Sunday – Arrival
Arrival in Lisbon and transfer at 5.30pm. You will travel north‐east to the town of Fronteira, approximately 200 kms. For your first night you stay in a traditional farmhouse, renovated farmhouse, Monte dos Aroeirais. This is lovely historic accommodation with a very welcoming host who’ll let you discover typical Portuguese cuisine and wine. Overnight and dinner at Monte dos Aroeirais – our horses sleep at the same location!
Monday – Meet your horses
Meet your horses and ride in the area of Fronteira town. Our destination for today is Herdade Grande, where we will stop for lunch. The landscape consists of pine and cork trees, with scenic views and flowers and birds all around. The day ends at Monte dos Aroeirais where you can spend the evening and dinner in the beautiful garden by the pool. Dinner and overnight at Monte dos Aroeirais.
Tuesday – To Alter do Chão
Today you ride from Monte dos Aroeirais to the town of Alter do Chão, through meadows where they raise wild bulls. After a picnic lunch and siesta you arrive at the comfortable 4‐star Estalagem ‐ Varandas de Alter. The lovely owner of the hotel lets our horses stay in the hotel garden! Dinner and overnight at Varandas de Alter.
Wednesday – Visit the Royal Stud Farm
Today in the morning you will ride on a long country lane. The ride allows horses and riders to loosen the muscles after the long ride yesterday. Left and right you’ll see fields with cattle, maybe horses and a lot of olive trees and blooming wildflowers. After lunch at the hotel, you will visit Alter do Chão, the stud and breeding farm. Horses bred here are very famous and traded under the name Alter. This is often a highlight and not only for horse‐lovers. In this idyllic location, hundreds of mares and their colts graze on large meadows filled with flowers. You should also get the opportunity to see some of the stallions and young horses. Dinner and overnight at Varandas de Alter.
Thursday – Ride throught the meadows
Today, leaving Alter do Chão behind, you ride to Ribeira da Seda through large meadows with only one remote farmhouse to remind you of the presence of people. We’ll enjoy views of the picturesque towns of Alter Pedroso and Cabeço de Vide. Horses and riders will once again both stay at Monte dos Aroeirais. Dinner and overnight at Monte dos Aroeirais.
Friday – Authentic Alentejo
Today you’ll make a loop starting from and returning to Monte dos Aroeirais. Upon leaving you’ll see the old train station – not in use anymore – with the typical Portuguese tiles or ‘azulejos’. You’ll ride past authentic farms where they still work hard at making traditional Alentejo food and drinks. We expect to see fields full of wildflowers, where cattle grazes peacefully. The kind of place that makes you lose track of time. You’ll have lunch next to the water at Catarina Velha. Afterwards you return to Monte dos Aroeirais. Dinner and overnight at Monte dos Aroeirais.
Saturday – Exploring history
Today you ride towards Herdade dos Atoleiros. You’ll see one of the most authentic landscapes of this area, the Alto Alentejo. Open fields, oak trees and farmlands are today’s decor. This ride is also filled with history, because in the 14th century this area served as the battlefield for an important historical battle which the Portuguese army won, thanks to innovative battlefield tactics. There’s a monument that reminds us still today about this episode in history. Riders and horses return to Monte dos Aroeirais for a goodbye dinner and last overnight in this comfortable traditional house.
Sunday – Bye bye
After breakfast, transfer back to Lisbon and departure.