Self-Guided walking in Sintra, Portugal
Self-Guided walking in Sintra, Portugal
8 Days Starting in Sintra and ending in Cascais
Visiting: Sintra, Portugal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WSPS
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Physical rating:
Medium, Moderate
Age range:
Adult
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Meat, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
A diverse walking holiday exploring UNESCO heritage landmarks in the Sintra Hills and time on coastal trails. The hilly and slightly cooler climate enticed the nobility and elite of Portugal to the area, who constructed exquisite palaces and extravagant residences with decorative gardens. Most of the walks are designed to take in the monuments in the morning, when it is still quiet, and then you 'head for the hills' for peaceful walks on dirt trails, woodland tracks and trails with coastal views.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Trip Starts In Sintra
Location: Sintra
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Your accommodation for the first four nights of this trip is in Sintra. The picturesque Portuguese town is set amidst the pine-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra, where kings and noblemen built extravagant summer palaces during the 18th and 19th centuries.
We are able to provide private transfers from Lisbon airport (LIS) at an additional cost. Please contact our self-guided trip for further information.
Day 2: Walk To And Around Castle Of The Moors, Pena Palace And Sintra National Palace
Accommodation: Hotel
Today you take in the three most prominent monuments of Sintra: Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace and the Sintra National Palace. You start with a steep ascent to the Moorish castle and the colourful dream palace of King Ferdinand, followed by a walk in the vast palace grounds and finally a steep descent via Vila Sasseti to the town centre of Sintra, where the National Palace stands.
Today's 9 km walk is expected to take approximately 4 hours and you will ascend and descend 535m.
Day 3: Walk In The Mystical Forest Of The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Today you leave the crowds behind and take an included taxi to the Convent of the Capuchos, a classic 16th-century Franciscan monastery which you can visit before starting your walk. Your walking route leads you through mystical Mediterranean woodlands past hillside menhirs (standing stones) and the shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Peninha. Then you descend to Azoia and take the bus back to Sintra.
Today's 11km walk is expected to take approximately 5 hours and you will ascend 400m and descend 500m.
Day 4: Bus And Walk To Quinta Da Regaleira And Montserrat Palace
Accommodation: Hotel
Within a few square kilometres you will find extravagant palaces and mansions built by nobles and wealthy merchants, most of which are still occupied or in use as luxury hotels. Today you can buy a return ticket for bus Line 435 (about 2.50 euros) and begin with a short ride to Quinta da Regaleira; a slightly sinister palace from the early 20th century, built by an eccentric Brazilian coffee farmer and Freemason who constructed spectacular initiation wells seven storeys underground connecting them to the palace via tunnels. Then walk to Seteais Palace; this neoclassical palace was built for a Dutch Consul in the late 18th century. Now a hotel, the gardens are open to visitors. Then you walk along the road (1km) and hike through the forest to reach Montserrat Palace; a Romantic building with Indian and Arabic influences, built by a Portuguese-English Viscount and industrial magnate. When you have finished sightseeing take the bus back to Sintra.
Today's walk is expected to be between 2 and 5km.
Day 5: Walk Through Fields, Vineyards And Forest To The Atlantic Coast
Accommodation: Hotel
Today you leave the wealth and romance of Sintra behind as you walk north through fields, vineyards and pine forests toward the rugged coast. In the pretty fishing village of Azenha do Mar, you pick up the GR-11 and follow it south along the coast to Praia Grande and your hotel for the next two nights.
Today's 15km walk is expected to take approximately 4.5 hours and you will ascend 150m and descend 150m. It can be shortened by taking the tram to Azenha (runs Thursday to Sunday) and walk just the last few kilometres.
Day 6: Rest Day Or Walk To Cabo Da Roca, The Westernmost Point Of The European Continent
Accommodation: Hotel
Today you can choose to relax on one of the beautiful nearby beaches or go for a walk. If you decide to walk, from your hotel you pick up the long distance walking path the GR-11 which follows the Atlantic coast, going south along fishermen's trails to reach the village of Ulgueira. There you can decide to walk to Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent there-and-back or loop back to Praia Grande via a different route. Along the way you pass a few small bars and the village of Ulgueira.
Today's 12km walk is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 hours and you will ascend 575m and descend 575m.
Day 7: Taxi To Azoia Then Coastal Walk From Guinchos To Cascais
Accommodation: Hotel
Your last day of walking begins with an included taxi to Azoia, where you pick up the GR-11 and follow it along the coast to the 17th-century fortress of Fortaleza de Guincho, now a luxury hotel with views over Praia do Guincho. You can stop off part-way to take the bus directly to the popular fishing town of Cascais where you spend the night or walk an additional 9.5km all the way to your hotel on a footpath between the road and beach.
Today's 17km walk is expected to take approximately 6 hours and you will ascend 350m and descend 435m. This walk can be shortened to 10.5km taking approximately 3 hours.
Day 8: Trip Ends In Cascais
After breakfast, the organised part of your holiday comes to an end.
We are able to provide private transfers to Lisbon airport (LIS) at an additional cost. Please contact our self-guided trip for further information.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals – Breakfast Only
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
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Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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