The Ultimate Adventure in Portugal — Self-Launched

Fly into Porto (OPO) and take Metro Line E (violet) to Trindade, then Line D one stop to Faria Guimaraes (about 40 min, €3). Check into a central hostel or budget guesthouse near Bolhao or Ribeira. Spend the afternoon walking the tiled lanes down to the Douro, crossing the Dom Luis I bridge to the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, and grabbing a coffee and a pastel de nata. In the evening, do your own mini welcome dinner — a bifana and a glass of Douro red at a tasca in Ribeira for around €12-15.

🚌Metro Line E + D from airport (~£3); walking

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, central Porto (£18-28)

• →Self-guided wander of Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia
• →Sunset on the Dom Luis I bridge

Take an early Rede Expressos or Flixbus from Porto to Vila Nova de Foz Coa (roughly 2.5-3 hrs, £12-16). Book a guided Coa River kayak trip direct with a local operator or via GetYourGuide/Klook (approx £45-60 including equipment) — a calm paddle beneath schist cliffs carved with 25,000-year-old aurochs, horses and deer, finishing at the Fariseu panel. Note some operators require advance booking and a minimum group, so reserve a week ahead. Afterwards, visit the Coa Museum in Foz Coa (€6) for context on the engravings. Overnight in a rural guesthouse or the local hostel/residencial in Foz Coa or Longroiva.

🚌Rede Expressos/Flixbus Porto–Foz Coa (~£14); local taxi to river put-in (~£10 shared)

🛏Rural guesthouse or residencial, Foz Coa/Longroiva (£20-30)

• →Guided kayak on the Coa River through Coa Valley Archaeological Park
• →Coa Museum visit

Take a local taxi or bus to Marialva (15-20 min, ~£8-10) and hike the waymarked 10km route back to Longroiva through olive groves, vineyards and almond orchards, finishing beneath the Templar keep of Longroiva Castle (2.5-3 hrs, free). In the afternoon, arrange a visit to a family dairy in Barreira — call ahead or ask your guesthouse to book; A Queijaria-style cheesemaking workshops and tastings run around €20-25 per person. Return to Longroiva for dinner at a village restaurant (slow-roasted goat and Douro red, ~£15).

🚌Local taxi/bus to Marialva (~£9); walking

🛏Rural guesthouse or residencial, Longroiva (£20-30)

• →Self-guided hike Marialva–Longroiva
• →Artisan cheesemaking workshop and wine tasting in Barreira

A travel day. Take the bus from Foz Coa/Longroiva toward Coimbra or Oliveira do Hospital (Rede Expressos, 2.5-3 hrs, ~£14), then a local taxi to Piodao (~£20 shared). Hike the 8km stone-paved loop from Piodao down the stream to Foz d'Egua, where two mountain streams meet in clear pools beneath arched footbridges — bring swimmers for a cold dip — then climb back on the far side of the valley. In the late afternoon, catch a bus or taxi to Lousa (1-1.5 hrs, ~£10) and check into a guesthouse or hostel in town.

🚌Rede Expressos bus (~£14); local taxis (~£25 shared); bus to Lousa (~£10)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Lousa (£22-32)

• →Self-guided Piodao–Foz d'Egua loop hike
• →River swim at Foz d'Egua

Book a half-day beginner canyoning trip direct with a Serra da Lousa operator (approx £50-65 including wetsuit, boots, helmet and harness; book online or through GetYourGuide in advance). Expect wooden walkways along the Passadicos das Quelhas, six abseils of 14-20m, optional jumps and natural slides. In the afternoon, take a local taxi to Talasnal (20 min, ~£12) and walk the village yourself — entry and the lanes are free; a small local association (ACTIVAR) runs occasional guided visits and tastings for around €10-15 if you book ahead. Back to Lousa for a free evening.

🚌Local taxi to Coentral and Talasnal (~£25 shared)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Lousa (£22-32)

• →Beginner canyoning in Ribeira das Quelhas
• →Self-guided wander of Talasnal schist village
• →Optional local tea and liqueur tasting

Take the bus from Lousa to Coimbra (45 min, ~£5), then a train or Rede Expressos bus to Nazare/Valado (about 2 hrs, ~£10). Drop your bag and hike from Praia do Norte along the pine forest and dunes to the Fort of Sao Miguel Arcanjo and its lighthouse surf museum (€2), then up to Sitio for cliff views and down the old stone steps into the whitewashed fishermen's quarter. Grab grilled fish for lunch on the seafront. In the afternoon, take the local bus to Peniche (40 min, ~£3) and check into a surfer hostel. Book a drop-in sunset yoga class at a beach studio or via GetYourGuide (~£12).

🚌Bus Lousa–Coimbra (~£5); train/bus to Nazare (~£10); bus to Peniche (~£3)

🛏Surf hostel, Peniche (£18-28)

• →Self-guided Nazare coastal hike to Fort of Sao Miguel Arcanjo
• →Sitio viewpoint and old-town walk
• →Drop-in sunset yoga class

Book a beginner group surf lesson with one of Peniche's surf schools direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook (3 hrs including board and wetsuit, approx £35-45) — Supertubos is for pros, but there's nearly always a sheltered beginner beach on the peninsula. Spend the afternoon on the sand or at a harbour cafe. Before sunset, walk out to Cabo Carvoeiro (free), the wild limestone headland at the tip of the peninsula, with sea stacks, a lighthouse and views to the Berlengas Islands. Farewell dinner of seafood rice or caldeirada in town (~£16).

🚌Walking and local bus

🛏Surf hostel, Peniche (£18-28)

• →Beginner surf lesson
• →Sunset walk to Cabo Carvoeiro

Take the local bus from Peniche to Obidos (about 25 min, €3-4) and leave your bag at the bus station or a cafe. Walk the complete ring of medieval walls, wander the cobbled lanes and bougainvillea-draped doorways, and try a shot of ginja in a chocolate cup (€1.50). Then take the Rede Expressos bus from Obidos to Lisbon Sete Rios (about 1 hr 15, ~£8) and continue by metro into the city or to the airport (€2). Stay on a night or two to explore Lisbon, or fly out from LIS.

🚌Local bus Peniche–Obidos (~£3); Rede Expressos Obidos–Lisbon (~£8); Lisbon metro (~£2)

🛏None included (add a Lisbon hostel night, £20-30, if staying on)

• →Walk the medieval walls of Obidos
• →Ginja tasting