Portugal guided walking holiday

Environment

Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to minimise impact on the environment and this eight-day walking holiday follows the coastal paths in beautiful south-west Portugal. Taking short transfers to the start of each walk the focus is time walking and enjoying the natural environment rather than time spent in a bus.

The coastal paths are pristine and we take great care to ensure that we don't leave any litter or damage the trails in any way whilst walking and having picnics. Re-usable water bottles are filled at the start of the day and at small villages during the walks to reduce the need for bottled water.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

Community

This trip is based in the coastal town of Sagres, staying here for seven nights gives ample opportunity to try out the local restaurants and cafes. The food in Portugal is one of the highlights, with simple fresh fish dishes and delicious pateis de nata on the 'must sample' list. In Sagres, the cafes are small and locally owned - this is not a region where large, chain restaurants exist! Joining locals for a strong coffee, which is typically drunk standing up, leaning against the counter, is an ideal way to start the day.

Lunches are either taken in small local cafes in villages we pass along the route, or we'll visit the market and shops in the morning to buy bread, cheese and meats for a picnic. We visit historic towns off the main tourism paths which helps to boost the economies in areas that aren't frequently visited. We will always visit local markets, and support local businesses where possible.

We include a free day and will suggest locally run trips and excursions such as a responsibly run trip to see dolphins in the wild.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.