Self guided walking holidays in Portugal
| country: | Portugal |
| trip type: | Self guided, introductory / moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | Various departures available all year round on any day to suit. Please see below for details |
| price: | From £190 (5 days) - £395 (6 days) excluding flights. Price depends on trip type and duration. Please ensure that you state which of these trips you are interested in |
read 5 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Douro - Walking, Wine & Port
From £355 (Oct-Mar) - £375 (Apr-Jul & Sep) (5 days)
‘A good life is like a fine glass of port: it has to be enjoyed to the full’ - this walking holiday allows you to do both.
You stay for 4 nights on a working Quinta which has more than 30 acres of vineyards high above the Douro valley which allows you to really experience the way of life of the local people. The house has been extensively modernized to make for a relaxed and comfortable stay. The best way to reach the Quinta is by train from Porto to Pinhão; this is a quite spectacular journey as the train runs right beside the Douro River.
Highlights include:
Tradition, tranquility and simplicity The magnificent Douro river A small area with big scenery At the heart of fine port and wine production
The Serra de Sao Mamede - A quiet, unknown corner
From £345 (Oct-Mar) - £395 (Apr-Jun & Sep) (6 days)
At the heart of the Alto Alentejo lies the Parque Natural of the Serra de São Mamede. Its diverse geology and capricious climate, is caught between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, this encourages a fascinating range of flora and fauna.
Griffin vultures and Bonellis eagle circle over head while deer and boar live among the chestnut and oak trees. On the green slopes of the Serra are the towns of Castelo de Vide with its famous castle and medieval Jewish quarter with the oldest synagogue in Europe and Marvão with its narrow streets of whitewashed houses and arguably the best-preserved castle in Portugal.
Highlights include:
Some of Portugal's prettiest villages and medieval fortress towns The magnificent castles of Marvão and Castelo de Vide Farms growing vines, almonds, oranges and much more Wild flowers in abundance
The Serra de Sintra
From £199 (Oct-Mar) - £219 (Apr-Jun) - £235 (Jul-Sep) (5 days)
The town of Sintra exudes an almost fairy-tale sense of unreality with its wedding – cake villas and palatial residences, surrounded by the verdant and wooded Serra de Sintra. Paths and tracks take you quickly into the hills where castles, palaces and monasteries await to be explored. A short journey westwards brings you to the coast and a wonderful stretch of cliff tops with panoramic views. Your base is in the heart of old Sintra in a beautifully restored Quinta which not only allows you easy access to the National Palace but also to a good selection of walks.
Highlights include:
Palaces and castles Panoramic views, quiet footpaths and wayside flowers The wild romantic gardens of Monserrate A rugged windswept coastline
Lisbon Coast - The Arrabida Natural Park
Available all year round from £190 (5 days)
30 minutes south of Lisbon one can find the Arrabida Natural Park. The Park covers the small range of limestone mountains, which stretch east west along the coast between Sesimbra and Setubal. Your base is an Albergaria located in the heart of the historic centre of Setubal.
Highlights include:
Wild, beautiful landscape Rich variety of birds and wildlife The perfect antidote to the hectic pace of Lisbon History-ancient and modern
From £355 (Oct-Mar) - £375 (Apr-Jul & Sep) (5 days)
‘A good life is like a fine glass of port: it has to be enjoyed to the full’ - this walking holiday allows you to do both.
You stay for 4 nights on a working Quinta which has more than 30 acres of vineyards high above the Douro valley which allows you to really experience the way of life of the local people. The house has been extensively modernized to make for a relaxed and comfortable stay. The best way to reach the Quinta is by train from Porto to Pinhão; this is a quite spectacular journey as the train runs right beside the Douro River.
Highlights include:
The Serra de Sao Mamede - A quiet, unknown corner
From £345 (Oct-Mar) - £395 (Apr-Jun & Sep) (6 days)
At the heart of the Alto Alentejo lies the Parque Natural of the Serra de São Mamede. Its diverse geology and capricious climate, is caught between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, this encourages a fascinating range of flora and fauna.
Griffin vultures and Bonellis eagle circle over head while deer and boar live among the chestnut and oak trees. On the green slopes of the Serra are the towns of Castelo de Vide with its famous castle and medieval Jewish quarter with the oldest synagogue in Europe and Marvão with its narrow streets of whitewashed houses and arguably the best-preserved castle in Portugal.
Highlights include:
The Serra de Sintra
From £199 (Oct-Mar) - £219 (Apr-Jun) - £235 (Jul-Sep) (5 days)
The town of Sintra exudes an almost fairy-tale sense of unreality with its wedding – cake villas and palatial residences, surrounded by the verdant and wooded Serra de Sintra. Paths and tracks take you quickly into the hills where castles, palaces and monasteries await to be explored. A short journey westwards brings you to the coast and a wonderful stretch of cliff tops with panoramic views. Your base is in the heart of old Sintra in a beautifully restored Quinta which not only allows you easy access to the National Palace but also to a good selection of walks.
Highlights include:
Lisbon Coast - The Arrabida Natural Park
Available all year round from £190 (5 days)
30 minutes south of Lisbon one can find the Arrabida Natural Park. The Park covers the small range of limestone mountains, which stretch east west along the coast between Sesimbra and Setubal. Your base is an Albergaria located in the heart of the historic centre of Setubal.
Highlights include:
travellers' tales
For us it was five star because we really did find a little nook where the culture was pre-industrial, living concurrently with other lifestyles. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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We actively encourage our clients to be environmentally aware of all their actions and act in a proper, responsible manner at all times. Information, tips and recommendations on the life and customs of the local people are given to all clients. As much as we can our office recycles waste and we use recycled products when ever possible.
All possible steps are taken to ensure that we operate all our tours in an environmentally responsible manner by example, using local guides when ever possible. We always use local services and accommodation as well as visiting rural restaurants and local shops selling local products. We are aware that travel in any country has some effect on the area and with this in mind we strive to lessen the impact, promote local employment through use and at all times show a positive attitude towards the environment and encourage others to appreciate its importance. We also pay our guides, local services and accommodation the market price for their services. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |