Estrela Mountain tour: Torre peak & Serra cheese tasting

Portugal's highest inhabited village sits at 1,050 meters, and you'll walk its streets before climbing higher.

A full-day tour from Coimbra climbing Estrela Mountain to the 1,996-meter Torre peak, with stops in Sabugueiro (Portugal's highest inhabited village), Manteigas, the Zêzere Glacier Valley and a trout farm. The route includes a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a tasting of Serra da Estrela cheese and regional sausages. The tour departs in the morning and returns by 5 p.m.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Estrela Mountain and villages

• Visit Sabugueiro village
• Meet Serra da Estrela Dog
• Stop for photo
• Visit town and have lunch
• Visit trout farm
• Visit cascata waterfall
• Visit source of Zêzere river
• Reach top of Portugal (Torre)
• Stop for visit

The experience

The day starts with a drive into the mountains and a walk through Sabugueiro, the highest inhabited settlement in Portugal at 1,050 meters. You'll meet the Serra da Estrela Dog, one of Portugal's oldest shepherd breeds, and get a sense of how people live at that altitude. From there the route climbs through Mondeguinho and Manteigas before reaching the Zêzere Glacier Valley and Covão da Ametade, the glacial cirque that shaped this landscape.

The destination is Torre, the summit at 1,996 meters. On the way down you'll stop at a trout farm and visit the source of the Zêzere River, then descend through the Ski Resort and past Lagoa Comprida and Senhora of Desterro. The guide handles the route and timing. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle and walk at the stops. Bottled water is included throughout the day.

The tour includes a tasting of Queijo da Serra, the region's most famous cheese, and regional sausages. You can sample these on your own time at a stop along the route. The full day runs eight hours, departing in the morning and returning to Coimbra by 5 p.m.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle and driver/guide.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• tasting of Serra da Estrela cheese and regional sausages.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to12h before

AgesUp to age 80

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Viajeportugal

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving in Coimbra with one free day and want a guided route through mountain villages and glacial valleys: the fixed eight-hour itinerary covers high peaks like Torre without requiring your own transport or navigation skills.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What is Sabugueiro and why does the tour start there?

Sabugueiro is Portugal's highest inhabited village, located at 1,050 meters above sea level. The tour begins with a walk through the town so you can see how people live at that altitude and meet the Serra da Estrela Dog, one of Portugal's oldest shepherd breeds native to the region.

How high is Torre and what do you do at the summit?

Torre is 1,996 meters high, the peak of Estrela Mountain. You reach it by midday and have time to take in the views and take photos before the descent begins through the ski resort and past the glacial valleys.

What food and drink are included in the tour?

Bottled water is provided throughout the eight-hour day. The tour includes a tasting of Queijo da Serra, the region's most famous cheese, and regional sausages, which you sample at a designated stop along the route.

What is the Zêzere Glacier Valley and where does it fit in the itinerary?

The Zêzere Glacier Valley and Covão da Ametade are glacial cirques carved by ancient ice, located on the descent from Torre. You visit them on the way down the mountain, along with the source of the Zêzere River and a trout farm.