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Highlights
Discover the enchanting mountainside and ancient footpaths of Northern Portugal
Explore Castro Laboreiro and other picturesque mountain villages that feel like they’re transported from another time.
Hike in Peneda-Gerês National Park, a unique natural environment that combines the beauty of the mountains with pastoral life.
Visit the fruits of the Vinho Verde Vineyards just outside the medieval village of Ponte da Barca.
Enjoy the fun handicrafts and delectable produce from the region, especially the local honey and wine.
Discover the incredible beauty of Peneda-Gerês National Park on this hiking holiday through the mountainside of Northern Portugal. Peneda-Gerês is the only protected national park in Portugal and is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. What better place for a hike?
Spend eight leisurely days exploring the spectacular mountain landscapes between the picturesque ancient villages where you’ll be staying. This is the perfect way to enjoy the scenery and fresh mountain air, experience local cuisine and culture, all while having your bags transported for you to your next destination. The paths you walk will wind their way through the rocky peaks, the lush mountain farms, and the expansive pastures. Ancient ruins and charming mountain villages will accent your trail as you explore this incredible region through a series of several half-day hikes.
Grab your boots and get ready to explore the best of northern Portugal on the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour!
Discover the incredible beauty of Peneda-Gerês National Park on this hiking holiday through the mountainside of Northern Portugal. Peneda-Gerês is the only protected national park in Portugal and is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. What better place for a hike?
Spend eight leisurely days exploring the spectacular mountain landscapes between the picturesque ancient villages where you’ll be staying. This is the perfect way to enjoy the scenery and fresh mountain air, experience local cuisine and culture, all while having your bags transported for you to your next destination. The paths you walk will wind their way through the rocky peaks, the lush mountain farms, and the expansive pastures. Ancient ruins and charming mountain villages will accent your trail as you explore this incredible region through a series of several half-day hikes.
Grab your boots and get ready to explore the best of northern Portugal on the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour!
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Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive at Castro Laboreiro
Your tour begins upon your arrival in Peneda-Gerês National Park. You’ll be staying in Castro Laboreiro, an ancient mountain village.
Once you’ve settled into your hotel, take a stroll to explore the Roman bridges, medieval churches, and charming watermills. It’s also a short walk to the castle, where you’ll discover the ruins of a fortress and spectacular views.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Castro Laboreiro
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Explore Beautiful Castro Laboreiro
Today your trail begins by following the ancient path that winds through the fortified mountain villages.
You’ll be hiking through impressive landscapes that are scattered with historical ruins from the middle ages. You may even spot a Castro Laboreiro dog along your way- these native working dogs guard the flocks on the mountainside and are one of the oldest dog breeds on the Iberian Peninsula.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Castro Laboreiro
Distance: Short option: 2 to 3 hours, 10.5 km, 364m of ascent and 364m of descent
Long option: 3 to 4 hours, 12.3 km, 477m of ascent and 477m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Hike the Mountainside to the Village of Peneda
Today you’ll experience spectacular views as you hike across the mountain between Castro Laboreiro and Lamas de Mouro. You’ll follow the Peneda River through trees and mountain pastures. You’re likely to spot some of the local Cachena cows grazing in the valley or even a herd of mountain horse known as Garranos.
You will be hiking into Peneda, a little village surrounded by towering granite peaks. If you choose the shorter route, it will include a transfer into Peneda, where you’ll be staying for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Peneda
Distance: Short option: 2 hours, 8.5 km, 121m of ascent and 307m of descent
Long option: 3 to 4 hours, 14.7 km, 335m of ascent and 593m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Climb Meadinha Hill and visit Lagoa de Meadinha Boulder
Today you’ll be trekking to see the breathtaking view from the top of Meadinha Hill. You can choose to follow the trail on an old cart road or take a winding footpath over the mountain.
You’ll hike to a stunning lake with the famous Lagoa de Meadinha Boulder reaching out of its depths. From the lake, you’ll hike the lush green mountainside back down to Peneda for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Peneda
Distance: 2 to 3 hours, 10.1 km, 545m of ascent and 595m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Tibo and the Miradouro da Gavieira Lookout
This morning, climb down the sanctuary steps and continue down the riverside path. You’ll walk through small rustic villages and then hike uphill to Tibo.
At the top will be the awe-inspiring panoramic views of the mountain range and bucolic valleys. You’ll continue walking to Soajo, a rustic village made famous by its enormous granite maize stores. If you choose the shorter route your transfer will be included.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Soajo
Distance: Short option: 2 hours, 8.9 km, 376m of ascent and 640m of descent
Long option: 4 to 5 hours, 15.5 km, 544m of ascent and 885m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Take the Paths of Bread, Paths of Faith and Explore Soajo
This morning you’ll be taking the path of an ancient pilgrimage known as the Paths of Bread, Paths of Faith. This used to be the way the devout would walk as an act of faith.
Today you’ll find yourself surrounded by farms and farmers harvesting the cornfields. This corn is the main ingredient in the traditional cornbread which is currently rated by CNN as one of the best breads in the world (snacktime, anyone?). When you’re back at the village, use some of your free time to visit local producers of honey and wine.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Soajo
Distance: 2 hours, 7.3 km, 278m of ascent and 265m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Easy Hike to Arcos de Valdevez
This morning you’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to Ponte Barca. The last section of your adventure is in the lush green region along the Lima River.
The picture-perfect Ponte Barca is all quaint whitewashed houses around a medieval stone bridge. Leave the charming village streets for a wander along the river, through fields, pastures, and vineyards.
The bubbling Vez river will lead you to another historic village, Arcos de Valdevez. Make sure you use your last night here to indulge in all the incredible regional cuisine, especially “Charutos dos Arcos”, the famous Portuguese dessert.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Arcos de Valdevez
Distance: 1.5 hours, 5.4 km, 38m of ascent and 78m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Deaprt
This morning your tour will conclude after the breakfast. Safe travels!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2024 Departures The departures are available every Sunday, from March 1st to November 30th.
- Solo traveller: on request
- Single room (2+ travellers): from EUR1188*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR813*
Accommodation on the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour
This tour is based in 3 and 4-star hotels and guesthouses. Each of these handpicked boutique properties is situated right in the mountain villages that will be the start or endpoint of each of your daily hikes.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations. The hotel list will be sent to you with your confirmation but will be reconfirmed 31 days prior to your arrival.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
If you prefer to have a private room, you can pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included. There are optional meal or tasting packages that may be added to your tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Luggage transfers are included throughout the tour. Shared transfers between specified destinations are also included as per your itinerary. This includes Castro Laboreiro to Lamas de Mouro on Day 3, Peneda to Tibo on Day 5, and Soajo to Ponte de Barca on Day 7.
Also Included
- Welcome meeting
- Emergency support between 8 am and 8 pm
- Access to route mobile app
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Flights to and from Porto
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Visas if required
- Personal equipment
- Fees not mentioned as ‘included’
- Gratuities for hotel staff, servers, or drivers
Optional Extras
- Guide
- Wine & specialties experiences
- Picnic lunch
- Half Board upgrade
- Private transfers between Porto Airport and city center
- Shared departure and arrival transfers to and from Porto Airport
- How hard is the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour?
- Will I need internet access for the app during my hikes on the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Portugal?
- Are meals included on the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Castro Laboreiro to start this tour?
- Is the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour guided?
- Where does the Hiking Peneda-Gerês National Park tour end?
- Are equipment rentals included?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Portugal?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Portugal?
- When is the best time to travel to Portugal for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. While you will be hiking several days in a row, most days give you the option to choose between longer (3-4 hours) and shorter (1-2 hours) hikes. The hikes are modest in their elevation gain and no technical skills are required.
You will need to download the guide app included on this trip before you begin any of your hikes. This way you will be able to access the maps and route guides on your device when it’s offline.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included. Additional meal packages may be added in advance.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can fly into Porto Airport (OPO). An optional private or shared airport transfer to your hotel in Castro Laboreiro is possible for a supplement.
No, this is a self-guided tour. You will have access to a route guide on an included app. If you prefer to book this as a guided tour, let us know.
The tour ends in Arcos de Valdevez.
No, there is no equipment included. Please bring any equipment desired.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit Peneda-Gerês National Park for this tour is April and May when the wildflowers are in full bloom and the weather is pleasant.
Customer Ratings
VINITUR is a full-service tour operator providing fine customized programs about wine, food, and culture in Portugal and Spain. VINITUR has dedicated itself to special groups, corporate travellers, and gourmet and luxury-focused visitors for leisure travel since 1998. VINITUR’s innovative approach and unique services include wine, food, and culinary itineraries, gourmet experiences, meetings, and conferences. The company has provided self-guided bike tours since 2014 alongside other self-guided tours by car since 2005. VINITUR is the Portuguese travelling agency endorsed by the world-famous Great Wine Capitals network.
In 2014, Vinitur launched the Portugal Biking Experiences, a new offering linked to active tourism and nature. This new service was the result of an intense year of exploration of new concepts, selection of the best bicycle routes, new partnerships, and the creation of innovative cycling products. Relying on their many years of experience, Portugal Biking Experiences combines the best that nature has to offer in a beautiful, authentic experience.
