Portugal: Minho & the Douro Valley

Camino de Santiago: Ponte de Lima to Paço de Calheiros; 2.4 – 5 miles, easy to moderate

Breakfast is included at your hotel. Your Country Walkers representative meets you at the Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel at 9:00 a.m. in the lobby. The tour begins with short transfer to Ponte de Lima.

This morning, join your guides for a brief orientation before a short transfer to the Minho – one of three regions you will visit in Portugal. In the heart of the Minho region, drive along the Lima River to the attractive riverside town of Ponte de Lima, named after its Roman Bridge. Here you will have lunch before lacing up your walking shoes and tracing a Portuguese segment of the religious route Caminho de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Your walk today begins with a crossing of the legendary Ponte de Lima. Seven original Roman arches remain.

After crossing the bridge, begin your journey through a farming landscape. Pilgrims from around the world have been walking this “Way of St. James” for more than a millennium to arrive at Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain where many believe St. James is buried. Soon, pastures give way to huge vineyards surrounding beautiful manor houses. One of them is a Paço, a small country palace and rest stop for the king during his travels through the countryside.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is the Paço de Calheiros, which has been owned and operated by the family of Count Calheiros since medieval times. The present-day family home was built in the 17th century. Its stalwart structures and three-foot granite wall have stood the test of time. You may stroll the grounds which offer breathtaking views of the Lima Valley. If the day is clear you may also glimpse the Atlantic Ocean.

In the evening, get to know your host, Count Calheiros at a welcome reception followed by a sumptuous dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paço de Calheiros

Parque Nacional da Peneda- Gerês & Caminho da Fé; 2.8 – 4.2 miles, easy to moderate

Today, explore the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês in the northern Minho region. With its forested valleys and mountain pastures, this is Portugal’s only national park. The little mountain villages in the park appear lost in time, but have adapted to the new world of tourism with well-marked footpaths linking them together. There will be time to learn about the unique grain storages known as espigueiros. These wood or granite structures were cleverly designed to keep animals away from harvested grains.

You will descend into the valley between the granite peaks of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, arriving in the ancient village of Soajo. This road was originally paved with large stones by the Romans, and for centuries has been walked by pilgrims from Peneda to Soajo; known as the Caminho da Fé, the Way of Faith. Alternatively, it is also referred to as the Caminho do Pão, the Way of Bread, as the inhabitants of this valley have made their living by moving their livestock up and down the mountains with the change of seasons. As you walk past aqueducts used for irrigating fields and powering flour mills, you may even see the indigenous Cachena milk cows or the wild Garrano horses.

Nearing the village of Soajo, with its dramatic backdrop of the Serra do Soajo Mountains, walk under a grape arbor past small, terraced gardens and vineyards. Winding your way through the village and past its ancient granite houses, you will soon arrive at the communal granary and its granite espigueiros.

En route back to Paço de Calheiros, the shuttle will stop for those who wish to take an optional walk that will end at our hotel. You will cross scenic rolling hills before returning to the estate. From a distance, the beautiful architecture will look even more majestic. As you amble downhill to your lodgings, a landmark chestnut grove comes into view letting you know the destination is close by.

Back at the manor house, you may opt to venture out and explore the forests that surround Paço de Calheiros on well-kept trails, join a walk through the Count’s gardens, or relax by the swimming pool. This evening shuttle into nearby Ponte de Lima for dinner on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Paço de Calheiros

Guimarães; Provesende to Pinhão; 2.5–3.9 miles, easy to moderate

After our visit to Guimarães we venture to the county of Sabrosa, birthplace of the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Our destination and the start of today’s walk is the charming village of Provesende, dating to the Moorish era. After a brief exploration of town and its Baroque church, we follow paths downhill through vineyards, keeping the Douro River in sight. In 1756, the Douro Valley and Portugal’s wine regions became the first controlled and demarcated winemaking region in the world. It’s all thanks to the Marquis de Pombal who planted granite pillars in 1756 to define the boundary that produced the finest port. Today, the entire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This magnificent landscape continues to inspire poets, painters, and photographers.

We end today’s walk at your accommodations for the next two nights in the heart of the wine region in the town of Pinhão. The historic hotel is set on the banks of the Douro River, offering spectacular views of the Douro River Valley. Just steps away explore the small shops and restaurants of the small town of Pinhão.

This evening enjoy dinner in your lovely hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: The Vintage House

Vineyard Walk to Ferrão train station; 2.9 – 3.8 miles, easy to moderate

In the afternoon, spend time at your leisure exploring the town of Pinhão and its train station where the “Wine House” museum is located. Then relax poolside at the hotel and enjoy the river views and its slow-passing boats. Later, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in Pinhão or the hotel’s dining room at your leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Vintage House

Rota das Aldeias Históricas to Marialva: 2.1 miles, moderate

This morning, you embark on a wooden sailing ship similar in style to the bygone rabelos that carried wine up and down the Douro River to other regions. Your privately chartered boat offers a relaxing cruise on the Douro River. Your guides will prepare a delectable picnic lunch on board. One of our highlights will be passing through the Douro’s Ferrão lock before disembarking in Ferradosa. From here you shuttle to your lodgings in Marialva, a haunting medieval village carved into a rocky cliff or you may opt to walk a short distance on the Rota das Aldeias Históricas – an historical trail of more than 500 km connecting 12 small villages such as Marialva. Enjoy the remainder of the evening and dinner on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Casas do Côro

Loop walk from Casas do Côro: 2.4 – 5.1 miles, easy to moderate

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely stroll between stone walls, through vineyards, past fruit trees and cultivated fields.

After lunch, venture out to explore Marialva and its castle. Though its origin dates back to the sixth century BC, it was not officially granted a town charter until 1179. This hillside medieval village seems carved from the craggy slopes, so it’s easy to see why it once served as an important military fortress. Wandering these streets on old, stone-paved roads makes for an otherworldly experience; you’ll want to leave no corner ignored. Venture up to the medieval castle for a guided tour, where you’ll learn more about Marialva’s past.

This evening’s farewell dinner is sure to please, featuring family recipes passed down over generations to your hotel’s owner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Casas do Côro

This morning you’ll shuttle (approximately four hours) to Portugal’s capital of Lisbon where the tour ends.

A morning bus journey takes you to Portugal’s capital of Lisbon, approximately four hours driving. Arrive in Lisbon midday at your centrally located hotel; you will have the remainder of the afternoon to explore the historic capital of Portugal.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Fontecruz Lisboa, Autograph Collection

Camino de Santiago: Ponte de Lima to Paço de Calheiros; 2.4 – 5 miles, easy to moderate

This morning, join your guides for a brief orientation before a short transfer to the Minho – one of three regions you will visit in Portugal. In the heart of the Minho region, drive along the Lima River to the attractive riverside town of Ponte de Lima, named after its Roman Bridge. Here you will have lunch before lacing up your walking shoes and tracing a Portuguese segment of the religious route Caminho de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Your walk today begins with a crossing of the legendary Ponte de Lima. Seven original Roman arches remain.

After crossing the bridge, begin your journey through a farming landscape. Pilgrims from around the world have been walking this “Way of St. James” for more than a millennium to arrive at Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain where many believe St. James is buried. Soon, pastures give way to huge vineyards surrounding beautiful manor houses. One of them is a Paço, a small country palace and rest stop for the king during his travels through the countryside.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is the Paço de Calheiros, which has been owned and operated by the family of Count Calheiros since medieval times. The present-day family home was built in the 17th century. Its stalwart structures and three-foot granite wall have stood the test of time. You may stroll the grounds which offer breathtaking views of the Lima Valley. If the day is clear you may also glimpse the Atlantic Ocean.

In the evening, get to know your host, Count Calheiros at a welcome reception followed by a sumptuous dinner.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paço de Calheiros

Parque Nacional da Peneda- Gerês & Caminho da Fé; 2.8 – 4.2 miles, easy to moderate

Today, explore the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês in the northern Minho region. With its forested valleys and mountain pastures, this is Portugal’s only national park. The little mountain villages in the park appear lost in time, but have adapted to the new world of tourism with well-marked footpaths linking them together. There will be time to learn about the unique grain storages known as espigueiros. These wood or granite structures were cleverly designed to keep animals away from harvested grains.

You will descend into the valley between the granite peaks of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, arriving in the ancient village of Soajo. This road was originally paved with large stones by the Romans, and for centuries has been walked by pilgrims from Peneda to Soajo; known as the Caminho da Fé, the Way of Faith. Alternatively, it is also referred to as the Caminho do Pão, the Way of Bread, as the inhabitants of this valley have made their living by moving their livestock up and down the mountains with the change of seasons. As you walk past aqueducts used for irrigating fields and powering flour mills, you may even see the indigenous Cachena milk cows or the wild Garrano horses.

Nearing the village of Soajo, with its dramatic backdrop of the Serra do Soajo Mountains, walk under a grape arbor past small, terraced gardens and vineyards. Winding your way through the village and past its ancient granite houses, you will soon arrive at the communal granary and its granite espigueiros.

En route back to Paço de Calheiros, the shuttle will stop for those who wish to take an optional walk that will end at our hotel. You will cross scenic rolling hills before returning to the estate. From a distance, the beautiful architecture will look even more majestic. As you amble downhill to your lodgings, a landmark chestnut grove comes into view letting you know the destination is close by.

Back at the manor house, you may opt to venture out and explore the forests that surround Paço de Calheiros on well-kept trails, join a walk through the Count’s gardens, or relax by the swimming pool. This evening shuttle into nearby Ponte de Lima for dinner on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Paço de Calheiros

Guimarães; Provesende to Pinhão; 2.5–3.9 miles, easy to moderate

After our visit to Guimarães we venture to the county of Sabrosa, birthplace of the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Our destination and the start of today’s walk is the charming village of Provesende, dating to the Moorish era. After a brief exploration of town and its Baroque church, we follow paths downhill through vineyards, keeping the Douro River in sight. In 1756, the Douro Valley and Portugal’s wine regions became the first controlled and demarcated winemaking region in the world. It’s all thanks to the Marquis de Pombal who planted granite pillars in 1756 to define the boundary that produced the finest port. Today, the entire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This magnificent landscape continues to inspire poets, painters, and photographers.

We end today’s walk at your accommodations for the next two nights in the heart of the wine region in the town of Pinhão. The historic hotel is set on the banks of the Douro River, offering spectacular views of the Douro River Valley. Just steps away explore the small shops and restaurants of the small town of Pinhão.

This evening enjoy dinner in your lovely hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: The Vintage House

Vineyard Walk to Ferrão train station; 2.9 – 3.8 miles, easy to moderate

In the afternoon, spend time at your leisure exploring the town of Pinhão and its train station where the “Wine House” museum is located. Then relax poolside at the hotel and enjoy the river views and its slow-passing boats. Later, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in Pinhão or the hotel’s dining room at your leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Vintage House

Rota das Aldeias Históricas to Marialva: 2.1 miles, moderate

This morning, you embark on a wooden sailing ship similar in style to the bygone rabelos that carried wine up and down the Douro River to other regions. Your privately chartered boat offers a relaxing cruise on the Douro River. Your guides will prepare a delectable picnic lunch on board. One of our highlights will be passing through the Douro’s Ferrão lock before disembarking in Ferradosa. From here you shuttle to your lodgings in Marialva, a haunting medieval village carved into a rocky cliff or you may opt to walk a short distance on the Rota das Aldeias Históricas – an historical trail of more than 500 km connecting 12 small villages such as Marialva. Enjoy the remainder of the evening and dinner on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Casas do Côro

Loop walk from Casas do Côro: 2.4 – 5.1 miles, easy to moderate

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely stroll between stone walls, through vineyards, past fruit trees and cultivated fields.

After lunch, venture out to explore Marialva and its castle. Though its origin dates back to the sixth century BC, it was not officially granted a town charter until 1179. This hillside medieval village seems carved from the craggy slopes, so it’s easy to see why it once served as an important military fortress. Wandering these streets on old, stone-paved roads makes for an otherworldly experience; you’ll want to leave no corner ignored. Venture up to the medieval castle for a guided tour, where you’ll learn more about Marialva’s past.

This evening’s farewell dinner is sure to please, featuring family recipes passed down over generations to your hotel’s owner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Casas do Côro

This morning you’ll shuttle (approximately four hours) to Portugal’s capital of Lisbon where the tour ends.

Your tour concludes at the hotel (Fontecruz Lisboa, Autograph Collection) in Lisbon at approximately 1:30 p.m.

Included Meals: Breakfast