Alentejo Walking Holiday | Walking Holiday in Portugal | Self Guided Walking Holiday

Imagine a country 10% smaller than England but with only 10 million inhabitants. That is Portugal. The Alentejo, located between the capital, Lisbon, and the Algarve, is the least developed area of this quiet country. The scenery changes from coast to farmland, to forested hills, dotted with whitewashed villages and towns. It enjoys year-round sunshine and warm temperatures, making it an ideal location to extend summer activities into the winter months.

Our walking route is circular and starts and ends in Vila Nova de Milfontes, a charming seaside village, well known in Portugal for its beautiful beaches. For the first three days you will discover the coastline of impressive high cliffs topped with sandy dunes, and leading down to miles of quiet sandy beaches. This whole coastal area is a national nature reserve and so development is strictly controlled. You visit small fishing harbours such as Lapa das Pombas or Entrada da Barca, where fishermen daily challenge the Atlantic waves. For the last three days the route turns inland. From Odeceixe to Sao Teotonio and from there to Odemira finishing in Milfontes you walk through quiet countryside and along the shaded banks of the river Mira valley (location of the recent novel Alentejo Blue by Monica Ali author of Brick Lane) where you will spot herons, storks and many other birds in its meanders and marshes.

Grade: Easy

Getting There: Fly to Lisbon and then coach to Vila Nova de Milfontes (price €12.50 - contact us for details), or fly to Faro and transfer to Vila Nova de Milfontes (£75  per party of up to 4 persons each way).

Day 1 Arrival in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
This pleasant little town with its lovely beaches and situated on the Mira Estuary is worth exploring.

Day 2 Vila Nova to Almograve.
After breakfast you have a short and easy walk along the coast. The path winds through pinewoods, sand dunes and along cliff tops above the Brejo Largo beach, always deserted, to lead you to the small fishing village of Almograve. ~ 9 miles

Day 3 Almograve to Zambujeira.
Heading south from Almograve along the beach (Praia Grande) a short detour leads to the tiny fishing harbour Entrada da Barca, sheltered between the cliffs. Along the way cliff-nesting storks can be seen with their impressive nests, breeding from January and throughout the spring. Through Cavaleiro and past the lighthouse of Cabo Sardao the route ends in Zambujeira do Mar, where fresh bream and sea bass can be sampled in the local restaurants. ~ 13 miles

Day 4 Zambujeira to Odeceixe.
From Zambujeira beach a coastal path will lead you on to the stunning Carvalhal Beach. Dunes and cliffs, higher as you go south, are still the main features, as you reach the fishing village of Azenha do Mar. The day ends dropping down to and over the river Seixe into the picturesque town of Odeceixe, the first town of the Algarve. ~ 13 miles

Day 5 Odeceixe to Sao Teotonio.
Heading into the interior, the landscape changes to traditionally farmed agricultural land of woods, plantations and river valleys. A steady walk today takes you through the tiny village of Sao Miguel to the market town of Sao Teotonio. ~ 9 miles

Day 6 Sao Teotonio to Odemira.
Heading off east from Sao Teotonio, dirt tracks through fields with cork oaks grazed by black pigs, will lead you to the cool valley of the River Mira, which you follow into the country town of Odemira. ~ 13 miles

Day 7 Odemira to Vila Nova de Milfontes.
This is a long day, but you can either arrange to be dropped off along the route or call for a lift at any time to shorten it. Most of the walk today is by or near the River Mira as it heads to the sea. On the way you will pass through the tiny village of Troviscais, where there are a couple of cafes for refreshments. A working windmill can be seen in Vale Bejinha village. The route turns towards Brunheiras and enters Vilanova de Milfontes from the north, through Posadas Velhas. ~ 24 miles

Day 8 Departure.

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