⛰️ Altitude: 1,993 m
📍 Coordinates: 40°19′18.8″N 07°36′46.6″W
🗺️ Route: Road access via Seia, short walk and sightseeing around Torre summit area
🚗 Transport to region: 1,491 km total
• 203 km drive Andorra → Barcelona El Prat Airport
• 996 km flight Barcelona → Lisbon
• 292 km drive Lisbon Airport → Torre (via Seia, Serra da Estrela)
🏨 Accommodation: Overnight stay in Lisbon (8/9 August)
🌤️ Conditions: Warm, sunny, and perfectly clear
🚙 The journey
After finishing Coma Pedrosa, I drove back to Barcelona El Prat, returned the car, and caught an evening flight to Lisbon. It felt like moving from the sharp air of the Pyrenees straight into summer again.
At Lisbon Airport, I rented a small car from Avis, unfortunately, one of the worst of the trip. The drive north the next morning was long and exhausting. The vehicle struggled on the hills, and the endless highways made the journey feel twice as long as it was.
Still, the landscapes of central Portugal offered a kind of quiet beauty: olive groves, dry fields, and small villages scattered between the hills. After nearly five hours of driving, I reached the Serra da Estrela mountains, the highest range in mainland Portugal.
🏔️ At the summit
By 14:45, I arrived at Torre, the highest point of continental Portugal at 1,993 metres. The summit is unique among all European high points; you can literally drive to the top. There’s a small tower, a few buildings, and wide open views across the plateau.
I spent time walking around, visiting the nearby viewing spots, and simply breathing in the stillness. After weeks of intense climbs, rushing between airports, and sleeping in cars, this peaceful moment felt almost unreal. No ropes, no crampons, just sun, blue sky, and silence.
🧭 Reflection
Torre was not a mountain to conquer, but a place to pause. The drive was long and tiring, the car was awful, but the calm at the top made it worth it.
Every expedition needs a few days like this, not for endurance, but for perspective. A reminder that progress isn’t only measured in effort, but also in the moments when you allow yourself to slow down.
Date: 9 August 2025
