your tour guide and group, and start a food and wine orientation tour of Lisbon to learn about the history and local cuisine of Lisbon's neighborhoods.
Stay: Hotel Dos Reis, or similar (D)
Day 2 Lisbon: Cabo da Roca Hike
In the morning, depart for Cabo da Roca, the point where the land ends and the sea begins. Begin your hike along the coastal cliffs, passing immaculate views like Pedra de Alvidrar and Buraco do Fojo towards Praia de Adraga. After this rewarding hike, head to Sintra and take a tour of the stunning Palacio Monserrate.
then set off for an evening at leisure in Lisbon.
Stay: Hotel Dos Reis, or similar (B, L)
Day 3 Lisbon - Medelim
Depart Lisbon in the morning toward the border of Spain to a town called Penha Garcia with a lunch stop on the way at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a moderate 2-mile walk through varying terrain. Keep an eye out for colonies of vultures for which the trail gets its name. Finish at the Ichnofossils. Later, drive to the town of Medelim for the night.
Stay: Casa Do Cedro, or similar (B, L, D)
Day 4 Medelim
After breakfast, transfer to the stunning Monsanto for a guided walking tour. Travel back in time over 1000 years to an era of castles, legends and traditions. Deemed one of Portugal's 12 Historic Villages, hiking to Idanha-a-Velha along the GR7 E12 route will connect you to the time of conquerors as you traverse the paths through historic stone walls and castles. Enjoy the tales of this region's fascinating history under fig and olive trees.
Idanha-a-Velha, nestled between the Pônsul River and three gentle hills, was originally settled by the Romans. Beneath its humble urban fabric lie the ruins of a city with a rich history. Learn more of this quaint town on a guided walking tour before you head back for a dinner with your group.
Stay: Casa Do Cedro, or similar (B, L, D)
Day 5 Medelim - Belmonte
On today's stunning hike, join your guide and wander along the historic stone path from Casteleiros to Sortelha. Famous for historic villages, this hike takes place on a medieval road surrounded by ancient olive groves.
The enchanting Sortelha Castle looms over the most mysterious of all the Historic Villages, where you will soon lose yourself in a maze of alleys and lanes as you hike up to the castle. It is a place where time seems to have stood still.
Stay: Casa das Penhas Douradas, or similar (B, L, D)
Day 6 Belmonte - Serra da Estrela National Park - Amarante
Explore this beautiful valley nestled within the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, the highest mountain range in continental Portugal. You'll be surrounded by lush green, rolling hills, and striking rock formations scattered across the landscape. Witness the two granite peaks, Serra da Estrela, the namesake of the National Park, and Fragões das Penhas Douradas. The hike will lead to the dazzling lagoon of Vale do Rossim.
In the afternoon, transfer north to Amarante.
Stay: Casa des Lerius, or similar (B, L)
Day 7 Amarante wineries
After breakfast, walk 6 miles through the valley of the Douro wine region. A tapestry of vineyards unfolds as you traverse Douro wine country, Portugal's most esteemed wine region. Revel in the perfect blend of nature and culture; cross picturesque countryside, soaking in the incredible views as you hike along a valley trail along the river before arriving to a world class vineyard for a 3-course meal with wine pairings. Then head to Casa de Mateus for a tour of the palace and museum before enjoying a free evening.
Stay: Casa des Lerius, or similar (B, L)
Day 8 Amarante - Casal de Loivis hike
Spend another day in the Douro wine region with a 5 mile hike through the hills and town of Pinhão. Walk through the Douro and Alto Douro Vinhateiro, a wine region UNESCO describes as being a living cultural landscape. You will weave through historic village streets, beautiful buildings and up through paths draped with green grape vines. This hike allows for an endless panoramic riverscape and gorgeous views of the Douro River. Travel north through Pinhão to the village of Casal de Loivos where you can detour to a viewpoint, boasting one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region.
Afternoon at leisure.
Stay: Casa des Lerius, or similar (B)
Day 9 Porto
Travel from Amarante to Porto in the morning. Choose between a riverside e-bike tour through Porto or join your guide on a Douro river cruise and walk through Vila Nova de Gaia to Porto Augusto for a wine tasting. Enjoy a free afternoon before joining your group for one last dinner together in the evening
Stay: Pousada do Porto Rua das Flores, or similar (B, D)
Day 10 Depart Porto
Today your adventure comes to an end and you can depart at any time.
(B)