The Best of Portugal - Walking Holiday

Over 12 days we immerse ourselves in the best of nature, culture, and regional food and wine that Portugal has to offer. We begin in romantic Porto, with its medieval Ribeira district, bustling plazas and Baroque churches. We take to the hills of Peneda Geres National Park to explore pilgrim trails through time-worn villages and landscapes sculptured by geological forces, wind and water. In Douro Valley, we enjoy the comfort of luxury accommodation while being spoilt with gourmet meals, walks through vineyards and rural farms, and local train and boat rides. Following old stone walls and small villages we find ourselves in the beautiful 12th century historical village of Marialva, complete with a lofty castle, narrow cobbled streets and a cluster of granite-built houses. Foz Coa River Valley takes us back to the Ice Age with a visit to an archaeological museum and a wander through a remarkable open-air collection of Palaeolithic stone art. At Faia Brava Natural Reserve, we search for Griffon vulture and Bonelli’s eagle and visit the pilgrim village of Castelo Rodrigo. Dubbed the most ‘Portuguese town in Portugal’, we wander the cobbled streets of Monsanto. With granite houses squeezed between and under giant boulders, it looks like real life Bedrock. We next visit the historic town of Lousã, home to many rare animal species and whose natural beauty and preserved schist villages offer numerous trails for cycling, walking and hiking. We finish in the capital and World Heritage listed centre, Lisbon.