Moderate-to-challenging walking on more rugged terrain with significant ascents / descents on most days. Compass skills may be required (check the individual holiday).
The season for this holiday is:
01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021
01 April 2022 - 14 July 2022
20 August 2022 - 31 October 2022
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| °C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 13 |
| mm | 166 | 157 | 119 | 104 | 90 | 48 | 16 | 23 | 66 | 132 | 161 | 170 |
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
7 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021, 01 April 2022 - 14 July 2022 & 20 August 2022 - 31 October 2022
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr - 21 May 2021 | £830 | £365 |
| 22 May - 25 Jun 2021 | £860 | £380 |
| 26 Jun - 7 Jul 2021 | £895 | £405 |
| 8 Jul - 7 Sep 2021 | £945 | £445 |
| 8 - 13 Sep 2021 | £895 | £405 |
| 14 - 30 Sep 2021 | £860 | £380 |
| 1 - 24 Oct 2021 | £830 | £365 |
| 1 Apr - 21 May 2022 | £875 | £385 |
| 22 May - 25 Jun 2022 | £895 | £400 |
| 26 Jun - 7 Jul 2022 | £940 | £430 |
| 20 Aug - 7 Sep 2022 | £995 | £470 |
| 8 - 13 Sep 2022 | £940 | £430 |
| 14 - 30 Sep 2022 | £895 | £400 |
| 1 - 24 Oct 2022 | £875 | £385 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | -£65 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £65 |
Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.
Room upgrades (£ per person per night)
| Hotel Ribeira Collection, Arcos de Valdevez | ||
|---|---|---|
| Panoramic: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 | £26 | |
| Panoramic: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £28 | |
| Panoramic: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £28 |
| Hotel Águas do Gerês, Gerês | ||
|---|---|---|
| Suite: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2021 | £22 | |
| Suite: 15 Jul - 15 Sep 2021 | £35 | |
| Suite: 16 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 | £22 | |
| Suite: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £24 | |
| Suite: 20 Aug - 15 Sep 2022 | £36 | |
| Suite: 16 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 | £24 | |
| Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 | £8 | |
| Superior: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £10 | |
| Superior: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £10 |
| Hotel São Bento da Porta Aberta, Rio Caldo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 | £12 | |
| Suite: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £14 | |
| Suite: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £14 | |
| Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 | £8 | |
| Superior: 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £10 | |
| Superior: 20 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £10 |
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
| Hotel Ribeira Collection, Arcos de Valdevez (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Apr - 09 Apr 2021 | £40 | £80 |
| 10 Apr - 27 Apr 2021 | £58 | £116 |
| 28 Apr - 25 Jun 2021 | £40 | £80 |
| 26 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 | £64 | £128 |
| 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 | £40 | £80 |
| 01 Apr - 09 Apr 2022 | £42 | £84 |
| 10 Apr - 27 Apr 2022 | £62 | £122 |
| 28 Apr - 25 Jun 2022 | £42 | £84 |
| 26 Jun - 14 Jul 2022 | £68 | £136 |
| 20 Aug - 31 Aug 2022 | £68 | £136 |
| 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 | £42 | £84 |
| Hotel Águas do Gerês, Gerês (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2021 | £48 | £72 |
| 15 Jul - 15 Sep 2021 | £80 | £115 |
| 16 Sep - 30 Sep 2021 | £48 | £72 |
| 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 | £40 | £62 |
| 01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £50 | £76 |
| 20 Aug - 15 Sep 2022 | £84 | £120 |
| 16 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 | £50 | £76 |
| 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 | £42 | £66 |
Travelling from the UK
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Aberdeen - Porto (via Paris CDG) | Air France, KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Birmingham - Porto | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Bristol - Porto | easyJet |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh - Porto | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Liverpool - Porto | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Gatwick - Porto | British Airways, easyJet, TAP Air Portugal |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Heathrow - Porto | British Airways, TAP Air Portugal |
| Heathrow - Porto (via Lisbon) | TAP Air Portugal |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Stansted - Porto | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Manchester - Porto | easyJet, Ryanair |
| Manchester - Porto (via Brussels) | Brussels Airlines |
| Manchester - Porto (via Frankfurt) | Lufthansa |
| Manchester - Porto (via Lisbon) | TAP Air Portugal |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Newcastle - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
| Newcastle - Porto (via Brussels) | Brussels Airlines |
| Newcastle - Porto (via Paris CDG) | KLM |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Norwich - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
Connecting travel options - flying via Porto
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| coach Porto airport to Arcos de Valdevez (1h50) | £14 in 2021; £15 in 2022 | 1600 Mon-Fri (1430 Sat-Sun) |
| direct taxi Porto airport to hotel (1h10) | £48 in 2021; £50 in 2022 | flexible |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| direct taxi hotel to Porto airport (1h10) | £62 in 2021; £66 in 2022 | flexible |
| taxi hotel to Braga bus station (0h40), bus Braga to Porto airport (0h50, pay locally) | £36 in 2021; £38 in 2022 | 1230 |
| bus Santa Maria do Bouro to Braga bus station (0h40), bus Braga to Porto airport (0h50) | pay locally | 1230 |
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
Great holiday. Really good in all respects. Thank you
Full marks to Inntravel for offering a holiday in this area which is little known and visited by overseas travellers. This is not a trip we could have devised on our own. The walking routes were delightful and well considered through contrasting terrain and on a wide variety of paths. All arrangements worked seemlessly and evening restaurant recommendations were excellent. We travelled in late September and enjoyed seeing carpets of autumn crocus and the early colours of autumn in mixed deciduous woodland. Our Braga extension was an excellent contrast - and recommended for those interested in understanding the historic and cultural influences on the area.
We all enjoyed staying in the village houses, Pedro was an excellent host and rescued us when we got lost and were made very welcome at his restaurant. We also enjoyed the Pousada, good restaurant lovely garden and pool although the rooms were quite small. The walks were interesting and varied.
Great holiday. Really good in all respects. Thank you
Full marks to Inntravel for offering a holiday in this area which is little known and visited by overseas travellers. This is not a trip we could have devised on our own. The walking routes were delightful and well considered through contrasting terrain and on a wide variety of paths. All arrangements worked seemlessly and evening restaurant recommendations were excellent. We travelled in late September and enjoyed seeing carpets of autumn crocus and the early colours of autumn in mixed deciduous woodland. Our Braga extension was an excellent contrast - and recommended for those interested in understanding the historic and cultural influences on the area.
We all enjoyed staying in the village houses, Pedro was an excellent host and rescued us when we got lost and were made very welcome at his restaurant. We also enjoyed the Pousada, good restaurant lovely garden and pool although the rooms were quite small. The walks were interesting and varied.
Overall we loved the holiday. Anything that was not right can probably be blamed on the whole Covid/travel fiasco but it was lovely to be travelling again and with Inntravel who we find extremely reliable and helpful.
The High Paths of Northern Portugal is an excellent walking holiday with a great mix of scenery and cultural heritage. We very much enjoyed the variety, both in terms of the routes as well as the accommodation, which was excellent. Frequent encounters with the attractive cachena cattle and the Gerrano horses in the area around Soajo were a definite highlight.
The walks get easier as the week progresses, but having a good level of fitness is probably helpful, as the steep ascents and cobbled/rocky paths can sap the energy on hot days. There are many fountains in the villages to top up bottles with fresh cold water though! Do take time to explore the villages and sanctuaries you pass on route. We found the new crypt and tiled ambulatory at the Sanctuary of S. Bento da Porta Aberta much more interesting that the old church. And the finest cascade was found in the woods behind Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Abadia. We copied the locals and found a pool to bathe our hot feet in.
As always the notes are great, but we'd recommend using the gpx files too, as the paper map isn't a useful walking aid. The Outdoor Active app is an excellent resource, as it includes the waymarked national park trails and allowed us to create our own detours. Information about the trails (trilhos) is available at https://turismo.cm-terrasdebouro.pt/listing-category/aventura/trilhos-pedestres/
Evening meals are hearty and substantial, but having a fondness for beef might be necessary as steaks feature heavily. Vegetarians could struggle a little, especially if they don't eat eggs - which appear in many dishes, sometimes without warning!
We stayed a couple of extra nights in Geres as we wanted to add another couple of walks to our intinerary, but this also meant that we had time to make full use of the hotel's outdoor swimming pool, which is at the top end of the Parque das Termas. Just ask the hotel receptionist for a pass. Our other top tip for Geres is to eat early in the evening. The local restaurants don't seem to take bookings and lengthy queues start forming around 7.30pm.
This worked really well for us. We booked late due to pandemic uncertainties but everything was organised without any problems. The walking was wonderful - we liked having 3 days of longer walks first and were then grateful for 2 days of shorter walks at the end. The walking notes were excellent, if a bit esoteric at times, but we got used to them and didn't get lost or have to retrace our steps once. And ending up in a really good hotel was fantastic and we loved lounging around there on our last day, having decided we had walked enough!
What a fantastic week. First time we have visisted Portugal. The welcome we received; the quality as always of the accommodation & wonderful food; the rich variety of walking; rich history & heritage of the area; Braga city break. Yet another enriching Inntravel Walking holiday. Looking forward to planning next year's trip already. Thanks once again.
The country covered by this walk was beautiful and the lodging and food were excellent. Recommended for experienced and fit walkers only, however, as there is significant elevation change and no truly easy days. Perhaps it would be best to schedule an extra rest day midway through to give the feet a rest.