Portugal Beach Break

4 Days | From £830pp

Portugal ( Best airport: Lisbon)

Spend a long weekend riding on the glorious Alentejo 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. Beautiful, well behaved, Lusitano horses await with comfortable hotel accommodation with swimming pool. Plenty of opportunities for faster riding, 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 and gallops 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. There are plenty of opportunities for long relaxed canters and occasional gallops while you enjoy the varied scenery the trail provides.

Level of Riding and Fitness

This trail is suitable for intermediate and experienced riders. Riders must be able to mount and dismount from the ground unaided. All participants must be competent, confident and in control at all paces including gallop. A reasonable level of current riding fitness is required as you’ll be spending 4-6 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, responsive and easy to ride.

You will ride in Portuguese military-style saddles with comfortable sheepskin seats and English style bridles.

Accommodation and Dining

You’ll be staying in comfortable hotel accommodation so you can fully relax and unwind when not in the saddle. Both double/twin and single rooms are available and the hotels used all have swimming pools.

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 either served in local restaurants or provided at the hotels 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.

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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 fast canters on the many sandy trails which cross this area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 You'll begin the day with a final beach ride before heading inland to the village of Melides. There will be more opportunities for faster riding through the pine forests and you may meet herds of cattle or sheep. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Melides. After lunch, transfer back to Lisbon Airport to fly home.