Sunday – Arrival

Arrival in Lisbon and transfer at 5:30pm. You will travel south to Monte das Faias, approximately 100km. Your accommodation is a rural house – a typical ‘Alentejana’ architecture which is located in the region of Grândola. Herdade das Barradas da Serra is very pleasant with charming staff and is equipped with the comforts of a modern hotel. Here you will find a relaxed atmosphere where you can swim in the pool or rest in the comfortable rooms before your first day on horseback. After dinner you will have your first night in Portugal.
Dinner and overnight at Monte das Faias.

Monday – Meet your horse

Today you will ride through hilly landscapes to your first destination in Santiago do Cacém. After the first few canters, you will notice the Lusitanos’ wonderful character and their sure‐footedness. For lunch, a delicious picnic will be prepared with grilled meats or fish with salad accompanied by fresh bread and local wine.In the afternoon, rested after lunch, we ride through the forests of pines and cork. You reach Quinta da Ortiga where we will stable the horses. A short transfer of 30 min takes you to your hotel, Quinta de Malmedra, a modern, luxury hotel, where you have dinner and spend the night. Dinner and overnight at Quinta de Malmedra.

Tuesday – Ride through the eucalyptus forests

Today you will traverse forests of eucalyptus, enjoying their distinctive perfume and hearing the sound of the bark crunching underneath the horses’ hooves. Near Morgavel’s Water Reservoir we stop for a picnic lunch and a relaxing siesta. Afterwards we have the opportunity for some fast canters on the sandy trails that cross this Portuguese countryside. Dinner and the overnight at Quinta de Malmedra.

Wednesday – Looking for dolphins

Today, either in the morning or afternoon, you will be transferred about 30 minutes to the north to the Sado River where you will enjoy a two hour boat trip to see the dolphins play in the estuary. Dolphin sightings cannot be guaranteed but are very likely. Also please note that the boat trip is subject to weather conditions. When you ride today you will explore sandy trails through fields and forests, allowing several long canters. You ride past the Santo Andre Lagoon ‐in this beautiful place you may see flamingos and storks. Ride past the rice fields of the area, which in late summer prior to harvest are an astonishing colour of green. Overnight and dinner at Hotel Vila Park.

Thursday – Beach ride

Today you ride from Hotel Vila Park to the beach. Between June 1 and September 15, this ride is at dawn to avoid the holiday makers on the beach. It’s a beautiful ride at first light as the sun rises over the dunes. There is the possibility of a beach canter before reaching a lovely picnic spot in the pine forest where your horses rest while you may swim in the sea and after lunch. After lunch ride through the dunes, to Hotel Vila Park. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Hotel Vila Park.

Friday – Ride from Melides towards Grândola

Today we ride from Melides towards Grândola. Many opportunities for faster riding occur today. Our Lusitanos will carry us safely through forests of pines. Red earth paths alternate with those of sand and we may meet herds of cows or sheep tended by shepherds. On our return, we can enjoy a nice refreshing swim before in Barradas da Serra. Dinner and overnight in Monte das Faias.

Saturday – Through a rolling landscape of picturesque villages

Today the group rides by the Sierra of Grândola through a rolling landscape of picturesque villages. We stop for the last picnic of the trail, horses and riders can take a siesta after lunch. Then we proceed to Herdade das Barradas da Serra, a beautful and typical alentejana country estate. Farewell dinner and overnight at Monte das Faias.

Sunday – Bye bye

After breakfast, transfer back to Lisbon and departure.