This holiday is based in the centre of a natural park where our local suppliers work in conjunction with the park wardens to ensure that our clients are aware of their surrounding environment and when walking / cycling on demarcated paths they do not stray or leave waste onto ecologically sensitive areas. This is particularly relevant on the coastal sand dunes.

Our local partners are heavily integrated into the local community. All our guides and drivers are from the area and we have instigated many initiatives with the county council supporting cultural and sporting events - even maintaining the only grass football pitch in the locality.

The lower Alentejo area is undiscovered by northern Europeans mass tourism as it is too far from international airports. It is very popular with the native Portuguese and we are working to create holidays not just for northern European families but with the Portuguese to enable an exchange of cultural information.

All our accommodation is run by family units who often offer additional meals to our customers using locally grown produce from their own kitchen gardens. Our tours include visits to working windmills, potteries and linen weavers to help keep these traditions alive in the locality and make any souvenirs bought more meaningful to the client and local community alike.

Saturday: Flights, arrival & welcome
You will be transferred from Lisbon Airport to your accommodation. In the evening there will be a welcome meal and an introductory meeting with your guide.

Sunday: Orientation activity day
Today is designed to introduce you to the coast and country around Milfontes. We set off, map in hand, to find the harbour where our canoes are waiting. We cross the River Mira to locate further instructions which will point us in the direction of our lunch spot. After a tasty barbeque we try some archery, trek to a local waterfall and return to the town by canoe for a well deserved rest.

Monday: Surfing
The Portuguese Coast has become a mecca for surfers attracted by the Atlantic waves. Today, we take the first steps towards enjoying this exhilarating sport with some comprehensive tuition. By the end of the day we should be standing on our boards and riding the gentle waves, albeit briefly! Don't forget to brush up on your surfing terminology before you go so you too can get stoked up for some gnarly Atlantic rides!

Tuesday: Multi-activity day
"Pego das Pias" is a stunning site set in a steep sided river valley. We will have time to explore this local beauty spot before enjoying a cooling swim in the lagoon. Nicely refreshed after our dip, our instructors will show us the skills required for climbing and abseiling. After a leisurely lunch we will be given the materials to build a raft and hopefully test our handiwork without sinking.

Wednesday: Free day
You can try some optional activities such as horse riding and mountain biking or alternatively relax on the beach or by the pool - the choice is yours.

Thursday: Canoeing and cycling
We head for another riverside beauty spot and a gentle canoe trip downstream to the small harbour at Casa Brancas. The afternoon sees us cycling along the banks of the River Mira and through some stunning landscapes on the way back to Milfontes.

Friday: Zip wires, climbing and abseiling
Today we move away from the coast to try out a thrilling zip wire and brush up on those climbing and abseiling skills on an outdoor wall. The week is rounded off with a farewell dinner this evening.

Saturday: Depart or extend your stay
Return transfers to Lisbon or Faro airport. If you want to extend your stay in Portugal we will be delighted to help you find flights which match your preferred travel dates.

Would you like this holiday tailor made especially for your friends and family?

If you have a group of at least 4 people then please contact one of our travel experts to discuss the options of a private or tailor made programme.

Discover a stunning corner of Portugal which remains largely undiscovered by overseas visitors. The diversity of the landscape creates a fabulous and varied adventure playground which we explore during an action packed family activity holiday.

Alentejo's Atlantic Coast remains one of Portugal's hidden gems and a favourite with the Portugese themselves. Golden beaches and rocky cliff faces characterise this stretch of the littoral whilst inland, thousand upon thousand of cork trees line a seemingly endless range of gently undulating hills.

This region provides an excellent range of activities, a great climate and a huge diversity of landscapes. Quite simply, it's a fantastic destination for an active family holiday.

Families with children aged 8 years or over (please note that this does not preclude younger children but participation in the activities will be at the discretion of our instructors).