Portugal luxury cultural tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This trip is designed to minimize internal travel. Once the group arrives in Lisbon, all transport is land-based (private transfers), and we encourage guests to arrive by train from other European cities where possible. As a Premium 'Signature' trip, we primarily use high-standard private minibuses to ensure comfort and logistical efficiency, which already reduces the carbon footprint compared to multiple individual cars.

Accommodation:
On this trip, we stayed at two hotels, both of which use renewable energy. The Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel runs on 100% green energy and has solar panels installed on its roof for self-consumption. Convento do Espinheiro, Historic Hotel & Spa in Évora also uses renewable energy and has a strong commitment to sustainability, being Biosphere Sustainable certified.

Both hotels prioritize locally-sourced and seasonal products. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Both hotels focus on three main pillars: energy efficiency, through photovoltaic panels and LED lighting; resource management, with the elimination of single-use plastics and reduction of water consumption; and local sustainability, prioritizing local products (km 0) and rigorously monitoring their carbon footprint. While Inspira Liberdade stands out for its carbon neutrality and waste policy, Convento do Espinheiro invests in electric mobility and decentralized clean
energy production.

Inspira Liberdade focuses on external partnerships due to its urban location, financing reforestation in areas such as the Mata Nacional da Machada and collaborating on the conservation of the Lisbon Botanical Garden. Convento do Espinheiro focuses on the regeneration of its own estate in Évora, maintaining an organic garden and orchards that preserve the local ecosystem, alongside landscape management that respects Alentejo's biodiversity.

The trip includes visits to protected landscapes. While there are no direct entry fees for these open areas, a portion of our operational costs supports local conservation awareness. Through our partnership with local entities, we promote the preservation of the Alentejo cork oak forest (Montado). We also prioritize low-impact trails to minimize soil erosion and disturbance to local fauna.

We actively support reforestation and conservation efforts in Portugal, particularly in areas severely affected by wildfires, which remain a significant challenge across the North, Central, and Southern regions of our country. Beyond our internal initiatives to restore these afflicted landscapes, we also support the sustainability projects of our partners, such as Inspira Liberdade’s reforestation programs in the Mata Nacional da Machada. Our policy is to commit 1% of turnover to local community projects. We are currently exploring new direct partnerships with Portuguese nature NGOs for the 2026 season to further scale our impact on biodiversity recovery.

Invasive species like the Acacia dealbata and Acacia longifolia or certain eucalyptus plantations threaten Alentejo's biodiversity. We educate our guests about these challenges and strictly follow established trails to avoid spreading seeds or disturbing native habitats.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

The accommodation on this tour is locally owned and operated.

We prioritize partnerships with small, family-owned businesses and local artisans, many of whom are women in rural areas, providing them with a steady income stream through our premium groups. We exclusively visit local craft markets and traditional Alentejo villages. We include experiences like the 'Cooking Class' with local chefs (e.g., Cooking with Sofia) and visits to local producers (e.g., São Lourenço do Barrocal) to ensure the economic impact remains in the community.

EMPLOYMENT, DIVERSITY and INCLUSIVITY

All our partners and accommodations, such as Inspira Liberdade (known for its inclusive values), are selected to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all travellers.

While this is a walking/biking trip, we have experience in adapting logistics for mixed-mobility groups. We can customize the 'Signature' experience for clients with limited mobility upon request, utilizing our support vans and selecting accessible premium hotels.