Trip Overview
Here, in the extreme northern corner of Portugal, are some of the Iberian
peninsula's most wild and dramatic landscapes. Highlights of our tour
include the old seaport of Porto, the scenic Douro river, the historic
cities of Braganca and Braga and walks in Geres National Park.
From Porto we head inland to Peso da Regua in the spectacular Douro
Valley, laced with vineyards and olive groves. Several walks are possible
- you can walk through steep gorges and terraced hills to the baroque
pilgrimage town of Lamego or take the famous Corgu Valley narrow-gauge
railway to Vila Real and visit the 'Mateus Rosé' Palace.
We take the scenic route to the remote frontier town of Braganca, the capital
of Tras os Montes region - the land beyond the mountains. The medieval
town, ringed by city walls and studded with 18 watch towers, was the
birthplace of Portuguese nationalism in the 11th century and home
to the last line of monarchs. We plan walks in the nearby Montesinho
National Park, set up to preserve the strongly traditional villages
of the area. Then, continuing through the mountains via Chaves, a
strategic crossroads in Roman times, we reach the spa town of Geres.
Based in Geres, we plan to walk to the summit of Pedra Bela for breathtaking
vistas of the lake below. In spring the valleys are ablaze with colour
and in autumn the forest turns to gold. After a day in historic Braga,
we travel by bus to the medieval town of Ponte de Lima. Our time here
is left free - you may wish to ramble the wooded hills or explore
the town's cobbled streets. Finally we return to Porto, to walk through
the alleyways and quays of the Old Town and visit the port wine lodges
of Vila Nova da Gaia.
A remote region, rich in history and blessed with beautiful landscapes.
Walks are easy with some moderate options.
Day 1 - Join Porto. Arrive Porto and
check-in at hotel. Overnight night hotel and breakfast. H+.
Day 2 - Train to Peso da Regua. We travel inland by train, following
the twisting course of the Douro valley to Peso da Regua, with
wonderful views over the river below. In the old days, the harvest
from certain parts of the valley was loaded into enormous casks
and forced to shoot the rapids of the Douro
carried by barcos rabelos, strange flatbottomed crafts with square
rigs. Nowadays, the waters of the Douro have been harnessed for
energy and the valley flooded to just below the railway track.
This has actually enhanced
the valley, a timely example of man creating beauty, rather than
senselessly destroying it. In the afternoon you can travel by
narrow gauge railway and visit Vila Real and the nearby Mateus
Palace and gardens (optional), made famous by its picture on each
bottle of Mateus rosé wine. The palace has been
described as the most fantastic country house in Portugal. 2 nights
hotel and breakfast. H+.
Day 3 - Optional walks in the Douro Valley The day is free to
explore. You can go on a half day walk to the town of Lamego where
you can admire the monumental Baroque staircase (with over 600
steps) up to the sanctuary of
Nossa Senhora dos Remedios and return to Regua by bus in the afternoon.
Alternatively, you may be able to make an excursion by train to
walk in the Upper Douro valley.
Day 4 -Train and bus to Bragança Our journey by rail towards
Tuá affords more
dramatic views as we wind slowly east along a single track railway.
Travelling through wild and hilly landscape we follow the river
as it cuts between terraced vineyards and high granite walls.
The train connects in Mirandela with a public bus, which takes
us on to the town of Bragança near the Spanish border.
Arriving in the late afternoon, we walk to the best preserved
citadel in Portugal, ringed by ancient walls studded with 18 watch-towers.
Exploring on foot is like stepping back in time as Bragança
has played a powerful role in Portuguese history since medieval
days. It first received a royal franchise in 1187, soon
after Portugal became an independent nation. During this time
the original castle keep was constructed on the hilltop. 3 nights
hotel and breakfast. H+.
Days 5 & 6 -In Bragança; optional walks Bragança
was made a dukedom in 1442 and from this lineage came the kings
of Portugal, from 1640 until the formation of the republic in
1910. Although a modern town lies outside
the city walls, from within it gives you the impression of still
being a small independent entity, ready to withstand one of the
many sieges it has faced in history. Sheep and goats are grazed
within the walls and narrow streets lead up to the keep and watch-tower
where there are commanding views of the
surrounding area and the old enemy, Spain, in the distance. With
two full days here we have plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere
of this remote region. On the first day you may wish to walk from
Guadramil to Rio de Onor on the Spainsh border and return to Bragança
by taxi. The second day can be spent in
Montesinho National Park, where you can choose from several walks,
wandering through small villages, unchanged by passing centuries,
in this hidden corner of Europe.
Day 7 - Bus to Gerês. Leaving Braganca behind we continue
by chartered bus to Gerês. En route we spend some time in
Chaves, an ancient Roman crossroads and visit the historical centre
with its two fortresses and Roman bridge. Gerês is a one-street
spa town, which may have been in use since Roman times and is
the gateway to the National Park. It remains a pilgrimage centre
for the many Portuguese who come to take its curative waters.
3 nights hotel and breakfast. H+.
Days 8 & 9 - Exploring Gerês. We have two full days
to explore this wild and
beautiful park, taking short and extended walks and easy climbs.
The Natural Park of Peneda do Geres was created in 1971, covering
an area of 270 sq. kilometres. The aim was to preserve and protect
the area’s natural beauty, flora and fauna. The park contains
deep valleys and gorges of special interest to botanists and nature
lovers. There are several unique endemic species, such as
the Gerês Iris and the Gerês Fern, as well as the
common oaks, cork-oaks, pines and firs. In spring, the landscape
is a blaze of colour – poppy, anemone, heather, thyme and
lavender – along with the white and yellow flowers of broom
which grows 8-10 feet tall. In autumn, the forest turns to gold.
The park
also protects such wildlife as roe deer, golden eagle, grey partridge,
wolf, wild cat and wild ponies of the Luso-Galician breed, unique
in the world. On our first day we have the option of a half day
walk to the craggy belvedere of Pedra Bela for a fantastic view
over the town of Geres and Canicada lake. The following day we
can follow the old Roman road from Campo do Geres to Rio do Forno.
Roman milestones and ancient bridges dot the route reminding us
that this was once the main military highway between Braga and
Astorga in Spain.
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Day 10 - Bus to Braga. We travel by public bus
to the historic city of Braga, the capital of the Minho. We transfer
to our hotel close to the centre and in the
afternoon make a walking orientation tour of the old town. After
the econquest, Braga grew in importance and became the seat of
the archbishops. These powerful gentlemen of the cloth dedicated
much time and money to improving the city, as is demonstrated
in the rich Baroque style of its many buildings,
palaces and churches. The character of the town is still strongly
ecclesiastical and religious feast days draw huge crowds. It is
possible to catch a local bus to Bom Jesus do Monte, just 3 miles
east of town (optional). This hilltop pilgrimage site was built
between 1784 and 1811 and is approached by way of a monumental
Staircase with chapels dedicated to the Five Senses, Three virtues
and stations of the Cross, leading up to the Chapel of the Miracles.
From the very top are marvellous views overlooking Braga. A short
distance beyond Bom Jesus lies the Citania de Briteiros Celtic
site. Dating back at least 2,500 years, this is widely regarded
as the best preserved and most impressive archaeological site
in the country. Overnight pension and breakfast. H+.
Day 11 - Bus to Ponte de Lima. This morning we take a short public
bus journey to the picturesque market town of Ponte de Lima, which
lies along the banks of
the Lima river. We plan to stay at a country house situated on
a hill just outside Ponte de Lima. Founded in 1360, the building
was once a working monastery until it was converted to a convent
in 1515. In 1834 religious orders were abolished in Portugal and
the nuns were forced to leave. Many of the original buildings
have subsequently been demolished. The present traditionally styled
house was built on the site, although the delightful doorway,
intricately hewn from stone, and the chapel still survive today.
From the gardens there are extensive panoramic views of the surrounding
area; lush unspoilt woodlands frame the delightful town of Ponte
de Lima nestled deep in the valley below us. 2 nights hotel and
breakfast. H+.
Day 12 - At Ponte de Lima; optional walk. In the morning we may
walk to Santo Ovidio chapel and enjoy the views from the top,
or perhaps amble along the meandering river Lima, between the
fields and vinyards of this beautiful agricultural room. In the
afternoon you may choose to stroll through the narrow
cobbled alleyways of the medieval town centre where it is possible
to purchase some of the excellent local handicrafts such as lace
and embroidery and sample the cuisine offered in the local restaurants.
The surrounding area
allows endless opportunities for rambling and walking the green
wooded hillsides, exploring deserted chapels and observing the
interesting architecture of the area. After a day spent walking
and exploring, the perfect way to unwind is to relax at our country
house; maybe swim in the outside pool, or relax at
the bar.
Day 13 - Bus to Porto. The morning is free for personal exploration
before we catch the public bus from Ponte de Lima through rolling
fertile fields back to Porto, the second city of the country.
It is famous for of the Upper Douro valley, a trade monopolised
by the English for several hundred years. On arrival, we walk
the short distance to our hotel, centrally located, in the old
town. In the
afternoon we set out on a leisurely walking tour, passing the
Cathedral and entering the ‘Ribeira’, the picturesque
riverside quarter and oldest district of the city with quaint
cobbled alleys, narrow streets and worn flights of steps down
to the river’s edge. A fascination for photographers are
the old houses by the quay,
where the numerous windows and balconies are often decorated with
a patchwork of colourful laundry and carpets. The riverside area
is also a good place to find a restaurant, for typical Portuguese
food and rustic decor. Those wanting to visit a port lodge (optional),
can cross the Douro river to Vila Nova de Gaia. This area is almost
entirely composed of port lodges. Here the wine made from grapes
harvested on the slopes of the Upper Douro is stored in great
vats and transformed into port. We have the opportunity to sample
some of
the different blends. 2 nights hotel and breakfast. H+.
Day 14 - In Porto, free for exploration This day is free to explore
Porto on your own. You may wish to do some last minute shopping
or ride the tram to Boa Vista, visit Sao Francisco church or the
Bolsa (Chamber of Commerce + Industry. In the evening you can
go on an optional boat excursion along
the Douro.
Day 15 - Tour ends Porto
Look below for departure dates. |
Accommodations
14 nights Hotels & pensions
Meals
Breakfasts included with Local Payment: EUR 75
- Payable in Porto.
Departure Dates
19 March - 02 April
30 April - 14 May
14 May - 28 May
28 May - 11 June
11 June - 25 June
25 June - 09 July
23 July - 06 August
06 August - 20 August
20 August - 03 September
03 September - 17 September
10 September - 24 September
24 September - 08 October
Local payment $135 CAD ( 85 EUR)
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