Short walking vacation in Portugal

Planet

Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to minimise impact on the environment and this five-day walking vacation follows the coastal paths in beautiful south-west Portugal. This is a point-to-point walking vacation with only one short vehicle transfer to the start of the first walk. This means your time is focused on walking and enjoying the natural environment rather than time spent in a bus.

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. Re-usable water bottles are filled at the start of the day and at small villages 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

We stay in small local hotels like the Casas do Moinho in Odeceixe. The hoteliers themselves are involved in maintaining the Rota Vincentina walking route and regularly cut back excessive growth and refresh trail markings.

The food in Portugal is one of the highlights, with simple fresh fish dishes and delicious pateis de nata on the 'must sample' list. The cafes are small and locally owned - this is not a region where large, chain restaurants exist! Joining locals for a strong coffee, which is typically drunk standing up, leaning against the counter, is an ideal way to start the day. Lunches can either be taken in small cafes in the villages you pass along the route, or visit the market and shops in the morning to buy bread, cheese and meats for a picnic. On this vacation you visit historic towns off the main tourism paths which helps to boost the economies in areas that aren't frequently visited. We suggest you visit local markets, and support local businesses where possible.

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 UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.