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Portugal Serra da Estrela
- Serra da Estrela; Portugal’s highest mountain range
- Surprising rock formations, lush valleys, waterfalls and authentic alpine villages.
- A Natural Park with the highest summits in Portugal
- An excellent network of way-marked walking paths
- Accommodations situated in or near Medieval villages
- 2 nights at a luxurious “quinta” or country estate
From: 415 €
Tripcode: PTSW020
3 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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2 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 9 days
Details
Serra da Estrela Natural Park
Spectacular walking trip through the Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountain range, with impressive granite landscapes. Surprising rock formations and open plateaus combine with lush valleys, waterfalls and authentic alpine villages. Olive trees and stout chestnuts are completely at home in the valleys, as are larch trees and firs higher up. Most of Portugal’s highest summits are found here, inside the Natural Park limits, including the very top, La Torre at 2000m, a veritable tower of granite. Here, an excellent network of way-marked walking paths allows you to explore this fascinating terrain. Your accommodations are situated in or near Medieval villages, adorned with traditional Portuguese decorative tiles. The trip includes 2 nights at a luxurious “quinta” or country estate.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Celorico da Beira
From Porto Airport, you can take the metro to the centre of Porto. From the bus station in Porto, take the bus to the historic village of Celorico da Beira. The journey takes about 4 hours.
Challenge: Travel to Serra da Estrela
Villages along the way: Celorico da Beira
Day 2: From Linares to Folgosinho
The program begins with a transfer from Celorico to the medieval village of Linhares, Pearl of Nature. Here, there are many attractions, including the castle, a small Roman Forum and several patrician houses. Along the route you will walk along the foothills of the Serrra up to Folgosinho, birthplace of the popular hero Viriato and paved with love poems. The property today is an authentic village house restored and fully equipped.
Challenge: 9 - 10.5 km. 330 m ascent/ 100 m descent. 3 hrs.
Villages along the way: Celorico da Beira, Linhares
Day 3: Circular walk from Folgosinho
Today’s route is a beautiful circular walk in the area around Folgosinho, through golden brown fields and green woodlands. In the afternoon, time to explore the village and visit interesting monuments, such as the castle and well-preserved Jewish Quarter.
Challenge: 17 km. 450m ascent/descent. 6,5 hrs or 5 hrs.
Villages along the way: Folgosinho
Day 4: From Folgosinho to Manteigas
Today is a hard day, with some steep up/downhills, but also with beautiful views. It starts with a steep uphill from Folgosinho, along an old Roman road. At the highest point, the Folgosinho Portella, we have a first look at the summit (sometimes snowy) of Pico Torre. Throughout almost deserted areas, valleys and forests, with a rich diversity, you reach an area above the village of Manteigas. After a steep descent, towards Manteigas, you finally reach this pretty village, located in a wide glacier and green valley, at the foot of the highest peaks and full of small shops and cafes.
Challenge: 21km. 350m ascent, 550m descent. 6,5 hrs.
Villages along the way: Folgosinho, La Portela, Manteigas
Day 5: Circular Route from Manteigas or rest day
You can choose from a well-deserved rest, and go for a visit to the local trout farm or the termal water resort (Caldas). But there is also an interesting and entertaining walk to do today. You will enjoy beautiful views of Manteigas, visit the impressive waterfall called “Poço do Inferno” (the Devils Well) and walk through the Buraco Valley with its strange rock formations and Roman trail.
Challenge: 12 km. 600m ascent/descent. 6 hrs.
Villages along the way: Manteigas
Day 6: On to Loriga, via La Torre
Today, you start with a short transfer in which you can enjoy spectacular views from the highest Summit in Potugal, La Torre (2000 m). You will enter in the granite massif of Serra da Estrella, a whole different world. Wide glacier valleys that are a testimony of the last Glacial Era. In this route you will start a gradual descent from La Torre towards the western side of the Natural Park. Walking along high pastures, narrow lanes, abrupt mountains and cristal-water lakes. Finally you will arrive at the pretty mountain village of Loriga. The accommodation today is a nice family run hostel.
Challenge: 11km. 1245 m descent. 4,5 hrs.
Villages along the way: Loriga
Day 7: From Loriga to Sao Romao
Your last route in this program takes you to inland areas and forests, through typical villages on the slopes of the “Mountains of the Stars” towards São Romão. This is a village with several chapels. On your way you will go by two interesting sites: Más Tumba and Cabeça Da Velha. Your accommodation today is a renovated old traditional “Quinta”, transformed into a beautiful high quality hotel with swimming pool, near São Romão.
Challenge: 23km. 210m ascent, 430m descent. 6 hrs.
Villages along the way: Más Tumba, Cabeça Da Velha, Sao Romao
Day 8: End of Arrangement
Your arrangement ends today after breakfast.
Challenge: Departure from Portugal.
Practical info
Included:
- Accommodation for 8 nights
- All breakfasts
- Luggage transport on days 3, 5, 7 and 8, according to program
- Transfers on Days 1, 3 and 7
- Detailed route descriptions and map for each walk
Not Included:
- Lunches and dinners
- Transfers by public transport
- Transport to first and from last accommodation
- Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, phone calls, additional transfers, etc.
- Any items not especifically mentioned in this program
Reviews
Start: Mogadouro
Finish: Sao Romao
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Late April to late October.
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 415 €/person |
| in double room: | 435 €/person |
| in single room: | 625 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 730 €/person |