Portugal | Heart of Portugal Walk
Guided Walking, single centre
This fully guided walking holiday introduces you to the Beira, the very heart of central Portugal. It's a region where life continues as it has for centuries, where little old ladies, dressed in black, sit on doorsteps crocheting and chatting, and where farmers with donkeys continue to plough the land by hand.
| Duration: | 8 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW143 |
| Trip Style: | Superior - 4 star |
| Departure Dates: | 19 May 2012, 26 May 2012, 02 Jun 2012, 09 Jun 2012, 16 Jun 2012, 23 Jun 2012, 30 Jun 2012, 07 Jul 2012, 14 Jul 2012, 21 Jul 2012, 28 Jul 2012, 04 Aug 2012, 11 Aug 2012, 18 Aug 2012, 25 Aug 2012, 01 Sep 2012 |
| Price: | From $2,013 |
| Single Supplement: | $POA, none for 19/26 May, 7/14 July, 4 August, 1 September |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Ideal for Solo Travellers
This guided walking holiday is perfect for people who want to walk in a small group with like-minded people, and definately suitable for solo travellers. You'll stay in small family-run hotels, with great regional cuisine, and owners who take a genuine interest in their guests.
Trip Details
GROUP SIZE: 4 to 8
Your base for the week is the peaceful and atmospheric 4-star Convento de Belmonte. With just 24 rooms, it really does feel a special place to stay and has all the facilities you would expect in a hotel of this level. Antique furnishings adorn all public areas, and all bedrooms have balconies, power-shower, bath, satellite TV, telephone and mini-bar. There is a small swimming pool, set beneath exotic gardens, affording beautiful sweeping valley views.
Includes daily continental breakfast, 5 lunches and all evening meals including wine. Lunches are a mix of picnics and local restaurants, depending on the walking day. In the evenings, meals are served in the romantic, candle-lit dining room. If you fancy a wander into Belmonte for a pre-dinner drink, it's just 30 mins on foot. Here there is an impressive 13th Century castle and a Roman church with striking 16th Century frescoes.
Day 1 - Arrive in Belmonte
We meet you at Lisbon airport and take you to your 4-star hotel in Belmonte (3 hrs including comfort stops) in time for dinner.
Day 2 - MalcetaNature Reserve 12km/7mi/4hr
Today's circular walk takes us though one of the last refuges of the Iberian Lynx and the only breeding site in Portugal of the Black Vulture. After a gentle climb through open chestnut woodland, we then follow the river Coe (the old border with Spain) and a haven for wildlife - we often see short toed eagles, bee eaters and golden orioles. Gorgeous picnic spots and good river swimming at the end of the walk.
Day 3 - Zezere Valley 9km/6mi/4hr
Our path follows the line of traditional tiny farming communities strung out along the magnificent glacial valley, in the shadow of Portugal's highest mountain, the Torre (1993m). En route are typical stone cortes (tiny farmhouses with thick granite walls and thatched rye roofs) and all around are dizzily steep, terraced hillsides and meadows carpeted in bright mountain flowers. Down to the picturesque white village of Manteigas where there has been a settlement since Moorish times - lovely views down to the River Zezere - then lunch is at Jose's bar (all local produce: sheep's cheeses, black pudding, mountain wines).
Day 4 - Macainhas Circuit 14km/9mi/5hr
The early part of today's walk follows a pretty gurgling stream through a hidden valley and out past meadows carpeted with colourful wild flowers. We stop off at the tiny village of Monteiro where old ladies, dressed in black, sit on doorsteps crocheting, and farmers with donkeys continue to plough the land by hand. An old drovers route takes us along the ridge - fantastic views out over the Serra da Estrela - before heading back down to the stream and hotel.
Day 5 - Free Day
It's just a 30 minute stroll into Belmonte so we've left today free for you to explore it's castle, Jewish Quarter (you'll find the only synagogue in Portugal outside of Lisbon here), museums, Romanesque-Gothic church of Santiago. Lots of local restaurants for lunch. In the afternoon either laze by the pool or follow one of the independent circular walking routes provided.
Day 6 - Three VillagesWalk 15km/9mi/4hr
First the former major Roman city of Idanha-a-Velha, with its wonderful collections of columns, statues and tombs. Then onto the stunning Mediaeval fortress of Monsanto where life continues as it has for centuries - superb 360o views from the C11 castle, ruined Renaissance church and bell tower. We have lunch in the pousada here, sampling produce from their own vegetable garden, before a final stop in the lovely folkloric village of Penha Garcia.
Day 7 - The Serra da Estrela 14km/8mi/6hr
The highest walking in Portugal: sparkling clear blue mountain lakes (perfect paddling!), rugged peaks and surprisingly easy walking. Beautiful alpine flowers are carpeted across vast areas and striking granite rock formations rise eerily from the lakes. Dunnocks, Dartford warblers and eagle owls inhabit the forests, and kestrels and goshawks circle and soar above the highest peaks. Peace reigns and there is not a soul in sight.
Day 8 - Leave Belmonte
WALKING DETAILS
This guided walking holiday is very varied and has an astonishing array of natural beauty. We'll walk through lush river valleys, old villages and along turquoise lakes. The accommodation where you'll stay during the week is lovely and there is fantastic bird and wildlife to spot. The walk follows good paths. In order that you can see as much of this varied region as possible, minibus transfers are built in to the beginning / end of most walking days.
This holiday starts and ends in Belmonte. The holiday introduces you to the area of Beira, the very heart of central Portugal. We'll visit places like Monsanto with it's mediaeval fortress, the Malceta Nature Reserve and the magnificent glacial Zezere Valley. On the last walking day we visit the Serra da Estrela with it's sparkling clear blue mountain lakes and rugged peaks. In Belmonte itself, where the hotel is based, you can explore the castle, the Jewish quarter, some museums and a Romanesque-Gothic church.
ACCOMMODATION
Convento de Belmonte, Belmonte (4 star)
The Convento de Belmonte is located on the panoramic slopes of Monte da Esperança. It has 24 traditional style rooms each with bath and shower, satellite television, minibar, direct dial telephone and air conditioning.
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation
- Continental breakfast
- 5 lunches
- All evening meals including wine
- Transfers
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
