The GR22 Long Distance Trail
Historical Villages of Portugal
(Grande Rota das Aldeias Históricas de Portugal)
The GR22 connects in a 565km long loop the historical villages of Portugal. The route traverses sparsely populated areas in the eastern part of Portugal near the spanisch border. It also leads through the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal.
The full loop connects 12 historical villages, with many cultural and historical highlights.
The trail is suited for hiking and for mountain bikes.
It can be done as a South Loop, a North Loop or the total trail.
Total length: 565km and additionally 40 km Connection Trail.
North Loop:
This loop connects 8 historical villages (Sortelha, Castelo Mendo, Almeida, Castelo Rodrigo, Marialva, Trancoso, Linhares da Beira, Belmonte).
Length: 328 km
Duration: 14-16 days (walking), 4-6 days (mountain bike)
South Loop:
This loop connects 7 historical villages (Sortelha, Belmonte, Piódão, Castelo Novo, Idanha-a-Velha, Monsanto).
Length: 337 km
Duration: 15-17 days (walking), 5-7 days (mountain bike)
Detailled Maps of all these trails are available in the Online Shop
The track of the full trail is available as gpx file: Download gpx File
| Number WIP | Name | Length (km) |
Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GR22-1 | Sortelha - Castelo Mendo | 79 | 4 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-2 | Castelo Mendo - Almeida | 19 | 1 Tag | moderate |
| GR22-3 | Almeida - Castelo Rodrigo | 36 | 1 Tag | moderate |
| GR22-4 | Castelo Rodrigo - Marialva | 36 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-5 | Marialva - Trancoso | 29 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-6 | Trancoso - Linhares da Beira | 43 | 2 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-7 | Linhares da Beira - Vale do Rossim | 28.5 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-13 | Vale do Rossim - Belmonte | 40 | 2 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-12 | Belmonte - Sortelha | 18 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| Number WIP | Name | Length (km) |
Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GR22-12 | Sortelha - Belmonte | 18 | 1 Tag | moderate |
| GR22- 13 | Belmonte - Vale do Rossim | 40 | 2 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-7 | Vale do Rossim - Piódão | 52 | 2 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-8 | Piódão - Castelo Novo | 87 | 4 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-9 | Castelo Novo - Idanha-a-Velha | 45 | 2 Tage | moderate |
| GR22-10 | Idanha-a-Velha - Monsanto | 19 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-11 / GR22-1 | Monsanto - Sortelha | 75 | 3 Tage | difficult |
| Number WIP | Name | Length (km) |
Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GR22-1 | Sortelha - Castelo Mendo | 79 | 3 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-2 | Castelo Mendo - Almeida | 19 | 1 Tag | moderate |
| GR22-3 | Almeida - Castelo Rodrigo | 36 | 1 Tag | moderate |
| GR22-4 | Castelo Rodrigo - Marialva | 36 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-5 | Marialva - Trancoso | 29 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-6 | Trancoso - Linhares da Beira | 43 | 2 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-7 | Linhares da Beira -Piódão | 80 | 4 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-8 | Piódão - Castelo Novo | 87 | 4 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-9 | Castelo Novo - Idanha-a-Velha | 45 | 2 Tage | moderate |
| GR22-10 | Idanha-a-Velha - Monsanto | 19 | 1 Tag | difficult |
| GR22-11 | Monsanto - Sortelha | 75 | 3 Tage | difficult |
| GR22-12 | Sortelha - Belmonte | 18 | 1 Tag | difficult |