Join us to walk the Portuguese Camino
from Porto to Valença, Portugal - September 2023
The walled city of Valença, Portugal.
Read the 6 reasons we walk the Camino de Santiago in Portugal
Join us for a guided journey through northern Portugal:
September 21 - 30, 2023
This is the second time we’ll walk on the Portuguese Camino in 2023! We love Portugal and clearly others do, too. Interest in our Portugal walks has been considerable, so we are happy to bring a second group to Porto and then walk north to Spain.
We will soak in the Atlantic coastline as we walk along the dunes, stopping in the historic towns found at the mouth of each major river that empties into the ocean.
The food in Portugal is wonderful, including fresh seafood and excellent wine, We are sure you’ll come to love Portugal as much as we do.
From Porto to Valença, Portugal
This walking tour will introduce you to the Portuguese Camino by guiding you north for 10 days, starting in Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. After arriving, we’ll spend a full day exploring the historic old city (and getting over jetlag). Here you’ll see thousands of unique buildings with hand-painted tiles and bright colors adorning cobble-stoned streets and the Douro River. On the third day, we’ll begin our walk along the coast, occasionally walking inland through lush forests and small villages. Much of the coastline in Portugal is lined with a well-kept boardwalk, providing solid footing as we head north. As we cross the Spanish boarder, we’ll leave the coast and walk up-river for the final two days, finishing in the historic, fort town of Valença. After reaching the end of our journey, we’ll take the train back to Porto for a farewell dinner.
The best part of walking with us is that you can walk as much or as little as you would like. We can help you select the prettiest 5 mile section, or you can walk onward to the day’s endpoint which will normally be 10-15 miles. The decision is yours, and you can naturally decide along the way based on how you feel. Our van will be always available to coordinate snacks and lunch and we can pickup anyone, at any point, who has walked far enough for the day.
To enable you to focus on your walking and the lovely scenery along the way, we have organized your lodging and planned your meals – and we will transport your bags each day to ease your load. Plus, we pick you up and drop you off at the airport to make your travels simple and easy.
Dates: September 21-30, 2023
Cost: $3450
Maximum group size: 11
The Route through Portugal
After exploring the wonderful city of Porto, we will set off on the path north, covering approximately 10 miles a day (although you can do less or more, depending on your preferences).
Our experience has shown that 10 miles is a reasonable daily goal for most people. For anyone who decides they would like to do less, our van can easily pick you up and deliver you to the day’s endpoint. We will ensure most walkers have mobile phones so you can always be in touch with the van. For those who would like to walk further, there are often side-routes and additional places to explore.
The route is mostly comprised of boardwalks, back roads, and paths. Rarely do we walk through larger urban areas. You’ll see an amazing array of wildflowers, stop and take pictures, meet other pilgrims from around the world, and consider life’s big questions through mindful reflection.
Our driver and van will setup a picnic lunch for you each day. And the van will transport your bags, so all you’ll need to carry is a simple day pack.
We will head north along the coast from Porto and walk until we arrive in Spain, then walk along the border for a few days to the walled fortress town of Valença.
There are many places online to learn more about walking the Camino (and don’t forget to check out the YouTube videos). A more detailed itinerary will be available after you register.
Your Guide
Travel Fever Tours co-founder, Bob Lawson, will be leading this tour with assistance from veteran Camino guide Betsy Bates. While it’s hard to choose a favorite place to walk, the Camino in Portugal is very high on Bob’s list of favorites. The fresh ocean air, amazing seafood, and beautiful rural landscapes each make this a special location.
Bob has always been drawn by the simplicity of life while walking. Life doesn’t overwhelm you with choices. You get up in the morning, pack up your bag, eat breakfast at the hotel and then head out, one foot in front of the other. You walk, you stop for coffee, walk, eat lunch see some more of Portugal and then stop with plenty of time for a shower and a nap. And of course there is time to explore the town where we’re staying the night before meeting up for dinner.
Trip Details
(Click + to expand)
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September 21-30, 2023 (9 nights - 10 Days)
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Total cost of the tour: $3450
Supplement for single occupancy: $425
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $350
(Places in the tour are limited to 11 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!Payment schedule
$350 deposit. The deposit is refundable through June 1, 2023.
$1550 initial payment (Due June 1, 2023)
$1550 final payment (Due July 15, 2023)
All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.
** Earn a $300 discount when you bring or refer a friend.
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Pickup and drop- off at designated airport
Guided walking along the Camino with experienced guide
9 nights lodging
9 dinners, lunches and breakfasts, with appropriate amounts of beer or local wine
Local transportation by van and driver
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
Admission to museums and local sites and other misc. costs.
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Lodging will be at small hotels along the route. Unlike other tours that ferry you back and forth from central hotels, we stay directly on the route in a new and interesting town each night. Each room, either single or double, has its own private bathroom.
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Traditional Portuguese breakfasts to be taken at your hotels each morning.
Lunch will normally be a picnic along the route.
Dinner will be at restaurants found in the towns where we stay each evening.
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At the start or end of the trip, participants may opt to visit Lisbon, or even stop in the Azores on your way across the Atlantic.
Following the walk, it is easy to take a train north to Santiago, if you would like to visit there. And it is possible, depending on the airline, to fly into Porto and back out of Santiago.
We are happy to offer advice on how best to extend your trip, if you like.
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Your deposit is non-refundable after June 1, 2023, unless of course the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. After that date, payments are nonrefundable.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.