Explore Peneda Gerês National Park - A self-guided walking holiday in northwest Portugal

Day 1 - Ponte de Lima

On arrival at Porto airport, you will be transferred to the charming riverside town of Ponte de Lima (c.50-minutes’ drive) where you will have a welcome briefing on arrival at your hotel.

Spend the rest of the day exploring this attractive town at leisure. Among the highlights are the International Garden Festival, Arnado Park, the Gothic parish church, a riverside walkway and cycle path, the Roman bridge and a compact medieval centre with interesting squares, shops and cafés. Choose from one of the town’s many excellent restaurants and enjoy tasty local cuisine with a glass or two of vinho verde wine.

Overnight at Hotel Império do Norte, Ponte de Lima (or similar)

Ponte de Lima

Day 2 - Castro Laboreiro circular walk | 12.5km (7.8 miles) | Elevation +440m

After a satisfyingly tasty breakfast, your private driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to drive you to the remote village of 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. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

Overnight at Hotel Castrum Villae, Castro Laboreiro (or similar)

Castro Laboreiro

Day 3 - Linear walk from Castro Laboreiro to Peneda | 15.1km (9.5 miles) | Elevation +311m

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 Gate. 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. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch.

Overnight at Hotel Castrum Villae, Castro Laboreiro (or similar)

Peneda-Geres National Park

Day 4 - Linear walk from Peneda to Lindoso | 18.8km (11.7 miles) | Elevation +372m

After a short transfer from Castro Laboreiro, 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. At this point, the river forms the frontier with Spain and it is easy to imagine the considerable flow of contraband that crossed this remote border. 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, where the castle stands as testimony to its former importance. Spend the night in a beautifully restored traditional village cottage and take a while to examine the traditional tools and examples of embroidery on display. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

Accommodation at Casa dos Espigueiros, Lindoso (or similar)

Peneda

Day 5 - Serra Amarela circular walk | 21.4km (13.3 miles) | Elevation +745m

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 opposite. 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. At this point, you have walked 15.5km. If this is enough for the day, you can take a taxi back to your lodgings. For those who want a longer walk, complete the circuit and walk all the way to Lindoso. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

Overnight at Casa dos Espigueiros, Lindoso (or similar)

Lindoso

Day 6 - Linear walk from Avelar to Soajo | 19.3km (12.0 miles) | Elevation +576m

A scenic drive, via private transfer, takes you from Lindoso to Avelar, a small village of shepherds in the heart of the spectacular Soajo Mountain. Your reward for a rather steep start to today’s walk is striking views of unparalleled landscapes; the peaks and dips 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 going gets considerably easier and you will be rewarded by some enchanting pools in a crystal-clear river. Make your way to Soajo through mixed woodlands and natural and semi-natural mountain meadows. The finest views on this section extend across the Lima Valley to the Amarela Mountains opposite. 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. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch.

Overnight at Hotel Rali, Viana do Castelo (or similar)

Soajo

Day 7 - Free day in Viana do Castelo and 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, we will transfer you to Porto for the last stop on this Northern Portugal 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. Meals: Breakfast.

Overnight at Hotel Trindade, Porto (or similar)

Porto

Day 8 - Day of departure

After breakfast, take you private transfer to Porto airport for your flight home.