Walking Northern Portugal: Douro, Mountains & Coast

Make your way by train to Pinhão in the heart of the Douro Valley. We will arrange a private transfer from the airport in Porto (or your Porto hotel if arriving in advance) to Campanha train station from where you can can travel directly to the Douro Valley. Trains run throughout the day and the journey takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. It’s a scenic journey as the train follows the Douro River as it tracks into Northern Portugal’s hinterland. Tickets (not included) are low cost, and you can choose to travel at a time that suits you. Further information about this journey will be given when you book so you can arrive worry-free. On arrival in Pinhão, which sits on a bend in the Douro that is home to some of the oldest wine estates in the area, a private and pre-arranged transfer driver will escort you to your boutique hotel in the small town of Alijó. Settle in and prepare for the adventure ahead. Accommodation: Two nights in a 4-star hotel in Alijó with outdoor swimming pool.

Enjoy a circular walk through the shifting landscape of vineyards, forest and fields to the ancient village of São Mamede de Ribatua, a small and picturesque village on a hilltop overlooking the Douro River valley. Enjoy the views of vineyards, olive groves and the distant hills of the Trás-os-Montes region while you eat the packed lunch provided by your hotel. There is the option to shorten the walk if you’d prefer a more relaxed day. Return to your hotel in Alijó for the evening.

Check out of your hotel in Alijó and take the trail to Pinhão. The route along the edge of the Douro wine region follows vineyard trails and country lanes along hilltops to Casal de Loivos before descending to the Douro River at Pinhão. Savour the magnificent views of the valley with its banks carpeted by vineyards and small olive groves. It is this special landscape, unique to the Douro, that led UNESCO to assign the area recognition and protection. Visit the Quintas to learn more about the history and production of port wine and to enjoy some tastings of the surprising number of port styles and vintages. Full information on Quinta visits will be provided when you book. Accommodation: Overnight in a comfortable 3 star hotel in Pinhão.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your private transfer north to the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the remote village of Castro Laboreiro, your base for the next 2 days. The journey (approx 3 hrs) is very scenic as the road journeys inland and winds up into the Portuguese mountains close to the Spanish border. Peneda-Gerês is Portugal’s only national park and one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Set in the rugged far north, it’s a landscape of granite mountains, deep valleys, ancient oak forests, and traditional stone villages where centuries-old farming practices still shape daily life. Deposit your luggage at the hotel and get ready for a short hike. Walk directly from the village out into the mountains to visit the promontory and the ruined castle at Castro Labreiro. Sittting at just over 1000m/3280ft above sea level, this site was first fortified in the middle ages. Visit the small museum on your return to learn about the culture and traditions of this remote community as youe njoy the extensive views and the slow pace of life in this sleepy mountain village. Accommodation: Two nights in a small family-run 3-star hotel in the village.

After breakfast, walk directly from the village out into the mountains with their distinctive rock formations. Descending from the village, you will reach a pleasant wooded valley where moss and lichens grow on the trees in the clear mountain air. Cross an ancient bridge and bathe your feet in the river. Enjoy the shade of the trees and the sound of the stream as you climb steadily uphill again to the plateau of smooth granite boulders. Enjoy the sweeping views across the valley to other hills, valleys and ridges before returning to Castro Laboreiro. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in this small mountain village. A packed lunch is also included on this day.

Today you will cross the rocky highlands to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peneda, a pilgrimage site for local people for centuries. Set off out into the rocky mountain plateau. The trail passes through the Lamas do Mouro Park Gate as you descend into the forest to follow trails used for centuries by pilgrims down to the Sanctuary. The site of the Sanctuary (a large church) is dramatic, sitting at the bottom of a huge rock buttress in the remote Peneda Valley, blending spiritual heritage with natural beauty. Built between the 18th and 19th centuries, it honours a 13th-century apparition of the Virgin Mary to a shepherd girl and has since become a significant pilgrimage site, especially during the annual September festival. Your private transfer driver will meet with you here to escort you to the charming small town of Vila Nova de Cerveira in the Atlantic coastal area of the Minho, so named for the river that flows into the sea. After settling into your hotel, enjoy a stroll around the historical centre. The town has an active arts scene and hosts a biennial arts festival. Accommodation: Overnight in a comfortable hotel.

Check out of your hotel and begin your walk along the banks of the River Minho, a scenic trail that hugs the northern border of Portugal, with Spain just across the water. The path is mostly flat and easy-going, winding past small farms, riverside chapels, and traditional granite villages. Enjoy expansive views of the river estuary and Galicia’s wooded hills across the border. Continue to the historic town of Caminha, where the Minho River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Here, you can explore the beautiful 15th-century Igreja Matriz (Gothic parish church) and admire the old defensive towers and ramparts. Take a break in the lively main square, surrounded by Renaissance and Baroque buildings, and enjoy a coffee and a freshly baked pastel de nata beside the 16th-century fountain. From Caminha, the route turns west toward the coast, passing through sweet-smelling pine forest and low dunes. Soon you’ll reach Moledo beach, a popular summer spot with wide sands and views of Spain’s Monte Santa Tecla across the estuary. The trail then follows a well-maintained boardwalk and coastal path that runs just above the rocky shore, offering refreshing sea breezes and ocean views. Your walk ends in the fishing village and relaxed seaside town of Vila Praia de Âncora, known for its broad beach, working harbour, and excellent seafood. Accommodation: Overnight in a comfortable 4-star hotel near the sea in Vila Praia de Âncora.