Porto & Peneda-Gerês National Park

The tour starts in the charming riverside town of Ponte de Lima, located in the heart of Portugal's Minho wine region and surrounded by vinho verde vineyards. On arrival you can settle into your 4-star hotel and stroll around the medieval town centre and riverside gardens, before settling down with a glass of vinho verde or two in one of the many squares. Highlights of the town include the Arnado Park, the Gothic parish church, a riverside walkway and cycle path, and the Roman bridge. There are plenty of excellent restaurants to enjoy the local cuisine from this region.

Macs Adventure can arrange private transfers to your accommodation in Ponte de Lima. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.

After 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. 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.

Ascent/Descent: 453m/453m

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. On arrival in Peneda, you will be transferred back to Castro Laboreiro for your overnight stay due to limited services in Peneda.

Ascent/Descent: 282m/552m

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.

Ascent/Descent: 377m/603m

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 (payable locally). For those who want a longer walk, complete the circuit and walk all the way to Lindoso

Ascent/Descent: 732m/732m

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'll 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.

Ascent/Descent: 571m/753m

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, take the train or bus to Porto for the last stop on this Northern Portugal adventure (alternatively we can arrange a private transfer for you with an extra cost). In Porto we have arranged a visit to a Port wine cellar, where a tasting session awaits. With a plethora of restaurants to choose from, you can end your holiday with a fine dining experience or in a more traditional setting.

The tour finishes after breakfast but Porto is a fantastic city to spend a couple of days. We recommend adding an extra night here so that you can explore both the historical and edgy sides of the city, as well as its world-class cuisine.

Macs Adventure can also arrange private transfers to Porto or Lisbon Airport. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.