Covão d'Ametade - Estrela Mountain

GRZ- Multistage Route of the Zêzere

The GRZ- Multistage Route of Zêzere was designed to be done on foot, by bicycle or by canoe, with 13 Intermodal Stations along the route. It passes through 13 municipalities and connects the Estrela Mountain, the Aldeias do Xisto, Castelo de Bode and the river Tagus.

Ready to discover one of the most surprising and wild rivers in Portugal, and immerse yourself in some of the most beautiful river landscapes? Choose your means of transport, prepare your equipment and follow these instructions we have prepared for you.The Zêzere River Valley is one of the territorial units that make up the Aldeias do Xisto region and one of the natural areas with the largest environmental diversity in Portugal. The creation of GR33 GRZ- Multistage Route of Zêzere provides direct contact with all of this natural heritage. The 370 km of the GRZ connect important national brands: The Estrela Mountain, the Aldeias do Xisto, Castelo de Bode and the river Tagus. The route is multimodal and can be done on foot, by bicycle or by canoe, continuously or in sectors. The 13 Intermodal Stations along the route allow visitors to easily change from one means of transportation to another. 

The GRZ runs through a variety of sceneries, where visitors may appreciate the region's diverse flora and fauna, as well as the man-made constructions, dotted along the river banks. Nature and human culture are unexpectedly interwoven along the path, revealing one of the best kept secrets in Portugal. 

The route is divided into nine cohesive units, sectors, which reflect the characteristics of the river and its surroundings. 

Each of these sectors comprises several stages: stretches of the route delimited by two information panels (Check the lists of each sector on the links below). 

1. THE WILD START | 30,1 Km
2. IRRIGATING COVA DA BEIRA | 55,7 km
3. MINING TERRITORY | 21,9 km
4. MEANDERS | 23,1 km
5. UNDER THE SIGN OF CABRIL | 62 km
6. JUST YOU AND THE RIVER | 22,9 km
7. RETURN TO SERENITY | 28,4 km
8. RIVER BRANCHES | 71,4 km
9. THE TAGUS ROUTE | 54,7 km

 

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updated on: July 07, 2022
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Long distance hiking trail · Portugal
GRZ on Foot - The Wild Start [Sector 1]
recommended route Difficulty moderate Open
Distance 28.2 km
Duration 7:40 h
Ascent 506 m
Descent 1,443 m

Spanning 30 km, the Wild Start is the first of nine stages that make up the GRZ. It connects Covão d'Ametade to the Valhelhas rest area.

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
MTB Transalp · Portugal
The Wild Start [GRZ - MTB Sector 1]
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 1 Open
Distance 29 km
Duration 2:15 h
Ascent 315 m
Descent 1,233 m

Spanning 30 km, the Wild Start is the first of nine stages that make up the GRZ. It connects Covão d'Ametade to the Valhelhas rest area. 

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
Long distance hiking trail · Aldeias do Xisto
GRZ on Foot - Irrigating Cova da Beira [Sector 2]
recommended route Difficulty moderate Open
Distance 56.2 km
Duration 14:45 h
Ascent 10,631 m
Descent 12,134 m

Spanning 55.7 km, Irrigating Cova da Beira is the second of nine sectors that make up GRZ. It connects the Valhelhas rest area, in the municipality ...

1
from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 2 Open
Distance 56.3 km
Duration 450:00 h
Ascent 434 m
Descent 552 m

Spanning 55.7 km, Irrigating Cova da Beira is the second sector of GRZ. It connects the Valhelhas rest area, in the municipality of Guarda, to the ...

1
from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
Long distance hiking trail · Portugal
GRZ - Mining Territory [Sector 3]
recommended route Difficulty Open
Distance 23.5 km
Duration 6:47 h
Ascent 278 m
Descent 307 m

Spanning about 22 km, Mining Territory is the third sector of the GRZ. It starts at the Barco rest area, in the municipality of Covilhã, and ends ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty S2 moderate Stage 3 closed
Distance 23.6 km
Duration 2:00 h
Ascent 279 m
Descent 308 m

Spanning about 22 km, Mining Territory is the third sector of the GRZ. It starts at the Barco rest area, in the municipality of Covilhã, and ends ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty moderate Open
Distance 9.8 km
Duration 2:01 h
Ascent 13 m
Descent 23 m

Spanning 9.2 km, this route combines the agricultural lands bordering the banks of the Zêzere, bordered by walls separating agricultural lands, and ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
Long distance hiking trail · Portugal
GRZ on Foot - Meanders [Sector 4]
recommended route Difficulty moderate Open
Distance 23 km
Duration 6:00 h
Ascent 329 m
Descent 375 m

Spanning 23.1 km, Meanders is the 4th stage in the Multistage Route of Zêzere. It connects Dornelas do Zêzere, in the municipality of Pampilhosa da ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
MTB Transalp · Portugal
Meanders [GRZ - MTB sector 4]
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 4
Distance 22.7 km
Duration 2:20 h
Ascent 276 m
Descent 345 m

Spanning 23.1 km, Meanders is the 4th sector in the Multistage Route of Zêzere. It connects Dornelas do Zêzere, in the municipality of Pampilhosa ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty
Distance 24.8 km
Duration 5:08 h
Ascent 9 m
Descent 53 m

Spanning 24.7 km, this route passes through three Aldeias do Xisto: Barroca, Janeiro de Cima and Janeiro de Baixo. 

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty
Distance 7.4 km
Duration 1:31 h
Ascent 8 m
Descent 23 m

Spanning 7.4 km, this route runs through the Naturtejo Geo-Park (UNESCO) and in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the entire GR33 GRZ - ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
Long distance hiking trail · Portugal
GRZ on Foot - Under the Sign of Cabril [Sector 5]
recommended route Difficulty difficult Open
Distance 61.9 km
Duration 17:25 h
Ascent 1,973 m
Descent 1,910 m

Under the Sign of Cabril is the 5th sector in the Multistage Route of Zêzere. Spanning 62 km, it connects Cambas, in the municipality of Oleiros, ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 5 Open
Distance 62 km
Duration 7:00 h
Ascent 1,969 m
Descent 1,909 m

Under the Sign of Cabril is the 5th sector in the Multistage Route of Zêzere. Spanning 62 km, it connects Cambas, in the municipality of Oleiros, ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty
Distance 20.6 km
Duration 4:15 h
Ascent 39 m
Descent 46 m

Spanning 20.6 km, this route transitions from rapids to the more placid waters influenced by the Cabril Dam reservoir, located in the Aldeia do ...

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto
recommended route Difficulty
Distance 32.3 km
Duration 6:43 h
Ascent 117 m
Descent 64 m

Spanning 32.3 km, this route introduces visitors to the calm waters of the Zêzere, influenced by the Cabril and Castelo de Bode Dams. 

from Aldeias do Xisto,   Aldeias do Xisto