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The North Experience
Explore Northern Portugal like no one!
Douro Valley Hike – We invite you to visit the North of Portugal by hiking in Portugal’s only National Park, wine tasting in the first demarcated wine region in the World and walking on the unique Porto’s streets and Ribeira quay by the Douro River.
Peneda-Gerês National Park
Peneda-Gerês National Park is a vast territory with very different regions. From Barroso to Alto Minho the landscape changes a lot, as well as the culture and the people. Discover the different regions of the national park, the villages with their typical granaries, old castles, religious sanctuaries, find about the traditional ways of living and go through old trails used by shepherds.
Explore wild rivers and natural waterfalls and, if the weather allows, swim across and dive into its incredible natural lagoons deep in the mountains and always in the company of a local guided walking holidays portugal.
Douro valley and wine region
The Douro, the most ancient wine region, doesn’t need presentations. The Douro River cuts through the bottom of the valley with its sides full of vines to give us an amazing scenario. It also gives us unique wines and amazing people to greet us.
Explore the river on a traditional boat and visit renowned wineries on this amazing UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
The city of Porto
Porto with its very rich culture and monuments is at the top of anyone’s bucket list when visiting Portugal. The Douro River carved an astonishing canyon shaped valley with the city on one side and Porto’s famous wine cellars on the other, providing a breath taking landscape.
Stunning sights from the top to the waterfront at the Ribeira quay. Taste the local exquisite cuisine such as “tripas à moda do Porto” or “Francesinha”. Come meet its delightful people and their incredible stories.
Daily Program (suggested)
Day 1 - Arrival
Transfer from the airport or other places in north of Portugal to Peneda-Gerês (optional from Lisbon)
Dinner: hotel
Accomodation: hotel*** in Gerês
Day 2 - First day at Peneda-Gerês National Park: Pitões das Júnias
Hike in the mountains near the village
Lunch: Packed lunch
Dinner: hotel
Accomodation: hotel*** in Gerês
Highlights:
- Village of Pitões de Junias – One of the highest village in Portugal
- Monastery of Saint Mary of Júnias from the 9th century
- Observation of wild goats
- Walk along the border (1330m altitude)
- Oak forest
- Mountain meadows and grazing areas
- Massive granite formations
Technical Data:
- Distance: 8,5 km (5,3 mi)
- Elevation gain: 360 m (1181 ft)
- Degree of difficulty: moderate
Day 3 - Second day at Peneda-Gerês National Park: Gerês
Hike in the mountains to the Teixeira valley
Lunch: packed lunch
Dinner: hotel
Accomodation: hotel*** in Gerês
Highlights:
- Mountain meadows and grazing areas
- Ancestral shelters for shepherds
- Arado waterfall
- Arado river
- Teixeira glacial valley
- Rock formations
- Natural landscape of the national park
Technical Data:
- Distance: 10 km (6,3 mi)
- Elevation gain: 477 m (1565 ft)
- Degree of difficulty: moderate
Day 4 - Third day at Peneda-Gerês National Park: Peneda
Hike in the Peneda mountain range
Lunch: packed lunch
Dinner: hotel
Accomodation: hotel*** in Gerês
Highlights:
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peneda (Nossa Senhora da Peneda) – construction started from the 18th century and ending in 1875
- Viewpoint over the valley and the sanctuary of Peneda
- Fraga da Meadinha (climbing rock formation)
- Peneda hydroelectric power station
- Valley and forest of Lamas de Mouro
- Granaries of Soajo locally called as “Espigueiros”
- Ruins of Castro Laboreiro Castle from the 13th century
- Native breed of dogs from Portugal – Dog of Castro Laboreiro
- Laboreiro river
Technical Data:
- Distance: 11 km (6,9 mi)
- Elevation gain: 557 m (1827 ft)
- Degree of difficulty: moderate
Day 5 - Douro Valley and transfer to Porto
Visit one Quinta (vineyard and winery estate), which includes Hiking in the vineyard and wine tasting
Transfer to Porto
Lunch: Local Restaurant or Pic nic lunch
Dinner: not included
Accomodation: hotel**** in Porto
Highlights:
- Viewpoint of S. Leonardo da Galafura
- Douro valley and wine region – UNESCO’s World Heritage
- Local winery visit
- Town of Pinhão
- Town of Régua
- Pinhão rail station
- Boat trip on Douro river
- Viewpoint Casal de Loivos
Technical Data:
- Distance: 5 km (3 mi)
- Elevation: 80 m (262 ft)
- Degree of difficulty: easy
Day 6 - Free time in Porto
Visit to city of Porto – UNESCO’s World Heritage
Free day at Porto – guided walking tour – Optional
Accomodation: hotel**** in Porto
Suggested points of interest:
- Several viewpoint from the city to the Douro river
- Clérigos tower
- São Bento Rail Station
- Ribeira quay
- Downtown
- D. Luís I bridge
- World famous port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia (on other side of the river)
- Boats on Douro river
Day 7 - Free time in Porto
Visit to city of Porto – UNESCO’s World Heritage
Free day at Porto
Accomodation: hotel**** in Porto
Day 8 - Departure / End of our services
- Transfers (except day 08)
- Accommodation (B&B)
- Local English and french-speaking guide
- 4 packed lunches and 5 dinners
- Water
- Personal accident insurance
- Lunches and dinners at Porto
- Transfer to airport or other place in day 8
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
- Transfer from / and to Lisbon or other place
- Last day transfer to the airport or other place
- Accommodation in single room
- Extra night in Porto
- Guided walking tour in Porto
- Fado dinner in Porto
- walking trails douro valley
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JOSE MARINO –
Un super séjour riche en découvertes ! Une organisation très efficace et des hôtels très confortables. Des guides très professionnels nous ont permis de découvrir de magnifiques espaces riches en faune sauvage (chevaux, chèvres, loups, vaches…) et flore, des villages typiques, des coutumes, des traditions, la cuisine et les produits locaux. Découverte de la vallée du Douro d’une quinta et de son vignoble et pour finir ce magnifique voyage une agréable visite de Porto et de ses quartiers.
Mark Blackmore –
Great trip to Portugal. 4 days in Geres National Park and then 4 in Porto via the Douro Valley.
Samuel was easy to contact via email and Whatsapp and he also kindly accomodated my wifes wish to swim in the lake in Geres.
The range of scenery around the park was fantastic and our guide Carlos was was both accomodating and informative. The walks were easy to moderate and we would love to go again and see more – with possibly longer walks (we’re in our late 50’s but reasonably fit).
The winery trip was worthwhile and interesting and Douro valley impressive.
The accomodation in Geres and Porto were both very central and the evening meal vouchers worked well – excellent local food …and more than we could eat!
In summary, a marvelous trip and we would go again.
Don McDonald –
We did a 13 day trip to Porto and the surrounding region in Northern Portugal. We wandered Porto for 3 days enjoying the old part of the city and port tasting in the many aging sheds in Vila Nova deGaia. The we visited the national park, did tours and tastings in the Duoro Valley, visited many medieval castles and churches, archeological sites in the Coa valley, and the fantastic library at Coimbra University. Our guides were knowledgeable and professional and went to extra effort to show us the interesting features and history of the region we toured. The food was fantastic and the hotels were just great. Small local inns associated with the local culture where we got to know the owners. Exactly what we wanted. One of our best trips ever. Can’t wait to go back.