Portugal walking vacation, Eastern Algarve

Planet

Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to minimise impact on the environment and this eight-day walking vacation follows coastal and woodland paths in beautiful south-east Portugal. Taking short transfers to the start of each walk the focus is time walking and enjoying the natural environment. We make use of the excellent public transport available, taking the train along the coast and local ferries to access the smaller islands.

The coastal paths are pristine and we take great care to ensure that we don't leave any litter or damage the trails in any way whilst walking and having picnics. The tap water is drinkable in Portugal so customers can fill their re-usable water bottles at the start of the day and at water fountains or streams during the walks to reduce the need for bottled water.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

This trip is based in the coastal town of Tavira, staying here for seven nights gives ample opportunity to try out the local restaurants and cafes. The food in Portugal is one of the highlights, with simple fresh fish dishes and delicious pateis de nata on the 'must sample' list. We include a visit on Saturday morning to the fish and vegetable markets in Olhao, the largest fish market in the Algarve, where locals gather to get their supplies for the week and we can pick up some items for lunch.

We spend a day exploring Culatra, a sand bar island in Ria Formosa National Park only accessible by ferry and home to a small fishing community living in a cluster of low built houses and cottages. With no cars or paved roads walking around the sparsely developed island feels like stepping back in time, offering a real insight to traditional Portuguese lifestyle.

There is the opportunity in the evenings to attend a Fado performance, affording an interesting insight into Portuguese traditions. The show starts with a film about the history of Fado, a Portuguese traditional song, followed by guitarists and a singer performing a range of Fado songs.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.