Portugal - Alentejo Trails
Ride well schooled Lusitano horses on three different trail rides on the Alentejo coastline.
Each trail is well planned to include a variety of terrain. You ride through cork-oak plantations, wheat-fields, vineyards and groves of olive trees; through eucalyptus and pine forests; rice fields and estuarine wetlands, onto deserted wild Atlantic beaches and alongside lakes and reservoirs.
The Dolphin Trail is a circular route which includes a half day boat trip looking for dolphins in the estuary. You will spend your nights at a number of local guesthouses and hotels, some with swimming pools.
The Bottlenose Trail offers exactly the same riding as the Dolphin Trail, but you stay in much cheaper accommodation.
The Alentejo Coastal Trail is a linear trail which journeys south along the coast and inland to the mountains, returning the following week. As on the Dolphin Trail you stay in local guesthouses and hotels, some with swimming pools
Your horses are the beautiful and calm Lusitano. They are well schooled and comfortable to ride with an enthusiastic walk and easy collected canter.
You should be a confident rider at walk, trot and canter. It is important to be fit enough for the long canters in the heat of the Portuguese sunshine.
The tack and riding is English style.
The accommodation varies from renovated former farm houses to small comfortable hotels. Almost all have swimming pools to enjoy a cooling swim after a day in the saddle. Please note that the swimming pools may not be open early or late in the season.
The rooms all have private shower / toilet, and some have a bath. The rooms mostly have two beds which are made up separately but pushed together, so you can separate as you need.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottlenose Trail | 9 Feb 2020 - 16 Feb 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,326.91 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 16 Feb 2020 - 23 Feb 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,326.91 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 1 Mar 2020 - 8 Mar 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,326.91 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 8 Mar 2020 - 15 Mar 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 22 Mar 2020 - 29 Mar 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 29 Mar 2020 - 5 Apr 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Coastal Trail North to South | 12 Apr 2020 - 19 Apr 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Full | |
| Coastal Trail South to North | 19 Apr 2020 - 26 Apr 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Full | |
| Coastal Trail North to South | 7 Jun 2020 - 14 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Book | |
| Coastal Trail South to North | 14 Jun 2020 - 21 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 28 Jun 2020 - 5 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,459.60 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 5 Jul 2020 - 12 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,459.60 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 16 Aug 2020 - 23 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,459.60 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 23 Aug 2020 - 30 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,459.60 |
|
Book | |
| Coastal Trail North to South | 6 Sep 2020 - 13 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Book | |
| Coastal Trail South to North | 13 Sep 2020 - 20 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,684.60 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 27 Sep 2020 - 4 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 4 Oct 2020 - 11 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Full | |
| Dolphin Trail | 18 Oct 2020 - 25 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Dolphin Trail | 25 Oct 2020 - 1 Nov 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,673.06 |
|
Book | |
| Bottlenose Trail | 8 Nov 2020 - 15 Nov 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,326.91 |
|
Book |
INCLUDES Accommodation; full board; wine with lunch; all riding; excursions as per itinerary; transfers (at set time) from Lisbon airport.
SMALL GROUP SUPPLEMENTS apply which depend on the total number of people booked
25% (if 3 in the group)
10% (if 4 in the group)
NON-RIDER discounts are available. Please call for prices.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Dolphin Trail $588.46; Coastal Trail $611.53; Bottlenose Trail low season $334.61 high season $438.46. Single rooms are subject to availability. If you are willing to share and we find a sharer for you, then no supplement is charged.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Drinks; tips.
NEAREST AIRPORT Lisbon.
TRANSFERS Included at set times from Lisbon airport.
Transfers are included from Lisbon airport at set times.
Your flight should be scheduled to arrive in Lisbon no later than 17:00. The transfer normally leaves at 17:30 for the journey to the start of the ride.
Your return flight should depart after 12 noon on the day of departure.
Please note that these transfers are at pre-set times. If you choose to book flights outside of these guidelines then an additional transfer fee of EUR 150 each way may be applicable; or you may wish to hire a car at the airport. The journey from the airport takes about two hours.
In the Alentejo region of Portugal south of Lisbon. The Dolphin trail is a circular trail whilst the Coastal trail is a linear trail - both are near the coast. Nearest airport is Lisbon.
Pleasant nearly all year round, with coastal breezes ensuring it is never too hot.
As a group (the Mane~iacs,) we have now had the privilege of experiencing 8 rides with In the Saddle. This is way up there at the top of my list as one of my absolute favourites! The horses, our guides Migel and Dennis, our accommodation, the scenery and weather could not have been better. Only left now with the post holiday blues!
Bring on the next one.
Caroline, Derbyshire
Overall rating: 5/5During the summer months the beach ride is at dawn - literally! So expect an early start on this day and with luck a spectacular sunrise.
Claire says
A lovely trail ride on well-schooled Lusitano horses normally famed for their excellence at dressage.