The stage, step by step
Tomar: set off prepared
Tomar is the last place that feels like a city before you enter the hardest stage of this section. You can have breakfast at O Cantinho da Amizade or Café da Praça and shop at Meu Super, Spar or My Auchan before starting.
Descent and the first serious climb
Between km 10.5 and 12, you descend 53 m with an average gradient of 3.5%. Immediately afterwards comes the main climb of the first half: from km 12 to 15.5, you gain 97 m with an average gradient of 2.8%.
Changes of pace in the middle section
From km 15.5 to 18.3, you descend 38 m and then climb 59 m to km 20.5. It is a sequence that takes its toll through accumulation rather than one single ramp; use short steps and conserve your energy.
A descent and long climb towards the end
Between km 20.5 and 22.8, there is a 68 m descent, with an average gradient of 3%. You then face an 81 m climb between km 22.8 and 27.5, with an average gradient of 1.7%.
The final kilometres to Alvaiázere
There is still a 35 m climb between km 28.5 and 30, with an average gradient of 2.3%. The destination is Alvaiázere, where Bombeiros Voluntários provide beds for pilgrims and Farmácia Ferreira da Gama is there for whatever the day has done to you.
What to see on stage 6
Tomar
This is the starting point and the last town where you will find everything you need to eat and shop. Tomar was the historic capital of the Templars in Portugal and provides context for this part of the Way.
The Beira Interior landscape
The stage marks the transition from the Tagus valley to the Beira Interior. Crops and woodland alternate in a more mountainous, much less urban setting than in the previous days.
Alvaiázere
You reach it after a day of progressive climbs and several deceptive intermediate descents. Arriving with your bed and evening meal arranged means you can rest without having to sort everything out at the end.
Where to sleep in Alvaiázere
Tomar offers Pensão Luanda, Hostel 2300 Thomar and the donation-based Café Convento. Along the way, you can break the stage at HeartWay, Quinta da Cortiça Albergue or Amigos, in the final kilometres. To finish in Alvaiázere, you can rely on Bombeiros Voluntários de Alvaiázere; accommodation is more limited, so book before setting off.
Where to eat and refuel
In Tomar, you have plenty of options for setting off with food: Restaurante Baía, Taverna Antiqua, Praça Restaurante, O Jardim, Café Avenida and Café da Praça. Afterwards, services are widely spaced: first Mini-Mercado and Mini-Mercado Cabeleira, and much later Supermercado A Pereirense. Do not set off expecting a restaurant every few kilometres.
Practical tips for this stage
Start very early
This is the most demanding stage since Lisbon, with 446 m of accumulated ascent and 31.7 km. An early start gives you more time to tackle the ramps in cooler conditions and reach Alvaiázere without racing the daylight.
Carry plenty of water
Shortly after km 12, you pass two fountains marked as non-potable water, so do not rely on them at all. Fill your bottles in Tomar and treat Fonte do Tojal and Fonte dos Cavaleiros, in the second half, as a welcome bonus if they are working, not as your plan.
Buy food before leaving Tomar
Shopping points are widely spaced: Mini-Mercado around km 8.5, Mini-Mercado Cabeleira around km 11 and Supermercado A Pereirense after the halfway point. Carry enough food not to depend on the opening hours of a single shop.
Save energy for after km 20
The descent between km 20.5 and 22.8 does not mean the stage is nearly over: an 81 m climb to km 27.5 follows, and there is still another 35 m of ascent before Alvaiázere.
Book your arrival
Alvaiázere has less accommodation and fewer services than Tomar. Confirm your place at Bombeiros Voluntários de Alvaiázere or wherever you have chosen before setting off.
Frequently asked questions about stage 6
Is this the hardest stage since Lisbon?
Yes: it has the most ascent of the Portuguese section covered so far, 446 m compared with 188 m of descent. It is 31.7 km with an average duration of 7 hours, and several ramps continue almost to the end.
Where are the main climbs?
The first significant climb runs from km 12 to 15.5 and gains 97 m. There is then a 59 m climb between km 18.3 and 20.5, an 81 m climb between km 22.8 and 27.5, and a final 35 m climb between km 28.5 and 30.
Is there potable water during the stage?
Do not assume so. Two fountains along the route are marked as non-potable water, so leave Tomar well supplied and treat Fonte do Tojal and Fonte dos Cavaleiros only as possible relief.
Where can I buy food?
The safest option is Tomar, with Meu Super, Spar, My Auchan and numerous cafés and restaurants. Along the route you have Mini-Mercado, Mini-Mercado Cabeleira and Supermercado A Pereirense, but they are far apart and have village-style opening hours.