Walking tour in Alentejo - Heritage and Wine Country

Join this one week hiking holidays in the Alentejo region, in the interior rural aras of southern Portugal,  walking by the best trails in the area. In this tour, you'll hike by vineyards, natural parks, endless plains, discovering the best flavours and culture Portugal has to offer. Based in Marvão, Monsaraz and Évora, you'll hike by identified trails and climb to the top of medieval fortresses overlooking Spain, visit UNESCO world heritage sites and traditions, get to know the production methods of the best vineyards of Monsaraz, sleep in former convents and castles and enjoy several hikes in these peaceful rolling hills, discovering Alentejo.

Discover the amazing history, culture and traditions this wine region has to offer. Voted Best Wine Region of the world in 2014, Alentejo is a picturesque and charming place, where you’ll fall in love with the whitewashed villages, medieval castles, sunbathed plains and the secular traditions and lifestyle. Visit the UNESCO world heritage sites in Évora, the fortified village of Marvão, the former Palace of the Portuguese Kings and the rural lifestyle of the local homesteads;

Hike by the never-ending rolling hills and the hidden trails between the fields. The car-free roads and trails of the Alentejo provide a great atmosphere for walking tours and its topography makes it a great region for beginner and intermediate walkers/hikers. You’ll have plenty of time to stop and check out the “Sobreiros” and visit the “Antas” along the way.

With its trademark gastronomy, wine and amazing accommodations, the Alentejo is a great destination to experience the best of Portugal, where luxury meets tradition. You’ll get to sleep in Convents and dine in some of the country's best restaurants, harmonizing every meal with amazing wines;

Admire the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, visit the Esporão Wine and Olive Oil “Herdade”, experience a boat ride in Europe’s biggest artificial lake and try an amazing array of experiences the Alentejo has to offer!

Challenge yourself in this walking tour, by hiking towards the viewpoints and get a privileged look at the atlantic beaches. Choose everyday between shorter or longer hikes  and define your own goals and pace throughout your riding experience.

DAY-TO-DAY INFO

Day 1: Lisbon, Transfer to Marvão

Pick up at Lisbon Airport or hotel at agreed timing and transfer to your hotel in the medieval village of Marvão, inside the fortified walls at the top of at 850m high, overlooking the Alentejo plains. Tour briefing - the rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel or enjoy a walk inside Marvão's fortified walls and castle.

Hotel – Pousada do Marvão, with available upgrade to superior room ( "premium" option)

Day 2: Marvão - loop hike to Portagem ( 7km to 12km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll start walking downhill, from Marvão towards Portagem, by the idetified trails of the area. Wlking downwards the hill towards Nossa Senhora da Estrela Convent, we'l encounter ancient roman pathways, which we'll follow towards Portagem, encountering woods, fountains, ancient roman and ancient medieval ruins along the way. Entering Portagem, you can recover by the local riverside pools and then resume your way back up to Marvão, for a short but vigorous hike back to the castle where you'll be spending the night.             

Hotel – Pousada do Marvão, with available upgrade to superior room ( "premium" option)

Day 3: Marvão -  Hike to Castelo de Vide (12km) - Transfer to Monsaraz

Breakfast and check-out at your hotel, and start of your hike towards Castelo de Vide, by the reagion of Beirã. Walking by the rolling hills of Beirã's countryside roads, you'll be able to see schist walls, ruins, cattle and olive trees tat makr the area. As we approach Castelo de Vide, you'll seee it's imponent fortress. Entering the city, we'll pass by the Judiaria towards the Castle and stop for a coffee at it's city center, and even lunch. At the scheduled time you’ll be transferred form Castelo de Vide to Monsaraz, overlooking the Alqueva lake. 

Hotel – Horta da Moura or Herdade São Lourenço do Barrocal

Day 4: Alqueva lake loop ( 8.3km to 17km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of your hike in Mourão, discovering the living heritage of this quaint village by the Alqueva lake. Strongly marked by the Guadiana River, Marvão has an idyllic setting with waters as far as the eye can see and old paths and roads immersing themselves in the placid blue of the calm waters. The hills and old walls now make amazing cut-outs for walking and discovering new landscapes at every moment, topped off by a beautifully preserved historic centre and a castle that takes us back in time.

Hotel – Horta da Moura or Herdade São Lourenço do Barrocal

Day 5: Hike in Monsaraz  (7km to 13km) - visit to Adega do Esporão - Transfer to Évora

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of your hike, in Monsaraz. High on top of its more than three hundred metre altitude, it dominates the surrounding plain and ensures the best views of Lake Alqueva, which almost reaches the base of its rock mass. A location of great landscapes, this village was throughout time chosen by different peoples as a place of dwelling and defence, giving rise to a walled set that marks the skyline and defines the history of the region. Visit to Esporão's winery, with wine tasting included. At the end of the day, transfer to your hotel in Évora.

Hotel – M'ar D'ar Muralhas or M'ar D'ar Aqueduto

Day 6: Évora - Almendres Cromelech hike ( 4km hike) and historical center walk ( 7km)

Breakfast at the hotel. The day starts with a quick and short hike, towards the Almendres Cromelech, a megalithic complex located near the village of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe - the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, dated up to 6000 before christ. After that hike, we'll take on Évora's city center, discovering this UNESCO world heritage site's roman ruins, medieval fortresses, aqueducts, manuelin style architecture, ancient churces and some of the most preserved traditions in Portugal.  

Hotel – M'ar D'ar Muralhas or M'ar D'ar Aqueduto

Day 7: Transfer to Lisbon - End of tour

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time you’ll be transferred to Lisbon airport and/or hotel. End of tour.

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Prices:

1990€ per person in the private "guided" tour ( for a minimum of 2 guests);

2590€ per person in the private "premium" tour ( for groups of a minimum of four guests);

High season supplement (1st May to 31st October) - 100€

Included in our "guided" tours:

- Transfer from Lisbon airport/hotel to the beggining of the tour and back to the airport at the end of tour;

- Personal guide accompanying your group, providing daily guided cyling tours, restaurant reservations, booking of local experiences and all passenger transfers throughout the tour;

- Support vehicle (SAG Wagon) throughout all the hikes;

- 6 nights in charm 4 star hotels (upgrade to 5 star in premium option)*, in double/twin bedroom with breakfast included;

- Daily picnic bag for all hiking / walking experiences;

- Garmin GPS, walking gear, water bottle and other gear to use during tours;

- Luggage transportation between hotels;

- Personal accidents insurance during our tour;

- Live Love Hike t-shirt, buff and other gear;

- Detailed briefing and routebook provided pre tour;

- Liability and personal accidents Insurance;

- Portuguese mobile cellphone for contact with your travel agent;

- Second guide accompanying, hiking alongside the group an all daily guided walking tours, always adapted to your pace;* 

- Entrance in museums, wineries and other selected experiences (wine tasting and visit to local wine cellars); 

- Hotel upgrade to 5 start charm hotels during the entire experience;

- Visit to wineries and other select experiences;

Not Included:

- Meals, except when specified (optional);

- Personal expenses

- Flights;

- Gratuities (optional);

Add-ons:

Half-Board - All dinners at the hotel (6 meals): 210€, drinks not included

Full-Board (only available for guided and premium tours) - Lunches and Dinners at hand-picked restaurants throughout the tour: 420€, drinks not included

Extra night in Lisbon before or after this tour - on demand;

Group discounts:

/ From 5 to 8 guests, 5% discount for guests;

/ From 9 to 12 guests, 7.5% discount for guests;

/ From 12 riders to 20 guests, 10% discount for guests;

Other discounts:

Children up to 10 years old - 35% discount;

Children from 11 to 14 years old - 25% discount;

Children from 15 to 17 years old - 20% discount;

Private tours and dates

If you have a group and want to make this a private tour, or want to schedule a different date than the ones listed above, we are available to customize this and other experiences to better suit your needs and availability. Please contact us at ricardo.costa@livelovehike.pt for more information.

Additional information:

All prices include VAT and may be subject to change. The information in this program is valid up to 31/12/2018, and may suffer from additional changes, due to the availability of the hotels and activities listed in the program. Does not dispense confirmaion of this information by Live Love Hike.