A week-long Portuguese riding course followed by a superb horseback trail ride in Portugal
- Combine a dressage course with a beautiful horseback trail ride
- Very comfortable accommodations with a swimming pool
39.253553193761, -9.2933601
A week on horseback in Portugal with a dressage course followed by a horseback riding trip in the wild hills.
SEE ALL OUR EQUESTRIAN OFFER IN PORTUGAL:
HORSE RIDING HOLIDAY IN PORTUGAL
INDICATIVE PROGRAM*
From Sunday to Wednesday (days 1 to 4):
On your arrival Sunday (day 1), you can arrive between 4 pm and 7 pm (dinner is at 7 pm).
The exact lesson times will be arranged with your instructor and will depend on your preferences, horse availability, and the number of participants. Lessons last approximately 50 minutes.
Breakfast is served daily from 8:30 am to 10 am. Lunch is served at 1 pm. Dinner is served at 7 pm.
Lessons are generally private, allowing you to focus entirely on your goals: whether it's strengthening your position, improving your lateral work, or working on your gaits.
Lessons are conducted in English or Portuguese.
The head instructor is an experienced rider and trainer with a creative and personalized approach.
You will have two lessons per day from Monday to Tuesday, and one lesson on Wednesday morning. When you are not riding, you can watch the horses being trained by the staff or the other students' work sessions... or relax at the swimming pool from 9:30 am to 7 pm!
Day 4. Wednesday. Morning riding lesson. Lunch at the quinta. Transfer (not included) to Lisbon airport for your 5:00 PM meeting. You will travel to your accommodation in a comfortable country hotel in Grândola, approximately 120 km away. This charming country house offers friendly staff and all the comforts of a modern hotel. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and take a dip in the pool or unwind in the comfortable rooms before your first day of riding. Dinner is at your leisure, either at the hotel or a local restaurant.
Day 5. Thursday. Today, we'll drive you to Passeios a Cavalo Melides, where the horses are stabled. From there, we'll ride through the Grandola hills, admiring the beautiful cork oak landscapes. We'll stop for lunch at one of the most stunning panoramic viewpoints in the area, where the ruins of an ancient church stand. We'll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch featuring Portuguese specialties, accompanied by a fine wine. You'll have some time to relax. After lunch, we'll return to our horses and ride through the centuries-old cork oak forests. You'll reach Coudelaria Quinta do Almargem, where we'll stable the horses. A short 10-minute drive will take you back to your hotel, where you can freshen up and prepare for dinner at a local restaurant in Melides.
Day 6. Friday. 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 crisscross this part of the Portuguese countryside. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7. Saturday. Today, we depart on horseback from the beach stables. On the agenda: plenty of opportunities to gallop through pine forests, on red dirt tracks alternating with sandy paths. We'll finish this magnificent ride with a stroll through the rice paddies and a superb gallop. After lunch, transfer to Lisbon International Airport and departure.
* Indicative program subject to change if necessary.
MEETING:
On Sunday, directly at the equestrian center between 4pm and 7pm (dinner is at 7pm), or at Lisbon airport: transfer optional.
DEPARTURE:
Saturday afternoon, day 7. Free transfer to Lisbon airport. Plan a flight after 4pm.
TRANSFER FROM LISBON UPON ARRIVAL & ON WEDNESDAY TO JOIN THE TRAIL RIDE:
125 € / 4-person car / transfer = 250 € for both transfers
Transfers payable on site in cash or by card.
CAR RENTAL:
We recommend car rental, which is particularly advantageous in Portugal, on the site www.autoeurope.fr.
FLIGHTS:
Flights to Portugal are not included in our prices because it is generally more interesting to book your flights yourself, an inclusive package is generally more expensive with the agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates.
RIDING LEVEL:
To be comfortable at all three gaits outdoors.
SUPERVISION:
From Monday to Wednesday: High-level instructor speaking only English and Portuguese.
From Thursday to Saturday: Local guide speaking Portuguese, English, and some French.
PROCESS:
From Monday to Wednesday: You'll usually warm up with one instructor, then switch to another for the rest of your course. You can choose an intensive program with two lessons per day, or just one lesson per day. Helmets are mandatory and can be provided on site.
From Thursday to Saturday: Moderate paces, with trot and medium to long canters. Some faster canters. 4-5 hours in the saddle per day on average.
HORSES:
From Monday to Wednesday: purebred Lusitano and crossbred horses.
From Thursday to Saturday: the horses are Arabians, Lusitanos and Lusitano/Arabian crosses. The facility breeds Arabians.
TACK:
From Monday to Wednesday: Dressage saddles with double side reins. You can also ask to try traditional Portuguese saddles.
From Thursday to Saturday: English saddles
ACCOMMODATION:
From Sunday evening to Wednesday midday: In a typical Portuguese quinta, an hour's drive north of Lisbon: a working vineyard. Comfortable double rooms with private bathrooms; single rooms available for an additional fee.
There is a swimming pool (unheated) with a barbecue and a gym, as well as a tennis and basketball court. Massage sessions are available for an additional fee. The equestrian center is a short walk from the main quinta.
From Wednesday evening to Saturday midday: The same comfortable accommodation every night: https://www.pontepedraturismorural.com/
MEALS:
From Sunday evening of arrival until Wednesday midday: all meals are included at the quinta. Evenings are hearty and refined, while lunches are lighter. All meals are taken at the quinta, featuring home-style cooking with high-quality, seasonal, and local produce. As a wine producer, the quinta offers a good selection of wines, including award-winning ones, which you can purchase to enjoy with your meals. A bottle of the estate's rosé wine is offered as a welcome gift per room.
From Wednesday evening until Saturday midday: Evening meals are not included. You can have meals at your accommodation (payable locally). Lunches are provided during horseback riding excursions by an assistant.
2026 PRICES / PER PERSON *:
In a double room: 2255 €
Single bedroom supplement: 370 €
TRANSFER TO/FROM LISBON AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY:
125 € / car (4 people) / way = 250 € round trip.
Transfers payable locally in cash or by card.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
From Sunday evening of arrival until Wednesday after lunch: Horse rental with tack, 2 lessons per day on Monday and Tuesday, 1 lesson on Wednesday morning, instructor, full board; From Wednesday evening until Saturday after lunch on the trail ride: Accommodation with breakfast, lunches, horse rental with tack, guide, assistant, accommodation, transfers to/from Lisbon airport at the scheduled times, financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator's guarantee.
Unused services are non-refundable.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Personal insurance, drinks, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening meals, any optional tours, transfer from Lisbon airport on Sunday of arrival, transfer to Lisbon airport on Wednesday, anything not listed under "the price includes".
INSURANCE:
A civil liability and travel insurance (assistance/repatriation) are compulsory. A cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
A payment by credit card can make you benefit from its possible insurance (check your contract).
We offer to Europe Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway residents: the Chapka insurances.
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
FLIGHTS:
Flights to/from Portugal are not included because it is more interesting to book directly your ticket: a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best prices.
FLEXIBLE DATES & DURATION WITH A MINIMUM OF 3 NIGHTS :
Prices "from" shown below are for 6 nights &1 lesson per day
Ask us for availability and price precising:
- Arrival & departure dates
- The evening arrival date and if you want 1 lesson in the afternoon
- The morning departure date and if you want 1 lesson in the morning
- The number of lessons per day on other days (1 lesson or 2 lessons)
- The type of accommodation (shared bedroom or single)
- If you need transfers from / to Lisbon airport or center