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Tras-os-Montes family donkey trip
- Easy walking routes suitable for all members of the family age 4 or more
- Continuous donkey support for children
- Varied landscapes, from farmland to the deep cliffs of the Douro riverbanks
- Rural accommodations with swimming pools and toys for children
- One overnight stay in a typical pension in the historic border town Miranda do Douro
- Child friendly accommodations
- Optional night in O Porto
From: 855 €
Tripcode: PTSK005
2 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: 7 days
Details
Family walks with furry friends
Very special independent walking trip for families with the continuous support of a donkey, soft as a teddybear! In the depopulated area of Tras-os-Montes the organization AEGPA gives shelter to retired donkeys and runs a professional breeding programme to protect the endangeroud local species "Burro Mirandés". This organization will give you a special donkey course on the first day. Then you will walk 7 to 16km along dirt roads from one village to another through the countryside in the company of this noble animal. The children have to help to brush and feed the donkey every afternoon, when you reach the donkey-stable. This is a perfect way of getting children motivated for an active holiday!
Overnight stays in two friendly rural accommodations (with private swimming pool). One overnight stay in a typical pension in the historical town of Mirando do Douro, on the edge of the gorge that separates Portugal from Spain. Breakfasts are included. Other meals can be ordered at the accommodations.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Val de Agoso
Today you travel to Portugal. If you arrive in O Porto, you can take a train ride from Porto to Pocinho on the spectacular Douro line, and move inland. Option of travelling by bus on weekdays. From Pocinho or end of bus journey, you take a taxi to Vale de Algoso. Warm welcome at your accommodation, a lovely Turismo Rural with all the comforts of home, plus private swimming pool.
Challenge: Travel to Tras-os-Montes
Villages along the way: Vimioso and Val de Agoso
Day 2: Atenor to Palacoulo
Short transfer this morning to the village of Atenor, where you meet your “burro” at the donkey ranch. You start off with a bit of instruction given by professional donkey handlers. From there, you walk off into the countryside, strolling among meadows and woodlands to reach the village of Palacoulo. Your donkey will spend the night here and you have a short transfer back to your accommodation in Vale de Algoso.
Walking route: 7 km, 2,5 hrs.
Challenge: 7km. 2,5 hrs.
Villages along the way: Atenor, Palacoulo
Day 3: From Palacoulo to Sao Pedro da Silva
Transfer back to Palacoulo and option of going to a nearby pigeon coop with special visitors’ centre. Then you start your walk for the day, a short route of 8,5 km in which you leave the valley behind and move up onto a high plateau with small fields and groves of trees. The walk ends in the village of São Pedro da Silva. Your donkey will spend the night here, while you have a short transfer back to Vale de Algoso.
Challenge: 8,5km. 3 hrs.
Villages along the way: Palacoulo, Sao Pedro da Silva
Day 4: Sao Pedro to Miranda do Douro
You start with a short transfer to São Pedro da Silva, where you join your donkey. Then you take easy paths along the Mirandese plateau, with lovely views of the village Duas Igrejas and the beautiful (now closed) station. Short transfer to the historic town of Miranda do Douro, right on the border with Spain, where you check into a comfortable pension with good regional cooking situated in the town centre. Optional visit to the public swimming pool.
Walking route: 7 km, 2,5 hrs.
Challenge: 7km. 2,5 hrs.
Villages along the way: sao Pedro da Silva, Duas Igrejas, Miranda do Douro
Day 5: Douro International Natural Park
Today’s route is demanding yet very beautiful. Your destination: a fantastic accommodation at the end of the walk. First you have a taxi ride to the field in Duas Igrejas, where you rejoin your donkey. Then you do a tough walk in the Douro International Nature Park. You walk through the ancient city gate to reach the historic centre in Miranda. From Miranda, you can continue on along the river to reach a spectacular vista point and picnic spot by the river, at Pena Branca. Chance of spotting vultures today. Your donkey will spend the night in a nearby field. Your accommodation for tonight is a very nice Turismo Rural with play area and swimming pool.
Challenge: 17 to 19km, 7 to 8 hrs.
Villages along the way: Duas Igrejas, Miranda do Douro
Day 6: Rest day or Circular walk
After a tough walk yesterday, today you can opt for a rest day or do a circular walk. Relax by the pool at your comfortable accommodation or go for a bike ride nearby.
Challenge: 5km. 2 hrs.
Villages along the way: Miranda do Douro
Day 7: End of program
Your arrangement ends today , after breakfast
There is an option of staying in Miranda do Douro or O Porto one more day, not included in the program: A short taxi ride (approx 15 min, 8,-€) takes you to Miranda do Douro. From there, it’s 4,5 to 5 hours back to Porto by public transport. The fastest and cheapest option is by bus (Sunday to Friday, early morning departure). Another option is by bus (or taxi: approx € 120,-) to Pocinho, then by train to Porto. Travel time about 5-6 hrs. Extra night acommodation at a good city hotel in the centre.
Challenge: Departure from Portugal
Practical info
Included:
- Accommodation for 6 nights
- All breakfasts
- Donkey hire and board
- Luggage transport by vehicle, days 4 and 5, according to program
- Transfers to start and from end of walking routes,on days 2 through 5
- Family trip info package
Not Included:
- Lunches and dinners
- Public transport on day 7
- 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
- Extra night at Miranda do Douro or at a good city hotel in O Porto can be booked to extend the trip one more day
Reviews
Start: Porto
Finish: Miranda do Douro
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Late April to late October.
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 adult + 1 child: | 855 €/person |
| 1 adult + 2 children: | 925 €/person |
| 2 adult + 1 child. Triple room: | 930 €/person |
| 2 adults + 1 child. Double rooms: | 965 €/person |
| 1 adult + 3 children: | 1130 €/person |
| 2 adults + 2 children: | 1165 €/person |
| 2 adults + 3 children: | 1235 €/person |
| 2 adults + 4 children: | 1295 €/person |