Walking Holiday Northern Portugal Minho

Walking holiday in Northern Portugal, Minho - self-guided 

2 days in the Geres National Park, 2 days along the Lima Valley and 2 days along the coast, this is a new hiking holiday for people who would love to explore Northern Portugal on foot and cross the border to visit Spain. 6 days walking and exploring the greenest area in Portugal.

• This holiday starts in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only National Park in Portugal. The National Park is home of wild horses and Iberian wolves, you will walk through traditional villages.
• On third and fourth day, you walk on the banks of the Lima River. During the walks you have time to explore the Vinho Verde wine region and the oldest town in Portugal: Ponte de Lima.
• The last two walking days you will explore the Portuguese coastline walking through windmills, fishermen´s trails and sandy beaches.
• If you have enough time you can cross the border by ferry on the last walking day and visit Spain: walking around the A Guarda's Celtic settlement that dates from between 600 and 200BC.

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Arrival (Bem-vindo)

Arrive at Porto airport and transfer to your first accommodation in Soajo;

Overnight Soajo

DAY 2 - From Lindoso to Soajo - Peneda Gerês National Park

Transfer from Soajo to Lindoso (10 min.) Starting this walk nearby Lindoso castle you have time to visit the local castle and the 50 granaries around the castle.
Leaving Lindoso you descend to cross the Alto Lindoso dam and you will walk along the Portugal-Spain border. This route takes you through shepherd paths, traditional villages and oak forests.

• Overnight Soajo
• Distance: 12kms

DAY 3 - From Soajo to Ponte da Barca, Peneda-Gerês National Park

Leaving Soajo you follow old tracks along the mountainside, from Soajo to Ponte da Barca. During this walk you have a great panorama over Peneda Geres National Park. 

• Overnight Ponte de Barca.
• Distance: 14 kms

DAY 4 - Ponte da Barca - Ponte de Lima (Vinho verde wine route)

Leaving Ponte da Barca, you walk alongside the peaceful Rio Lima and through vineyards. You will finish your day arriving in the oldest town in Portugal, Ponte de Lima. Today’s walk is a complete contrast to the previous two days. The path is easy.

• Overnight Ponte de Lima
• Distance: 17 kms

DAY 5 - Ponte de Lima - Viana do Castelo (Lima Valley)

Leaving Ponte de Lima you walk along the magnificent avenue of plane trees by the river then mainly walk on rural tracks, through fertile agricultural land and woodland. At Passagem, where there used to be a ferry across the river, you will have the opportunitty to visit a family owned winery to taste a local Vinho Verde. 

• Overnight Viana do Castelo.
• Distance: 14 kms

DAY 6 - Viana do Castelo - Vila Praia de Âncora (Costa Verde/ Atlantic Coast)

This walk is another complete contrast, as you walk along the Atlantic Coast northwards from Viana to Vila Praia de Âncora. On this route is you walk nearby sandy beaches and you can see some of old windmills nearby the coast.

• Overnight Vila Praia de Âncora. 
• Distance: 19 kms

DAY 7 - Vila Praia de Âncora - Caminha - A Guarda, Spain (from Portugal to Spain)

Today’s walk is in two distinct sections. The first takes you to the town of Caminha where your last night’s accommodation is located. You can then extend the walk by taking a ferry and crossing the border between Portugal and Spain to walk up Monte de Santa Trega (Galicia, Spain), the hill opposite Caminha, returning later by ferry. 

• Overnight Caminha.
• Distance: 10 kms (Vila Praia de Ancora to Caminha) + 8 kms (Caminha - A Guarda - Caminha)

DAY 8 - Departure (Adeus)

Transfer from Caminha to Porto airport or city center.

Included:

• 7 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in standard hotels;
• Transfer from Porto airport/city to first hotel and return transfer (Caminha to Porto airport/city);
• Baggage transfers between the hotels;
• Garmin GPS device with tracks, walking booklet and local maps;
• Support line.

Optional services:

• Please let us know if you would like to book this holiday but have short walks in each day;
• Self guided or guided walking holiday in the Douro Valley (on request);
• Book a guided holiday (on request);
• Upgrade for 4 star hotels;
• Extra nights during the holiday (on request);
• Extra night in Porto (on request);
• Extra activities (on request).

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Video of our walking holiday in Northern Portugal