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Vicentine Route

Portugal
Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust - Trek to the End of the World 2027
6 days

Challenge:
Trek
Main Accommodation:
Hotel
Challenge Factor:
Terrain
GRADE:
YELLOW 3

Dates & Prices

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About the Challenge

This beautiful trek in south-west Portugal takes us to the ‘end of the world’ – Cape St Vincent, the southwestern-most point of mainland Europe.

Prepare to discover remote beaches and rugged coastline as we follow the Vicentina coastline, the west-facing Atlantic coast of the Algarve, known for its wild natural beauty and a world away from the tourist resorts of the sheltered southern coast. It’s a windswept wilderness at times, but these colourful cliffs and miles of pounding surf offer a wonderful backdrop for trekkers.

Inland, we discover traditional farms and fishing-villages, which offer rural culture and plenty of variety to our surroundings. Every day is hilly, as we ascend the steep headlands and descend into hidden bays, but with its magnificent coastal beauty as our constant companion, this challenging trek offers an unforgettable experience.

This trip generates around 101 kg of CO₂ per person. Because of our commitment to responsible travel, we offset 100% of these emissions, including flights booked with us.

Dates & Prices

Itinerary

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust - Trek to the End of the World 2027


BESPOKE • 6 DAYS
Beautifully wild coastal trek to the 'end of the world' - Cape St Vincent, the southwestern-most point of mainland Europe

  • Depart London for Faro; transfer to Aljezur (approx. 1.5 hrs) check in to hotel, and relax! Depending on flight times, there may be time to explore the cobbled streets and whitewashed buildings of this old port town near the west coast, before meeting again for dinner and a trip briefing. Night hotel.

  • The first day of our coastal adventure! Aljezur lies a few miles inland, and we set off towards the coast, following the famed Fishermen’s Way. Once beyond the town, our path takes us uphill and along a ridge above the river valley. Dropping down when we reach the coast, we walk parallel to the sea for the next few hours. It’s a long first day, but the views help the miles to pass quickly! We pass the beautiful golden surf-beach of Monte Clérigo, and follow the undulating coastal path towards Ponta da Atalaia, a headland known for its magnificent views, abundance of seabirds, and the remains of a 12th-century Muslim fort. Here we leave the coast and head inland, and yet more uphill, towards the small town of Arrifana. Night hotel.

    Trek approx. 5-6 hours; 20km

  • Our day starts out uphill, as we leave Arrifana and ascend the craggy black cliffs that will lead us south along the coast. Legs may be aching from yesterday’s efforts, but we take it steady and the views from the top are worth the effort! Look out for the famous landmark of Pedra de Aghulha (Needle Rock) – a tall, thin spire of rock emerging from the sea. We continue south on trails that weave through rugged hills and fertile farmland, descending at times to beach level, then (of course!) ascending again! Stunning vistas at Bordeira, where river meets sea in a lagoon among the dunes and wild waves, await us near the end, and then it’s not far to the small, friendly surf-village of Carrapateira. Night hotel.

    Trek approx. 6-7 hours; 24km

  • Still walking south, we venture into new landscapes, discovering the untamed plateau inland. Our route takes us along rugged coastline, dotted with rock formations and wild surf, before tackling a succession of steep hills between rocky coves and quaint old fishing villages. The plateau is generally flatter, but not necessarily easier, with hidden ravines, scrub vegetation, and pockets of woodland, home to diverse flora and fauna. Known for its strong winds, the terrain may feel tougher than it looks! We will hopefully still have the energy to explore the narrow, cobbled streets and whitewashed houses of Vilo do Bispo, the beautiful village which is our home tonight. Night hotel.

    Trek approx. 6-7 hours; 22km

  • Our final day of walking! We’ll be taking the inevitable early climb in our stride now, as we follow weaving trails towards the coast. After pausing to marvel at the geological lines and faults of the colourful cliffs at Prado do Telheiro, we follow the gradually-descending cliffs towards our main landmark, Cape St Vincent, or Cabo do Sao Vicente – the most southwesterly point of Portugal and mainland Europe. Once thought to be the end of the world and a magical site, it became a popular pilgrimage site in the middle ages; its lighthouse is built on 16th-century monastery remains. Its 75m-high vertical cliffs are home to thousands of birds, from sea-birds to birds of prey, and dolphins and other marine life can often be seen in the ocean beyond. After taking time to soak up the views and reflect on our achievements, only a few kilometres remain of our big adventure! Enjoy every step of the last section to Sagres, where we’ll check into our hotel and relax before we meet up again for a slap-up dinner to celebrate all your efforts this week. Night hotel.

    Trek approx. 5-6 hours; 19km

  • Transfer to Faro for the flight back to London. Depending on flight times, there may be more free time in Sagres.

    (Lunch not included)


Dates & Prices

This challenge requires a minimum number of participants to operate.

Prices may vary depending on date.

  • 2027

  • On this challenge you have 1 option

PAYMENT OPTIONS EXPLAINED

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FULL PAYMENT OPTION

You are responsible for paying the costs associated with this challenge. This will be due for payment 8 weeks before departure. If you wish to, you can still fundraise under this payment option but there is no set target to achieve and 100% of all monies raised will go directly to your charity. You can select your chosen charity within the booking process
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PART PAYMENT OPTION

You commit to raising the target and pay at least 80% of this to your chosen charity 10 weeks before departure and the final 20% within 2 weeks of your return. Your chosen charity will retain 50% of the target plus any additional fundraising you achieve. You will pay a contribution to your trip costs which will lower your fundraising target.
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FUNDRAISING OPTION

You commit to raising the fundraising target and pay at least 80% of this to your chosen charity 10 weeks before departure and the final 20% within 2 weeks of your return.Your chosen charity will retain 50% of the target plus any additional fundraising you achieve.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Return flights from London to Faro
  • Transport and transfers as part of itinerary
  • All accommodation in hotels on a twin-share basis
  • All meals except where specified
  • Discover Adventure crew (number dependent on group size)
  • Local support and back-up equipment
  • Entry to National Park and any other sites included in the itinerary
  • We offset 100% of the carbon emissions from your trip, including flights booked with us

 

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Travel insurance
  • Any meals specified 'not included' in the itinerary
  • Personal spending money, souvenirs, drinks and tips for the local guides/support crew
  • Fees for any optional sites, attractions or activities
  • Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions

On the Trip

  • Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with appropriate communication devices (eg phones, radios), medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination. Our leaders always have access to our 24-hour emergency UK back-up. They are responsible for safety on the trip, and will make any changes to the itinerary they deem necessary, should local conditions dictate. Pre-trip administration - such as medical questionnaires and travel insurance as appropriate - is all done with your safety in mind.

Preparing for the Challenge

  • We plan our trips around the optimal weather conditions, but could still be exposed to bad weather at any time. It is vital you are prepared for all conditions. We provide you with a detailed packing kit-list on registration, with plenty of information, and we are always available if you need advice.

  • In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to cancel your booking, we would ask that you notify us in writing either by email or post.  Your cancellation will be considered effective from the date the notice is received. Registration, administration and amendment fees are non refundable and, depending on your payment option and how close it is to your challenge departure date, you may be liable for a cancellation charge.

    Full details of all cancellation charges may be found in the Terms and Conditions of booking.

  • We have a Passenger Portal which will give you more details of the challenge itself. It also enables you to see any outstanding information we need, the countdown to your challenge departure, see your outstanding balance, make payments and update your contact details. You can access this via the following link - Passenger Portal Log in.

The DA Ethos

  • We believe that travel is a force for good, and it should be safe and accessible for everyone to take on any of our adventures, regardless of sexuality, gender, race or religion. We are committed to ensuring our travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip we control. However, we operate in some parts of the world that are less accepting. We encourage customers to be aware of local laws and customs in their destinations for their safety and comfort.
    We don’t tolerate any form of discrimination, violence or harassment, either between travellers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. Any behaviour that disrespects our customers, leaders or local communities, makes others feel unsafe or breaks local laws may result in removal from a trip or denying their booking.

  • We are committed to an ethos of responsible travel here at Discover Adventure; this means sustainable tourism, ethical travel, community engagement, cultural respect, wildlife protection, fair trade practices, carbon footprint reduction and more. We have been on a 30-year journey with this as one of our core principles, and it continues to evolve; you can keep up to date with what we are up to and what all of this translates into on a DA trip here.
    From 2024, we will offset our entire carbon footprint, including the flights, via a carbon credit scheme (see more here). We must do all we can to be on the right side of history. Our offsetting brings peace of mind to many of our customers, but we think it is essential that our customers are aware of their impact; with this in mind, we encourage our participants to donate to World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre project when they book an adventure.

  • Our brilliant group dynamic is fundamental to us. We have become synonymous with it over our 30 years of adventure: the supportive nature and group camaraderie are always listed as one of the trip highlights in our feedback. You’ll meet people of widely varying backgrounds, motivations and experiences. Under these unique circumstances, you are more likely to open up about your story and form lifelong friendships. You’ll likely find something that resonates with everyone in the group. This is a unique way of travelling, after all, and that’s what brings you all together.
    We have travellers from 18 – 80 across all of our challenges, with the average age of our participants being in the mid-40s.

  • Over the years, people with wide-ranging abilities have achieved personal goals on our adventures that they may have previously assumed were out of their reach.
    We must be aware of any circumstances that may affect your ability to take on the trip, whether you have concerns about fitness, health conditions or disability. This way, we can ensure we are providing the best advice and support. You will be asked to sign a medical declaration upon booking.

    Whilst we will always try our best for you, by the nature of adventure, not all of our challenges are accessible, and we are not an operator specifically offering adapted adventures. If you would like to have a confidential chat with the team about anything before booking, please give us a call or an email; we will be more than happy to help.

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