Portugal - Quinta do Rol
Quinta do Rol is a family estate located 45 minutes’ drive north of Lisbon. The farm is dedicated to rural tourism, fruit and wine production, Lusitano horses and the art of dressage.
The equestrian centre at Quinta do Rol has been carefully planned from the light and airy stables to the beautiful tack room. Facilities include a 20 x 40 metre indoor arena with mirrors, 20 x 60 metre outdoor covered arena, working equitation paddock, lunge pen and wash-boxes. The horses are groomed to perfection before each session, long flowing manes and tails brushed, hoof dressing applied and brushing boots fitted. Regular turn-out in the paddocks keeps the horses healthy and happy.
The instructors are experienced riders and trainers – so your dressage is sure to improve.
Guests are also well-catered for with a wonderful riders’ lounge. The viewing gallery to the indoor arena has sliding windows so you can feel part of the action and continue to learn even when you are not riding. After your lesson you can relax on the terrace with a refreshing drink from the bar or perhaps in cooler months sit by the fire with a coffee.
The horses at Quinta do Rol are purebred Lusitanos. Lessons are always on a one to one basis enabling you to concentrate wholly on what you wish to achieve whether it be to strengthen your position, improve your lateral work or get the hang of one-time changes.
Dressage saddles with double bridles are used. You can also request to try the traditional Portuguese saddles.
You may warm-up with one instructor and then switch to another instructor for the remainder of your lesson. There may be more than one lesson being conducted at the same time but headsets are often used to ensure that instructions to each rider are clearly received.
You can choose an intensive programme with two lessons per day or a more relaxed schedule with one lesson a day. When you are not riding there is a great deal to be gained from watching other guests have lessons or perhaps watching the Quinta do Rol staff training the horses.
Between October and the end of May, it is sometimes possible for experienced guests to ride the dressage horses on Areia Beach. This activity cannot be guaranteed because it is subject to experience levels, availability, tide and weather conditions and so can only be arranged once you arrive (c. €195 per person - payable locally).
Dependent on availability and riding level, you might be able to take a tour of the estate on horseback - this needs to be booked and paid for locally (c. €130 per person).
Experienced dressage riders may be able to swap a lesson for a session in the traditional Portuguese discipline of Working Equitation. If you think you might like to try Working Equitation during your stay, then please let us know at the time of booking. Working Equitation lessons are dependent on availability and your ability, so you will also need to reiterate your request to your instructor at Quinta do Rol.
Hard hats are mandatory.
Quinta do Rol has a total of nine rooms in their four guest cottages. All bedrooms have a private bathroom (most are en suite). When you book you are allocated one of the rooms in a shared cottage.
Each cottage has a shared living room with television and music player and a garden or terrace area. The cottages also have a kitchen (with fridge) where you can make tea, coffee or have a cold drink (honesty bar). The rooms all have air conditioning/heaters.
There is a swimming pool, small gym, table-tennis, tennis court and basketball court. (The pool is open from 10am to 7pm). Meals are served in the main dining room. It is about a 10 minute walk from the cottages to the riding centre (or you could borrow a bike to get there even quicker).
Open all year. You can arrive and depart on any day the minimum stay is 3 nights (3 lessons).
Sample Itinerary for Quinta do Rol 
Select your preferred arrival date:
It is possible to have 1 or 2 lessons per day.
The following prices are a guideline. We will send you a quote for the number of nights you wish to stay and the number of lessons you wish. If you stay 6 nights or more and have 10 lessons or more in total there is a discount which is reflected in the rates below.
| 2025 | Per Rider (sharing a room) |
Per Rider (single room) |
Non-Rider (sharing) |
| 6 nights / 10 lessons | £1,857.41 | £2,037.99 | £954.50 |
| 6 nights / 5 lessons | £1,470.45 | £1,651.03 | £954.50 |
| 3 nights / 5 lessons | £1,019.00 | £1,096.39 | £503.05 |
| 3 nights / 3 lessons | £812.62 | £890.01 | £503.05 |
There is a discount of 15% off the above prices for stays during low season months of January, February, July, August and between 16 November and 31 December.
INCLUDES Accommodation; all meals from dinner on day of arrival through to lunch on day of departure; coffee/tea with meals; riding as per programme.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Payable for those in a single room.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Additional alcoholic, soft and hot beverages; gratuities; off-site excursions; massages.
NEAREST AIRPORT Lisbon.
TRANSFERS from Lisbon airport are €125 per vehicle each way (maximum of three people) - payable locally. Transfers for more people and for Lisbon city centre can be arranged (please enquire for prices).
We can arrange transfers from Lisbon airport or Lisbon city.
Alternatively, you could hire a car and drive to Quinta do Rol, which is recommended if you wish to explore the area between riding sessions. The journey time from Lisbon airport is approximately 45 minutes.
Check-in to your room is possible from 4pm to 7pm. You may arrive earlier and pre-book to have lunch if you wish. We recommend you arrive before 6pm so that you can be shown to your room and be in time for dinner. A late check-in (after 7pm) must be arranged in advance and the absolute latest arrival time is 8.30pm.
On your departure day you may book to ride but you will need to vacate your room by midday so that it can be made ready for arriving guests.
Quinta do Rol is located 45 minutes' drive north of Lisbon.
Warm and dry for most of the year, with hot summer days. The wettest months are usually October to January. November to February can feel cold, particularly in the evenings.
The standard of teaching and horses was amazing and made the holiday. Exceeded my expectations. It was brilliant, and I loved the brochure.
Harriet ,London
Overall rating: 5/5
