Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
Moss-covered stone stairs with a central waterfall cascade through a lush, green forest in Costa Rica.
Portugal

Paths Less Taken: Hiking Forests & Villages of Portugal

Program No. 25610RJ
See More Photos
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
26 meals ( 11B, 7L, 8D )
2 expert-led lectures
18 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
Remember to bring your nametag.
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. In addition to our knowledgeable Group Leader, we will learn from local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Transportation for field trips and other program-related activities will be via private motorcoach unless indicated otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
We will enjoy a group Welcome Dinner with complimentary mineral water and a glass of wine; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking 4 miles, approximately 3-4 hours at an even pace with extensive standing; cobblestones, hilly streets, sidewalks and staircase with 196 steps (Cristal Palace), The upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto has an altitude of approximately 62 meters above the level of the Douro River.
Breakfast:
We will have a buffet at the hotel.
Morning:
We will gather in the hotel meeting room for the first lecture of the program. Next, we will check out and load the suitcases into the bus. We will then start a walking exploration through Porto’s most iconic highlights: walking over the roof of Palácio de Cristal. The Crystal Palace is one of the city's most emblematic and cherished spaces, especially for its connection to culture, landscape, and leisure. Inaugurated in 1865, the original building—inspired by London's Crystal Palace—was designed to host major international exhibitions. Although the iron and glass palace was demolished in 1951, the site retained its name and symbolic importance, now housing the current Rosa Mota Pavilion, surrounded by magnificent gardens organized on several levels, combining tree-lined avenues, fountains, sculptures, and various themed gardens. The walk on the dome refers to the pedestrian path that encircles and surrounds the structure of the current pavilion, whose rounded shape stands out in the center of the gardens. During this walk, we will experience an elevated and immersive perspective, allowing us to observe the city, the river, and the ocean from different angles. After this walk we will proceed to the historic section of Porto in downtown an area classified as World Heritage by the UNESCO. We will pass by the Clérigos Tower, Avenida dos Aliados, Praça da Liberdade, São Bento Station and the Cathedral. Later we will continue across the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge built in 1886 ending at Gaia riverfront.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like at Gaia river front. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
After some time to stroll around Gaia's river front, we will depart by motorcoach to Luso. Upon arrival at the program hotel, we will check in and take some time to relax and freshen up before gathering for a briefing about the hikings before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we will have dinner with water and a complimentary glass of wine. Beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At Leisure
Activity Note
Uneven trails with frequent short ascents and descents with a total ascent of +387 m and an equivalent descent of -387 m. Steep terrain of dirt and rocky slopes, cobbled steps and staircases and narrow slippery paths that require good leg strength and sure-footedness. Physical effort moderate but continuous—ideal for people prepared for a fairly energetic 3-hour woodland hike. Hiking 4 miles.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
Morning lecture at the hotel or nearby introducing the rich biodiversity, historical legacy of the Carmelite presence that has shaped this historic landscape, and the Napoleonic “Battle of Bussaco”. Created in the mid-1600s, Bussaco’s Via Sacra is one of Europe’s most notable Sacromonte routes—an interpretation of Jerusalem’s Holy City designed to symbolically follow the Passion of Christ. Its chapels, stairways and symbolic gates add cultural and spiritual depth to the experience. After the lecture we will start our 3 hours and 6,5 Kms hike exploring the most iconic areas of the Bussaco Forest, combining sections of the historic Via Sacra with the ancient Relic Forest. The route follows selected segments of the 17th-century Via Sacra, passing small chapels that mark the Stations of the Cross and demanding several stair climbs. After the Via Sacra sections we enter the Relic Forest the most ancient and untouched part of Bussaco and the trail becomes more shaded but also rockier and steeper, contributing to the cumulative +387 m ascent. This area represents a rare remnant of pre-human mountain woodland, making up roughly 15% of the forest with native species such as laurel, holly, strawberry tree, cork oak, stone pine, and mock privet. There will be moss-covered rocks, dramatic slopes, ancient trees and occasional breathtaking viewpoints where we will stop. At the end we will walk back to the hotel. NOTE: Recommendations for this hike: Sturdy hiking shoes and trekking poles for stability on descents, water and sun protection for exposed sections.
Lunch:
On your own to explore local cuisine.
Afternoon:
Take the afternoon to enjoy the Grande Hotel de Luso designed by architect Cassiano Branco and its facilities such as an Olympic-sized outdoor pool and a indoor pool or try the thermal waters of luso and visit the old 1930's baths.
Dinner:
At local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Circular Route predominantly flat wetland walk with an elevation gain/loss: +82.4 m / -82.4 m and a duration of 2h30 suitable for walkers seeking a slow-paced, low-intensity experience with frequent stops. The terrain consists of well-maintained dirt paths, farm tracks, and short boardwalk sections. Hiking 5 miles and walking 2 miles.
Breakfast:
Hotel Buffet
Morning:
We will transfer from Luso to Salreu (approx 1 hour ) where we will begin our expert-led circular walk of 2 hours and 30 minutes (8 kms) in one of the most remarkable wetland ecosystems in Portugal: the BioRia network, located within the Ria de Aveiro lagoon system and the Baixo Vouga Lagunar. BioRia is a pioneering environmental restoration and conservation project developed to rehabilitate degraded wetland areas and reconnect the region with its natural heritage. This circular walk begins and ends at the Environmental Interpretation Center, the main gateway to BioRia crossing representative lagoon-landscape habitats such as the rice fields, tidal marshes, reed beds and rush meadows rich in birdlife (herons, egrets, spoonbills, raptors, ducks, waders). NOTE: Bring comfortable walking shoes (flat terrain, may be soft/muddy after rain), lightweight outdoor clothing and a camera (the horizons and soft light are ideal for landscape photography). At the end transfer to Aveiro for lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
After lunch enjoy a short stroll around Aveiro’s charming center with its Art Nouveau tile façades. Then we will transfer by bus to Mealhada and visit a local winery where we will taste their famous sparkling wine. At the end transfer to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local cuisine.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
This trail includes a total ascent of +297 m, and a duration of 2h30–3h00 with several short but steep climbs—particularly near Figueiral and on the approach to the higher viewpoints. Terrain is irregular, occasional rocky and slippery with uneven forest paths, rocky surfaces, and narrow sections near citrus terraces.Hiking 5 miles and walking 0,5 miles.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
We will check out and transfer to Caramulo (aprox. 50 minutes ) to start a guided hike called “hike of the orange trees” . This route explores one of the most atmospheric landscapes of the Caramulo foothills and a reminder of Portugal’s original Atlantic forest. Throughout this 8 km loop, and 2h30m to 3 hours walk, we will accumulate +297 m of ascent and an equivalent descent, moving through traditional villages with granite houses and old chapels that reflect centuries of human presence, orchards, ancient forests, and river valleys, passing citrus groves that once played an important economic role, chestnut woodlands, traditional water mills and “levadas” (irrigation channels) once fundamental to rural life. The constant presence of running water, terraced slopes, and deep green vegetation will define the entire route. A moderately demanding climb to the highest viewpoint to overlook Serra do Caramulo and Vale de Besteiros and take the opportunity to take pictures of rural structures and textures and the local atmosphere and river scenery. NOTE: This is a manageable hike for active walkers who are comfortable with varied terrain and continuous elevation changes with extra care in narrow terrace areas. Sturdy hiking shoes are required, comfortable outdoor clothing, trekking poles for steeper ascents/descents.
Lunch:
Light lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon:
We will start the afternoon with a guided visit to the Caramulo Museum, featuring a unique collection of classic cars and fine art. At the end we will transfer for apprx. 2 hours to the hotel in Covilhã for check in.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
This trail includes a total descent of 735 m, and a duration of 2h40 min through irregular terrain, occasional rocky and slippery with uneven paths.Hiking 6,5 miles and walking 0,5 miles.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
Transfer to Serra da Estrela Natural Park, Portugal’s highest mountain range (approx. 45 min). Arrival at Torre (1,993 m), the highest point in mainland Portugal. Here, enjoy some time to enjoy the landscape and visit local stalls to purchase regional products (cheese, cured meats, bread, honey, etc.) for the upcoming picnic. Later we will drive to Covão d’Ametade (approx. 20 min) to begin our hike of about 2h30 minutes and 10,2 KMS on a trail that descends through the spectacular Zêzere Glacier Valley shaped by ice 20,000 years ago, enjoying mountain vistas, glacial formations, and pastoral landscapes that will lead you to the bottom of the valley. Before starting the descent, take the opportunity to appreciate the small but well-preserved grove of yew and birch trees that exists there. Upon reaching the base of the valley, you will pass stone houses, known locally as "cortes," which have served as support for mountain agriculture and pastoralism for centuries. As you walk, you will begin to see the village of Manteigas in the distance and the trout farms that the Forestry Services use to regularly repopulate the mountain rivers and lagoons.NOTE: This is a manageable hike for active walkers. Sturdy hiking shoes are required, comfortable outdoor clothing, trekking poles.
Lunch:
We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail of regional products purchased in Torre. Mineral water included.
Afternoon:
Arrival in Manteigas, a picturesque mountain village and take the opportunity to buy more local products befote a transfer to Covilhã (approx. 40 min). Arriving to Covilhã, a charming mountain city with a rich history linked to the wool industry and a lively student atmosphere we will visit the New Hand Lab, a creative project revitalizing Covilhã’s textile heritage through contemporary art and design. Located in a former wool factory it preserves the industrial heritage of Covilhã’s traditional wool industry. The space promotes creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship by supporting artists, designers, artisans, and creators working in fields like fashion, textiles and multimedia arts. A local expert will connect the site’s industrial past with contemporary creative practices offering an immersive journey through Covilhã’s textile heritage. At the end we will transfer back to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
This trail includes a total elevation gain of +214 m, and a duration of 3h30 min through irregular dirt tracks, occasional rocky and slippery with uneven paths and a gentle but sustained climb toward the Serra da Malcata slopes. The trail is suitable for hikers comfortable with mixed terrain, moderate elevation gain, and walking on natural surfaces.Hiking 7 miles and walking 1 mile.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
After breakfast, we will transfer to Meimoa dam (aaprox 45 minutes) to start our 3hours 30 minutes (11.5 km) hike. This trail combines open landscapes, water features, pine and olive forests, and historic villages, starting near Meimoa’s river beach and following to Meimoa Dam. We will cross its imposing wall with wide views of the water and surrounding hills and proceed along quiet rural tracks and the reservoir shoreline, and gradually ascend toward the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve, historically a refuge of the Iberian lynx and rich in its biodiversity. The route concludes in the small mountain village of Meimão, before a transfer to the medieval village of Sortelha. NOTE: Sturdy hiking shoes are required, comfortable outdoor clothing; trekking poles recommended for ascents
Lunch:
We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail.
Afternoon:
Transfer from Meimão to Sortelha (approx. 30 min). Upon arrival guided visit to Sortelha exploring one of Portugal’s most beautiful and best-preserved Historical Villages, enclosed by medieval granite walls and dotted with stone houses and narrow cobbled streets. We will visit its medieval castle , the clock tower and the Chapel of Santiago. At the end transfer back to Covilhã and the hotel (approx. 45 min). Stop at Covilhã’s street art area for those wishing to explore independently. The Street Art Route is an urban art experience that transforms the historic center of Covilhã into an open-air museum. Created around the WOOL – Covilhã Urban Art Festival, which began in 2011, the route is now one of the city's main cultural attractions, celebrating Covilhã's connection to the wool industry and the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The works on the route pay homage to the region's textile heritage, shepherds, and mountain people. Murals by artists such as VHILS, Add Fuel, Bordalo II, Tamara Alves, Samina, and Gijs Vanhee populate facades and walls, reinterpreting themes such as wool, manual labor, and the city's industrial memory. Each piece invites us to discover new perspectives on the past and present of Covilhã, now recognized by UNESCO as a "Creative City of Design". Your GL and local experts will help providing maps and apps so that the route can be explored independently.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local cuisine in Covilhã or at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
This trail has a duration of 3h and includes a substantial cumulative ascent of +468 m, concentrated in the climbs toward the final approach to Monsanto, while the descent is lighter (-103 m). Expect dirt tracks interspersed with short rocky sections and village streets. Suitable for active walkers prepared for a pronounced uphill profile.Hiking 7,5 miles.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
We will check out of our hotel and transfer to Idanha-a-Velha (approx. 1 h) to start our hike of 12 km that will last about 3 hours. Once known as Egitânia, this small village was an important Roman city, and its history still whispers from every corner. The Roman walls, the cathedral ruins, and the beautifully preserved Manor House tell stories spanning more than two thousand years. Surrounded by golden plains, Idanha-a-Velha offers a rare kind of peace. There are no crowds here — only a profound sense of place. We will be visiting it with our hiking expert first and then start the hike moving from the low-lying Ponsul river plains and olive and cork-oak groves to the higher, granite-dominated slopes of Monsanto with continuous opportunities for photography. Monsanto is one of the country’s most extraordinary villages. Known as “the most Portuguese village in Portugal,” it captivates visitors with its dramatic landscape, where enormous boulders shape streets, houses, and daily life. Our visit will start with a walk through its steep cobbled streets, passing stone houses built between and beneath massive rocks. Many doors, roofs, and walls are formed by natural granite, creating a setting unlike anywhere else in Europe. At the top we will follow the path to the Castle, a medieval fortress offering breathtaking panoramic views over the surrounding plains and into Spain on clear days. Along the way, we will explore historic landmarks such as the Romanesque Chapel of São Miguel or the Clock Tower. In 2021 a team shooting the series “Game of Thrones” was in Monsanto for about one month and in 2022 “House of the Dragon” premiered worldwide.
Lunch:
We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail.
Afternoon:
Transfer to Vilar Formoso (approx. 1 h 40 min) to visit the Frontier of Peace Museum & Memorial to Refugees. Located on the eastern border of Portugal, for decades, Vilar Formoso served as one of the country’s main gateways to Europe. The museum was inaugurated in 2017 t as a space that honors Portugal's role in welcoming refugees during the Second World War, transforming warehouses at the railway station into a memorial about the refugees' experience and the work of Consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Through photographs, documents, and personal testimonies, the museum offers a powerful insight into the human side of history. At the end we will still have time to admire the beautiful tiles of the train station from the 1930’s used to advertise Portuguese landscape, monuments to all those arriving to Portugal on holidays by car or train. At the end we will start our drive towards the Northeast and the Douro Valley.We will arrive to Longroiva for check-in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
This is a gentle and scenic walk with minimal ascent (+18 m) and a continuous, long and gentle descent (-316 m) as the trail moves from the higher village of Chãs toward the lower terraces surrounding Quinta da Ervamoira in a total distance of 4,5 miles made in about 2 to 2h30m.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
Transfer to Muxagata (approx. 20 min) to start a scenic walk (7 km) of 2 hours through the Douro Superior, finishing at Ervamoira, one of the region’s most emblematic wine estates surrounded by vineyards. This 7 km walk begins beside the Igreja Matriz de Chãs, following narrow village lanes paved with calçada portuguesa before opening into the terraced hills typical of the Douro Superior. Over the course of the -316 m descent, we will traverse vineyards, olive groves, and open viewpoints overlooking the Ervamoira valley. The walk concludes with lunch at Casa Ramos Pinto, where we will learn about the region’s wine and olive oil traditions and have lunch. NOTES: Comfortable walking shoes for mixed surfaces, sun protection for open vineyard terraces, a camera to capture the Douro’s iconic landscapes.
Lunch:
Light lunch & wine tasting at the Quinta.
Afternoon:
Return to the hotel and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to discover Longroiva before dinner.
Dinner:
At hotel.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
This is not a traditional hike. Walking is minimal to short paths around the rock panels. Opportunities for photography (without flash). Bring a warm layer as night temperatures can drop, comfortable shoes suitable for a short walk on natural terrain. Walking 2 miles.
Breakfast:
At hotel buffet
Morning:
We will drive to Vila Nova de Foz Côa (approx. 20 min) and visit the Museum of Prehistoric Rock Art Site in the Côa Valley. Foz Coa is in an area shaped by centuries of human interaction with nature, part of the Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a local expert, we will discover the prehistoric history of the Douro Valley, which has been inhabited continuously since the end of the Paleolithic Age. After the visit we will transfer to the center of Foz Coa and stroll around and purchase regional products for lunch or have something to eat in a cafe before returning to the hotel.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will transfer by motorcoach back to the hotel to enjoy the hotel facilities spa, thermal pools, or relax and get ready for the night walk.
Dinner:
Early dinner at the hotel
Evening:
Transfer by motorcoach to Castelo Melhor (approx. 35 min) for a unique evening visit in the Vale do Côa, exploring one of the world’s most important open-air galleries of Paleolithic rock art. On the way to the village of Castelo Melhor, we will be passing through scenic rural landscapes dotted with olive groves and almond orchards. From Castelo Melhor, we will continue in all-terrain vehicles (5 KMS) to the Penascosa Archaeological Site for a night visit of the site. The rock art at Penascosa shows thousands of Paleolithic engravings of horses, aurochs, ibex, and other animals incised into the schist rock. At night, the figures stand out in three dimensions unlike during the day when these engravings can be difficult to see because the sunlight hits the rocks evenly. Upon arrival, we will follow a short, well-maintained path leading to the rock panels, where the prehistoric engravings are illuminated with soft controlled night lighting. The visit centers on observation and interpretation of Paleolithic rock art . The subtle night lighting enhances visibility, allowing us to fully appreciate motifs from the Paleolithic period, along with Neolithic, Iron Age, and later historical markings. The visit emphasizes immersion and interpretation rather than physical effort, allowing us to connect directly with humanity’s earliest artistic expressions. You will enjoy a magical guided experience.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 87 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time with winding or hilly roads in the morning (20 minutes ride) and on motorway in the afternoon (1H30M). Minimum physical effort. Walking 1 mile.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Morning:
We will check out of our hotel and cover the final miles of our journey in the Douro Valley driving towards Pocinho (approx. 20 min) to catch the train. The Douro Railway Line, is one of Portugal's most emblematic railway infrastructures, standing out for its historical and economic importance as well as the unique landscape it traverses. The line was conceived in the 19th century with the aim of connecting Porto to the interior of the country, facilitating the transport of people and goods, especially Port wine, produced on the slopes of the Douro Valley. Its construction began in 1875, reaching Peso da Régua in 1879 and Pocinho in 1887, overcoming enormous engineering challenges imposed by the rugged terrain and the constant proximity of the Douro River. For an hour and a half, we will follow the course of the river, crossing tunnels carved into the rock, metal bridges, and steep slopes covered in terraced vineyards. This harmonious integration between engineering and nature has transformed the line into one of the most beautiful railway routes in Europe, located in a region classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival to Peso da regua in the heart of the Douro region we will disembark and walk to a local restaurant for lunch.
Lunch:
Farewell lunch in Regua.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will rejoin our motorcoach and transfer to Porto to check in in our last hotel. Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 a.m. Airport transfers beginning at approximately 3:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At hotel
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Mar 07, 2027 - Mar 19, 2027
Apr 04, 2027 - Apr 16, 2027
Apr 11, 2027 - Apr 23, 2027
May 23, 2027 - Jun 04, 2027
Jun 06, 2027 - Jun 18, 2027
Sep 05, 2027 - Sep 17, 2027
Oct 10, 2027 - Oct 22, 2027
Oct 10 - Oct 22, 2027 Itinerary Differences: Enroll in this date preceded by the corresponding Oct. 04, 2027 departure of "Signature City: Lisbon" (#25611) to combine two learning experiences in Portugal.