Walking holiday Gerês National Park Portugal

Centred-based walking holiday Gerês National Park Portugal - 8 days (self-guided).

Explore the authentic Portugal, away from the crowds and walking through stunning landscapes in Gerês National Park.

Immerse yourself in Portugal's wild landscape. Our centre-based walking holiday offers a relaxing way to explore wilderness and traditional villages in the Peneda-Gerês National Park whilst staying in the same accommodation each night.

In the north of Portugal, Peneda-Gerês National Park lies between northeast Minho and Trás-Os-Montes regions. This protected area is known by its beautiful sights, diversified wildlife and flora. It also shelters more than 100 granite villages that, in many ways, have changed little since Portugal’s founding in the 12th century.

Itinerary:

DAY 1 - Arrive in Soajo

Soajo is one of the most secret villages in the Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Soajo is dominated by a cluster of espigueiros and life here is intensely traditional.

If you arrive earlier, you can walk around Soajo to explore the local granaries (espigueiros), lagoons and decide which restaurant to eat in before a good night’s sleep.

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 2 - Circular hike around Soajo 

Uphill first on old paths you reach the hamlet of Adrão. Then you walk through the village on the way back to Soajo.

The last part of the hike you explore the old watermills in Soajo mountains.

Easy hike: 12 kms

Moderate hike: 16 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 3 - Hike in Lindoso (views over Spain and wildlife in Serra Amarela)

Leaving Lindoso you follow the ancient shepherd paths to the middle of Serra Amarela, one of the main mountain ranges in the National Park. During this track you can explore the wildlife in the mountains wild horses and wolves still living there. During this hike you enjoy a great view over Spain and Lindoso.

Moderate hike: 12 kms

Hard hike: 18 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 4 - Parada do Lindoso - watermills and Penedo do Encanto (rock art) 

From lovely Parada the walk drops down steeply through old terraces to the Lima Valley. Then climb up and down through attractive woodland along a ridge to the Penedo do Encanto (rock art). The way back to Parada is a bit sleepery because the farmers made a water pipe to bring the water from the mountains to the village and sometimes some water runs along the path.

Moderate hike: 12 kms

Hard hike: 15 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 5 - Circular hike in Mezio (oak forests and shepherd villages) 

From Mezio visitor centre you follow old tracks along the mountainside, westwards from Mezio. You walk along shepherd paths heading up toward the high point SW of Mezio, but just before the top you turn west and descend a rocky mountainside on a sometimes faint path to the small village of Boimo and then you go up to reach Mezio again.

Moderate hike: 12 kms

Hard hike: 18 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 6 - Megalithic monuments and engravings in Britelo and Mosteiró

Leaving Mosteiró our route passes through a wild, open, mountain section. In the moutains you can explore some megalithic funeral monuments and a set of engravings with representations, cup marks and cruciform motifs that reveal a long occupation since prehistory until possibly medieval times in Serra Amarela.

Finally it gives magnificent views over the Lima Valley as it descends to the village on an ancient track.

Moderate hike: 7 kms

Hard hike: 15 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 7 - Ermida circular hike

Situated at an altitude of around 541m, Ermida is one of the many hill villages which have developed and survived in isolation. Apart from spectacular scenery, this walk gives you a glimpse of the sucessful farming techiques which have been pursued over centuries and which remain almost unchanged even today.

Moderate hike: 11 kms

Hard hike: 19 kms

Overnight at Soajo

DAY 8 - Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Porto airport or city centre.

Included on self-guided walking holiday:

• Welcome briefing with local Descubra Minho guide;
  
• 7 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in Soajo;
• Private transfer from Porto to Soajo; 
• Private transfer from Soajo to Porto airport/city;
• Private transfers from hotel to walking areas and return to hotel;
• Garmin GPS device with tracks for each day,
• Walking notes and walking maps;
• Local telephone support.

Included on guided walking holiday:

• 6 guided walks;
• 6 picnic lunches with local food;
• walking poles;
• 7 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in Soajo;
• Private transfer from Porto airport/city to first hotel and return transfer (Soajo to Porto airport/city);
• Pprivate transfers from hotel to walking areas and return to hotel.
  
  

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This trip can be enjoyed as shown, or made longer or shorter to suit you. Please contact us for full details and to discuss your trip.