Great Route of the Magical Mountains

The Great Route of the Magical Villages cross the Mountains of Montemuro, Arada, Arestal and Freita, along the Rivers Douro, Vouga and Paiva.

Fully signed, this is a 275 km-long circular walking trail distributed in 14 stages. It also offers a circular 280 km-long mountain bike trail divided in 8 stages that almost fully coincide with the walking trail.

Comprising 4 Special Areas of Conservation, included in Rede Natura 2000, and a UNESCO Geopark, no wonder that this route is deeply memorable! Starting in Upper Douro this Great Route crosses the Center of Portugal from Montemuro Mountain in Castro Daire, along the Arada and S. Macário Mountains next to São Pedro do Sul, to Freita Mountain, in Arouca.

Owner of totally unrivalled geodiversity, a great biodiversity and the cultural richness of the small mountain economies, the Great Route of the Magical Mountains is a still unexplored and surprising Portugal.

Technical data and altimetry
Length: 275 Km on foot and 280 km by bike
Cycling route: 312 km
No of Stages: 14 on foot and 8 by bike
Maximum Altitude: 1.225 m
Minimum altitude: 18,00 m
Accumulated positive gradient: 9.625 on foot and 9.420 by bike
Total duration: 14 days on foot
Difficulty level: medium to very difficult
Advisable season: Spring, Summer and Autumn

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