walking in peneda-gerês national park, portugal

Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
WALKING IN PENEDA-GERÊS NATIONAL PARK,
PORTUGAL
[ FOCUS ON NATURE AND ANCESTRAL VILLAGES ]
Programme run by ©PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM - organizing ecotours since 2007
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
GENERAL INFORMATION
7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS [5 DAYS WALKING]
DATES
March to October
FOCUS
Nature, ancestral villages, rural world
HIGHLIGHTS
- Peneda-Gerês National Park (a Pan Park)
- Natural and cultural heritage linked to the Iberian wolf
- Mountain rivers, water falls and pools
- Water-meadows (lameiros): signature feature of the landscape
- Shepherds and herding
- Traditional rye bread and community ovens
- Ancestral villages and rural countryside
- Myths, beliefs and traditions
- Handicrafts
- Historic centre of Oporto (UNESCO World Heritage Site); optional
PRICE
950 euros
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
100 euros
PRICE INCLUDES
All meals (breakfast, lunch* and dinner),
accommodation, day-time snacks, luggage
transfer, second guide with minivan providing logistical support, services of specialized
guides, personal accident and liability insurance, first-aid assistance on location,
documentation about the tour, PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM® gift, taxes.
*lunches are provided in a bag at the beginning of each walk (contents include sandwiches,
juice, water, energy bar, chocolate bar, fruit, cake/cookies).
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Flights, travel insurance and personal expenses.
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
DEPOSIT (30%)
285 €
GROUP SIZE
6 – 14 participants.
GRADING
Moderate. The tour follows old paths connecting villages along with mountain tracks. Up
and down slopes are a constant in this mountainous area. Starting at an altitude of 856
meters the tour ends at 442 meters. The highest point is at 1248 meters. Distances vary
from 10 km (6.2 miles) to 18 km (11.2 miles) per day. Grade varies from low to moderate.
Total distance: 72 km (44.6 miles) in 5 days.
MEETING POINT
Oporto International Airport
MAP – Northern Portugal | Itinerary
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
INTRODUCTION
The 5 day guided tour takes us to the only
national park in Portugal (Peneda-Gerês
National Park). The landscape is breath-taking
and far from regular tourist stops. Montalegre,
the second largest district in the country, will
play host for the duration of your visit. At 3
hours distance from large city centres of the
north, natural and cultural values un-seen
elsewhere have been preserved and cherished.
The people of Montalegre are known for their simplicity, work ethic, authenticity and
friendliness toward visitors. We invite you to observe and enjoy rural practices longforgotten in other parts of Western Europe. Refresh yourself in the harmony and
tranquillity of the mountains. It will be an unforgettable experience.
OUR GUIDES
All our tours are accompanied by a minimum of two guides. A biologist who works as a
permanent guide for PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM® handles all the logistics and holds the
European First Aid + CPR Certificate. A hiking guide enriches your experience and
provides general information on nature and local culture throughout the tour. Both guides
are biologists and speak English fluently.
ACCOMMODATION
Family-run rural houses and inns. Accommodation included in the programme is
comfortable - affording private bath facilities and heating. Rural houses (Casas de Turismo
Rural) are generally rustic in construction and offer simple basic services. Please contact
us directly for any special needs or requests.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price of the programme. Wine
and soft drinks are also included at meals. Other drinks (e.g. beer, cocktails) are at the
participants’ own expense. If you have special dietary requirements please note them in
the booking form and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Portugal is famous
for its excellent cuisine and wines.
EQUIPMENT
You will need hiking shoes, a backpack to carry your personal belongings for the daily
walks, water bottle, hat, sun lotion, sunglasses and rain gear. Since you will be walking,
make sure you travel as light as possible.
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
TRANFER OF LUGGAGE AND SUPPORT
Throughout the tour a minivan with air-conditioning provides luggage transfer between
accommodations. It will also provide transportation in the case that injury or fatigue
prevents a tour participant from walking.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – FRIDAY
Arrival: Oporto international airport | Transfer and Overnight: Tourém (PenedaGerês National Park)
Arrival at Oporto international airport and transfer (2h15
driving) to the well-preserved village of Tourém in the beautiful
Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only park on the Iberian
Peninsula recognised as a Pan Park (http://www.panparks.org/).
Only 13 parks exist in Europe with this classification, the goal of
which is the protection of the continent’s most undisturbed
natural areas. If time permits we will visit the village before
dinner.
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in Tourém
DAY 2 – SATURDAY
Walking: Tourém > Pitões das Júnias | 14 km; 8,7 miles | Overnight: Pitões das
Júnias
The walking tour starts at the eastern-most point of Peneda-Gerês National Park. Walk
side by side through the wildest area of Gerês mountain range where Iberian wolves and
Iberian wild goats still roam. Stunning views and the slow pace start you off on a
wonderful holiday.
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in Pitões das Júnias
DAY 3 – SUNDAY
Walking: Pitões das Júnias > Paredes do Rio | 15
km; 9,3 miles | Overnight: Paredes do Rio
Today you will experience the life style of the
Barrosões. These local inhabitants have built a
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
landscape mosaic rich with biodiversity. A monastery from the XII century, a beautiful
water fall hidden deeply in an oak forest valley, and a stone walled trap (fojo) used in the
past for hunting wolves are some of the day’s attractions.
Dinner and Accommodation: Family-run rural house in Paredes do Rio
DAY 4 – MONDAY
Walking: Paredes do Rio > Lapela | 15 km; 9.3 miles | Overnight: Lapela
The Cávado river basin is a major influence in the district of Montalegre, and is ever
present along this trip. Five artificial lakes were built over this river basin remarkably
changing the landscape of Montalegre, forever. We will be crossing the most impressive of
these dams formed by massive rock fragments
compacted in layers built in 1958.
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in
Lapela
DAY 5 – TUESDAY
Walking: Lapela > Cabril | 18 km; 11.2 miles |
Overnight: Pincães
Today’s highlight is the Cabril River. Running down a
granite rock canyon, mostly bare of vegetation, it offers
excellent views. In Xertelo admire stone cube of 5
meters from a rare type of water mill known as Arubah.
In this remote place we might meet the shepherd and his goats on one of his 365 daily
journeys through the mountains.
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in Pincães
DAY 6 – WEDNESDAY
Walking: Pincães > Fafião | 10 km; 6.2 miles | Overnight:
Pincães
After a spectacular visit to a naturally formed river pool we
head towards Fafião. An ancient tradition persists in this
remote village: the heirs of eight families take the cows to the
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Walking in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Mar.-Oct.
mountain from May to September. Moving from pasture to pasture the shepherds take
their turn guarding the animals.
Dinner and accommodation: Family-run rural house in Pincães
DAY 7 – THURSDAY
Return Oporto city (airport)
Transfer to Oporto international airport. You may decide to extend your trip and remain in
Oporto to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site (historic city centre) and head to Lisbon
or another destination in Portugal
We will be pleased to help with your extended travel plans. Please feel free to ask.
Contacts:
Clara Espirito-Santo
Office: +351-259 433 146
Mobile: +351-933 237 709
E-mail: clara@portugalecotourism.pt
This programme is organized by
PORTUGAL ECOTOURISM®, a brand of
Montes de Encanto®, a nature tourism
company fully licensed (RNAAT nº
49/2008) by the official Portuguese Tourism Office, with experience in organizing
ecotours since 2007.
Our local travel agent partner is Ponto por Ponto – license RNAVT nº 3645.
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