Serra da Estrela Tour a different Tour, perfect for those who want to visit the interior of Portugal, the highest point of continental Portugal, famous for its mountains, its people and also for its cheese.

Prices

A great tour for those who wanna understand the process of the Portuguese Serra da Estrela cheese, which serves as a pasture for the “Serra da Estrela” or “Churra Mondegueira” sheep, considered by many to be the best dairy products, so that the cheese reaches the best quality the have to be made from the same milking.

Our days, the manufacture of the cheese and its ritual are made in a traditional way according with the Portuguese gastronomy, as it was hundreds of years ago, where the shepherds leave with the herd in the morning and return in the late afternoon.

Their families make the cheese according to family techniques, the shepherd chooses carefully the pasture of his sheep, because certain herbs give bad taste to the milk, and every day, the shepherd milks the sheep at nightfall, after which his wife prepares the milk to make the cheese.

Serra da Estrela a natural an exceptional place to be,  the highest spot in Continental Portugal, more then 100 thousand hectares distributed in six different municipalities, the first natural park created in Portugal, holding the record for the largest protected area in all of Portugal.

Come discover the secrets of this heavenly place in our Serra da Estrela Tour…

Covilhã

We will begin our Serra da Estrela Tour leaving Lisbon early in the morning, making our first stop at Covilha, land of the Portuguese wool industry, known by being the place of birth of several Portuguese discoverers, like; Diogo Alves da Cunha and Pero da Covilha.

Nowadays Covilha houses one of the most important Portuguese Universities (UBI – Universidade da Beira Interior).

The Tower – Ski Slope

Now it`s time to to climb up to the Tower, the highest point of Continental Portugal with 1993 meters high (65.387 feet). The Serra da Estrela is one of the few Portuguese regions blessed with snowfall, each year covered with an extensive white veil. 

We find here the only ski resort in the country with the lowest temperatures in Portugal are usually recorded at the top of the Serra da Estrela, with minimum temperatures occasionally reaching -20 °C (-04 farenheit) in winter. Here you can rent your equipment and try one of the different slopes. 

Sabugueiro

The story goes that this parish arose from a cluster of shepherds’ huts that took advantage of the abundant pastures to feed their sheep and goats. At the end of the 19th century, the exploration of Serra da Estrela began to take place through scientifically organized excursions. Sabugueiro village became a mandatory station or point of support and passage for the explorers. What was once an ignored village, became since then a main point of interest. 

Seia – Bred Museum

Now it’s time to visit and get to know one of the products that makes Portugal so well known around the World; yes … BREAD. The Bread Museum, in Seia, is a private museum that aims to collect, preserve and display the objects and heritage of the Portuguese bread. From that year of 1996 until its opening on September 26, 2002, the the gathering of the collection was carried out, through purchase in antique dealers, booksellers and auctions, or through donations. 

 

Gastronomy

In a place like Serra da Estrela it is impossible to skip its typical gastronomy, having as main actor the Serra da Estrela cheese and sausages (typical chorizo). 

As such for this special day, if you so desire, we have for you a suggestion of a typical mountainside restaurant with a full course menu: 

Appetizers; Morcela, chorizo and cheese. 

5 main dishes; wild rabbit, goat’s rice, lamb, suckling pig, veal and boar with beans. 

Desserts; Sweet rice, cream milk, curd with pumpkin jam and seasonal fruit. 

All you can drink beverages; house wine, water, sodas and juices.

Coffee and digestives. 

All you can eat!!! All homemade style !!!

 

Return to Lisbon

 

Our tour

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Reviews Tripadvisor

  Embora o dia foi de chuva, a viagem foi tranquila, motorista e guia do tour muito atencioso. Passou muitas informações durante os passeios. Recomendo esse tour.

Fearless301461
8 de November, 2022

  Viajamos durante dez dias, em quatro casais do Brasil, com a Walkborder Tours. Iniciamos em Lisboa e terminamos em Madrid. Tivemos uma experiência que jamais será esquecida, tudo correu muito... read more bem e organizado pelo Hugo, desde a aquisição do pacote turístico até a realização de translado e tours. Quanto ao Pedro Cunha, só temos elogios: um ótimo motorista e guia, com muito conhecimento histórico de cada local que passamos, sempre atento aos detalhes, além de ser muito educado, cordial e prestativo. Especial gratidão ao Pedro pelos serviços prestados. Grupo de Amigos de Londrina, Paraná, Brasil.

Aguinaldo B
3 de June, 2023