Portugal

The history of Portugal and her cultural influences is as rich as her natural landscape is diverse. Once a great empire, colonising large parts of Africa, China, America and Malaysia, it's a fascinating place for gentle exploring on an activity holiday. In Portugal and Madeira our selection of walking holidays and cycling holidays let you discover magnificent Baroque buildings and gilded altar carvings, exotic fruits and Oriental spices, and stunning natural vistas.

Walking and cycling in Portugal

On the Portuguese mainland you dip into the historical wealth and the natural splendour of a country whose identity has been shaped by the Romans, the Moors and by her conquests of other nations and continents. A country split by the majestic Montanhas and the Serra da Estrela, a natural divide between the humid Atlantic North and the dry Mediterranean South.

On Madeira our walking holidays concentrate on the stunning natural beauty the island has to offer. Our walks take you through magnificent coastal and mountain scenery with exotic flowers and rare birds of prey on view at every step in this beautiful 'floating garden'.

Our cycling holidays in Portugal explore the far south western corner of the Iberian Peninsula, a remote and rural region of tiny white villages, rolling verdant hills and over 100km of wild deserted beaches untouched by tourism. New for 2011, we also have cycling choices on the Atlantic Coast and a linear route from Porto to Coimbra.