Best of the Portuguese Way

Make your way to the joining hotel in Lisbon and meet your guide at 4pm for a guided orientation walk of the city. Welcome dinner with the guide and group.
We recommend staying a few nights before the trip - Lisbon is such a vibrant and historic city. You can also visit eg Cascais and/or Sintra, accessible as day trips from Lisbon.

Transfer to the Camino Portugués, where we walk about 16km to Santarem, located on the right bank of the Tagus River. The town has a rich and ancient history, having been inhabited by the Lusitani people, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and later Portuguese Christians. From here we transfer to Óbidos where you can stroll in the old city before dinner.

This morning we transfer to Rabaçal from where we walk along the Camino to Conimbriga (approx 11km) where we visit the ruins, the largest Roman settlement in Portugal. After a picnic lunch we transfer to Coimbra, a lively university town situated on the Mondego River. There will be time this afternoon to visit the old city and university, which is famous for its library Biblioteca Joanina. Overnight Coimbra.

This morning we leave Coimbra and drive to Pedaçães where we begin our walk (approx 9km) along the Camino to Albergaría a Vella. Later we transfer to Porto, located on the banks of the Douro River. Porto's maritime legacies and importance as a New World trading port shaped it into a proud city, with an impressive cathedral and port wine lodges. In the evening have a special dinner at a restaurant with lovely river views. Overnight Porto.

Today is all about Porto. We start with a city stroll with a local guide visiting the Cathedral, the Tower of Clérigos, and the Ribeira-quarter. Following lunch at leisure we will meet up at a wine cellar for a tasting of Tawny Port and Ruby wine. This evening is free for you to sample one of the many great restaurants in this vibrant city. Overnight Porto.

This morning we take the tram along the river to the Castelo do Queijo. From here we walk along the coast to Agudela (approx 12km) then transfer to Braga. Here we can explore the old quarter with its variety of national monuments and historic buildings on foot. The religious importance of the town is obvious from the Cathedral dominating the centre to the baroque styled pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus do Monte on the outskirts. Overnight Braga.

Today we transfer then walk (approx 12km) along a section of the Camino Portugués Central route from Vitorino dos Piares to Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal. Take some time to visit the town and sample the local products for lunch before we transfer to Viana do Castelo, for our overnight stay.

We cross the border into Galicia in Spain by ferry, discovering the landscape of the Miño river estuary. After visiting the pre-roman settlement in Santa Tegra, we pass A Guarda and walk along the Atlantic Coast from Portecelo to Oia (6km). We then transfer to Baiona, visiting the impressive fortress and the Caravela of Colón. Overnight Parador de Baiona.

This morning we transfer to the outskirts of Pontevedra for a morning walk following the Gafos River and stroll through the city (5km). In Pontevedra, there's free time for lunch and a stroll to see the sights including the A Peregrina church and the squares of A Ferraría, Leña and Verdura. Later on we will visit a Pazo (manor house) discovering camellia gardens and trying the local wine (Albariño). Later we transfer to Santiago and walk the last section of the Camino into the old town to arrive at the cathedral. Overnight in Santiago.

This morning there will be a guided tour of Santiago visiting the Cathedral, local market and the Alameda Park. Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure, before we join as a group once more for a special farewell dinner.

The trip concludes in Santiago after breakfast.
We offer a day trip to Fisterra from Santiago, if you'd like to visit the 'end of the earth' - please ask our staff for details. An extra night in Santiago is usually required as this is a full day trip.