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Active holidays in Portugal

Portugal has made a name for itself over the last few years as an excellent walking destination and it is fast becoming a very popular destination for cycling holidays too. The weather certainly helps, with mild winters allowing for cycling and hiking tours in Portugal all year round. Freewheeling through the plains of the Alentejo, taking it easy in the saddle past the soaring cliffs and white sandy beaches of the Algarve. Exploring the Douro valley on foot, the region that produces the world-famous Port wines and not forgetting of course Lisbon, the lively and cosmopolitan capital and Sintra, the last stretch of land that faces the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. Active holidays in Portugal with Intura will provide many anecdotes to share and memories to look back on for years to come! 

Exploring active holidays across Portugal: mainland and beyond

But of course, when we talk about active holidays in Portugal, we are not limiting ourselves to the mainland, oh no! We also explore the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores and offer self-guided and guided walking holidays in Cape Verde, once a Portuguese colony and now an independent country since 1975. Our mainland cycling and hiking tours in Portugal are thought up and tried and tested by our colleagues based in our office in Tavira, in the south of Portugal. Our walking holidays on the Portuguese islands are created in our office in France, with valuable input from our local contacts on the islands and bi-annual trips for our team of track finders, who walk the trails, re-write the notes and ensure that our core values are upheld in creating authentic tours with the best possible service.

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City trek: walking in Lisbon
      • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 4 days
      • From January to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlights of the trip 

  • An intimate walking itinerary in the capital of Portugal
  • A day along the Tagus river to Bélem quarter
  • Great trip for foodies ! 
  • Possibility of a private guide for the day
  • Enjoy a portuguese traditionnal fado show




    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 345 € / pers
Portugal walking and wine : Porto wine trails and Douro river cruise
      • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 6 days
      • From January to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior

Highlights of the trip 

  • Explore Porto, Unesco World Heritage city
  • Guided visit of the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia and tasting the great wines of Porto 
  • 2 boat cruises along the Douro, with 1 lunch on board included between Pinhao and Porto
  • Walking through the famed vineyards of the Douro Valley
  • The small town of Pinhão, nestled in the river bank



    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 950 € / pers
Portugal walking holiday: experience western Algarve
      • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 7 days
      • From January to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlights of the trip 

  • The diversity and beauty of the coastal hikes
  • The biodiversity in the Vicentine Coast Natural Park
  • The fortified city of Lagos and the spectacular "Ponta da Piedade"
  • Cape Saint-Vincent and the Sagres fort
  • The local hospitality and regional cuisine
  • Daily swimming opportunities


    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 670 € / pers
Portugal walking holiday : The wild Vicentine coast
      • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 7 days
      • From January to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort

Highlights of the trip 

  • The omnipresence of the ocean and the diversity of the landscapes
  • Geological, botanical and ornithological treasures
  • Transfer at the start and end of your trip included: Lisbon / Lagos
  • Swimming opportunities nearly every day ! 
  • The hospitality and cuisine in the villages along the way
  • End of your trip in Lagos or Faro, both beautiful historic cities with stunning beaches


    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 755 € / pers
Portugal walking tour: Lisbon & the Sintra Hills
      • Portugal - Mainland Portugal
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 8 days
      • From January to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior

Highlights of the trip

  • An intimate tour of the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Lisbon  
  • Bélem and its monuments dedicated to the Great Maritime Discoveries
  • The botanical beauty and lush forest of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Hiking to the westernmost point of Europe, Cabo da Roca
  • A free day to explore Sintra
  • Walking or cycling along the shimmering waters of the Tagus estuary 
  • Swimming opportunities in Cascais
  • Possibility of a guided tour of Lisbon


    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 770 € / pers

What is the definition of an active holiday in Portugal?

Our definition of active holidays in Portugal is about movement. Whether it be on foot or by bike, it is a form of travel that enables you to get some fresh air and exercise at your own pace, to move from one accommodation to the next, meet with the locals and explore the culture and dynamics of society in a foreign country. Being active is not just about the physical effort that will go into your trip, but also about your active curiosity and the impact that your trip will have on the local community.

 

Cycling and hiking tours in Portugal: choose the active level to suit you

From easy, through to moderate to the more challenging, we have a trip for everyone!

  • Enjoy an easy city trek through Lisbon and explore the various neighbourhoods, lose yourself in the maze of cobbled streets, take the number 28 historic tram line and spend an evening listening to some traditional Fado music.  
  • Book an easy walking holiday and head northwest to Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the second most important city in Portugal with stunning views of the Douro River from the Dom Luis bridge. The play of light on the water makes it one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Explore the vineyards of the Douro valley and the beautiful palaces of Sintra up in the hills. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the river and dine like kings every evening!
  • Enjoy active holidays in Portugal on the island of Madeira, with easy walks through the primary forest and along levadas, explore the vibrant city of Funchal and sample many local delicacies.
  • For the more moderate options, we suggest the Azores on an island-hopping walking holiday exploring tea plantation, crater lakes, sulfur springs, wild coastal paths and terraced crops. The walks are between 2h30 and 4h but what makes them moderate is the elevation gain: we lead you up to the highest peaks on the along high panoramic trails for some truly breathtaking scenery.
  • For a super-duper active holiday in Portugal, we recommend our 12-day Crossing Madeira trip. This encompasses our definition of an active holiday: you get to visit the entire island, walking from point A to point B with plenty of opportunities to mingle with the locals.

Active holidays in Portugal: in the saddle

If cycling is more your activity of choice, then check out our Portugal self-guided cycling holidays. Head to the beautiful southern region of the Algarve. Renowned for its glorious climate, white sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and whitewashed houses, you can easily spend a week or more exploring this wild and unspoilt coastline by bike along the Ecovia – a wonderfully maintained and paved coastal cycle path through the Algarve, perfectly suited to all abilities.

You may be tempted by our Alentejo cycling trip, with its gentle rolling hills, wineries, castles and megaliths, this tour has a magical quality to the landscape. You pass through olive groves, oak forests and white-washed villages on this 7-day cycling trip and visit the spectacular Lake Alqueva, the largest artificial lake in Europe. An ideal destination for a family.

Cycling and hiking tours in Portugal have never been so accessible, with many international flights arriving daily in Lisbon for either a mainland Portugal stay or an onward flight to Madeira or the Azores. Our trusted local partners are on hand to ensure that your trip goes smoothly, from the taxi drivers to the hotels, the bike suppliers and native guides, we have everything in place to offer fantastic active holidays in Portugal.