Northern Portugal · First departures in September 2026
An experience in Minho, with people who grew up here.
Join us in Esposende. The Atlantic is one way, Gerês is the other. Diana and João will be your hosts.
Your hosts
We’re Diana and João.
We grew up here, left to work abroad and eventually realised that most of the people we met had never heard of Minho. So we decided to bring a few of them home with us.
We’re on every trip. You’ll meet us on the first evening and probably be tired of our faces by day five.
How the trip is organised
The first trip · Roots & Routes
An experience between the sea and the mountains.
Walks in nature, a traditional music session, dinner with live fado, a morning spent cleaning the coast that feeds the town, and plenty of time to make new friends.
The price covers accommodation, the activities, local transport once you’re here, and breakfast.
That’s the founding rate for the first edition. It won’t be this low again.
First-edition price
€725
per person, flights not included
5 days
based in Esposende
8 guests
the two of us always with you
1 region
sea, mountain and river
The first experience runs 23–28 September 2026. The waitlist gets first-hand details, and first pick of what’s next.
Join the first editionRoots & Routes · Day by day
Here’s the plan.
- 01
Arrive in Esposende
We pick you up at Esposende bus station and take you to drop your bags at the hotel. Then we walk down to the water to meet everyone, and close the day with a welcome dinner. Bem-vindo. It's a good way to start.
- 02
Where the river meets the sea
A plant-weaving workshop first, making the same kind of bag our grandmothers carried to the market. In the afternoon, a riverside cleanup, then stand-up paddleboarding. A bike ride to the sunset ends the day, followed by a long dinner and even longer conversation at the table.
- 03
Gerês
A full day inland: mountains, cool water, walking, swimming. Dinner that night is a special one, with live fado. The day you start to feel like this place belongs to you too.
- 04
Sounds of Minho
We start by waking the neighbours: a real Minho music session, drums, accordion and bagpipes, played in the streets, you included. Then we visit Viana do Castelo, the capital of Minho, for petiscos and tascas.
- 05
Green Coast
The long day out, stopping wherever João thinks we should. Historical towns, local people, and the Costa Verde, the Green Coast, up close.
- 06
Até já
This day isn't part of the experience, but we're still around if you need us. Take your time to say goodbye, or better, até já. See you soon.
The North in the press
The word is getting out.
The guidebooks are only getting here now. We grew up on this coast.
Before you ask
The questions everyone has.
Can I come on my own?
Yes, and most people do. The group is capped at eight, so you arrive as a stranger and leave knowing everyone's name. Couples and pairs of friends come too, but nobody feels like the odd one out.
Will everyone speak English?
Diana and João do, easily, and everyone joining needs to as well. It's the language the whole group shares. Guests come from all over Europe, and every so often someone who already lives in Portugal and has never made it up here.
How fit do I need to be?
You don't need to train for it. There's biking, walks in nature and some time in the river, but nothing technical, and no one's left behind.
Do I get my own room, or do I share?
Rooms are shared, two people to a room. A private room is possible if there's space, for an extra fee, and the earlier you book, the better your chances of getting one.
Are flights included?
No. You'll need to get yourself to Portugal; we take it from there.
Which airport should I fly into?
Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport). It's the closest to Esposende, where the experience begins.
How do I get from the airport to Esposende?
Buses, including Flixbus, run from Porto Airport to Esposende's bus station. We can also arrange a shuttle for an extra charge. From the bus station, we take you straight to the hotel.
Will the food work for vegetarians or vegans?
Meals lean on Portuguese cooking, which uses a lot of meat, fish and dairy, but most dishes can be adapted. Let us know about allergies or dietary needs when you join the waitlist, so we can plan around them.
Is there a deposit, and what's the payment schedule?
We're firming up the payment details before the trips go live. Waitlist members get this first, along with the dates.
When do the trips run?
We start this autumn, in Esposende, with more dates to follow next year. Join the waitlist and you'll have the dates, and first pick of them, before they're announced anywhere else.
The waitlist
Join the first edition.
The first experience runs 23–28 September 2026 in Esposende. There are eight places at the founding rate, so tell us if you’re in for September, or just want to hear about what comes next.