Hiking Sintra National Park & the cliffs of South Portugal

Name: Hiking Sintra National Park & the cliffs of South Portugal
Start: 2024-10-24T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-10-28T12:00:00+01:00
Location: 141A Rua da Prata,Lisboa,1100-415,PT

Schedule

Thu Oct 24 2024 at 06:00 pm to Mon Oct 28 2024 at 12:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

141A Rua da Prata,Lisboa,1100-415,PT | Lisbon, LI

Discover Lisbon & South Portugal this Easter featuring castles, unique rock features, vibrant culture,stunning architecture, beaches & more.
Lisbon
WHY GO?
This Easter, join us in visiting Lisbon with its vibrant culture & architecture and combining this with Portuguese capital’s near neighbours, Sintra & Cascais, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the country for good reason. With its curved mountains, dewy forests, exotic gardens and Crayola-coloured palaces, there two cities are torn straight from a storybook.
Lastly Cabo da Roca, which for a while, was considered the end of the world, and you’ll see why, as there’s nothing but water for miles ahead —it’s the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Portugal has a long coast lined with beaches, and in between them, you can find lots of cliffs jutting out into the Atlantic. Breaking waves, rocky shores and windswept cliffs, Cabo da Roca ticks all the boxes.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS?
Exploring Lisbon: The capital city of Portugal, is a city with a rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. Lisbon is home to a unique blend of architecture styles, from the medieval castles and churches to the colorful buildings covered in ceramic tiles. The iconic Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge, inspired by San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, is also a sight to behold. Since Lisbon is a hilly city, there are plenty of viewpoints to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city, river, and hills. Some of the popular viewpoints include Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
Pastel de nata: Pastel de nata is a traditional pastry from Portugal that has been enjoyed for over 200 years and was invented by the bakery Pastéis de Belém. It is a sweet pastry that has a creamy custard filling and a flaky crust. The combination of textures and flavors is simply delicious, making it a popular treat for people with a sweet tooth.
Exploring Cascais: Cascais has a long and rich history, dating back to the 12th century when it was a small fishing village. Over the centuries, it has been visited by royalty and become a popular tourist destination. Cascais is home to several stunning beaches, including Praia do Guincho, Praia da Rainha, and Praia da Conceição. These beaches are known for their clear waters and beautiful scenery.
Sintra National Park: Sintra National Park is a beautiful and diverse natural park located in the mountains near the town of Sintra in Portugal. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is famous for its stunning scenery, rich biodiversity, and cultural attractions. The park is also home to several cultural attractions, including the Moorish Castle, the Convent of the Capuchos, and the colourful Pena National Palace which is straight out of Disneyland. These historic landmarks provide a glimpse into the region's rich history and architectural heritage.
Cabo de Roca: Cabo de Roca is the westernmost point of continental Europe.The cape is characterized by its rugged cliffs and strong Atlantic winds, which have carved out unique rock formations along the coastline. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the sea and surrounding landscape from the lighthouse on the cape. Cabo de Roca has been an important landmark for sailors and navigators for centuries. The lighthouse, which was built in the 18th century, played a crucial role in guiding ships safely through the waters of the Atlantic.

Cabo de Roca
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
Day 0 (Thursday night) - Arrive in Lisbon: Meet your guide & the rest of the participants in Lisbon and then possibly look at checking out the vibrant nightlife of Lisbon.
Day 1 - Hiking Sintra National Park : Post breakfast and check out, we head off to Sintra where we will be hiking in Sintra National Park that incl. a visit of the Park and Palácio Nacional da Pena and post that we head to Cascais where we will be staying for the next 2 nights.
Day 2 - Cabo da Roca (Westernmost Point of mainland Europe): Today we will be hiking Praia de Ursa beach loop from Almoçageme which will include Cabo da Roca that is continental Europes and the Eurasian landmasses westernmost point. The hike involves walking along the cliffs with amazing ocean views. Post the hike we head back to Cascais, where the guide has organized dinner and drinks place for our last night in Cascais.
Day 3 (Sunday) - Exploring Cascais: Post breakfast & checkout, we are off exploring Cascais with our morning walk ending at Boca do Inferno followed by spending some time at one of the beaches and then heading to Lisbon later in the afternoon. Once in Lisbon, participants (late afternoon) can join for an optional tour through the street of lisbon organized by the guide (optional for participants to join).This also includes a stop at the The bakery that invented Pastel de nata - Pastéis de Belém . Once we are done with exploring Lisbon with your guide, we can get something to eat and possibly (optional) also watch a live Fado perforance over dinner.
Day 4 - Head back home: Post checkout, we head to the airport to catch our flight back home. For those catching a later evening flight, you use the day to further explore Lisbon before heading to the airport.
Note: Trains from Cascais to Lisbon go every 30 minutes.