Adventure in Portugal Tour

In your arrival at Porto airport, our driver/guide will  give you a warm welcome and will drive you to the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo. This ancient city will be the starting point of a private journey through the wildest, unaltered and most preserved and green Northern Portugal. We will lead you through the “off-the-beaten-track”, exploring the authentic bucolic life, the breathtaking and green landscapes of Minho Region, the most thrilling trails, the most delicious flavors of the Portuguese Cuisine. You will be fully supported by a professional guide, discovering a natural environment of adventurous experiences and sensations. It will be a relaxing and safe itinerary, which can be adapted to your goals and needs.

Check-in at the Hotel and visit to the Chocolate Museum. You will also have some time to rest or for exploring the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo, considered the “Princess” of Lima River. Accommodation in Viana do Castelo.

Today, we will pick you up at the Hotel and say goodbye to Viana do Castelo with a visit to one of its most amazing monuments – the Santa Luzia temple. This monument stays on a hill top and offers the most incredible panoramic view over the city and the Lima river. We will also visit the National Museum of Costume, where we will be able to learn more about the traditions of the Minho Region.

Then,  we continue our trip through the wildest and gorgeous Nature of this Region. Our first stop will be Ponte de Lima, considered the oldest town in Portugal. It is located on the south bank of the Lima River, facing a magnificent Roman bridge with low arches, an unique structure from the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus. A walk through its center is a journey to the roots of the Portuguese ancestry, with old streets lined with elegant buildings. Some say that Ponte de Lima is where you find the most delicious food from the Minho Region. You will have a chance to taste it!

Driving through the High Minho Region characterized by its green backgrounds, picturesque villages and abrupt hills, we will head to the heart of this region, the charming town of Paredes de Coura. With houses clinging to a slope, which incline to the beautiful valley of the Coura River, it is rich in archaeological sites and valuable monuments. Here, we will also discover the amazing Corno de Bico’s Protected Landscape, a natural paradise watered by three incredible rivers, covering an extensive forest, where oaks and holly abound, amongst other flora species. And being practically untouched by man, it is the home of various native and European fauna species, like the Iberian wolf or the Pyrenean desman. And this lovely day will end with a visit to the Rural Store, where you can find a large offer of typical crafts and traditional products. This store is well known among the locals for promoting the Minho culture and traditions. Accommodation in Arcos de Valdevez.

Our driver guide will pick you up and we will start a fantastic walk through the most genuine and green sites of the Region, following the Vez Ecovia, an incredible path, where we will admire waterfalls,  wooden walkways, huge and green mountains, crystal-clear lagoons, native flora and fauna.

From here, we will visit one of the most famous Portuguese communities, the picturesque and pleasant village of Sistelo. It is located in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, near the source of the famed Vez River. Its people are welcoming and its terraced landscapes are breathtaking. With fairytale granite houses and an amazing Roman Bridge, the landmark of this village is the beautiful Sistelo Castle. And after a notable walk, we will head the medieval and renowned Manor House of Giela.

And this memorable day will end with a visit to one of most famous Wineries of the Region. The sparkling “green wine” is an important icon of Minho and here we will learn more about the wine production and we will taste their best wines. Accommodation in Arcos de Valdevez.

After a great breakfast at the Hotel, we will organize a Special Jeep Tour just for you. Through the Soajo and Peneda mountains, you will admire some of the most memorable green and wild sites that can be found in Portugal. Discover the land of wild horses, the gorgeous and fresh water courses, the traditional granaries set against the horizon, the characteristic scent of heather, the sound of animals freely running, the flavors of the local herbal tea.

All of these feelings will be harmoniously linked with the tasting of the delicious and traditional products that make the typical “Minhota” Cuisine (from Minho Region) one of the most famous in this country. 

Our day will end with a visit to a Shiitake Mushrooms Farm, where you will be able to learn more about the production of this delicious mushrooms. The Shiitake usually grow on trees and their production is inspired by ancestral japonese methods. At the end of our visit, you will have a chance to taste the amazing flavour of the mushrooms produced. Accommodation in Arcos de Valdevez.

We will start this day with a walk through the Peneda-Gerês National Park. This protected land, one of the most important National Parks in Europe, consists of two main mountain ranges with remote time-warp villages scattered around. Placed right in the middle of the rugged north, this is a natural labyrinth of uplands reaching over 1500 meters, undulating green valleys, regenerating oak forests, calm and crystalline waters, granite mountains with over 300 million years old.

Then, we will visit to the Spanish neighborhood. Driving to Ourense, we will reach the fantastic town of Lobios. It is a small land, with friendly people. And its Natural Hot Spring stands out. Here lies one of the largest and most popular collection of hot springs in this country, spewing from the ground at nearly 150ºF. During a very agreeable walk, you can relax in the free public hot springs that can please everyone. Accommodation in Arcos de Valdevez.

After a delicious breakfast and your check-out, our driver will transfer you to the Porto airport. End of our services.