Green Portugal, Luxury Self Catering Retreat in Coimbra - Portugal
Green Portugal, Luxury Self Catering Retreat in Coimbra - Portugal
Green Portugal currently offers two self-guided walking holidays in the hills and valleys around the small town of Góis in central Portugal.
Our 3-night, single-centre holiday gives you two full-day walks through the best of the local scenery, or try our 2-night, door-to-door packhorse trail, from mountain top to valley bottom. Either way, it's hiking without the hassle on back-country routes devised by Rough Guide author and local resident Jules Brown.
We’ve picked some great accommodation for you, from mountain hideaways and village houses to rustic yurts and renovated holiday cottages. Whether you’re looking for a night, a week or a month’s stay in the green heart of Portugal we’ll be able to help. Our current accommodation choices are highlighted on our website. For bookings, or more information, please get in touch.
Green Portugal is run by Jules Brown and Kate Stephenson, who moved to Portugal with their two young children in 2004.
Jules has been a Rough Guide travel writer for over 20 years. He first visited Portugal in 1985 and has since written guidebooks to Portugal, Spain, Barcelona, Sicily and the English Lake District among others, as well as features for the Daily Mail, Guardian, Independent and Observer. He has hiked paths and followed trails in places as diverse as New Zealand, Switzerland, Hawaii, Ghana and Cornwall.
Kate is a qualified secondary school teacher and has managed ICT departments in both the UK and New Zealand. She currently designs websites while juggling two small children and an imaginary pet dog.
Timetable, Prices & Special Offers
Góis Trails
(From €289 per person. Daily departures; no minimum number required).
Based at a comfortable guest house near Góis, spend 3 days exploring the local area on forest tracks, mountain paths and country lanes. Each self-guided walk is between 16km and 20km long.
River Deep, Mountain High
(From €189 per person. Daily departures. As our mountain cottage only has 1 guest room, this trail is only available for 1 or 2 people).
Our mountain and valley packhorse trail shows you the best of the local area in one great day's walk — what's more, all meals are included and most of the walking is downhill!
Off the Eaten Track
(From €49 per person).
Enjoy a tasting session and leisurely lunch during our half-day introduction to the best locally produced food and drink. Sample olive oil from the nearby village, plus corn-bread, cheese, cured meats and other traditional dishes before sitting down to a hearty regional Portuguese lunch.
Follow that Goat
(€69 per person, minimum 2 people, Thursdays only).
If you're in our region on a Thursday, you won't want to miss the big outdoor market at Arganil, 13km from Góis. First we'll take you up to a mountain-side goat farm, give you a guided walk to soak up the views before heading down to the open-air market, which brings locals and traders in from miles around.
Here Comes the Sun
(€49 per person, minimum 2 people. Tour is April to October and weather-dependent).
It's a very early start if you want to watch the sunrise from 1,000 metres up our local mountain, Penedo do Góis — but we'll throw in a champagne breakfast and a short mountain walk to set you up for the day. All this is topped off with a guided downhill walk to one of the region's prettiest mountain villages.
Travel
By Air
The most convenient airports for Góis and central Portugal are Porto (140km, 1hr 45min drive) and Lisbon (250km, 2hr 15min). From Faro airport on the Algarve, it's a 5hr drive. We don't arrange flights, but we can recommend overnight accommodation on arrival if required. The nearest city to Góis is Coimbra, a 45min (40km) drive away.
Transfers and Taxis
Guests on our self-guided walking tours can arrange return door-to-door transfers from Coimbra-B train station (or central Coimbra hotel), or from Lousã or Serpins stations. You'll be met by someone who speaks English and who knows the way! Prices (per car)
Coimbra, €40 each way
Lousã/Serpins, €20 each way
In addition, there are usually taxis available outside Coimbra-B, Lousã and Serpins stations. You could also get a taxi direct from Lisbon or Porto airports to Góis, though this costs €120—150.
By Train
There's an efficient train service from either Lisbon (Santa Apolonia or Oriente stations) or Porto (Campanhã) to Coimbra-B (book online in English). Tickets are very reasonably priced (eg, a one-way ticket from Lisbon to Coimbra-B costs between €15 and €30 depending on the train and ticket class), and the prices are the same whenever you book. Quickest journey times:
Porto to Coimbra-B: 1hr
Lisbon to Coimbra-B: 1hr 45min
Coimbra-B to Coimbra Parque (by taxi): 10min
Coimbra Parque to Serpins: 1hr 10min
By Car or Bike
Contact us for full directions to Góis. Or you can go to Google Maps, click on the Get Directions link and enter your destination as Góis, Portugal. There are car rental agencies at Lisbon and Porto airports, and in Coimbra.
Additional Information
You’ll need a day-pack to carry snacks and water, as well as proper hiking boots/shoes, a sun-hat and high-factor sunscreen. We don't recommend walking in training or sports shoes. Long trousers stop you getting scratched by brambles, but you'll be too hot in jeans or cords. Wet-weather gear might be required in spring or autumn and a thin fleece or something similar is always useful. Bring swimming gear if you fancy a dip at the river beaches, and binoculars to enjoy the views and wildlife. We can offer more specific advice about what to bring at the time of booking.
For bookings or enquiries, please contact us:
Green Portugal
Jules Brown & Kate Stephenson(00 351) 235 778 094(00 351) 912 611 137 or 918 156 181
info@greenportugal.com