Cox & Kings
Lisbon to the Algarve by Rail
8 daysfrom $2,865
PTG Tours · Escorted walking tour
Railway Ramble – Tamega and Chaves
The chance to walk the full length of the closed Tâmega Line in northern Portugal, a leisurely-paced railway ramble covering around 50km of former track between Livração and Arco de Baúlhe.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Porto
Fly to Porto
Fly from the UK to Porto and take the metro to the city centre, staying the first night at the Hotel Porto Trindade. Welcome dinner either tonight in Porto or the following night in Mondim de Basto, depending on arrival times.
- Day 2railovernight: Mondim de Basto
Livração to Amarante walk; on to Mondim de Basto
A short metro ride to Porto São Bento or Porto Campanhã station for an inter-regional train (class 1400 diesel-hauled) to Livração, the former interchange with the Tâmega Line. Luggage travels by minibus while the group walks 13km to Amarante, largely along the old railway formation (with a road diversion around the high Passinhos Bridge). Onward by minibus to Mondim de Basto, home for the next five nights.
- Day 3overnight: Mondim de Basto
Tâmega Line walking (part of 4-day block)
First of four days walking the full length of the Tâmega Line, converted to a cycle path from Amarante to Arco de Baúlhe with repaired bridges and lit tunnels. The two biggest days are Amarante to Codeçoso and Codeçoso to Mondim de Basto, each around 14km; the exact daily order was to be confirmed nearer the time to fit museum visit bookings.
- Day 4overnight: Mondim de Basto
Tâmega Line walking (part of 4-day block)
Continuing the multi-day walk of the Tâmega Line; one day follows the River Tâmega north to the Corgo Line with a stop to see a plinthed steam locomotive and a girder bridge, and a private visit to the loco sheds in Chaves, returning with a walk on stretches of the Corgo Line.
- Day 5overnight: Mondim de Basto
Tâmega Line walking (part of 4-day block)
Continuing the multi-day walk of the Tâmega Line.
- Day 6railovernight: Mondim de Basto
Final Tâmega Line section and Arco de Baúlhe museum
The final approximately 9km section of the Tâmega Line, combined with a visit to the Arco de Baúlhe museum, unique in Portugal for its operational petrol rail car, with hopes of a short run along the track.
- Day 7railovernight: Porto
Back to Porto via the Douro line to Tua
Back to Livração station for an inter-regional train (class 1400 diesel-hauled) to Tua on the Douro line, with time to walk up the short remaining stump of the closed Tua Line for a view of the dam. Farewell lunch at the Calça Curta restaurant overlooking the river, then return to Porto and the Hotel Porto Trindade via metro.
- Day 8
Fly home
Metro from Trindade to Porto Airport for flights home.
Included
- All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
- En-suite accommodation
- Meals as shown in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Services of the tour manager
- Holiday is fully escorted
