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Offered languages
- Portuguese
- English
- French
- Spanish
Discover Serra da Estrela, mainland Portugal’s highest mountain range, on a refined private tour from Porto that combines mountain scenery, regional gastronomy and, during winter, the rare experience of snow in Portugal.
The journey leads into the Beira Interior, passing through Celorico da Beira, historically linked to Serra da Estrela cheese, before continuing to Seia and Sabugueiro, the highest village in Portugal, where stone houses reflect a deep connection to mountain life. Higher still, Lagoa Comprida and the ascent to the Serra da Estrela Tower, at 1,993 metres, reveal wide panoramic views across glacial landscapes.
Along the way, the experience may be personalised with optional gastronomic or cultural moments, selected individually and not included in the base price. A private experience designed for travellers seeking mountain landscapes, seasonal snow and the authentic flavours of Serra da Estrela.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
At the door of Intercontinental Hotel
Itinerary
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1
(Optional Experience · Add-on) In Pinhanços, tradition remains alive through a traditional Serra da Estrela cheesemaker who continues to work entirely by hand, following methods passed down through generations. She began this craft in childhood, learning from her mother, and today represents one of the last guardians of this practice in the village, where nearly every household once produced cheese. Today, only two producers remain active. With roots dating back to the Arab period, evidenced by Moorish burial remains, Pinhanços retains a discreet identity deeply connected to the land and pastoral life.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
(Optional Experience · Add-on) Seia is one of the main gateways to Serra da Estrela, where urban life blends naturally with the surrounding mountain landscape. The ascent to the site of the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation, formerly the location of Seia Castle, offers a privileged view over the town. The Bread Museum presents a journey through the history, culture and symbolism of bread in Portugal, exploring the bread cycle from grain to table, including techniques, tools, social rituals and religious meanings.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included -
3
Located at approximately 1,200 metres above sea level, Sabugueiro is officially the highest village in Portugal and an essential stop in Serra da Estrela. Granite houses, local products and seasonal rhythms reflect a way of life shaped by altitude. Here, visitors may find Serra da Estrela cheese, traditional cured meats, local handicrafts and the imposing Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog, historic guardian of flocks and people. You will marvel at the surrounding traditions and natural surroundings of this ancient village and must try the famous Serra cheese. You can visit the river beach, the Ethnographic Museum, water mills, the Parish Church of Sabugueiro, among other beautiful and unique views this town has to offer.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Lagoa Comprida is one of the most emblematic landscapes of Serra da Estrela. In the 20th century, the construction of the dam transformed a small lagoon into the largest water reservoir in the mountain range. Surrounded by high plateaus and silence, the lake offers a serene and expansive mountain setting.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
(Optional · Hiking) Carried out only if time allows and conditions are suitable. Covão dos Conchos is one of the most distinctive places in Serra da Estrela. At first glance, it appears to be a mysterious natural formation: a large circular funnel set in the centre of a mountain lake. In reality, it is a remarkable work of hydraulic engineering — a tunnel approximately 1.5 km long, built to channel the waters of the Ribeira das Naves into Lagoa Comprida. Access involves an optional hike of around 5 km (10 km round trip), through a high-altitude mountain environment.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Torre
At 1,993 metres, the Torre da Serra da Estrela is the highest point in mainland Portugal. In winter, it becomes one of the country’s most visited locations and hosts Portugal’s only ski resort. Outside the cold season, wide views stretch across plateaus and glacial valleys and, on particularly clear days, the Atlantic Ocean may be visible on the horizon.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
7
In the heart of Serra da Estrela lies the highest river beach in Portugal, located at approximately 1,400 metres above sea level, historically linked to transhumance and mountain pastures.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
The Mondego River, the largest river entirely within Portugal, rises in Serra da Estrela at around 1,525 metres above sea level, beginning here its journey across the country towards the Atlantic.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Cabeça do Velho is one of the most distinctive rock formations in Serra da Estrela. Its natural profile resembles a human figure, adding a symbolic and almost mythical dimension to the landscape. This is a natural rock formation that our brain, sees the face of an old man through a phenomenon called pareidolia. The view has, of course, incited the locals' imagination and a folk legend was born.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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