Portugal: Hills and beaches of the Serra de Grândola

INDICATIVE ITINERARY *

Day 1. Saturday. Arrival in Lisbon and transfer at 5 pm. You will travel to your accommodation in a comfortable rural hotel in Grândola, approximately 120 km away. This hotel is a charming country house with friendly staff and all the comforts of a modern hotel. You will find a relaxed atmosphere and can swim in the pool or rest in the comfortable rooms before your first day in the saddle. Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.

Day 2. Sunday. Today, we drive you to Passeios a Cavalo Melides, where the horses await you at the stables. From there, we ride through the Grandola hills, admiring the magnificent cork oak landscapes. We stop for lunch at one of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints in the region, where the ruins of an ancient church can be found. We enjoy a delicious picnic lunch of typical Portuguese dishes, accompanied by fine wine. You can rest a bit after lunch, and then we return to our horses, riding through the centuries-old cork oak forests. You arrive at Coudelaria Quinta do Almargem, where we stable the horses. A short 10-minute transfer takes you back to your hotel, where you can freshen up and prepare for dinner at a local restaurant in Melides.

Day 3. Monday. Today, you'll ride through forests of eucalyptus, cork oak, and wild trees, enjoying their distinctive fragrances and listening to the bark crunch under the horses' hooves. We'll stop for lunch at a spot with breathtaking sea views. After lunch, you can enjoy a relaxing siesta. Then, you'll have the opportunity to gallop along the sandy trails that wind through this part of the Portuguese countryside. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4. Tuesday. Today, we depart from the beach stables for a 1.5-hour ride to the beach, then we cross the pine forest and wild dunes. There's an opportunity for a short canter before reaching a charming picnic spot in the forest where your horses will rest while you have lunch. After lunch, we ride through the forest and rice paddies. Dinner will be at a local restaurant.

Day 5. Wednesday. Rest day. Optional dolphin watching excursion (supplement of 75 € per person, payable locally).

Day 6. Thursday. Today, we set off from the beach stables and ride into the hills. It's a beautiful ride where we have the opportunity for a superb gallop before arriving at our lunch spot and reaching a charming picnic area in the village of Melides. After lunch in Melides, we ride through the hills back to the stables where the horses are resting. After the ride, a short transfer takes us to the hotel.

Day 7. Friday. Today, we go horseback riding in the hills, enjoying panoramic views and magnificent scenery. There will be plenty of opportunities to gallop. Your horse will safely guide you through the rice paddies. We'll ride along sandy and rocky paths. Upon our return, we can enjoy a refreshing swim at the hotel. Farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Day 8. Saturday. After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon airport and departure.

* Indicative itinerary: may be changed if necessary.