Portuguese Camino Spiritual Variant – 9 Days

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs.

If you do not have access to hills, it is essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible such as on a treadmill or stair climber. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Also, prioritising resistance weight training will help you develop overall muscle strength.  Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels if you are able to. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

TERRAIN

FLAT TERRAIN

Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.

Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and rocky, balancing and core exercises are vital.

Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills, up and down stairs at work, or up and down at a local oval with a grandstand is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking. Concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles

AVAILABILITY

This trip is available from the 15th of March to the 31st of October.

WALKING

This track is well-graded and without a great deal of incline or decline. Walks on average about 19 km a day. There’s always time to walk and explore further if you’re up to it or to relax and enjoy the towns/villages each evening.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY

Travelling to the Start of the walk

You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk. i.e. you will need to organise your travel to the start of the walk in Valenca/Tui. To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.

Porto Airport Francisco Sá Carneiro, Maia (+351) 229 432 400 is about 11 km from the city centre. There are regular flights from and to almost all major European cities. An airport bus is available from outside the terminal, which takes you to the city centre. The Metro line connects the Airport to the city centre, offering a fast and comfortable ride into the heart of the city.

The train takes just under 2 hrs to get to Valenca from Porto.

Santiago de Compostela airport is also another option; it takes 2hrs and 20 minutes by bus to get to Tui from the town centre.

To book flights we have found this site helpful

www.google.com/flights

BUSES: This is information for those who may be catching a bus.

PORTO – VALENÇA:  Rede Expressos (www.rede-expressos.pt) coaches from Porto transit station (Campo 24 de Agosto, 125, 4300-096 Porto, Tel: +351 707 223 344) depart daily to Valença.  Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway company’s website http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx no more than 14 days before your travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the coach.

PORTO – VALENÇA:  AUTNA (www.autna.com) coaches from Porto Airport transit station (Bus stop of Galicia Bus on the Airport arrivals) depart daily to Valença (Single fare is between €9.00 and €12.00)

TRAINS: There are several trains to and from Porto (Train station of São Bento or Train station of Campanhã). Trains transit daily to Valença. The metro lines link the airport to both train stations. Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway’s company’s website https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en  no more than 28 days before the travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the train.

Our transport partners on the ground can also provide private transfers on all routes. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Travelling from the End of the walk

The walk finishes in Santiago de Compostella

By plane: There is an airport in Santiago de Compostella where you can catch flights. This site is useful in booking flights away from Santiago de Compostella.

www.google.com/flights

WEATHER

March through to October is usually warmer, with long sunny days, perfect for walking.

See holiday-weather.com for information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.