Lusitano Ride

Day 1: Arrival

Known as the Blue Coast, your riding holiday in Portugal will take you along the southern stretch of the country’s west coast, Costa Azul. It’s here that you’ll find peaceful, deserted beaches and pristine countryside, all discovered from the back of a proud Lusitano.

Your hosts will meet you at Lisbon Airport at 5:30pm and drive you south (approximately 100km) to the starting point of the ride. This drive will be your first chance to glimpse the lush green coastal mountains of the Grândola, overgrown with pine and cork oak forests.

Your first night’s accommodation is Monte das Faias, a beautiful country house of typical ‘Alentejana’ architectural style situated on a cork oak farm in the foothills of the Grândola Mountain Range. Equipped with all the comforts of a modern hotel, the special touch here is the charming staff, who will go out of their way to ensure you’re enjoying your stay in their elegant establishment. There is time to enjoy a dip in the pool or the hot tub, or relax in your well-appointed room, before sitting down for a three-course dinner. From bacalhau (cod fish) to caldo verde (soup) to feijoada trasmontana (a hearty meat stew), you’re going to eat AND ride your way around the country!

Day 2: Santiago do Cacém

This morning, after indulging in a delicious breakfast (freshly baked pastries, fresh fruits, traditional bread of Grândola and local honey or homemade jam), you’ll meet the Lusitano horses. Well schooled, responsive and with a naturally proud head carriage, you’ll feel like kings and queens astride these powerful equines as you ride through the hills in the direction of your first destination: Santiago do Cacém. A blend of maritime coast, pine forest and Alentejan inspiration, it’s here where you’ll have to pinch yourselves as the stunning Portuguese countryside stretches away before you. There will be opportunities to trot and canter and you’ll notice how surefooted the Lusitanos are.

After working up an appetite, a tasty picnic spread is on offer for lunch (think something delicious grilled alongside fresh salads). Full and well rested after lunch, you’ll continue on, riding through the forests of pines and cork oaks.

Today’s ride will finish at Quinta da Ortiga, where you’ll stable the horses and catch a short transfer (approx. 30mins) to your hotel, Quinta de Malmedra. This establishment has both personal charm and modern luxuries (yes, there’s a pool). Settle in, globetrotters, as you’ll be staying here for the next two evenings.

Day 3: Morgavel’s Water Reservoir

After another stomach-filling breakfast to start the day, you’ll be transferred back to the horses, who have enjoyed a peaceful evening at their stables. Today you’ll cross forests of eucalyptus, savouring their distinct scent clearing your nose and the sound of the leaves cracking under the horses’ feet. You’ll stop for a picnic lunch and a siesta near Morgavel’s Water Reservoir.

After lunch and a well-earned siesta, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some fast canters on the sandy trails that cross the Portuguese countryside before heading back to the hotel, where you might have time to enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool before dinner. You’ll enjoy another peaceful night in your slice of Portuguese paradise.

Day 4: Sado River Dolphin Cruise

Today’s ride will see you travel over sandy trails through fields and forests, with several fast canters thrown in for good measure and fun! You’ll ride past the Santo Andre Lagoon where, if you’re lucky, you might get the opportunity to see some flamingos and storks wading in the water. In the afternoon, the horses get a rest while you have the opportunity to visit wild dolphins in their natural habitat, in the Sado River near the town of Setúbal. The estuary of the River Sado is home to a community of about 27 bottlenose dolphins and to observe these elegant, playful creatures in their own habitat will be a sight to behold.

*Please be advised, depending on the weather, the program can also be changed so that you visit the dolphins in the morning and ride in the afternoon. If unfavourable weather conditions prohibit you from using the boat, you’ll spend the time further exploring the region.

Tonight you’ll be staying in Vila Nova de Santo André, a gorgeous town known for its Blue Flag beaches and a brilliant nature reserve with an unbelievable diversity of birdlife.

Day 5: Santo André

You’ll ride on in direction of Portugal’s coastline today, globetrotters, and it’s here that you’ll finally get to experience some exhilarating long canters along the beach. It promises to be a beautiful ride at first light as the sun rises over the dunes. With birds soaring overhead and the green of the pine forests against the shore, you’ll feel a wonderful sensation of peace and tranquillity. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the pine forest and have time for a refreshing swim in the salty sea before riding back to Santo André for the evening.

Day 6: Grândola

You’ll be riding towards Grândola today, and there will be plenty of opportunities for some good fast canters – woohoo! A small Alentejan town, Grândola is set amidst plains of crops and vast gatherings of cork trees. While it might be hot and dusty in the summer months, it has somehow managed to capture the feeling of a place where people work hard but don’t take life too seriously and enjoy it at a slower pace. Red earth paths alternate with those of sand and you might even come across herds of cows or sheep being tended to by shepherds. You’re making your way back to the hotel you stayed at on night one of the ride, so after you’ve stabled the horses, there might be time to have a refreshing swim in the pool before enjoying dinner.

Day 7: Sierra de Grândola

Today will see you riding past the Sierra de Grândola (the mountain range of Grândola) through rolling landscapes and picturesque villages where curious inhabitants, attracted by the noise of the horses’ hooves on the paths, will come out of their houses to greet you. As usual, you’ll pause for one last picnic and siesta, before continuing on to the forests of cork oaks.

It will then be time to say farewell to your faithful Lusitano steeds before you head back to the hotel (the same as the previous night) and enjoy your final dinner together in Portugal, topped off with a tipple of port.

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Lisbon Airport for your onward travels. Please don’t book departing flights until after 2pm.

Non-Riders

Non-riders are welcome to join this adventure. They can choose to be transferred to each new location in the logistics vehicle, but we strongly recommend non-riders hire a car so they have the freedom and flexibility to explore the surrounding region each day.

Day 1: Arrival

Today you’ll arrive in Lisbon and be picked up by your hosts at 5:30pm. You will travel roughly 200 kilometres northeast to the pretty riverside town of Fronteira, where you’ll have time to settle into your room at Monte dos Aroeirais, a beautiful renovated farmhouse. The custodian of this historic hotel is very welcoming, and may even invite you to enjoy some of the wines from his cellar. At dinner, your guide, Miguel, will answer all your questions about what the week has in store. Then it’s time to rest up so you’re ready for a big day in the saddle tomorrow.

Day 2: Herdade Grande

Yippee! Today you get to meet your horses! After the first of many satisfying breakfasts that typically include freshly baked pastries, fresh fruit, still-warm bread, local honey and homemade jam, you’ll meet the Lusitano horses who will carry you on your journey. Well-schooled, responsive and with a naturally proud head carriage, these powerful steeds will have you feeling like Portuguese royalty as you ride through the scenic countryside surrounding Fronteira. Pine and cork trees frame the trail, and birds sing from the canopy as you make your way to Herdade Grande. Here you’ll meet the support crew for a delicious lunch and your first Portuguese siesta.

In the afternoon, you’ll ride back to Monte dos Aroeirais, where you can spend the evening in the beautiful garden or take a dip in the pool before enjoying dinner al fresco.

Day 3: Alter do Chão

Today you’ll leave the guesthouse and ride to the town of Alter do Chão. The ride will take you through the meadows where the locals raise wild bulls, which you’ll see grazing in the sun. After another delicious picnic lunch and siesta, you’ll arrive at Estalagem Varandas de Alter, a comfortable hotel with a friendly owner who lets the horses stay in the garden! You’ll have time to relax – perhaps with a swim or a good book – before sitting down to a hearty Portuguese dinner.

Day 4: Alter Real Stud Farm

This morning, you’ll ease into the day with a gentler ride along a long country lane – the perfect way to loosen the muscles after yesterday’s long ride. The lane is bordered by olive groves, wildflowers, and fields of grazing cattle (and perhaps a few Lusitano horses to whet your appetite for what’s to come!)

After lunch back at the hotel, it’s finally time to visit the Coudelaria de Alter, or Alter Real Stud Farm! Founded by the King of Portugal in 1748, the farm occupies 800 hectares of the surrounding countryside and is dedicated to the nobility and purity of the Lusitano horse. The horses bred here are famous the world over, and are traded under the name of the stud, rather than simply as Lusitanos. This visit is a major highlight of the itinerary, offering an unparalleled insight into the world of the Lusitano. You can visit the museum to learn about the breed’s history, walk around slack-jawed taking in the state-of-the-art arenas and stables, and meet some of the hundreds of mares, foals, stallions and young horses in training who graze in the meadows and pop their heads over the stable doors.

In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Alter do Chão where, time allowing, your guides will bring you to a Portuguese tack shop where you can buy local riding products such as leather chaps, boots and belts. Finally, your thirst for equestrian bliss quenched, you’ll return to Varandas de Alter for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 5: Ribeira da Seda

Today, leaving Alter do Chão behind, you’ll ride to Ribeira da Seda, a beautiful riverside area near the village of Seda. On the way you’ll pass through seemingly endless meadows, with only one remote farmhouse suggesting the presence of people. There will be plenty of chances to trot and canter in these wide open spaces. You’ll enjoy another delicious picnic lunch, resting in the shade of a tree while your horses do likewise. The afternoon trail passes above the picturesque towns of Alter Pedroso and Cabeço de Vide.

Your destination is Monte dos Aroeirais, where both horses and riders will once again receive a warm welcome. In the evening, you will sit down to another meal of fresh, seasonal cuisine.

Day 6: Herdade dos Atoleiros

After breakfast, you’ll saddle up for a loop ride through the countryside surrounding Monte dos Aroeirais. As you set off, you’ll see the old train station – no longer in use – covered in Portugal’s quintessential ornate tiles, or ‘azulejos’. The ride takes you to Herdade dos Atoleiros, where a famous battle was fought between the Portuguese and the Spanish in the 14th century. The contrast between the Alentejo’s quiet, sunny fields and its vibrant culture and history is vivid. Lunch will be prepared in the shade beside Catarina Velha dam, where you may see various native bird species splashing in the water. By now, you’ll be fully immersed in the slow-and-steady rhythm of Portuguese life, where nothing is ever done in a hurry and enjoyment is the order of the day.

Evening brings more delicious food and relaxation at Monte dos Aroeirais.

Day 7: Torre de Palma

For your final day in the saddle, you’ll head out from Monte dos Aroeirais towards the town of Vaiamonte, more specifically Torre de Palma, where Roman ruins are still scattered through the wildflower-speckled fields. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy long trots and canters as you make the most of this last ride on your Lusitano steed.

Back at Monte dos Aroeirais, you, your fellow guests and the wonderful crew behind this incredible adventure will share stories, laughter and memories over a farewell dinner.

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast you will be transferred back to Lisbon Airport for your onward travels. If flying out today, please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 2pm.

Non-Riders

Non-riders are welcome to join this adventure. They can choose to be transferred to each new location in the logistics vehicle, but we strongly recommend non-riders hire a car so they have the freedom and flexibility to explore the surrounding region each day.