Walking Holiday Northern Portugal Minho

Walking holiday in Northern Portugal, Minho - from hotel to hotel

Our walking holiday shows you the highlights of Northern Portugal and provides all the conform to relax after each walk!

This is a wonderful mix of landscapes: the wild mountains of Peneda Gerês National Park, Minho and Lima rivers, valleys and the coastal walks by the sea.

• The trip starts in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only National Park in Portugal.
  The National Park is home of wild horses and Iberian wolves. The first two days you will walk through traditional villages and wonderful landscapes.
  
  
• On third day, you walk on the banks of the Lima river. During the walk you have time to spot somel wild birds and discover the green wine region.
  
  
• The last two walking days you will explore the coastal trails walking along the Atlantic coast part of the Portuguese Coastal way to Santiago (Camino de Santiago).
  A path through history, windmills, fishermen´s trails and sandy beaches.
  
  
• On last day you have the option to cross the border by taxi boat and explore Galicia, Spain: a loop in A Guarda, Spain where you can visit a Celtic settlement that dates from between 600 and 200BC.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival in the village of Lindoso, Peneda-Gerês National Park

If you arrive earlier in Lindoso you can do an loop to explore Serra Amarela (Yellow mountain). 
Near your accommodation you find a restaurants where you can taste the local food and the local green wine / Vinho Verde!

Overnight stay in a cottage in Lindoso

Day 2 - Walk from Lindoso to Soajo, Peneda Gerês National Park 

Starting this walk by Lindoso castle you have time to visit the local castle and the 50 granaries around the castle.
Leaving Lindoso you descend to cross the Alto Lindoso dam and you will walk along the Portugal-Spain border. This route takes you through shepherd paths, traditional villages and oak forests.

Overnight stay in a cottage in Soajo

Ascent: 350m.  Descent: 500m.  Distance: 7 miles I 12km.  Walking time: 4 hours.

Day 3 - Walk from Soajo to Mezio, Peneda-Gerês National Park

Leaving behind Soajo you will walk through historical villages and ancient trails.
During the walk you will enjoy breathtaking views over Peneda-Gerês National Park.

The last part of the hike takes through a magic forest in Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Overnight stay in a cottage in Ponte da Barca

Ascent: 590m.  Descent: 380m.  Distance: 6.8 miles I 11kms.  Walking time: 4 hours.

Day 4 - Walk from Ponte da Barca to Ponte de Lima: Lima Valley, the famous green wine region

Leaving Ponte da Barca, you walk alongside the peaceful Rio Lima and through vineyards.
The path is great for birdwatching lovers, you may see different birds.

During the walk you have the option to stop and visit a local winery, where you can learn about the green wine / vinho verde.

You will finish your day arriving in the oldest town in Portugal, Ponte de Lima but you have the option to end the walk at the winery just relaxing by the vineyards.

Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Ponte de Lima

Ascent: 100m.  Descent: 150m.  Distance: 11 miles I 17km.  Walking time: 4:30 hours.

Day 5 - Walk from Ponte de Lima to Viana do Castelo, a walk from the valley to the sea

Leaving Ponte de Lima you walk on rural tracks, through fertile agricultural land and woodland.
On the way you can explore different landscapes from the flat areas by Lima river and you enjoy the nive views to Serra D´Arga Natural Park.    

Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Viana do Castelo.

Ascent: 80m.  Descent: 30m.  Distance: 15.53 miles I 25km.  Walking time: 6 hours.

Day 6 - Walk from Viana do Castelo to Vila Praia de Âncora, a day on the Portuguese coastal way - camino de Santiago

This walk is another complete contrast, as you walk along the Atlantic Coast northwards from Viana to Vila Praia de Âncora. On this route is you walk nearby sandy beaches and you can see some of old windmills nearby the coast.

Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Vila Praia de Âncora. 

Ascent: 150m.  Descent: 150m.  Distance: 12 miles I 19 kms.  Walking time: 4.30 hours.

Day 7 - Walk from Vila Praia de Âncora to Caminha, coastal walk 

             Optional loop in A Guarda, Spain and visit to a Celtic settlement

Today’s walk is in two distinct sections. The first takes you to the town of Caminha where your last night’s accommodation is located.

You can then extend the walk by taking a taxi boat and crossing the Minho river to reach Galicia, Spain and walk up Monte de Santa Trega (Galicia, Spain), the hill opposite Caminha, where you will explore a wonderful Celtic settlement.

The settlement, 341 metres above sea level, was home to about 5,000 people during its heyday, the first century BC, and was one of the largest in the whole of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The majority of its dwellings were oval in shape, but there are some rectangular ones, with rounded corners, proof of Roman influence. 

If you don´t like the idea of a taxi boat you can contact us to arrange a private taxi to take you direclty to the walk in Spain. 

Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Caminha.

Ascent: 350m.  Descent: 350m.  Distance: 11 miles I 18 km.  Walking time: 5 hours.

Day 8 - Departure 

After breakfast it´s time to say good-bye or you can extend your holiday booking our short walking holiday in the Douro Valley or our walking holiday on the Portuguese Coastal way to Santiago de Compostela (starting in Caminha and ending in Santiago).

Included:

• Private transfer from Porto (we will meet you at Campanha train station, OPO airport or a hotel in the city) and we will transfer you direct to your accommodation in Lindoso, Peneda-Gerês N. P (day 1);
• Welcome briefing by one of our tour leaders and delivery of all the documentation and hiking maps (day 1);
  
• Overnight stay in cottages and 4-star hotels;
• Private transfer from end of the walk in Mezio to your hotel in Ponte da Barca (day 3);
• Luggage transfers between hotels (from hotel to hotel - no minimum weight per person);
• GPS rental (Garmin GPS device with all the gps tracks),
• Mobile app to navigate during the tour,
• Booklet with walking notes and overview hiking maps;
• Local support line (24/7).
  
  

Optional services:

• Standard accommodation (2-3star hotels) available on request;
• Extra nights during the program;
• Packed lunches (available on request);
• Private transfer from your last hotel in Caminha to Porto (day 8).
  
  

Make An Enquiry
This trip can be enjoyed as shown but could be shorter to suit you. Please contact us for full details, questions and to discuss your trip.

Check our Douro Valley walking tour and other tours in North of Portugal: 
https://www.descubraminho.com/en/toursnorthernportugal