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Activity Holidays in Portugal

Overview

Sharing the Iberian Peninsula with its neighbour Spain, what Portugal may lack in size compared to its Iberian brother, it certainly makes up for it in Mediterranean charm, enchantment and all round good vibes. From lavish city breaks to exciting activity holidays in Portugal and unique day experiences, its warm moderate climate makes Portugal a holiday destination you can add to your travel itinerary any time of year.

Visit Portugal and you’ll get a mix of everything from the golden sandy beaches and rugged coastlines of the Algarve, right through to the lovely cobblestone villages and medieval castles of Central Portugal. Add to that the excellent food and authentic, world class wine and you’ve got the makings of a truly exquisite European excursion.

Cinematic scenery, great food and captivating history really are just the start. It’d be a crime not to mention the pulsating city life, with the likes of Lisbon, the hub of culture and the ever underrated Porto. Once you’ve visited these remarkable cities, you’ll find them creeping their way onto your favourite cities list. And you’ll wonder why you never thought to visit sooner.

Our unique Portuguese experiences and activity holidays will provide your holiday itinerary with an injection of fun and put you in the heart of local communities & culture. Get off the beaten track in Portugal and you’ll soon find enriching experiences that help to create a memorable trip.

Our most popular experiences

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  • Whale and Dolphin Watching & Visit to Vila Franca Islet

    3 Hours Portugal

    Visit one of the Azores most picturesque swimming locations and get up close and personal with the most spectacular wild..

    Price from

    £105 pp
    Take me there

  • Vegetarian Ottolenghi Inspired Cooking Break in the Algarve

    4 nights Portugal

    Discover Mediterranean lifestyle cuisine, hands on cooking lessons, health insights and time for relaxing on riverside s..

    Price from

    £796 pp*
    Take me there

  • Riverside Painting Holiday with Yoga

    6 Nights Portugal
    • Mixed media painting with optional yoga
    • All meals included
    • Expert tuition in small groups
    • Award winning luxury villa with pool

    Price from

    £878 pp
    Take me there

  • Private Sunset Tour in Lagos

    3 hours Portugal

    Watch the beautiful Portoguese Sunset in the picturesque Algarve with a private guide!

    Price from

    £56 pp
    Take me there

  • Madeira – Five Days in Paradise

    5 Days Portugal

    Experience a natural paradise, endless ocean views and stunning mountain landscapes while enjoying some unique gastronom..

    Price from

    £1584 pp
    Take me there

  • Hiking in Gerês National Park

    4 Nights Portugal

    Surround yourself with nature and Portuguese culture on this walking holiday in Gerês National Park.

    Price from

    £766 pp
    Take me there

  • Portuguese Fish Experience, Private Tour

    Half Day Portugal

    Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in one of Portugal's most important industries, and meet the locals who ar..

    Price from

    £110 pp
    Take me there

  • Kayaking Experience

    2hr30 Portugal

    Kayak in the most beautiful natural sceneries of the Algarve, Ponta da Piedade - a truly unforgettable experience!

    Price from

    £41 pp
    Take me there
    • View all

    • Whale and Dolphin Watching & Visit to Vila Franca Islet

      3 Hours The Azores

      Visit one of the Azores most picturesque swimming locations and get up close and personal with the most spectacular wild..

      Price from

      £105 pp
      Take me there

    • Vegetarian Ottolenghi Inspired Cooking Break in the Algarve

      4 nights Algarve

      Discover Mediterranean lifestyle cuisine, hands on cooking lessons, health insights and time for relaxing on riverside s..

      Price from

      £796 pp*
      Take me there

    • Riverside Painting Holiday with Yoga

      6 Nights Algarve
      • Mixed media painting with optional yoga
      • All meals included
      • Expert tuition in small groups
      • Award winning luxury villa with pool

      Price from

      £878 pp
      Take me there

    • Private Sunset Tour in Lagos

      3 hours Algarve

      Watch the beautiful Portoguese Sunset in the picturesque Algarve with a private guide!

      Price from

      £56 pp
      Take me there

    • Madeira – Five Days in Paradise

      5 Days Madeira

      Experience a natural paradise, endless ocean views and stunning mountain landscapes while enjoying some unique gastronom..

      Price from

      £1584 pp
      Take me there

    • Hiking in Gerês National Park

      4 Nights Portugal

      Surround yourself with nature and Portuguese culture on this walking holiday in Gerês National Park.

      Price from

      £766 pp
      Take me there

    • Portuguese Fish Experience, Private Tour

      Half Day Porto

      Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in one of Portugal's most important industries, and meet the locals who ar..

      Price from

      £110 pp
      Take me there

    • Kayaking Experience

      2hr30 Algarve

      Kayak in the most beautiful natural sceneries of the Algarve, Ponta da Piedade - a truly unforgettable experience!

      Price from

      £41 pp
      Take me there
    View all

    What our travellers are saying...

    Just spent a wonderful week on this art retreat. A truly remarkable venue with great food and top hosts. Rooms were beautiful as was the setting, and the art workshops were a great way to spend the day. Thoroughly recommend and look forward to my next stay!

    Jo Ryder

    Just spent an amazing week at the River House on their residential course. Very well organised and run with a great art teacher who was patient and encouraging. Excellent accommodation and wonderful food provided by Cheryl and her husband Graham. Great company and beautiful location. Can’t praise the week highly enough and hope to return again next year.

    Ann Peak

    River views, fresh meals, local culture, and art lessons from a friendly skilled professional made for the perfect holiday retreat. The River House is a gem in the Algarve countryside. I spent a week relaxing to the peaceful sound of birds and goat bells, enjoying walks through the surrounding landscape, and lounging poolside after lively morning art sessions. Our host, Cheryl, and teacher, Tracy, were very knowledgeable and lovely to work with.

    A Rose

    It was a lovely 5 days of painting and drawing with a fantastic teacher and a beautiful environment. The River House is a special hidden place in the Algarve! I was glad I was able to join the retreat as an Alagarve resident. I definitely recommend it!

    M Gieling

    This was an amazing holiday! The tuition was excellent - I learnt so much from Tracy and my confidence has increased. I am inspired to try painting more. The riverside house is a lovely villa set in beautiful surroundings. The owner Cheryl was very welcoming and an amazing cook! Perfect week.

    R Ali

    This was a very different holiday for me and I loved it. A great relaxing location with fantastic views. Cheryl made us welcome and cooked some amazing vegetarian food from local fresh produce. Tracy our art teacher was extremely knowledgeable in a variety of techniques, gave you confidence and always made you feel at ease. A lovely break from normal life.

    S Pye

    I would be hard pressed to say which part of our trip was best. Our itinerary was perfect, our guides were wonderful, and our accommodations were like a dream. Nuno and his team could not do enough to make us feel welcome. We loved every minute we spent in Portugal. The worst part of our trip was saying good bye. I would highly recommend!

    Larry Goldfarb

    Best Time to Visit Portugal

    Spring Summer Autumn Winter
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    Expect temperatures between 15 degrees in March and 20 degrees in May.

    Visitors to Portugal start to pick up from March when the temperatures start to creep up again. April is a great time to visit for outdoor activities and watching the landscape start to change and blossom. Expect warm weather and sunny skies in spring.

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    Expect temperatures between 22 degrees in June and 28 degrees in August.

    A lot of people come in July and August because that’s just when people naturally get their holidays so expect the coast to be a lot busier than the rest of the year. It’s also worth noting that temperatures in August can reach up to 40 degrees so it might not be the best time to visit big cities or do energetic outdoor activities.

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    Expect temperatures between 24 degrees in September and 17 degrees in November.

    September would be the best month to visit as the temperature starts to cool but it is still nice and warm. This would be a great time to plan your visit to the coast where you’ll see less crowds too. The autumn welcomes a change in the landscape again so it’s an ideal time to get outdoors.

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    Expect temperatures around 17 degrees from December to February.

    Winter can be very very mild and so planning a visit to Portugal in the winter would also work. Generally speaking, the wettest month is February so you probably want to avoid that time. Other than that Portugal is a great all year round destination

    Best Places to Visit

    Porto

    Admire Porto’s effortless charm, serene atmosphere, stunning good looks and friendly locals.

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    Porto

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    Lisbon

    Wander the maze of cobbled alleyways of Lisbon, a city ripe for exploration set over seven hills.

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    Lisbon

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    Algarve

    Get lost in the colours of the Algarve, from turquoise waters & rugged red cliffs to fertile farmlan

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    Algarve

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    Douro Valley

    The Douro River snakes through the valley lined with vineyards that produce the famous Port wine.

    Discover

    Douro Valley

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    The Azores

    A collection of volcanic landscapes and rich forests rising dramatically from glistening blue ocean

    Discover

    The Azores

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    Madeira

    A relative unknown to many tourists, magical Madeira is actually one of the best travel destinations

    Discover

    Madeira

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    Top tips for visiting Portugal

    Plan carefully: Make sure you’re planning your trip at the right time, look into the shoulder seasons as a better option for travel!

    Go beyond the mainland: Portugal’s incredible archipelagos Madeira and the Azores are amazing destinations for an adventure holiday.

    Be moved by Fado: Portugal’s traditional folk music, Fado, is an experience you won’t want to miss. Have a look for any performances.

    Try the sweets: Portugal is famous for its sweet treats (think pastel de nata) so you should definitely seek out some treats!

    Learn more about Portugal

    14/05/2020 Local Insights

    Meet Cheryl – our host in the Algarve

    Recently, we’ve been chatting to Cheryl, who runs our painting and walking holiday over in the Algarve, Portugal. She’s been trying to use her time in isolation to develop good habits that will stand her in good stead once the crisis subsides. Her house – in the picturesque hills of... Read More »
    30/01/2019 Features

    Top 5 Holidays in Portugal for Solo Travellers

    Long to experience the Algarve’s stunning coastline? Want to hit your taste buds with some of the local cod all washed down with a glass of ‘vinho verde’? Always dreamt of experiencing Portugal’s rich culture and welcoming locals? And let’s guess – you want to do it all without being... Read More »
    17/10/2024

    What to eat in Aljezur

    Nestled in the heart of Portugal’s western Algarve, Aljezur is a hidden gem that’s quickly becoming a culinary hotspot for those in the know. This charming town, where traditional Portuguese flavours meet modern gastronomy, offers a unique blend of local specialties and world-class dining experiences. From fresh-caught fish and exotic... Read More »
    05/09/2022 Sustainability

    A Travellers’ Guide to Treading Lightly

    Now more than ever, we’re made explicitly aware of our roles in the fight against climate change, whether that’s buying an electric car, ensuring we recycle our rubbish properly, going vegan, or simply turning the light off when we leave a room. But we find many travellers aren’t fully aware... Read More »
    03/08/2021 Features

    Active Holidays in Europe

    As the continent slowly seems to open up and the prospect of travel, at least within the EU, looks more and more like a viable option for the end of summer, we thought this would be a good moment to give our customers who are looking for active holidays in... Read More »

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