Alentejo Beach Trail

8 Days | From £1525pp

Portugal ( Best airport: Lisbon)

Discover the beauty of Portugal’s Atlantic coast on this varied trail, beginning in the lush and green coastal mountains of Grandola before reaching the deserted beaches and lagoons of the Alentejo region. Beautiful, well behaved, Lusitano horses await with comfortable hotels and swimming pools for evening relaxation. A fantastic holiday in the sun for intermediate riders onwards.

The Riding

The stables are only 15km from the pristine sandy beaches of the Atlantic, set amongst the Serra de Grandola hills. This combination of hills with long, sandy tracks and beaches provides some of the most perfect trail routes for you to explore. There are many parts of the route that allow for long canters as well as some technical walking terrain with spectacular views.

Riding into the hills you’ll pass cork trees which have grown for centuries, as well as eucalyptus and pine forests. In the opposite direction lie the beaches, sand dunes and lagoons of the coast. The riding is not fast-paced, there are long periods of walking and trotting when in the hills but also opportunities for long relaxed canters both in the hills and on the beach.

Level of Riding and Fitness

This trail is suitable for novice and intermediate riders who are happy at walk, trot and canter. Riders must be able to mount and dismount from the ground unaided. All participants must be confident and in control riding outside an arena. A reasonable level of current riding fitness is required as you’ll be spending 4-5 hours in the saddle each day. The weight limit is 85kg.

Guides and Group Size

Luis is your host for this holiday and is one of the friendly guides that accompany this trail. All guides are Portugese natives with a deep knowledge of the region and speak English, French and Portugese.

Group size 3-10

Any questions?

The Horses

Horses are mostly Lusitano and Lusitano/Arab crosses, all the horses are calm and easy to ride.

You will ride in Portuguese military-style saddles with comfortable sheepskin seats and English style bridles. There are no saddlebags provided for these trails so we recommend bringin a bumbag or similar to carry suncream, camera, sunglasses etc.

Accommodation and Dining

The hotel usually used for this trail is the Ponte Pedra close to Melides: Ponte Pedra

The hotel offers really comfortable accommodation so you can fully relax and unwind when not in the saddle. Both double/twin and single rooms are available and the hotel has a swimming pool, yoga deck, and each room have their own outside area with comfortable chairs and hammocks.

Meals are typically Alentejo cuisine, the region is known for its gastronomy of simple yet mouthwatering dishes. Fresh-baked bread, olives, wild mushrooms, asparagus, salted cod, wild boar, olive oil and some excellent cheeses form the basis of many recipes. Lunch is usually a picnic out on the trail, and includes grilled fish or meat alongside plenty of freshly prepared salads and bread. Local wine is included with lunch (the Alentejo region produces half of the country’s wine). Dinner is usually in local restaurants and the daily menu includes lots of regional specialities. Water and soft drinks are provided with dinner, wine and other alcoholic drinks are available to buy if you would like them. Allergies and special dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 You will be met at Lisbon airport at 17:30 and transferred to your accommodation in Grandola, close to the Atlantic coastline. Check in to the hotel and then relax before dinner which is at a typical Alentejo restaurant where you can get to know your fellow riders and hosts before the trail begins.

Day 2 After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the stables and matched with one of the horses before setting off through the hills of Grandola with beautiful panoramic views of the ocean. Lunch will be a picnic on the trail before you continue riding through the forest to your hosts base where the horses spend the night. You are transferred back to your hotel where you can refresh or take a swim before dinner at a restaurant in Melides.

Days 3 Today's ride heads through eucalyptus forests before reaching the Santo Andre lagoon where you’ll stop for lunch. After lunch there are some long canters on the many sandy trails which cross this area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 Your ride this morning is along the beach as the sun rises so be prepared for an early start. After some exhilarating canters along the beach (depending on the tides), you'll reach the shade of a pine forest where you’ll stop for a long, relaxing lunch. You’ll have time for a dip in the sea or a siesta before getting back into the saddle. After lunch, ride back through the dunes before being transferred back to your hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 5 Today is a rest day for the horses so you can relax at the hotel, book onto an optional dolphin tour (highly recommeded!), take a walk through the pine forest or hire a bike. There is an optional visit to the old village of Alcacer do Sol where you can visit one of the oldest handmade saddlery establishments in Portugal.

Day 6 Today you’ll head off on horseback through rice fields and down onto the beach of Comporta. Be prepared for an early start so you can enjoy the beach before most people get there. Ride among the sand dunes until you reach the picnic spot for today's lunch. After lunch. You’ll ride back to the hotel and dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Day 7 Today is the last day of riding and you will ride to the Sado River where there are many opportunities for long canters through the pine forests. Lunch is at a local restaurant at Carvalhal before you ride back to your hotel for a farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 8 After breakfast you are transferred back to Lisbon airport for your flight home.