The Veado Verde / Green Deer challenges you to live an experience in the Lousa Mountain. Come with us and visit the beautiful and picturesque Schist Villages of Lousa Mountain. We will pass thru forests of pines, chestnut trees, oaks and beeches where we can find deer, wild boars, foxes and squirrels. It´s a wonderful and rewarding experience that includes offroad activities, hiking and visiting the shale villages. It's a 4 hour tour (or 8 hour tour) with Coimbra as the pickup point. Get ready, the beauty of this mountain will leave you amazed!
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $126.
Out at sunset: the 2:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:39 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Cerdeira is a magical place. At the entrance to the village, a small bridge leads us to a handful of houses peeping through the foliage. It seems like we are crossing the portal to a fantasy world. Everything appears perfect in this deeply romantic setting. The slate path points the way to a spring hidden among lush vegetation. Between steep slopes rent by watercourses tumbling down from higher up, Cerdeira nestles in the most bucolic of surroundings. This is a village that art and creativity have helped to refound. Indeed, at certain times of the year, the village becomes alive with events that combine art and botany.
Benefiting from the ease of access provided by the National Highway, Candal is generally regarded as the most developed of the mountain villages and is one of the most visited. Its inhabitants are used to being joined by holiday and weekend visitors who flock here in search of pure air and good company.
Here nature reigns. For a long time now, this is the Schist Village of the Lousã Mountain that has lent most visibility and charm because of the many details of the restoration of its houses. And also by the way the village seduces us through the mouth.
Passing along the unpaved road, the presence of Casal Novo almost escapes us. The village lies in a fold on the steeply sloping, north-facing hillside and the woodland surrounding the village hides its outline.
Gondramaz is a completely restored shale village with about 50 houses where there is a tourist resort and where we will have a coffee.
Cadaval Cimeiro and Cadaval Fundeiro are two abandoned shale villages that burned twice in the 1980s. There we will hike between the two.
Aigra Velha is the highest altitude Schist Village (770 metres), not far from the summits of the Lousã Mountain, but easy to get to. It is a small place, but one with wide horizons. The landscape surrounding the village makes all the difference. Here everything is simple and done following the natural cycle of nature that is all around us. * - Only Full day tour.
ith its simple plan of low schist buildings, Aigra Nova consists of three small streets that cross the village. Its spring and the mild climate favour agriculture and broad pastures. In this living village there are market gardens, livestock, donkeys and many activities that will surprise the visitor. * - Only Full day tour.
This village is the perfect result of construction in a combination of schist and quartzite. A centuries-old chestnut guards the entrance to the village. * - Only Full day tour. The local topography dictated that the village developed along a promontory, making it seem that the houses are defying the laws of equilibrium and the force of gravity. The village of Pena takes full advantage of the crystal clear waters of the stream. Alongside it, the Penedos de Góis offer adventure for the daring.
We pickup from most of the hotels in central Coimbra, Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Condeixa-a-Nova and Penela if parking is available. We pickup clients for an additional fee (10€...20€) and also from other locations.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 197 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Schist Villages at Lousa Mountain lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 9 stops.
Prices start at $103 per person for this Coimbra experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $126. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and 2:00 PM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. We pickup from most of the hotels in central Coimbra, Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Condeixa-a-Nova and Penela if parking is available. We pickup clients for an additional fee (10€...20€) and also from other locations. Pickup points include Hotel Quinta do Viso.
The experience is available in PT, EN, ES.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Specialized infant seats are available
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 136 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Veado Verde / Green Deer.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
The trip with Alfredo to the mountains and experiencing the beauty and tranquility of the schist villages has been the highlight of my time in Portugal
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
This is a special tour with a special guide. My wife and I had the best four hour magical afternoon with Alfredo. The shale villages of the hills are spectacular and something uniquely different in Portugal. Thank you. Highly recommend this tour and experience.
Thank you for your nice review and recommendation. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
This is a unique experience. The villages are amazing to wander through, and the history provided by Alfredo gave it meaning and context. This was a highlight of my trip to Portugal.
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
We booked this tour last minute during our visit to Coimbra and could not have been more pleased with everything! Alfredo was such a wonderful tour guide. His genuine love for the area and nature made our trip so enjoyable. The shiest villages are amazing hidden gems. All of our stops include fun little art or coffee shops. Gelato and Chestnut liqueur are a must! Do not hesitate to book a tour today!!!
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
Meeting place was central and easy to find. Alfredo was friendly and knowledgeable; he made suggestions at the village restaurant to try the local Chestnut treats and liquor and it was fantastic! The village views shouldn't be missed! It was a great trip and I was very satisfied.
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
Gorgeous landscapes up in the mountains near Coimbra! Alfredo was an informed and pleasant guide who drove us the whole way, talking to us about the land, people, recent fire, how the villages are being transformed, etc. Definitely wear good outdoor shoes (not sandals) to climb all the staircases (as many or little as you want) to explore the winding pathways of the villages. We stopped in a little cafe up there, also at an artists shoppe, and were completely on time of four hours. Excellent pictures taken and a reprieve from the museums, buildings, traffic, tourists in town. Lovely!
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
The experience visiting the schist villages was incredible. What a spectacular day. Each of the 3 villages we visited was a little different so we got a good variety. Our guide, Alfredo, was delightful and full of local knowledge to help us understand the area and the history of the villages.
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
We had an enjoyable morning touring the Schist Villages with our guide Alfredo. Alfredo was very knowledgeable about the region and its history. He was also good navigating the steep and windy roads! The villages are stunning and a look into how past peoples lived and of course many of the cottages are being restored and are able to be rented. We stopped at our final village and ordered espresso and the local liquor before heading back to Coimbra. Fun morning!
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
What an absolutely AMAZING day exploring the Schist Villages! 🏡✨ I had the most wonderful guide, Veado Verde - incredibly knowledgeable, super friendly, and genuinely passionate about the region. He shared so many fascinating stories, history, and local insights that I never would have discovered on my own. But what made it truly special was how personalized everything felt. It honestly seemed like the entire tour was customized just for me, at my pace and based on what I was most interested in. The villages themselves are stunning, peaceful, and full of character — like stepping back in time. I’m so grateful for such a memorable experience and highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. A perfect day from start to finish! 💛
Thank you for your nice review and recommendation. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
Alfredo offered us a rich history and the current activity of the Schist villages and gave us time to explore each one at our own pace over the course of the morning and afternoon. We vicariously enjoyed his warm connection with people wherever we went. It was good to stop for a local snack and lunch together. Alfredo is also skilled in spotting wild animals. The area is so beautiful and we were happy that he was doing the driving and not us!
Thank you for your nice review. It was a pleasure meeting you and doing this tour with you!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schist Villages at Lousa Mountain | 4 hours | 4.9 (136) | $103 | |
 Schist Villages of Lousã Mountain, half-day from Coimbra | 4 hours | 4.8 (45) | $97 | View |
 An adventure through the Schist Villages of Lousã | 3–4 hours | 5.0 (105) | $86 | View |
 Private Jeep Tour Serra da Lousã and Schist Villages | 3–6 hours | 5.0 (9) | $250 | View |
 From the Schist Villages of Lousã to the Mills of Penacova | 7 hours | 5.0 (8) | $149 | View |
 Lousã Schist Villages of Candal and Talasnal | Private Tour | 4 hours | 5.0 (5) | $129 | View |
 A tour between Cascades and Schist Villages, Piodão | 8 hours | 5.0 (49) | $149 | View |