Via Nova & the Camino Real

What sort of weather can I expect?

Answer: Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary. The temperature can vary considerably between coast and inland areas; and between altitudes, therefore it is advisable to wear layers which can be added or removed en route as required. 

What sort of walking can I expect?

Our support vehicles allow you the flexibility to walk 'as much or as little as you like', with drop-offs and pick-ups appropriate to the given day's itinerary. The Tour Leader will tell you each evening about the following day's walking options.

This is an 8-day walking holiday, with walks offered on 5 days. The length of each day varies from 2 to 4 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing etc.

The fitness level of this walking holiday is Grade 2+-3+. The route follows well-established Roman road and granite paths. There are a few rocky paths, so good firm walking boots with ankle support are recommended.

Please ensure that you have sufficient warm and waterproof clothing regardless of season. Some of our walks are very weather sensitive. If it is not possible to do a walk due to inclement weather, an alternative will be organised. Any such decision is at the discretion of the Tour Leader.

What if I don’t want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can either get a lift with the Tour Manager to the lunch location or the next hotel, or we can suggest options
to allow you to walk for part of the day. If the itinerary does not involve a hotel change on a given day, you can simply stay in the town and explore, and join (or not join) the group for lunch. The Tour Leader will discuss the next day’s options with the group every
evening.

Where do I meet the group at the start of the trip?

Meeting the group

The destination airports for this trip are Porto (arrival) and Santiago (departure). There will be
a set meeting time at Porto airport for the transfer to the first hotel; a set time for the return transfer to Santiago airport at the end of the trip; and a 'recommended flight' to connect with the airport transfers. Booking the recommended flight - which we strongly encourage - guarantees transfers to and from the airport, irrespective of flight schedule changes or delays. For clients not on the 'recommended flight' we cannot guarantee a transfer from the airport should you be delayed for any reason in meeting the group at the specified place and time. In this instance you will have to make your own way to the first hotel, at your own expense. The transfer to the airport at the end of the trip will also be timed according to the recommended flight and we cannot offer transfers at alternative times. Please check with the Reservations Team before making independent arrangements. You are of course welcome to meet the group at the first hotel.

If you would like a transfer to the first hotel, please ensure that you inform us of this and advise us of your arrival time and flight number as soon as possible. Please also ensure that
your flight arrives at the destination airport at least 1 hour before the meeting time, to allow sufficient time to pass through customs and collect your luggage.

If you take the recommended flight or are meeting the group at the airport our Tour Leader and Tour Manager will be waiting to meet you for the minibus transfer to the first hotel, which will depart shortly thereafter. They will be wearing green polo shirts bearing the ATG logo.

If you arrive late and find that the group has left (there is no sign of them in the arrivals hall or our minibuses with the ATG logo outside the terminal building), please check for a message at
the information desk and make your own way to the first hotel, letting the ATG office know you’re on your way. The ATG office number is +44 1865 315 678 or outside office hours please call the emergency number which is +44 1865 315 600.

If you are meeting the group at the first hotel, our Tour Consultants will contact you on their arrival.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Most trips tend to include some quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your
lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here:what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

On our escorted trips all meals are included.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – e.g bread, croissant, juice, coffee. If a breakfast needs ‘topping up’ to meet the needs of those with a
full morning of walking ahead, the Tour Manager will ensure this happens.

ATG Picnic lunches

ATG picnic lunches in Europe are renowned! ‘Happening upon’ an ATG picnic in an idyllic location punctuates each day’s walk. Picnics are colourful, varied and nutritious. Buffet-style, there is a choice of meats, cheeses, salads and fruits. Many salads are ‘exclusive’ to ATG and some of these original recipes are in the ATG ‘Table of Moveable Feasts’.

After being greeted with mineral water, followed by wine and an abundant lunch of local organic produce and specialities, there’s usually time for a siesta! Where there is a particularly spectacular and remote picnic spot we may occasionally carry
packed lunches. Outside Europe the location of lunches may vary, from picnics to meals in restaurants or private houses.

Dinner

Dinner is usually at about 8.00pm (later in Spain). We tend to eat in the best and most interesting restaurants available, which serve traditional local dishes as well as regional classics and excellent regional wines. To ensure that we enjoy the best that the area has to offer, the Tour Manager, with his/her specialist knowledge and experience, will have worked closely with the chef in advance, selecting the most interesting and characteristic menu possible. This not only ensures that we eat far better than people who ‘come in off the street’, but enables us to enjoy a very wide range of local specialities during the trip, and also to cater imaginatively for those with special dietary needs.

At the start of dinner each evening, it is ATG ‘style’ to
tell you about the menus and wines for that evening. If there’s anything different that you would prefer, you have only to ask.

What sort of food can I expect in this area?

Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavoured dishes and is closely related to Mediterranean cuisine. The influence of Portugal’s former colonial possessions is also notable, especially in the wide variety of spices used, such as piri
piri, black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla and saffron.

Olive oil is a key ingredient in Portuguese cuisine, both for cooking and flavouring meals. Garlic is also widely used, as are herbs such as coriander and parsley. A common soup is the caldo verde with potato, shredded cabbage, and chunks of chouriço sausage. Portugal is a seafaring nation with a well-developed fishing industry and this is reflected in the amount of fish and seafood eaten. 

Traditional Portuguese desserts are mostly rich, egg-based and flavoured with cinnamon or vanilla. The most typical desserts are arroz doce (rice-pudding) and leite-creme (a set egg custard).Cakes and pastries are also very common. 

Galician food is simple, using good local ingredients to complement the robust wines of the region. It is seasonal food, usually prepared with home-grown ingredients. Whilst it is a traditional cuisine, it is not a poor one – meat, game and seafood feature strongly alongside the more simple dishes, e.g., Caldo Gallego.

The Galicians have a sweet tooth, producing a variety of almond cakes and light biscuits and are a dairy-producing people, providing a varied and interesting cheeseboard which contrasts the sheep and goat cheeses of Castile and the Basque Country.

Walking to eat

One of the greatest pleasures of travelling is enjoying a range of different regional cuisines. Part of the ATG experience is discovering the diversity of local ingredients and culinary traditions of the particular methods of cooking, and styles of restaurant. ATG trips include a wide range of different restaurants, with some of the finest and most famous in the world. Each has been carefully selected. Others are more traditional, providing excellent local cuisine, using recipes that have often become established ‘classics’ of regional cooking.

Which is better? It is thrilling to eat at great restaurants
– each course a revelation of sensation, aroma, texture, taste, colour and decorative design, with a superb selection of wines to match. It is also a delight to find a small restaurant specialising
in authentic local cuisine using fresh, organically grown local produce, and accompanied by the best regional wines. At ATG, whose founder/MD ‘travels to eat’ – food matters!

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. This will give the Tour Manager the opportunity to shop and prepare menus
accordingly prior to your trip. At the start of the trip the Tour Manager will meet with you to discuss in more detail your requirements.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

Generally casual or smart/casual attire is appropriate, but we also visit some notable restaurants en route - some where a jacket or skirt/dress  would be appropriate.

How much should I budget for items not included?

On escorted trips everything is included (per the published itinerary) apart from travel to/from the destination airport, items of a personal nature, snacks and drinks outside of the set meals.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here