Our walking vacations in Portugal
The jewel in Portugal’s crown is the rural heartlands dotted with villages and vineyards, linked by a superb network of walking routes. Our Portugal walking vacations roam the Algarve, Alentejo, Madeira, the Azores, Sintra, and Peneda Geres National Park. Whether walking as part of a sociable small group led by a local guide, or on a self-guided trip that gives you greater freedom over your route, these vacations are designed to show you lesser-seen aspects of Portugal. Staying in welcoming, family-run accommodations in what are often remote communities that see little tourism, your vacation also helps traditional ways of life to thrive.
Our top Hiking vacations in Portugal
Madeira walking vacation
From
US $1690 to US $2350
8 days
ex flights
Small group walking tour of Madeira
Small group2026: 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 7 Nov, 19 Dec, 2027: 23 Jan, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 27 Nov
Walking vacation in Madeira
From
US $2580 to US $3345
8 days
ex flights
Enjoy a variety of coastal & interior landscapes
Small group2026: 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 27 Dec, 2027: 9 Jan, 30 Jan, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 3 Jul, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 6 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 26 Dec
Portuguese Coastal Way walking vacation
From
€1050 to €1225
8 days
ex flights
The scenic alternative to the classic Portuguese Way
Tailor made
Porto to Santiago De Compostela walking vacation
From
€1190
14 days
ex flights
14 days pilgrimage through Northern Portugal and Spain
Tailor made
Coastal hiking vacation in Portugal
From
US $3105 to US $3825
8 days
ex flights
Portugal’s Rota Vicentina is the ultimate hikers paradise
Small group2026: 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 2027: 6 Mar, 10 Apr, 8 May, 22 May, 12 Jun, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 2028: 4 Mar, 8 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 10 Jun, 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 11 Nov
Walking the Carmelita route, Portugal
From
€890 to €1030
8 days
ex flights
Walk the lesser known route from Coimbra To Fátima
Tailor made
Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago walking vacation
From
€1195 to €1420
15 days
ex flights
Walk along sandy beaches and through historical towns
Tailor made
Alentejo self guided hiking in Portugal
From
€1070
14 days
ex flights
walk Rota Vicentina historical and fishermen's trail
Tailor made
Portugal guided hiking vacation
From
US $1320 to US $2020
8 days
ex flights
Explore unspoilt Portugal on these coastal walking trails
Small group2026: 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 2027: 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 13 Nov
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More about our walking vacations in Portugal
Self guided or small group?
For Madeira and the Azores, you’ll definitely benefit from joining a small group walking tour, as these islands have some quite challenging terrain. A local guide will ensure you enjoy the views while someone else handles the directions. Plus, you’ll get to know a great band of like-minded walkers as you go along. In mainland Portugal however, there are many superb walking routes that are well-marked, so you can confidently head out on your own. These trips are ideal for those who like to take things at their own pace, adding a rest day or an extra challenge whenever they fancy it.
Alentejo walking vacations in Portugal
If it’s solitude you seek, you’ll find it in Portugal’s agricultural heartland. Bordering the much better-known Algarve region, and sometimes combined with it, in Alentejo you can very quickly find complete peace and quiet on the trail. The pastoral landscapes are magnificent, fragrant pine groves give way to coastline made up of beaches, sea stacks and picturesque fishing villages, and plains studded with cork oaks, grapevines, olive trees and eucalyptus, all framed against brilliant blue skies. Alentejo walking vacations are usually tailor made, self guided trips, and often follow parts of the Rota Vicentina like the Fishermen’s Trail.
Azores walking vacations in Portugal
Revered as one of the world’s top places for whale watching, the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores has a growing reputation for walking vacations. Best explored on a small group trip, the main islands of Pico, Faial, São Jorge and São Miguel offer routes between UNESCO-protected vineyards, tea plantations, blackened lava fields and dramatic coast where you could see whales breaching the waves. While walking poles are recommended, daily routes are fairly short, leaving plenty of time for boat tours, wine tasting or taking a shower beneath a waterfall. Come in spring for your best chance of seeing blue whales.
Madeira walking vacations in Portugal
Walking vacations are unquestionably the best way to explore this volcanic Portuguese island and the man-made levadas that carry water (and walkers) through mountainous peaks and laurel forest. Typical Madeira walking vacations are week-long small group trips led by expert local guides, and you’ll cover much of the island during that time. Certainly, you will be able to tackle highlights including the São Lourenco Peninsula, the Caldeirão Verde waterfall, and perhaps even the summit of Pico Ruivo, Madeira’s highest mountain. The terrain is challenging much of the time; some hill-walking practise before departure will not be a wasted effort.
The Portugal Way walking vacations in Portugal
A classic Camino de Santiago, the Portugal Way has evolved over the centuries so that there are actually two possible routes. The original route takes you inland from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela, 616km north, through magnificent Portuguese and Spanish pastoral landscapes. But you can also veer off at Porto, onto a route that follows the Atlantic and Galician coastline before the two routes rejoin over the Spanish border in Redondela. With Portugal Way walking vacations you can take your pick of scenery, and either hearty rural fare or fresh seafood for dinner every evening.
Our Hiking vacations in Portugal reviews
4.6
149Hiking vacations in Portugal reviews
Conrad Blakemore28 Jun 2026
Excellent trip to discover Madeira on foot.read more
Laura Davis07 Jun 2026
It was hard walking and the heat did not help. The best was the end the hotel and the viewread more
Sue Johnson30 May 2026
Outstanding overall! And Responsible Travel and the host company staff were very helpful and responsive to questions. We especially enjoyed the Sanguino hike and whale watching organized by the host company, but we did 3 hikes and one jeep tour with them. All were great, with informative and friendly guides. We also enjoyed staying two nights in Furnas. Walking around the lake was lovely, and the environmental center was very interesting. The Grand Hotel in Ponta Delgada and Terra Nova in Furnas...read more
Cathy Tailby30 Apr 2026
It was excellent. The arrangements all worked as outlined in the schedule supplied to us in advance. The hotels and the B&B at Casa D'Arca were all very good.read more
