dossier

Alentejo

TravelInformation

Season: February to December, but July and August arenot available due to the heat that makes it uncomfortable for walking andbecause, at this time, accommodations tend to be block booked by the Portugueseon vacation. This tour can also operate in December and January; generally thedaytime temperatures will be around 16 to 17 degrees Centigrade and night- timetemperatures of around 9 degrees Centigrade. The days can be clear and sunnybut of course there is a greater risk of rain.

Travel: Flights to Faro. It is also possible to travel to Lisbon; butthe transfers will be longer and more expensive than from Faro.

Arrival and departure: Both our first & final nights are spent in VilaNova de Milfontes. From the airport in Faro you can transfer in about 1.5 hoursby taxi 110 euros/approx US$132 each way payable directly to the groundoperator. We will of course set this transfer up on your behalf. The journey bypublic transport is complicated as there is no direct route so we stronglyrecommend the private transfer at each end of the tour.  Transfers are also available for thoseclients flying in and out of Lisbon; the cost is Euros 135 each way/approx US$162with a maximum of 4 clients in the vehicle.

Level of Difficulty
This tour is classed as Easy, but with some long moderategraded stages.

Fitness: This holiday should present few difficulties to anyone inreasonable condition and accustomed to undulating walking in warm conditions.

Waymarking: There is no way-marking as such on this route, soclients should have experience of route finding with map and compass. Howeverour ground operators have now marked posts with unobtrusive yellow marks to aidin navigation. They also provide a mobile phone pre-programmed with theirnumbers in case of navigational difficulties, or if the weather deterioratesand you wish to be collected, so there is plenty of back up on this tour.

Singles: This tour is not available to the single walker.

Footwear: Some tracks are quite stony and may have loose sand andpebbles; footwear with a degree of ankle support is important, but you don’tneed heavy mountain boots.

Day Stages: Day Stages Max 30km/18mi - Min 10km/6mi.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is on a Bed and Breakfast basis, which isincluded in the tour cost. The places we stay at during the tour are allprivately owned, and have plenty of Portuguese character. You will spend yourfirst and last nights in a small hotel in Vila Nova de Milfontes, and the othernights are spent in Guest Houses in Cavaleiro, Zambujeira, Odeceixe, SaoTeotonio and Odemira. A recommended list of local restaurants will be suppliedon arrival listing delicious traditional dishes of fresh Portuguese cuisine.

Outline Itinerary

   Day 1: Private transfer from Faro airport, Euros 110/approx US$132payable direct to our ground operator (maximum of 4 people in the vehicle).Vila Nova de Milfontes, this beautiful town on the Mira estuary is well worthexploring, it has wonderful panoramic views over the river and places to enjoynature.

    Day 2: After breakfast a coastal walk of 15 km/9miwill take you along sand dunes and cliffs to the village of Cavaleiro, wherecliff-nesting storks can be watched from the light house. The night will bespent in a rural guesthouse.

    Day 3: Continuing south the route passes by the tinyfishing port of “Entrada da Barca“ then on to the bay of Zambujeira do Mar (10 km/6mi)where fresh bream and sea bass can be sampled in the local restaurants.Overnight in Zambujeira.

    Day 4: A coastal path starting at the beach leads usonto Carvalhal bay, past the former residence of the famous “fado” singerAmália Rodrigues. Next it drops down over the river into the town of Odeceixe,the first town in the Algarve (15 km/9mi); and here we will stay the night in a“Pensão“.

    Day 5: Heading into the interior, throughtraditionally farmed agricultural land, a walk of 15 km/9mi takes us to themarket town of São Teotónio where we will rest overnight in a “Residential” (atype of guesthouse).

     Day 6: Following the path east from S. Teotónio, leads through fields wherecork oaks grow and black pigs graze. Eventually it brings us onto the tributaryof the river Mira, this we follow into the county town of Odemira to spend thenight in a Guest House in the heart of the town (10 km/6mi).

    Day 7: Following the river Mira, a 30 km/18mi walkalong its banks passing the villages of Troviscais and the working windmill ofVale Bejinha, will complete the circuit and take us back to the Vila Nova deMilfontes for a well earned rest at the hotel.

    Day 8: Private transfer to Faro airport,Euros 110/approx US$132 payable direct to our ground operator (maximum of 4people in the vehicle).