EVENT: Walking the Monks' Route

DATE OF REALISATION: 1st to 3rd May 2026

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Walking the Route of the Monks”

In this activity we'll be walking along the Monks' Way, which connects the municipality of Tarouca to Lamego and is the same way that was used by the monks of the Cistercian Order centuries ago... Come with us and you won't regret it! Limited places.

The Monks' Way is a project involving two municipalities, Lamego and Tarouca, with a total length of approximately 42 kilometres, about 19 kilometres in the municipality of Lamego and 23 kilometres in the municipality of Tarouca. The presence of the Cistercian Monks in the Varosa Valley is irrefutable proof of the importance of this territory at regional, national and international level. Nothing is more genuine than its origins, and the history of the Varosa Valley takes us back to the genesis of our country. The lands of the Varosa Valley were settled by the Cistercian Monks, the so-called White Monks, and their connection to the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, made them grow, increasing their properties and creating greater power over the territory and those who lived here. Their audacity and daring pushed them to follow the course of the water, the course of the Varosa River, which led them to the Douro, where they soon realised the territory's agricultural wealth, and where Lamego's first sweet wine farm, Quinta do Mosteiro, was born. To walk the Monks' Way is to discover a unique territory, prodigiously rich in history, religion and heritage, which invites a tactile approach and the discovery of the traditional uses and customs they left behind. You'll discover the Monastery of S. João de Tarouca, see the Medieval Toll Bridge and Tower of Ucanha, appreciate the imposing Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas, visit the Chapel of S. Pedro de Balsemão, see the uniqueness of the first installations of the Varosa Hydroelectric Company, walk the route of the epic railway line between Régua and Lamego and go around Quinta do Mosteirô, thus arriving at the Douro World Heritage Site, always flanked by breathtaking scenery.

• Monastery of St John of Tarouca
• Romanesque Bridge of St John of Tarouca
• St Peter's Church in Tarouca
• Paradela Arch
• Tarouca Riverside Park
• Varosa River
• Tower and Fortified Bridge of Ucanha
• Ucanha River Beach
• Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas
• Salzedas Romanesque Bridge
• Pedestrian Bridge and Varosa River Bridge
• Figueira Natural Viewpoint
• Chapel of Senhora da Pedra
• Reservoir / Varosa River Dam
• Varosa Hydroelectric Power Station
• Régua Pedestrian Bridge
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 7am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

1st May (Friday))

Walk: "Stage 1 - From the Monastery of St John of Tarouca to the Bridge of Ucanha”

Route length: 12 kilometres

• We suggest the picnic option, which is the responsibility of each participant

- Group Dinner Suggestion in Peso da Régua

2nd May (Saturday)

Walk: "Stage 2 - From the Ucanha Bridge to the Varosa River Reservoir”

Route length: 19 kilometres

- Group Dinner Suggestion in Peso da Régua

3rd May (Sunday)

Walk: "Stage 3 - From the Varosa River Reservoir to the Douro River”

Route length: 11 kilometres

- Free time for lunch

• 14h15 - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Information about the route:

• A total of 42 kilometres
• Level of difficulty of the route: 3 in some sections 3.5 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Equipment: Footwear and clothing suitable for hiking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport by coach/bus/tourist van from Lisbon to each of the places described above - see options below
- 3 Walks and the route described above
- Visit to the Monastery of St John of Tarouca
- Visit to the Monastery of Salzedas
- Accommodation in a 2-star hotel, breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

300€ (Price per person in double room)
350€ (Price per person in single room)
Entry fee for seat reservation: 50€

Prices valid until 28 February. From this date onwards, the prices will be increased by 30€.

Notes: 

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

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