Hiker's Journey to Portugal

Portugal has gorgeous rural landscapes, from rolling vineyards and lush mountains to meandering rivers, including the renowned Douro. Our trails bring us across the rock-built Aldeias de Gois villages, through the terraced Douro wine country, into the forests of Peneda-Gerês National Park, and even along sections of the famed Camino Portugués pilgrim route. We balance our hiking with cultural experiences along the way, tasting wine in a family-owned quinta, exploring 13th century castle towns, and sampling regional cuisine and velvety port wines. We end in Porto, a World Heritage Site of centuries-old lanes and classic wine cellars. Our lodging includes a former wine warehouse in picturesque Pinhâo and the 17th century Paço de Calheiros, where we are welcomed by the Count of Calheiros himself.

Itinerary

Days 1-4
Serra da Lousâ / Serra da Estrela 
From Lisbon, we head into the Serra da Lousâ mountains and to the slate-roofed villages known as Aldeias de Gois. We'll hike the traditional path from village to village to soak up views of the deep green valleys spread below. In the Serra da Estrela, our trails contour below the rock towers of the glacier-carved Zêzere Valley.

Days 5-7
Belmonte / Douro Wine Tasting / Pinhâo / Peneda-Gerês 
Castle-topped Belmonte's medieval Jewish Quarter is fascinating to explore, and we view the Paleolithic paintings in the Côa Valley. A rail journey along the tranquil Douro River brings us to lovely Pinhâo, and we hike across a dreamscape of Douro Valley vineyards to the family-owned Quinto do Crasto wine estate. In Peneda-Gerês National Park, with its craggy peaks and wild horses, we may encounter goat herders and their trusty castro laboreiro sheepdogs.

Days 8-12 
The Pilgrim Trail / Ponte de Lima / Porto 
An ancient pilgrim trail leads us to the revered sanctuary at Peneda, with its staircase adorned with statues representing faith, love, and charity, and we visit charming Ponte de Lima. Our last hike is across the Camino Portugués, which has brought pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela since medieval times. We end our journey in Porto, exploring the historic quarter and listening to soulful fado songs. Depart on Day 12.