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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Trail |
|
21 Oct 2018 - 28 Oct 2018 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Full |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
28 Oct 2018 - 4 Nov 2018 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
11 Nov 2018 - 18 Nov 2018 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,031.75 |
|
Full |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
3 Feb 2019 - 10 Feb 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,031.75 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
10 Feb 2019 - 17 Feb 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,031.75 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
24 Feb 2019 - 3 Mar 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
3 Mar 2019 - 10 Mar 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,031.75 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
17 Mar 2019 - 24 Mar 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Full |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
24 Mar 2019 - 31 Mar 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Coastal Trail North to South |
|
26 May 2019 - 2 Jun 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,309.87 |
|
Book |
| Coastal Trail South to North |
|
2 Jun 2019 - 9 Jun 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,309.87 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
16 Jun 2019 - 23 Jun 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
23 Jun 2019 - 30 Jun 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
7 Jul 2019 - 14 Jul 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,134.92 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
18 Aug 2019 - 25 Aug 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,134.92 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
25 Aug 2019 - 1 Sep 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,134.92 |
|
Full |
| Coastal Trail North to South |
|
8 Sep 2019 - 15 Sep 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,309.87 |
|
Book |
| Coastal Trail South to North |
|
15 Sep 2019 - 22 Sep 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,309.87 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
29 Sep 2019 - 6 Oct 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Full |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
6 Oct 2019 - 13 Oct 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
20 Oct 2019 - 27 Oct 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Dolphin Trail |
|
27 Oct 2019 - 3 Nov 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,300.90 |
|
Book |
| Bottlenose Trail |
|
10 Nov 2019 - 17 Nov 2019 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £1,031.75 |
|
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 £457.56; Coastal Trail £475.50; Bottlenose Trail £260.18. 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.
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.
Long days riding but overall good. All ok
Sandra ,Bristol
Overall rating: 3/5During 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.