Our Destinations

Letter Randocheval

Why travelling with Randocheval ?

PORTUGAL : TRANSLUSITANIA AND GOLEGA TRAIL OR HIGH ALENTEJO / ATLANTIC COAST TRAIL...

Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

Translusitania, the well named! Imagine yourself leaving the Spanish frontier, from the East of Portugal, with the only aim to follow the sun to the West, until you join the Pacific Ocean's waves. You will cross the cradle of the Lusitanian thoroughbred, on the Tage's banks, in a particularly isolated region of the High-Alentejo and Ribatejo. Many opportunities to appreciate the rural Portuguese lives. A visit of Golega is planned, to discover a horse riding school and a saddler. Each year in November you have the chance participate in the National trade fair of the Lusitanian horse, the famous Golega Festival. In November 2007, two departures are specially planned for the trade fair. A part of the itinerary has also been modified in order to participate on horseback in the parade in the streets of Golega. Furthermore, the "Translusitania Ride" can be combined with the "High Alentejo and the Atlantic coast" itinerary, a horse trail which explores a region located a little bit further in the South.This ride will lead you through the horses and fighting bulls breeding farms, ending in the Sado natural estuary, and you will pass through the Alcacer do sal saltpans. We propose you three itineraries : Translusitania horse trail Special departure for Golega's annual trade fair Horse trekking in "High Alentejo and Atlantic coast"

ITINERARY

Day 7 - Friday
Transfer to Juncal in the morning. We will cross a vast pine forest as we make our way to the unspoilt "Praia do Norte", a sandy beach stretching out across several kilometers, where we will enjoy our final ride. We will reach Nazaré after lunch, a former fishing village, nowadays a bathing resort, situated at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Here we will have to say good-bye to our horses. There will be enough time left to go for a swim or do some shopping, before we will meet for dinner and exchange our impressions of the tour. Accommodation in Nazare.

Day 8 - Saturday : Lisbon
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the departure.

GOLEGA FESTIVAL - special departure on november 2nd to 9th 2008

Horse riders and passionates meet each year in November in Golega. There, the most famous Lusitanian breeders present their horses during a breed competition.
Moreover, classical horse riding competitions are organised, a special event for all horse lovers!!!

The itinerary from the spanish frontier to Golega is about the same as the one of "TRANSLUSITANIA" Thursday and Friday 's afternoons are modified in order to visit the festival.

Friday afternoon we prepare our horses for the visit and move with them to Golega where all the riders are waiting together for the parade, in which we will participate, on the oval place.

If you require any information, please contact us .

HIGH-ALENTEJO AND ATLANTIC COAST TRAIL

Let's trekking together from the white village of Alentejo, through the saltpans of Alcacer Do Sal in the nature reserve of the Sado estuary, and let's finish on the Costa Azul beach...

Day 1 : Departure for Lisbon
Arrival and tour briefing.Transfer by minibus to a romantic country estate next to Mora, where we will spend the night. Night in a guestouse.

Day 2
Short transfer to the point of departure near Pavia. We'll enjoy some fantastic canters on soft ground with fascinating views of vast olive groves before we will reach today's destination, Sabugeiro.
Accommodation in a guesthouse.

Day 3
Today we will make our way through hilly and quite varying landscapes. We will pass by sheep and cattle while crossing their grazing land. The horses will spend the night on a Lusitano stud near Silveiras. On our way there, we will cross a game reserve. Hotel accommodation in Vendas Novas for two nights.

Day 4
We will follow the bed of the Sao Martinho River taking deserted paths. Landscapes vary between pasture land and cork-and holm-oak groves as we make our way to Casebres.

Day 5
We are close to the centre of the Portuguese fighting bull breeding area and we will see some of the bulls on the way. We will cross the first large rice fields before lunch. In the afternoon, we will again cross pasture land on or way to Casa Branca. The sandy paths give us the chance to enjoy some canters. Accommodation in a guest house in Alcacer do Sal for the next three nights.

Day 6
We will keep on riding on sandy paths and through pasture land in the morning and will cross the river Sado which is tidal. We will reach the little village of Albergaria in the afternoon where we will leave the horses for the night. Here, the landscape is dominated by a vast pine forest. We will go back to Alcacer do Sal by car where we will have the chance to visit a saddlery.

Day 7
In the morning we will see some impressive fighting bulls of "Erideira" breed on our way to the beach. We will picnic just in front of the beach and have the chance to go for a swim in the sea. In the afternoon we will have around 8 km of unspoilt Atlantic beaches in front of us, the Costa Azul. We will enjoy long canters on the beach (depending on the tides). We will then reach Comporta where we will have to say good-bye to our horses. Return to Alcacer do Sal.

Day 8
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the departure.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

Horses
The cavalry is composed of Hispano-Arab and Lusitanian horses.The horses are "Cruzados", (arab and english thoroughbred with Spanish or Portuguese horses).
This kind of mount is especially used for labour with cattle, and also for corridas. They are strong, lively and fast so they are fit to trail, even on difficult soils.

Tack
We use Spanish or Portuguese saddles, with hackamores and most of the time we ride with long reins. This casual way of riding permits us to admire the landscapes more easily.

Required riding level
Riders have to feel comfortable at all gaits and to have at least one experience in trailriding. On short distances you may have to set foot on the ground and to walk beside your horse. You have to be able to stay on your horse several consecutive hours and several days! That is why beeing in a good physical shape is necessary.

Wearing a riding hat is advisable. You have to bring yours because they are not provided.

Maximum weight: 85 kg
If you make more than 85 kg you will be asked to pay an extra charge of 120 € and a second horse will be brought in order to alternate.

Minimum age: 15 years old accompanied and corresponding to the required riding level.

YOUR GUIDES

Your hosts, in this Portuguese adventure, will be Horst and Sybille, who have been living in this region for more than twelve years now. It is with great pleasure that they try to share their passion with their guests. Among many other skills, Horst also is a blacksmith, which can be very usefull on the trail. A logistic vehicle ensures the transfers, luggage's transport and the picnic's.

ACCOMMODATION

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

COUNTRY

Portugal

LENGTH

LANGUAGE

GROUP SIZE

ACCESS

Arrival in Lisbon.

You will have to plan a flight arriving before 16.00. An appointment will be given at 16.30 in the coffee-bar located on the left of the arrival hall. For the return flight we will plan one with a possible take off since 14.00.

CLIMATE

The Atlantic Ocean keeps the temperature fairly constant all year long, with some refreshing see breezes in summer, mild and tempered in winter.

The climate is one of the most pleasant of Europe! In summer, the temperature can reach about 24°C to 28°C and about 16°C to 20°C in winter. Portugal counts average 275 sunny days a year.

Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.

Vaccines-Health
No specific vaccination, we recommend you to be up to date with your usual vaccinations, in particular the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurance is compulsory.

REFERENCE :CH169-Portugal trail ride