EVENT: Hiking in Serra da Estrela (Loriga Glacier Valley, Lagoons, Covões and Cântaros)

DATE OF REALISATION: 23, 24 and 25 April 2022

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Walking in Loriga and Penhas da Saúde”

In this activity proposal from Caminhando, we will walk and visit some of the most fabulous places in the Serra da Estrela, such as the Loriga Valley, the Penhas da Saúde, the Viriato Lagoon and the Covão d’ Ametade, among many other places of interest. This will be a long weekend full of strong emotions and landscapes to remember for a long time. Come and join us!

These will be some of the most important places we'll visit along the various hikes: 

• Loriga Glacier Valley
• Covões do Boleiro, do Meio, da Nave and da Areia
• Covão do Meio Dam and Eira da Pedra
• Vila de Loriga - River Beach and Mother Church
• Varanda dos Carqueijais viewpoint
• Tower / Tower Chapel
• St Anthony's Nave
• Viriato's chair
• Covão da Abelha and Aguilhão
• Viriato Dam / Lagoon
• Ribeira da Água Fria and Malhada do Prior
• Alto da Pedrice
• Penhas da Saúde
• Covão d' Ametade
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.30am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

Town of Loriga

This mountain village is situated at an altitude of around 770 metres, between insinuating curves of hills and valleys. It is surrounded by imposing mountains such as Penha do Gato (1771 metres above sea level) and Penha do Abutre (1828 metres above sea level). At its heart run the rumbling waters of the Ribeira de Loriga, formed by the streams that descend from the mountains.

Saturday 23rd April

Walk: "Loriga Gorge Route”

Level of difficulty of the route: 4 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 9 kilometres

Loriga Tower linear route

Estimated duration: 5h30m

- Tour of Loriga
- Viewpoints (Vale de Loriga and Varanda dos Carqueijais)
- Group dinner suggestion

24 April (Sunday)

Walk: "White Poios Route”

The Poios Brancos Route owes its name to the fact that it crosses, at its highest point, the granite agglomeration of Poios Brancos, which in the first snows of the year is dressed in white, giving a clear signal to the town of Manteigas that winter has arrived. The Poios Brancos correspond to a Tor - a typical granite form in which the blocks accumulate in situ, respecting the system of granite diaclases. Here you'll find Viriato's chair, like an authentic throne made by the hands of nature. At the turn-off to Poço do Inferno you can see the magnificent landscape of Covão da Abelha, where at the bottom of the gorge, at the confluence of two watercourses that give rise to the Ribeira de Beijames, you can see Aguilhão - a considerable rock mass topped by large stones that overlap each other. The water flows calmly, pure and crystalline, between slopes covered in gravel.

Level of difficulty of the route: 3.5 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 8 kilometres

Estimated duration: 3h30m

- Walk in Covão da Ametade
- Tour of Covilhã (historic centre, Portas do Sol viewpoint, Jardim do Lago, etc.)

25th April (Monday)

Walk: "Walking on the Shepherd's Porch”

This route takes place on the plateau adjacent to the Penhas da Saúde, with medium difficulty and in a circular form, and is designed to help you understand the natural and social dynamics of the high altitude pastures. This walk takes place in a universe that is clearly marked by the two great forces that shape the contemporary landscape of the Serra: on the one hand, natural phenomena (glaciation, peri-glacial phenomena, and other elements, as well as fauna and flora), and on the other hand, the no less natural human phenomena (from pastoralism onwards, but also the rural and industrial life of the valleys or even the modern dynamics of health, leisure and tourism in the Penhas). Travelling along the Alto da Pedrice plateau and exploring the pastoral evidence present here, such as malhadas, shelters, among others, you will also discover some of the most impressive views and geo-morphological phenomena in the municipality of Covilhã.

Level of difficulty of the route: 3 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 12 kilometres

Estimated duration: 3h30m

- Group lunch suggestion

3pm - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Footwear and clothing suitable for hiking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Hotel accommodation with breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

170€ (Price per person in double room)
235€ (Price per person in single room)

- Transport by bus from Lisbon to each of the locations described above (subject to a surcharge).
- Transfer fee not included (from Torre to Loriga)
- Transport costs will be calculated according to the number of participants.

Prices valid until the end of March 2022. From 1st April the prices are 190€ and 245€ respectively.

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) The routes may be altered according to weather conditions.

c) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.

- Glacier Valley of Loriga - Covões do Boleiro, do Meio, da Nave and da Areia - Covão do Meio Dam and Eira da Pedra - Viewpoints - Tower - Nave de Santo António - Cadeira do Viriato - Covão da Abela - Lagoa do Viriato - Alto da Pedrice - Penhas da Saúde - Covão da Ametade - Natural landscapes -