“Explore the wildest landscapes of Peneda Gerês ”
8 Days Eagle Eye Trail Horse Riding Holiday in Mountain Territory, Portugal
Ecoutura County House, Viana do Castelo, Alto Minho, Portugal
Portugal Horse Riding Holiday
Ecotura invites you in this Eagle Eye Trail where you can enjoy your ride in the beautiful paths of Peneda Mountain, in the direction of the valley where Laboreiro river born, from hamlet to hamlet by old Roman paths, etc. This tour is only for good riders and has more full riding days than the more relaxed ones, the “wolf and wild horses tour”. At the end of the days, you make your rest in an amazing ancient stone hamlet, all restored by the hosts. Offering a calm and select environment here, you will dinner along the week a collection of gourmet Portuguese traditional recipes accompanied by an excellent selection of Portuguese wine.
Key information
- Tack type: English tack
- Horse breed: Lusitano and Garrano
Highlights
- 6 riding days
- Fresh local white wine tasting
- Visit to the reception center of the national park
- One session of yoga and meditation
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 7 nights' accommodation
- Airport transfers
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
6 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer included:
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
16:00
Check-out Time:
12:00
Facilities
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Free bicycle
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Wireless internet
The Ecotura Country House is a traditional mountain house, built in the early 20th century and recently restored. Although in essence maintaining the original features, the Ecotura Country House is equipped with all modern comforts that enable visitors pleasant moments of leisure.
Located in the historic village of Castro Laboreiro in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, this house is surrounded by the purest nature that you can find in Portugal. Ideal for a retreat and rest from the stress of the city, the place allows you to enjoy a fully deserved holiday with family. It is still the premier venue for your adventures on the mountain.
Once lodged in Ecotura Country House, you can take advantage of special prices in all outdoor activities of Ecotura. The house is equipped with central heating, fireplace, free Wi-Fi, TV with cable channels, and a fully equipped kitchen.
Program
Day 1, Saturday
Transfers from the airport to the village of Castro Laboreiro. Dinner will be at Ecotura Country House.
Day 2, Sunday
Meet and pick the horse for each rider and first ride in the beautiful paths of Peneda Mountain. Typical lunch will be at a local restaurant. Then, you have a short visit to the reception center of the national park for better knowledge of the region and the biodiversity of this natural area. Sunset ride for tracking and follow a wild Garrano horses herd.
Day 3, Monday
Starting in the top of the mountain where the horse stables are located, you will ride in direction of the valley where Laboreiro river born. A wild valley in the top that works you a cup and concentrated a lot of small springs and water lines to start the main mountain river. Traveling to reach this valley, you will pass Rodeiro village, the highest and a very typical village in the region.
After reaching the beautiful valley of Laboreiro River, you will pass to the south side of the mountain and you start going down passing several summer old hamlets. Crossing the Laboreiro River, already a large mountain creek at this point, using an old and beautiful bridge from the XIII century will be the last high point of this day's ride.
Day 4, Tuesday
Get a morning ride inside the winter valley. Surrounded by the oak forest, this ride will lead you from hamlet to hamlet by old Roman paths, letting you discover a truly fantastic and unique region in the world by the historical characteristics of the way of life that is marked in each step of your ride.
Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Then, visit the old part of the historical Melgaço village with the castle and the old churches. Stop in Alvarinho presentation center to try out this wonderful fresh local white wine.
Alvarinho wine is a richness of extreme rarity. A typical Portuguese wine, the Alvarinho cast is both one of the most important varieties of the Tart Wine Region and one of the internationally prized, a truly top quality wine. Dinner will be at the house.
Day 5, Wednesday
Today is the day to travel up. You will leave the winter valley and cross near Barreiro Lake in direction of Castro Laboreiro village. It will be a ride full of super views of the mountain and the oak forest in the winter valley. After lunch, your climb continues presenting you extraordinary landscapes over the mountain. Using the hot hair to raise the birds of prey will make your company on the way.
Day 6, Thursday
Ride till the border east of Portugal. The herds of wild horses from Garrano breed and the megalithic monuments which constitute the largest megalithic necropolis of the Iberian Peninsula are the aim. Lunch will be on the mountain. This has the possibility of riding long canters. Today you will have yoga relaxation class.
Day 7, Friday
Ride towards the fabulous Valley of the Wolves. This last ride of the week takes you in direction of one of the most beautiful valleys of the mountain. Full of biodiversity, this area is rich in rare sightings of wild animals. Last but not less important, in this valley, you can spot the best wild herds of Garrano horses of all region. Lunch will be on the mountain and dinner will be at the house.
Day 8, Saturday
Transfer to the airport.
Note: The itinerary for Eagle Eye Trail can be adapted to the weather or other local conditions. The is an example itinerary and is not exhaustive.
Included excursions
- Visit the old part of the historical Melgaço Village with the castle and the old churches.
- Stop in Alvarinho presentation center to try out the wonderful fresh local white wine.
- Morning visit to Castro Laboreiro medieval castle and to Peneda pilgrimage sanctuary and village.
Location
Peneda Gerês National Park in Portugal is a beautiful region in the top north of the country at the border with Galicia in Spain. World's leading destination in 2017, Portugal offers an outstanding country to travel, offering a tourism of excellence. The national park is the “jewel of the crown” when you speak about nature or wild or stunning landscape. %Due to its unique characteristics and the value that nature conservation contains, this region has won from UNESCO the higher award that a green area can receive biosphere reserve.
In this mountain territory, you can travel from the old oak forests in the valleys, full of creeks and old Roman bridges, to the high pics where the mountain landscape reveals the wild horse herds grazing peacefully in the natural pastures. In this tour, you will connect this two areas of the mountain, from the valley to the summit, traveling by ancient paths used for centuries by smugglers and shepherds, when they move the cattle between the winter and the summer pastures.
Features
Activities
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Mountain walking
General
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Special menu request
Services
- Bicycle rental
- Internet access
Food
Daily meals are included in the price. Vegetarian, vegan, lactose and gluten free diets are always available at dinners and picnic lunches. The diets information should come in the booking form.
You will have available in the house, in a trust system, different kind of snacks and drinks (including wine).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 6 riding days
- 1 meditation and yoga class
- Transfer from and to the airport
- 7 nights' accommodation
- 7 breakfast, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners
How to get there
Recommended Airports
OPO
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
101 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO). The organizer will pick you up from the airport.The pick-ul is included n the price.
Airport: Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
Airport transfer included: Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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