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Moinhos do Dão organizes individual hiking programs the whole year through. Our hikes are rated as medium level hikes and vary between 3 and 6 hours for which some hiking experience and fitness are needed.
Individual hiking guests can choose their own hikes using Moinhos do Dão as an excellent starting point. We have set out several beautiful hikes in the near surroundings, for instance: the medieval monastery in Vila Garcia, the old city of Viseu with its market and museums, or to the Wine House of Santar. For a small fee you can also hire one of our guides for a walk.
The basic package is 6 days / 5 nights, which you can expand per day. Within your chosen package you can choose for a two-day walking tour; along the floodplains of the Dão-river, to Penalva do Castelo, or to the Serra da Estrela. See the list below for the options and conditions. If you have a car, there are walks in the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo possible.
Deviating arrival and/or departure date
The hiking programs as describes below are based on a stay from Saturday till Saturday. If there are no more flights available for that day it is possible to travel another day and make suitable arrangements with us.
Overview Hiking Programs
| Walks and hikes | |
| Type of program | Period |
| Individual program (BASIS = 6 days / 5 nights) |
Mid season: April/May/September/October High season: June/July/August |
| 2 day hiking program 'Penalva Do Castelo' |
Mid season en high season |
| 2 day hiking program 'Dão River basin' |
Mid season en high season |
| 2 day hiking program 'Serra de Estrella' |
Only with guide in May and September. Minimum of 4 persons. To decide and pay on site. |
| Presence walking guide |
From April until September. |
Hiking in Central Portugal
With the hiking program of Moinhos do Dão you can discover the non-touristy and rustic Central Portugal, especially the Beira Alta region. The Moinhos do Dão staff and professional guides have mapped a series of varied hikes: short and longer routes that you can hike individually or with a guide. You will stay in a Millers house or a cabin on the banks of the Dão River in a quaint and green valley with a rich vegetation.
The landscape of the Beira Alta is very diverse. It has river valleys similar to the Dão valley, with vineyards on it's rolling hillsides and the rough and rocky Serra da Estrela mountains with many, sometimes deserted, old villages. The spring and autumn seasons are the best for hiking when the temperature is modest and nature is in transition. In the spring, the field flowers are in full bloom and birdsongs fill the air. In autumn, the sunlight gives the valleys a golden glow and grape vines turn bright yellow and red. One can make endless hikes through fields and forests, crossing rivers and bare, rocky plains. During the summer it is best to hike in the morning hours or in the late afternoon. After a day of hiking it is a pleasure to return to the estate of the Moinhos and take a swim in the Dão River. Off course, you can also take it easy for a day or go and see an old town in between your hiking program.
Staying at Moinhos do Dão
During your stay at Moinhos do Dão our restaurant will serve excellent food almost every day. We use regional, seasonal and homegrown products like figs, herbs, olives and grapes-the Portuguese and world kitchen inspires the menu. You will enjoy our Calde Verde (Portuguese green cabbage soup), the Bacalhau (stockfish) dish and the wine from our neighbor Peixotte, who has lived in this valley all his life. Vegetarian cooking is also sometimes on the menu but we also serve a Portuguese Barbeque because we know some guests wouldn't want to miss that. We can cook for special diets if notified in advance. In the afternoon and evening you can order a drink at our bar and enjoy this at the riverside, or around the campfire.
The accommodations at Moinhos do Dão are decorated in a rural and romantic style, and facilitate cooking. You are required to bring your own bed linen and towels. The rooms are lit with candles or/and have solar- or water powered lamps. All accommodations have water for washing, but fresh drinking water is collected at the well on the estate, just like the people did a century ago. Also fresh water bottles are available (for free). (For detailed information about accommodation, visit the accommodation page on this website).
Hikes 'back in time'
Our hikes called 'back in time' will take you to a 17th century monastery 'Convento de Santa Maria de Fornos de Maceira Dão' in Vila Garcia, or to the wine house 'Casa de Santar'. You will walk Roman roads that lead to the villages Fornos Maceira Dão and Moimenta de Maceira Dão, or you may choose to walk along the river to Alcafache with its thermal baths, where you can take a bath or get a massage.
2-day hiking program in the Dão River basin
This hiking program passes through forests, vineyards and old villages where a coffee or a glass of wine still costs only 60 euro cents. You will walk walled roman roads, passing mulberry trees and neglected mills on the riverside. Sometimes you might even share the path with the shepherd and his sheep! The first day is a hike from the Moinos to the village of Caldas de Sangemil where hikers stay overnight in a hotel. On the second day the hike leads back to the Moinhos via another route. Dinner and breakfast is served in the hotel.
2-day hike tour through the Serra da Estrela (National Park)
This tour can only be made with a minimum of four people in May or in September. It will be accompanied by our guide. The decision to go will be made on the Moinhos do Dao, in consultation with guide and those who are interested. The tour can not be booked in advance.
The mountain range Serra da Estrella is a protected wildlife refuge situated around the river Zezere. The tour in the Serra will lead you through a rough mountain area with bare rock plains, forests and beautiful views, with green fields with flowers and mountain brooks and sometimes with snowy mountain peaks. Because of the difference in elevation, this tour is somewhat more intense than the Dão or Penalva tour. Monte da Torre at 6.500 feet is the highest point in Portugal. The group stays overnight in a comfortable pension in Manteigas with breakfast and one diner provided. The second diner will be in a local restaurant. The routes are determined, depending on the participants and the weather conditions.
2-day hike to Penalva do Castelo (for individual program)
Penalva do Castelo is a characteristic provincial town that is known for its apples and wine. The town has some interesting architecture like several large estates of which the gardens of luxury hotel 'Casa da Insua', is open for the public. The hike passes along a reservoir in the Dão River with some beautiful views and on the way you can enjoy the atmosphere of the Portuguese inland and some historic villages. The first day you will walk from the Moinhos to Penalva where hikers stay and dine in a pension. The next day you will walk back via a different route.
Rating our hikes
The day hike programs, the Dão tour and the Penalva tour are moderate hikes of between 4 to 6 hours. These hikes are suitable for people with some level of fitness. Day hikes can be shortened or lengthened depending on your wishes and possibilities. The elevation differences vary between 650 to 900 feet.
The Serra tour is more intense. You will walk between 5 and 6 hours a day and with elevation differences of 2000 feet. Mountain hiking experience is not compulsory but a good condition and some hiking experience is recommended.
Preparation for day hikes, hike tours and staying at the Moinhos
For all hikes we highly recommend tall, quality hiking shoes. Furthermore we advise you bring special hiking socks, a day backpack suitable for 1 day of food and the following items: sun hat or cap, blister treatment, pocketknife, 1 liter water bottle, whistle, rain clothes and warm clothes (it can get cold in the Serra mountains).
On the hikes you will carry you own lunch, water and rain clothes. For the multiple day hikes you will bring some extra clothes and toiletry articles. We recommend a day hike backpack for this.
For your stay at the Moinhos you must provide your own bed linen, towels and we recommend a flashlight.
Seasons and Climate
Each season at the Moinhos do Dão has its own charm. During the spring and autumn season the weather conditions are very suitable for hiking with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius (59 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit), and sometimes rain keeps our surroundings as green as possible. During the summer season daytime temperatures can rise to 35º C (95º F) with evening temperatures around 20º C (67º F). These days are good for morning and evening hikes and a refreshing swim in our river. In September the days can be as warm as 25º C (77º F) although temperatures drop at night. During the winter season, the evenings can be especially cold, and in this season we use wood or gas burning heaters in the guests quarters.
Something else for a day?
During our hiking program it is possible for you to plan a daytrip to a city like Porto or Coimbra. We can provide you with information about these cities and how to get there. In the September weekends it is also possible to assist the local farmers picking grapes from their vineyards. Or enjoy a massage or bath in the thermal bads of nearby Alcafache. It is also possible to relax for a day and read a book along the riverside on the Moinhos estate.
| Type of program | Prices p.p. |
| BASIS Individual Program (6days/5nights) |
Mid season en high season (April until October) € 225,- |
| Extra night | Mid season en high season (April until October) € 35,- |
| 2 day hiking program 'Dão River basin' or 'Penalva do Castelo' |
€ 35,- (including bed and breakfast/packed lunch) |
| Night in Porto of Lissabon (at arrival or departure) |
€ 35,- (2 persons) € 50,- ( 1 person) (including bed and breakfast) |
| Taxi from airport Porto to Moinhos do Dão | € 45,- (price based on 2 persons) |
Included in the Individual Program:
Not included in the Individual Program
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| Additional fee On the invoice of a hiking program we require a deposit of € 100,00 and final payment four weeks before arrival. | |
Information and booking.
If you wish to make a booking or would like more information please contact us:
- Ria van Dien
T 0031 (0)15 - 214 49 14
Marcel van Dien
T 0031 (0)15 - 215 75 07 / (0)619952770
E moinhosdodao@hotmail.com
Walks and hikes Season & climate Prices Reservation
