10 to 15% is recommended.

Transfer and Other Options:

Itinerary:

Day 1: Transfer around 5:30 PM from Lisbon to Padrão (200 km). Dinner and overnight in a farm house, Monte do Padrão. A large number of manors with original furniture were renovated to promote tourism. Visitors are pleasantly surprised about the personal atmosphere and warmth of these former private homes.

Day 2: You ride over hilly meadows. This is a large-scale land-holding and the fences between meadows are miles apart. The landowners prevented road construction on their properties and you will seldom run into roads in this part of Alentejo. Most of the stone bridges over the numerous rivers date back to the Roman’s Empire. The day ends in another manor, the Monte dos Aroeirais. Enjoy an evening in the beautiful garden by the pool.

Day 3: Departure from Monte dos Aroeirais in direction of Alter do Chão and its Horse Breeding Farm, with a ride through endless meadows full of colours where raise cattle, sheep. Picnic and more riding, night over at Varandas de Alter.

Day 4: Visit to the Horse Breeding Farm, one of the two national stud farms. The horses bred here are so famous that they're traded under the name Alter. The town rises 500 m over sea-level and you can enjoy a panoramic view over the landscape. After lunch at the Hotel, we visit the stud farm. This is a highlight and not only for horse-lovers. In this idyllic location, hundreds of mares and their colts graze on huge meadows. We then transfer to the town of Alter, for a stroll before dinner. At night, we stay at Varandas de Alter, a modern Hotel right by the Breeding Farm.

Day 5: Through large meadows, past fields, and with only one remote farmhouse that reminds us of the presence of people, you ride to Ribeira da Seda. The original, regional Portuguese cuisine offers you a varied and delicious menu. Dinner and overnight in the manor of Monte dos Aroeirais as on the second night.

Day 6: Today you will ride inside the farm Monte do Padrão that is 2500 ha large with cork trees and a huge olive oil trees fields. Dinner and overnight at Monte do Padrão.

Day 7: You ride back across large meadows, you’ll see millions of colours. We will visit the beautiful chapel of Nª Srª Entre Águas in the vicinity of Barragem do Maranhão. This blue lake with its lush surroundings invites for a swim. Dinner and overnight at Monte do Padrão, as in last night. Dinner and overnight as the night before.

Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Lisbon and departure.

In the months of February, March, October and November it is advisable to bring some protection against rain and a pullover or other type of warm cloth for the evenings.
In the summer months it is advisable to have a hat for protection against the sun (if you don’t use a riding helmet).

During the ride informal attire prevails. Either English or Western riding gear is acceptable, although since tack is English style, we feel that breeches and high boots are most comfortable for the long hours in the saddle. And even though it is not required, we recommend a riding helmet. For those of you who wish to ride in jeans we highly recommend chaps or leggings.

Casual sportswear is appropriate for the evenings. Do bring a sweater and jacket for the cooler evenings. There are no saddle bags available but the riders will be met at picnic time every day by the car transporting the luggage. We do recommend that you obtain a belt pack to carry your valuables and other small items during the ride. Regular film can be obtained locally but special sizes may not be available, so bring plenty. Do not forget swimsuit and towel. When traveling in Europe it is always a good idea to bring a bar of soap since not all hotels supply it. We also like to carry along some leather thongs for tying things to the saddle.

We recommend that you take two different suitcases/bags in order to leave all clothes which are not being used during the trail at the starting point of the trek; and only take the absolutely necessary equipment, while on the ride. This bag will be transported by the jeep from one stopover to the next.

Accommodations in country inns and private estates.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
(a) Sufficient funds are required for all except EU nationals. (b) Portugal is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
Visa Note
Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/consulate to check visa requirements