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Walking - Gerês, The Shepherds Way
offered by supplier M14951 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 8
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 16
people
Destination(s):
Portugal
Specialty Categories:
Hiking & Trekking
National Parks
Season: May - September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1190 Euro (EUR)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1590 Euro (EUR)
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Magnificent oak trees and water falls will greet you in Peneda-Gerês, a place where traditions are still present in every day’s life.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Average walking time: 5 h./day. Total climbing: 3180m/10430ft. Max. climbing in one day: 800m/2624ft.
Accommodations: Value (3 star inns).
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Porto. Pick-up at Porto´s airport and transfer to Mourilhe (Montalegre). Montalegre is one of the most picturesque villages in the "Trás-os-Montes" area, known for its pretty castle and also for its "Night of the Witches".
Lodging – Hotel Rural Nossa Senhora dos Remédios.
Day 2: Alto Cávado villages. Today´s walking route will take us to the Cávado river valley, where we will be surrounded by beautiful oak trees. The Cávado is one the most well preserved rivers in Portugal - in its banks you can find several rare animal species. Our itinerary will takes through ancient trails used by local sheppherds, connecting small villages.
Distance: 20km/12mi
Approximate time: 5 hours
Accumulated climbing: 350m/1148ft
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Lodging - Hotel Rural Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
Day 3: Pitões waterfalls and villages and Stª Maria das Júnias monastery. Pitões de Júnias is a typical village of the Peneda-Gerês park: lost in the middle of nowhere, hard to reach and known for its tough climate. But, because of that, also very unique and charming. Here we will visit the 12th century convent, the S. Rosendo church, the communal granite oven and the waterfall. In Pitões you can still see artisans making wool socks and the traditional "croças", waterproof coats made out of leaves from a local plant. We will walk by Pitões stream, through gorgeous oak tree groves, with the ever present massive granite boulders as background.
Distance: 8km/5mi
Approximate time: 4 hours
Accumulated climbing: 387m/1269ft
Level: Intermediate
Lodging - Quinta da Caniçada
Day 4: Shepherds Trail. Our walk starts in Portela de Leonte. From here we will climb until we reach the first of many fields where local shepherds take their animals. All around us will be huge granite formations, some of them with very particular shapes. Along the way, we will find several "mariolas", piles of stones used for guiding by the shepherds... and us. Today´s hike we will show us the best of Peneda-Gerês Natural Park. After this very special day, you can advantage of the Gerês Spa, treating yourself with a relaxing massage!
Distance: 14km/9mi
Approximate time: 6 hours
Accumulated climbing: 800m/3040ft
Level: Advanced
Lodging - Quinta da Caniçada
Day 5: The Sanctuary Trail. Today´s hike will take us through fields surrounding Santa Isabel do Monte, in Terras de Bouro area. The views of the Gerês valley and the Caniçada dam are magnificent. We will pass by a granite formation called the "castle", a point once used by local people to look out for Spanish invaders. We will also visit the Abadia Sanctuary, the oldest sanctuary in Portugal, built in 1148 to protect the abbeys against the Moorish invasions.
Distance: 16km/10mi
Approximate time: 4 hours
Accumulated climbing: 500m/1640ft
Level. Intermediate
Lodging - Hotel da Peneda
Day 6: Peneda´s Trail. Our hike starts in Senhora da Peneda sanctuary and will connect two villages: Peneda and Branda da Bouça dos Homens. The first part of the hike will take us through a very old trail, where people from both villages used to ride their ox carts. On the way back we will take the pilgrimage path to Senhora da Penedas sanctuary.
Distance: 11km/7mi
Approximate time: 4 hours
Accumulated climbing: 750m/2640ft
Level. Intermediate/Advanced
Lodging - Hotel da Peneda
Day 7: Fojo do Lobo Trail. Another day of hiking in the Peneda mountain range in close contact with the shepherds way of living. We will start walking from the tiny village of Rouças and climb all the way to the village of Branda de Gorbelas. At the top we will find another land once used by sheppards and their animals. Here you can see some interesting small huts that were built to protect shepherds and animals against the cold and the wolves. Our final destination, before walking back down to where we started, is Fojo do Lobo. The "Fojo" is a very interesting construction created by shepherds to hunt wolves. Of course it´s no longer in use since wolves are now a protected in Portugal.
Distance: 8km/5mi (Option: 4km/2,5mi)
Approximate time: 4 hours
Accumulated climbing: 600m/1968ft
Level. Intermediate/Advanced
Lodging - Hotel da Peneda
Day 8: Transfer to Porto. Early morning transfer to the airport in Porto.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All accommodations with breakfast, 6 dinners, 1 picnic
- 2 guides
- Van support
- Transfers
- Maps
- Documentation
- T-shirt and water bottle.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Portugal
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Hiking & Trekking
National Parks
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, ext: 14951
