Peneda Gerês National Park Portugal Walking Holiday hotel to hotel
A 8 day Self Guided Walking Tour in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Northern Portugal. A hotel-to-hotel walking, with your luggage transported (we offer luggage transfer from hotel to hotel).
Walk from village to village, amid magnificent mountain sceneries and rural communities of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only National Park in Portugal!
Discover a secret part of Portugal rich in wildlife and explore some of the main mountain ranges in the National Park, such as the Laboreiro, Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains.
Come to explore an undiscovered part of Portugal and encounter an age-old rural way of life!
If you don´t like the idea of unpacking and repacking everyday, you can check our 8 day Centre-Based Walking Holiday in Peneda-Gerês National Park Portugal – 8 days (self-guided):
https://descubraminho.com/en/toursnorthernportugal/walking-holiday-geres-national-park-portugal/
Suggested route pairing: Self Guided Walking Holiday in Douro Valley:
https://descubraminho.com/en/toursnorthernportugal/self-guided-walking-holiday-douro-valley-portugal/
Itinerary
We will pick you up in Braga or Porto and offer a private transfer to Castro Laboreiro – 2h.
Castro Laboreiro is the first village in the northern part of the Peneda-Gerês National Park (930 m / 3050 feet).
If you arrive early in Castro Laboreiro, you can start exploring this wonderful village on a short walk to the remains of the castle above the village of Castro Laboreiro (1033 m / 3388 feet).
The castle dates back to the founding of Portugal (12th century) and is accessed by a circular route from the village.
The views from the castle are incredible!
Overnight stay in a country house or in a 3-star hotel in Castro Laboreiro
This hike takes you through some old trails that link villages to their summer pastures, where temporary summer settlements bear testimony to the harsh conditions endured by the local farmers and shepherds.
Hiking in the mountains, you may come across the ibex (wild goat) and spot some wolf tracks.
Short walk: 13 km / 8.06 mi
Long walk: 16 km / 9.92 mi
Overnight in a country house or in a 3-star hotel in Castro Laboreiro
Leaving your hotel you start hiking through the Laboreiro mountains to reach the village of Lamas de Mouro.
Leaving Lamas de Mouro you descend to cross several wonderful forests. The most part of the route you will walk along ancient tracks and paths towards Peneda village.
The end of the hike is at the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peneda, where your hotel is located.
Short walk: 8.5 km / 5.27 mi
Long walk: 16 km / 9.92 mi
Overnight in a county house or in a 3-star hotel in Peneda
Leaving Peneda village you will walk down the sanctuary steps and into Peneda Valley.
On the way you will explore some traditional villages and walk uphill to reach Tibo viewpoint.
At the viewpoint you will enjoy panoramic views of the mountain ranges and wonderful valleys.
From the viewpoint you walk downhill all the way towards Soajo, a traditional village made famous by its enormous granite maize stores (granaries) and the local watermills.
Short walk: 8 km / 4.96 mi
Long walk: 16 km / 9.92 mi
Overnight in a country house in Soajo
Today you’ll experience spectacular views over the Lima Valley.
The route between Soajo and Lindoso is mainly on ancient paths used by local farmers to walk from village to village.
After passing through Paradela village the route ends at the Medieval Castle of Lindoso with the group of espigueiros alongside it and, as a background, the waters of the Alto Lindoso reservoir.
Overnight in a country house in Lindoso
Leaving Lindoso village, you walk along the peaceful Serra Amarela (Yellow mountain), home of golden eagles, vultures, wild horses and Iberian wolves.
On the way you enjoy great views over Spain and you can visit several ancient shepherd shelters in the mountain. The last part of the hike takes you on a scenic route through old oak forests, to reach Ermida, a mountain village.
From Ermida you walk down towards Germil village, where you will meet the driver to transfer you to your hotel.
Short walk: 12 km / 7.44 mi
Long walk: 19 km / 11.78 mi
Overnight in a 3 star hotel in Campo do Gerês
A wonderful linear walk from Rio Caldo to Santa Maria do Bouro using ancient paths and roman roads walked by pilgrims and local shepherds.
After a steep climb, you enjoy the views over Rio Caldo and Gerês mountains afterwards you walk downhill through forests and terraced fields to the old monastery of Santa Maria do Bouro, converted in a 5-star hotel – Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro where you will end your walking holiday!
Long walk: 8 km / 5 mi
Short walk: 12 km / 7.44 mi
Overnight in 5-star hotel in Santa Maria do Bouro
After breakfast we offer a private transfer to Porto or Braga.
Map of Walking holiday hotel to hotel Gerês National Park Portugal
What´s included?
- Welcome briefing by our tour leader (day 1);
- Hotel to hotel acommodation in a mix of hotels (country houses, 3-star hotels and a 5-star hotel);
- All breakfasts;
- Private transfer from Braga or Porto (airport, train station or city center) to your hotel in Castro Laboreiro (day 1);
- Private transfer from Germil to Campo do Gerês (day 6);
- Private transfer from Campo do Gerês to Rio Caldo (day 7);
- Private transfer from Santa Maria do Bouro to Braga or Porto (day 8);
- Luggage transfers between hotels;
- Booklet: good overview hiking maps, hiking notes and recommendations about restaurants and places to visit;
- Mobile app to navegate with information about the trip and GPS files to use for each hike;
- Local telephone support (24/7).
Optional services
- Extra nights in the National Park;
- Extra nights in 5-star hotel;
- Packed lunches (on request).
Accommodation
On this tour we offer a great mix of lovely accommodations from friendly cottages (traditional village houses owned by local families) to 3-star and a 4-star hotels.
We leave the best hotel for the last day, a wonderful 5-star pousada (an old monastery converted in a fantastic hotel).
We work in partnership with more than one accommodation, all are hand-picked by us.
If an accommodation is fully booked we will give you a similar option and you can check it before to book the tour.
