Daily Itin­er­ary

Coimbra | Ferraria de São João | Casal de São Simão | Walking Trail (5 km / 3 mi | +237 m / +1072 ft | 2 h)
Transfer from Coimbra to Ferraria de São João. Check-in. Transfer from Ferraria de São João to Casal de São Simão (15 minutes). The walk takes place in the surroundings of Casal de São Simão. It goes through Fragas de São Simão's river beach and passes through the villages of Além da Ribeira, Ponte do Brascurado and Saonda. The water lines that abound in this area, like the Alge and Fato streams, are full of old water channels and watermills, evidence of the human presence over the centuries. You can also find some patches of the original flora of this region, characterized by the presence of Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica), Royal fern, Lady fern, English Oak and others. Among the vegetation many mammals hide themselves, like the fox or the Egyptian mongoose. Transfer back to Ferraria de São João.
Lodging: Casa do Zé Sapateiro

Casal de São Simão | Ferraria de São João (11 km / 7 mi | +675 m / +2214 ft | 5h30)
Today's walk connects Casal São Simão and Ferraria de São João, both Schist villages. The village of Casal de São Simão is presently recovering old traditions, like popular and religious fairs, thanks to the presence of new inhabitants that recently moved in. At the end of the walk, you will have the chance to appreciate how the schist and quartz merge in an harmonious way at the beautiful village of Ferraria de São João.
Lodging: Casa do Zé Sapateiro, with upgrade option to VN-Nature

Ferraria de São João | Gondramaz (21 km / 13 mi | +812 m / +2664 ft | 7 h)
Today's walk will take you to the beautiful village of Gondramaz. Gondramaz is distinguished by its specific schist tone that involves us from head to toes. Even the ground you step is example of the traditional art of working the stone. This is indeed a land of craftsmen whose skilled hands create charismatic figures that are the hallmark of the region and take the name of its master and village beyond its borders.
Lodging: Patio do Xisto

Gondramaz | Talasnal (13 km / 8 mi | +674 m / +2211 ft | 5 h)
Today you will walk from Gondramaz to Talasnal village. Discovering these Schist Villages represents to immerse yourself in the magical world of Lousã mountain, with its splendid vegetation where you can see deer, boars and many other species, some of them rare and protected. Here nature is sovereign! Arriving to Talasnal you may visit two traditional olive presses moved with the strength of water. This region is also known by the peculiar activity of the Neveiros. From the seventeenth century these men carried ice to Lisbon made from snow stored in pits, like those of Santo António das Neves on top of the mountain. The snow was kept until the summer and wrapped in straw or fern to be carried in cars and mules to Lisbon. With the industrial revolution and the adoption of artificial cold production, this activity ceased.
Lodging: Casa da Princesa Peralta

Talasnal | Lousã | Casal Novo Walking Trail (11 km / 7 mi | +571 m / +1873 ft | 5 h)
Following Serra da Lousã slopes, this walking trail connects Talasnal to the city of Lousã and the emblematic Schist Village of Casal Novo. The hiking route is also a journey through time. You will follow the ancient trails used in the past by local inhabitants to reach Lousã. Often surrounded by vegetation, the trail provides pleasant shadows in summer and protection from the wind in the winter. Due to the accumulated climbs and descents, this hike requires good physical condition.
Lodging: Casa da Princesa Peralta

Departure
Morning transfer to Coimbra so you can make your own way by train or bus. Optional: Transfer to Lisboa or Porto.