8 day Portuguese Camino Pack Free Walk
8-Day Portuguese Camino Pack Free Walk – A Guided Walking Tour from Porto by Life’s An Adventure
Life’s An Adventure invites you on an 8-day Pack Free guided walking tour along the Portuguese Camino, designed specifically for those with limited time who want to experience the magic of the Camino from Portugal. Starting in the historic city of Porto, this journey follows the traditional inland Camino route, culminating at the famous Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Covering the last 100 km of the Camino, this walk entitles you to receive the pilgrim certificate, known as the Compostela, upon reaching Santiago. The inland route has been chosen for its rich cultural and scenic beauty, offering a more varied and picturesque experience than the coastal path. As you walk, traverse gentle hills, stroll through serene forests, and pass by quaint villages and historic towns that embody the timeless charm of Portugal and Spain. The journey reveals a tapestry of the countryside, where stone paths wind through vineyards, olive groves, and scenic landscapes that have inspired pilgrims for centuries.
Each day’s walk is designed to offer flexibility, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the experience at their own pace, without the burden of carrying a heavy pack. With private transfers and seamless logistics, you can enjoy the freedom of Pack Free travel, focusing on the walk itself and the cultural discoveries along the way. Accommodation has been handpicked to ensure a memorable and comfortable stay, with lodgings that reflect the character of the region. Stay in charming boutique hotels and historic inns that provide both comfort and a touch of history, allowing you to rest and recharge in beautiful surroundings. Each evening, indulge in the flavours of the region, with high-quality local cuisine and fine wines that enhance your journey and celebrate the culinary traditions of Portugal and Galicia.
The 8-day Portuguese Camino by Life’s An Adventure is more than just a walking tour; it’s a journey of personal discovery, spiritual connection, and cultural immersion. Explore the timeless paths that have welcomed pilgrims for centuries, uncover the history embedded in each village and town, and savour the beauty of the landscapes that unfold along the way.
Join Life’s An Adventure on this guided Camino walk and create lasting memories as you make your way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Experience the joy and accomplishment of completing this historic pilgrimage route, one step at a time.
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A Pack Free Walk
Carry as little as your water, camera and lunch
This walk is designed as a Pack Free walking allowing our guests to enjoy the landscapes they walk, without the burden of carrying a heavy pack. After all, walks should be enjoyed not endured. Each day our guests will walk with a small day pack big enough to carry your lunch, water and camera and your bags will be transported to your accommodation each day.
The best hand-picked hotels in each region
In each region we have walked we have handpicked the best accommodation in each area to ensure we provide a superb experience for our guests. We spend 4 nights in the exclusive Parador Hotels, these grand hotels offer the utmost in comfort and luxury as well as a superior dining experience.
Fabulous meals featuring local produce
When you are travelling in another country, discovering the local cuisine is one of the delights of travelling. The Parador hotels are renowned for having the best restaurant in town featuring high quality and creative cuisine. During your stay at these hotels, you’ll enjoy fine a la carte dining accompanied by local wines. Whilst in Barcelos we will dine at a local restaurant featuring fresh produce of the region.
Superb Guides and Support
Guides are essential in delivering the ultimate walking experience. You’ll be accompanied by a local guide who has a passion and enthusiasm for the area and a second host guide one of our experienced Senior Guides from Australia who will accompany you for the entire trip ensuring we deliver a world-class walk. We don’t outsource our operations, all tours are created and run by us, with staff on hand in Portugal and Spain to offer all the support you require.
Flexible walks
The traditional Portuguese camino covers 230kms. Our walks cover a maximum of 131kms with the flexibility to walk less by opting for shorter walking days if desired or to take a break from walking and enjoy a free day to explore the main town or city at your own pace.
Personalised Tours
All tours are small and intimate with a maximum group size of 12 people. However, if you have a bigger group please contact us for details.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
Why Choose Us
Tour Itinerary
This is an all-inclusive tour with no hidden extras:
- Pack-free walk – only carry your lunch, water and camera
- Flexible walking options or sightseeing each day
SUPERB ACCOMMODATION:
- 1 night in the heart of the town at the quirky Art’Otel Barcelos
- 1 night at the superb Hotel Imperior do Norte
- 1 night at the historic Parador de Tui
- 2 nights at the Parador de Pontevedra
- 1 night at the historic Hotel Pazo de Lestrove
- 1 night at the superb Parador de Santiago de Compostela
WONDERFUL MEALS & WINE:
- Complimentary wine served with evening meals
- 7 x superb dinners featuring local produce PLUS…
- 7 x delicious lunches
- 7 x breakfasts
GUIDES & TRANSFERS:
- Professionally guided – Our CEO’s (Chief Experience Officers) are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information
- Pickups in Porto, Portugal day 1
- Transfers to the trail
- Luggage transported to your accommodation each day
Walk Arcos to Barcelos
Guests will need to organise their own flights to Porto in Portugal the day prior to the tour. Direct flights to Porto operate throughout the day from many locations including Lisbon (1 hour flight), Madrid (1 hour 15 min flight), London (2 hour 25 min flight) and many other European ports.
Meet your guide at 8.00am in the foyer of the NH Collection Hotel, Porto. This morning we transfer from Porto to Arcos (35 mins). Today’s walk takes us from the town of Arcos to Barcelos. During this first stage of the Portuguese Way, we will walk through gentle hills and forests, past rural areas of fields of corn bordered by grapes and passing through small villages. Before reaching the pretty town of Barcelos, we must first cross an old stone bridge, Ponte Medieval de Barcelos.
The city of Barcelos is situated in the heart of Minho, and more than 700 years of history are present in the artistic and cultural heritage of the historical city centre. Home of the elegant and colourful ceramic rooster, according to local legend the rooster saved the life of a traveller that was wrongly accused of theft by crowing his innocence. This evening we spend the evening at the quirky Art’Otel, Barcelos. Situated in the heart of the town, this hotel has shops and cafes on your doorstep. Tonight enjoy dinner in a local restaurant enjoying traditional Portuguese cuisine accompanied with local wines.
Easier Option: For those after an easier walking option today, travel with the second guide to Barcelos for some free time. At lunchtime, the guide will transport you to the town of Pedra Furada where you will meet the group and walk from Pedra Furada to Barcelos.
Transfer times:
Morning transfer to start of the walk. 35 mins
Afternoon: walk directly into your hotel.
Walk Lugar do Corgo to Ponte De Lima
We enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out on the day’s walk. Today our walk takes us from Lugar do Corgo to the historic town of Ponte De Lima. We will walk through pretty rural areas passing through olive groves, vineyards and fields. We travel along both trails and Roman cobblestone roads, passing through small villages with their active locals. The route today takes us gradually closer to the valley of the Lima River, where the village of Ponte da Lima is located, the oldest in Portugal. The cobblestoned streets are a delight to walk through and there are many points of interest including museums, historic houses and a prison tower. The medieval bridge spanning the Lima River has Roman foundations but was rebuilt in 1368. Tonight we spend the night at the Hotel Imperior de Norte ideally situated on the waterfront in the heart of the old town of Ponte de Lima (note our September departure spends 2 nights at the Parador Tui instead). Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel served with fine wines.
Easier Option: Guests after an easier walking day can walk 9.5kms from Facha to Ponte De Lima. Enjoy a free morning in Ponte de Lima before travelling with the guide to Facha to join the group. Alternatively, enjoy a full day at leisure in Ponte de Lima to explore this historic town.
Transfer times:
Morning transfer to start of the walk. 27 mins
Walk O Porrino to Redondela
We enjoy breakfast before departing the hotel. During this morning’s transfer, we will cross into Galicia, Spain near Tui. The walking route today takes us on the last 100kms of the Camino from O Porriño to Redondela. We walk though pretty countryside of grapevines and past local Spanish houses. Then head towards the villages of Sanguiñeda and Mos. Leaving the Pazo dos Marqueses behind, we start climbing the Rúa dos Cabaleiros up to the cross of “Cruceiro dos Cabaleiros”, which is thus called because of the horse fair that is held here. It is also called “Cruceiro da Vitoria” to signal the victory over Napoleon’s troops. We continue climbing towards the heights of Inxerto e Infesta, the highest point being at the chapel of Santiaguiño de Anta, where you can see several Camino-related motifs such as the Apostle or the Cross. We continue walking until we reach Redondela, with its two notable viaducts. Afterwards, we head to our accommodation at the superb Parador de Tui. This superb accommodation overlooks the town of Tui and the river. Designed like a Spanish castle the accommodation features a swimming pool and stylish restaurant and bar areas. Tonight we enjoy a superb dinner in the restaurant featuring local delicacies and wines.
Easier Option: Guests after an easier day can enjoy a free day in the historic town of Tui with its museums and shops.
Transfer times:
Morning transfer to start of the walk. 45 mins
Afternoon: transfer to your accommodation: 29 mins
Walk Redondela to Pontevedra
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the trail. Today’s walk takes us from Redondela to Pontevedra, much of the day will be spent walking along forest paths and through rural areas. There are many vineyards in this area, as well as citrus trees along our route, with beautiful views in the distance of the mountain ranges. We cross the Verdugo River in Ponte Sampaio, on this bridge Napoleon’s army suffered their greatest defeat in Galicia. From Ponte Sampaio we will continue on our way along a paved road that will take us to the Church of Santa Maria from the 13th century. From here we can take in breathtaking views of the Vigo Bay while en route to the historic city of Pontevedra. Distinguished by its Historical Centre, Pontevedra is one of the best-preserved cities in the Euro-region, boasting charming squares, such as the Plaza de la Leña with its stone crucifix, the Plaza del Teucro with its beautiful shields cut in stone and the Plaza de la Herrería with its characteristic atriums. The Parador Pontevedra will be closed for renovations in 2023. An equivalent substitute hotel will replace this hotel in 2023. The next two nights at a beautiful hotel. Dinner will be accompanied by local wines.
Easier Option: Guests after an easier day can enjoy a free day in the historic town of Pontevedra with its magnificent historic buildings.
Transfer times:
Morning transfer to start of the walk. 29 mins
Afternoon: transfer to your accommodation 30 mins
Walk Pontevedra to Caldas De Reis
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the trail. Today we walk from Pontevedra to Calais De Reis. Along our route we will pass through the villages of Alaba with the beautiful romanesque church of Santa Maria de Alba, as well as the villages of A Portel and Briallos. We eventually cross the Agra river and reach the town of Calais de Reis a town well known for its hot springs. Due to the remoteness of this area and lack of suitable accommodation, we transfer the short distance back to Pontevedra. Tonight we enjoy dinner in the restaurant enjoying fresh local produce and regional wines.
Easier Option: Guests after an easier day can enjoy a free day in the historic town of Pontevedra to explore its shops, museums, cafes and historic buildings or a shorter walking option of around 10kms.
Transfer times:
Morning: transfer to the walk: 30 mins
Afternoon: transfer to your accommodation: 20mins
Walk Caldas De Reis to Padron
After breakfast, we transfer back to the trail. This is another short and easy section and is a very beautiful stage overall. There are plenty of facilities today, you will not walk more than 5 kilometers without encountering a bar at least. The first one can be found in O Cruceiro. At this stage we will leave the province of Pontevedra and enter the province of A Coruna when crossing the bridge over the Ulla River in Pontecesures.
The most interesting stop for today will be our destination, Padrón. This town with over 8,000 inhabitants is the place where the famous Padrón peppers originate. Even today, these peppers are cultivated in this area in large numbers, yearly 15 tons are produced here.
The church of Santiago de Padron is also a very important stop for pilgrims. Inside the church, under the altar, we can find the Padrón, a granite block that was tied to the boat that carried apostle St James. The current church dates back to the 19th century and it was built over two Romanesque churches. Tonight we stay at the 16th century Hotel Pazo de Lestrove, a recreational mansion that belonged to Compostela’s archbishops. Later we will dine in a local restaurant featuring local produce and regional wines.
Transfer times:
Morning: transfer to the start of the walk: 21 mins
Afternoon: walk directly into your hotel
Easier option: Easier walking option of approximately 10-12kms available today.
Walk Padron to Santiago de Compostela
Our route from Padrón to Santiago de Compostela will pass through several small towns until we reach the historic sanctuary of A Esclavitud. From there we can see the imposing Castro Lupario fortress. We will see many crosses all along the route as we continue on our way. From Agros dos Monteiros we can see the towers of the Cathedral of Compostela. We will then walk by the ruined Castle of A Rocha Vella. Today we arrive and complete our journey right on the Square of Santiago de Compostela to admire its rich local architecture and let ourselves be captivated by its historic centre. The city of Santiago de Compostela was founded in the IX Century after the recent discovery of the tomb of Saint James. It was initially just a simple sanctuary which soon developed into a city due to the influx of pilgrims who came to pay homage. Over time it has become one of the three major cities of Christianity along with Jerusalem and Rome. Guests have the options to join the 6.30pm pilgrims service in Santiago’s cathedral. Our exclusive hotel the Parador Santiago is located in prime position in the main square overlooking the cathedral. Built in 1499 to house the walkers who were on the camino pilgrimage to Santiago this elegant hotel has been transformed into a luxury hotel offering stunning views. Tonight we dine in the vault restaurant of the hotel enjoying a celebratory a la carte meal with local wines.
Easier option: Easier walking option of approximately 10kms available today.
Transfer times:
Morning: Walk directly from your hotel
Afternoon: Walk directly into your hotel
Departure day
After breakfast our tour ends. Farewell new found friends. The end of a remarkable journey.
Flights will need to be booked today from Santiago de Compostela to your onward destination. Direct flights operate from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid (1 hour 15 min flight) and Barcelona (1 hours 40 mins).
Tour Accommodation
Art'Otel Barcelos
Night One
Situated in the centre of the charming town of Barcelos is our accommodation at the Art’Otel. This quirky boutique hotel blends stylish modern cuisine with the buildings rich stone historic walls. Each room features its own distinctive style and personality featuring custom made pieces. Room feature ensuites as well as the choice of Queen, twin beds or triple beds. This hotel is ideally located with the township on its doorstep, to enjoy strolling around the shops or visiting the local monuments.
Hotel Imperior de Norte
Night Two
Situated on the waterfront in the heart of the old town of Pont De Lima lies the superb Hotel Imperior de Norte. This hotel has modern simple lines. Stroll along the waterfront and explore the old town at this charming hotel.
Parador de Tui
Night Three
Situated on the border of Portugal and Spain, lies the historic city of Tui. The superb Parador de Tui is a grand castle-like hotel with stunning views over the river and town. Evening meals will be enjoyed in the restaurant offering fine cuisine featuring local produce and fine wines. All rooms feature stylish decor, ensuites and king or twin beds.
Parador de Pontevedra
Night Four and Five
In the heart of the old town of Pontevedra lies the elegant Parador de Pontevedra, a former 16th-century Renaissance palace once home to the Counts of Maceda. This charming hotel combines historic character with refined comfort, featuring stylishly furnished rooms with king or twin beds and modern ensuites. In the evening, enjoy regional Galician cuisine and fine local wines in the Parador’s atmospheric restaurant, surrounded by centuries of history.
Hotel de Pazo de Lestrove, Padron
Night Six
In the town of Padron, we stay at the 16th century Hotel Pazo de Lestrove, a recreational mansion that belonged to Compostela’s archbishops. Set on 50,000 square metres of gardens and woodland this hotel features both modern and traditional decor. This classic accommodation has a swimming pool, and its own chapel. Guests will stay in superior rooms with ensuites, with queen or twin beds
Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Night Seven
In the main square of Santiago de Compostela overlooking the cathedral lies the Parador de Santiago de Compostela also known as the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos. Considered the oldest hotel in the world, in 1499 this building was a Royal hospital to house the walkers who were on the camino pilgrimage to Santiago. These days this accommodation is now an elegant hotel with the best location in the city offering a truly unique and exclusive place to stay.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
Tour Availability
NOTE: For guests who have travelled with us before your correct pricing will appear in the booking system after you have entered in your email address. If you have any issues please contact our Reservations Team on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
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INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:
Please note your tour price does not include flights to / from the countries visited. We are offering our clients a service to book their international flights and any other travel plans during their holiday. If you would like our Flights Specialist to organise these requirements, please email us at flights@lifesanadventure.com.au with your requirements.
Prices in Australian Dollars (AUD)
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Please note your tour price does not include flights to / from the countries visited. We are offering our clients a service to book their international flights and any other travel plans during their holiday. If you would like our Flights Specialist to organise these requirements please email us at flights@lifesanadventure.com.au with your requirements.
PRIVATE GROUPS:
Departure date of your choice is subjective to availability. A minimum group size of 8 required. Prices are equal to Past Travellers’ discounted rates. Based on twin share – see details about Single Supplement and upgrade extras.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
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SOLO TRAVELLERS & EXTRAS:
SOLO TRAVELLERS WILLING TO SHARE
If you are a solo traveller willing to share a room, we will attempt to match you with another solo traveller of the same gender. If we can’t find you a match of the same gender by around 12 weeks prior to the tour, you will be charged the single supplement cost. Subject to availability at time of booking.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
WANTING THEIR OWN ROOM
For those wanting to guarantee their own room, a single supplement cost will be charged at the time of booking. Subject to availability.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1087
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BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Before you book please read our Booking Terms and Conditions. Click here.
SALE TICKET CONDITIONS:
* Super Earlybird, Earlybird and Spot Special Sale Tickets: Must be paid in full at time of booking. Refunds or cancellations are not permitted for Sale Tickets however, transfers to another date are permitted 12 weeks or more prior to departure. We advise taking out travel insurance in case unexpected circumstances prior to the trip, prevent you from joining this tour. Early bird or Spot Special discounts cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. We have partnered with Cover-More to provide travel insurance to our guests. To get a quote or purchase travel insurance directly with them Click here. To receive these special discounts, full payment must be made at the time of initial booking. Flexiwalk Add-On option not available on these tickets.
* Those who have travelled with Life’s An Adventure previously, receive a past passenger discount of $100. This discount will automatically be deducted from future bookings when you book online using the same email address used for past bookings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars and include GST.
* A deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your booking. (unless taking advantage of Earlybird or Spot Specials in which full payment is required at time of booking).
* Note: If you are booking within 120 days of your departure date – we will require full payment at the time of booking
* Prices are based on twin share of rooms. If you are travelling solo you may be required to share with someone of the same gender. If this is not suitable you can request to pay a single supplement, however, limited single rooms are available per trip so are on a request basis.
* Payments must be made online via our NAB (National Australia Bank) secure payment page via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or over the phone.
* We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to minimum numbers not met, or adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc. Click here
