Active Journeys SelfSelf----GuidedGuided Hiking Tour

Tour descriptions

Day 1 Cascais

Day 2 11 km To Guincho

Day 3 8 or To Azola 19.5 km

Day 4 11 km To Praia Grande

Day 5 11 or To 16 km and the Portuguese Coast

Day 6 10 km Come and enjoy Portugal as it was intended. Take in the beautiful beaches, eat the fresh To Sintra seafood and enjoy the fine wines of Portugal. Day 7 Free day in Sintra Located close to , this is a perfect holiday, Day 8 easy to get to - yet remote enough to give you Tour ends the feeling of “getting away from it all”. Using old walking trails that connect each town, you will discover the dramatic coastline scenery and feel the cool ocean breezes throughout the walk. Tour Details Daily April to end June Then end your walk inland to the remarkable town of Sintra with its dominating ancient castle, End August to end October a UNESCO World Heritage site. Length: 8 days / 7 nights

Cost: $2095 Standard $2595 Superior Fast Facts

Single Supp: $650Std/$950Sup • Dramatic coastline with pristine • Start in the charming coastal town of Cas- beaches & unique micro-climates cais famous for it’s desserts Grade: Moderate • Outstanding rural scenery, truly only • Hike through the region with world fa- appreciated on foot Starts: Cascais mous vineyards of the Colares wines Ends: Sintra • Walk to Cabo da Roca, the most west- erly point in mainland • Enjoy the wonderful , fresh seafood.

Active Journeys Contact: 11----800800800----597597597----55945594 or 416416----236236236----50115011 Email : [email protected]

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive in Cascais Cascais is a fashionable resort with a marina, smart shops, elegant restaurants and one of the best (and cleanest!) surf- ing beaches in Europe.

Day 2 Cascais to Guincho 11 km An outstanding walk along the coast, passing lighthouses and fascinating cliff formations with dramatic coastal views, to Guincho Beach, one of Portugal’s best windsurfing locations.

Day 3 Guincho to Azoia 8 km or 19.5 km Follow coastal paths before heading inland into the Serra de Sintra. Opportunity to visit the interesting Convento dos Capuchos (Capuchin monastery) (+2 hrs), before returning through the Serra up to the spectacularly situated 14th cen- tury Peninha Chapel. Paths then lead down to your hotel near the coast.

Day 4 Azoia to Praia Grande 11 km A cliff-top walk with spectacular views leads to Cabo () da Roca, the most westerly point of Portugal – and mainland Europe. Continue inland through the vineyards of the ‘Colares’ wine before returning to the coast and past dra- matic cliff formations to the beach of Praia Grande, with its world famous swirling waves.

Day 5 Praia Grande to Colares 11 km or 16 km Continue along the coast to the small seaside resort of Azen- has do Mar, with its pretty whitewashed houses perched on a cliff. From here the coastal path continues, past more fine beaches, then heads inland to the curious church of São Ma- mede, ‘protector of the animals,’ which were freely allowed to enter the chapel until recent times. Minor roads then lead to Colares, famous for its wine.

Day 6 Colares to Sintra 10 km Walk through small hamlets and vineyards before joining wide forest paths passing through the Serra to the ‘Romantic’ Palace of Monserrate, with exotic gardens and follies. Continue through the Serra and a short section of road brings you to the arch of the old west entrance to Sintra.

Day 7 Free day in Sintra Described by Byron as a ‘glorious Eden’, and boasting UNESCO World Heritage status, Sintra is a visitor’s paradise, with magnificent palaces, gardens, galleries, churches, museums, and cobbled, medieval streets lined with boutique shops and cafés. For highlights take the optional Sintra city walk. Note: The city’s famous market is on Sundays.

Day 8 Departure day Tour ends after breakfast.

What to Expect What will the weather be like? Getting There The daytime temperature will be warm and sunny. In September, you can expect high 70’s (high 20’s C), and cooler evenings. Sunscreen is a must during the day, as is a sweater for The main airport closest to the the cooler nights. Traditionally it does not rain, but it is recommended to bring some rain gear in case. starting point is Lisbon Interna- tional Airport. From there take How many hours of walking a day? Be prepared to walk between 3-4 hours daily, rarely on flat terrain. The Portuguese coun- the shuttle bus to Cais de Sodre tryside is all hills. You are either going up or down almost all the time; however, these are ( 30 minutes and €3.5 ) then the shorter rolling ascents and descents—very do-able with short distances in order to enjoy your day. train to Cascais (€2 and 40 min-

How fit do I need to be? utes) Taxis from Lisbon airport The fitter the better, and some hiking experience is recommended but not required. The run about €60-80. maximum is 11.7 miles per day with a shorter option available.

What are the hotels like? From Sintra take the bus back to We use 3* accommodations, with twin-bedded rooms, all with private facilities in the stan- dard itinerary and mostly 4* in the superior and one night in 5 *. One dinner is included in Cascais, and train back to Lis- the tour. bon. Alternatively, we can ar- Who will help? range a taxi for you. Our route managers look after the luggage transfers. They meet you before you set out on your trip, either on the first day or the morning of the second one. The Route Manager is always on hand to help out in emergencies or difficulties, and is available by cell phone. How to book your holiday

• Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the en- tire booking process.

• Download the reservation form from our website and send in completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent immediately or simply complete it online.

• Deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Terms & conditions are out- lined on the back of our Reservation Form.

• Plan your air travel as soon as possible.

• We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or directly a travel insurance provider.

• Ensure that you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us for more information on vaccinations, inocula- tions, and fitness requirements.