Sintra - Cascais Heritage & Coast

Five days hiking on the place where Kings and Queens lived in a World Heritage region | Hiking Tour | Tradition Tour | Guided or Self-Guided

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
1. Visit Sintra UNESCO World Heritage
2. The beauty of Sintra-Cascais National Park
3. The beautiful romantic architecture of Pena National Palace
4. Tasty Portuguese fresh fish and wines
5. Visit historic Castles and Palaces
6. Taste Sintra famous “travesseiros”, a special crumbly almond pastry
7. Amazing “Guincho” beach
8. Hiking along the stunning coast of Sintra-Cascais
9. Lodging in a fantastic Palace (optional)
10. Cape Roca - the westernmost point of Continental Europe.


TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Hiking Tour
Class: TRADITIONS TOUR
Version: Guided or Self‐Guided
Region of Portugal: Lisbon Region
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 4 days hiking / 1 day free
Begin: Cascais (Lisbon Region)
End: Sintra (Lisbon Region)
Difficulty level (1‐5): 3 - Intermediate (3‐5h walking. Medium elevation gain)
Distance: 34km (21mi)
Average: 9km/day (6mi/day)


SUMMARY
Hike the best trails on Sintra-Cascais National Park, discovering beautiful coastal and sierra trails. Visit the amazing castles, convents, palaces and churches of Sintra - a place classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.
We start hiking in Guincho Beach, one of the most famous windsurf spots in the world. For two days we will hike along an amazing and majestic coast with huge cliffs, dunes and rocky beaches just beyond the mountains of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. We will spend the night in a recovered convent on a valley sloping down to the sea, full of beauty and tranquility.
On the third day we will explore the typical village of Colares and hike through the exuberant vegetation of Sintra Sierra.
Finally we will arrive and discover Sintra, the beautiful town at the foot of a sierra. We will hike in this amazing scenery going up on the mountain and finding the incredible Moorish Castle dating back to the 8th Century. We will visit the outstanding Pena Palace finding a wild fantasy of domes, towers, ramparts and walkways on one of the highest mountain peaks of Sintra.
Enjoy last day experiencing relaxing Sintra life style, going on a trip on the historic tramway or visiting other amazing places like Sintra national palace, unique amongst the royal mediaeval palaces in Portugal and the town’s most distinctive building. Or visit Quinta Regaleira, one of the town’s most enigmatic sights built in a Romantic revivalist style, mixed with a mythical and esoteric symbolism. Come and enjoy Sintra walking and Hiking!

P.S.: In Sintra you can optionally experience staying in a fantastic palace – Seteais, a neo-classical building from the last quarter of XVIII century, now transformed in an incredible 5* Palace-Hotel. Ask us for an upgrade.

(+351) 214783153

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1:
Arrival - Welcome at Lisbon airport and 45min drive to Cascais. You can enjoy the historic streets of Cascais and the fantastic bay. Briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a 4* hotel in the beautiful city of Cascais standing by the sea.

Day 2:
Guincho beach and the coast - 8km (5mi), level 3. Breakfast. Hiking starts at Guincho beach, a famous beach for Windsurf and Kitesurf. Hike along the beautiful and wild coast of Sintra-Cascais National Park. Picnic on the way. At the end you can optionally hike to Peninha Castle, one of the highest points in Sintra hills. Lodging and dinner on a recovered Convent full of history!

Day 3:
Cape Roca - 12km (7mi), level 3 ( Beach). Breakfast. Hike along the coast passing through the westernmost point of Continental Europe. We follow the coastline with some amazing views over the cliffs and the sea. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 3* hotel on the beach.

Day 4:
From the sea to Sintra - 6km (4mi), level 3. Breakfast. Transfer to Colares. Hike Sintra hills to amazing Capuchin Convent built in 1560. Picnic and visit to the convent. Transfer to Sintra Village or optional hike to Sintra Village. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* hotel in the center of Sintra.

Day 5:
Castles and Palaces of world Heritage Sintra - 8km (5mi), level 3. Breakfast. Hike up from the village through paths and steps sided by stone walls and thick Mediterranean vegetation. At the top we visit the amazing Moorish Castle dated from the 8th or 9th century with awesome views and then Pena Palace which is the most complete and remarkable example of the Romantic architecture in Portugal. Return to Sintra. Same lodging of the previous day.

Day 6:
Sintra Village - Free day. You can rest or visit other incredible monuments in Sintra, such as Sintra National Palace or “Quinta da Regaleira”. Another option is experiencing the historic Sintra Tramway. Same lodging of the previous day.

Day 7:
Departure – After breakfast transfer to Lisbon airport - 45min drive.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodations (6 nights): 4 four* Hotels, 1 three* Hotel, 1 B&B (former Convent). Double bedroom occupancy.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

DATES AND PRICES FOR 2012:

February 05 - 11:
Guided: Euro 1150 (Single Suppl. + € 245)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1015 (Single Suppl. + € 245)

April 01 - 07:
Guided: Euro 1200 (Single Suppl. + € 275)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1050 (Single Suppl. + € 275)

May 20 - 26:
Guided: Euro 1200 (Single Suppl. + € 275)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1050 (Single Suppl. + € 275)

July 01 - 07:
Guided: Euro 1250 (Single Suppl. + € 320)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1075 (Single Suppl. + € 320)

September 09 - 15:
Guided: Euro 1230 (Single Suppl. + € 290)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1070 (Single Suppl. + € 290)

September 30 – October 06:
Guided: Euro 1200 (Single Suppl. + € 275)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1050 (Single Suppl. + € 275)

November 04 - 10:
Guided: Euro 1200 (Single Suppl. + € 275)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1050 (Single Suppl. + € 275)

December 02 - 08:
Guided: Euro 1200 (Single Suppl. + € 275)
Self‐Guided: Euro 1050 (Single Suppl. + € 275)

=> Prices per person, double bedroom occupancy in 3 or 4* hotels.
=> If you want a different date, ask us about prices and availability.

(+351) 214783153