PORTUGAL - The Trails of Natural Park of Arrabida Hills
The Natural Park of Arrábida Hills extends over an area of 10 800 hectares, situated between the town of Sesimbra and the city of Setúbal, the hill of Palmela and the sea. The originality of the scenery and harmony of Man in his environment reveal a perfect integration of the two in a natural and socio-cultural context which surround it. The chain of elevations which the Park includes, for example the Hills of S. Luís, Gaiteiros, S. Francisco and Louro, reach their highest peak in Arrábida, chalky in constitution where the range comes into contact with the sea.
The natural value of the landscape of this area is enormous, reaching its peak in Arrábida Hills. Here the image of harshness, suaveness and beauty are all intermingled in the awesome surroundings. Traditional values, namely the cheese from Azeitão, show how well integrated they are into the community. Historical values, such as the Convent of Arrábida, include the human element in the environment increasing a conscious and balanced contact between Man and Nature.
The climate of the region is temperate although in the area Mediterranean characteristics may be found: the amenable climate together with the moderating effect of the sea allow us to conclude that this is one of the very best climates in Continental Portugal.
The Natural Park of Arrábida is an area of excellent views, culture, history and hundred-year-old traditions as well as having an economic importance regarding tourism. The various beaches down the coast are in great demand during the swimming season.
Palmela is developed around its medieval castle and it is the centre of a famous vine-growing region. The Romans fortified this region around the year 106. The castle was taken from the Moors again by D. Afonso Henriques. Along the years several kings ordered reconstruction works and it was given to the Order of Santiago. But it was destroyed by the earthquake in 1755 and abandoned. Only in 1945 its restoration works began and after 1960 it was converted in Pousada (luxury lodging-house).
Palmela is located in the Natural Park of Arrábida. The evidences of human occupation allude to Palaeolithic and the Phoenicians and the Romans who established important commercial centres here.
West of the Palmela Castle, a vast area of the Natural Park of Arrábida can be seen which stretches as far as the Hills of Louro and on the right-hand side down the length of Barris Valley. From the top of the hills, a lovely panorama of the hills of S. Luís and Gaiteiros is visible. The Natural Park of Arrábida is, at present, carrying out restoration work on the typical mills found in the Hills of Louro because they are concerned with preserving the heritage.
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| Group Sizes |
4 to 7 people
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| Durations |
1 day
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| Required Skill Level |
Experienced
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| Required Equipment |
Included
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| Targeted Activities |
Cycling, Mountain Biking |
| Our Certificatons |
- We have been operating for 10 years.
- BTTour/PortugalBike is a company licensed by Direcção-Geral do Turismo (D.G.T. – the Portuguese governmental entity that rules these activities).
- We have Post-graduate studies on Adventure Tourism Planning and Management.
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Group Types |
Private |
Groups |
Kids/Youth |
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Elderly |
Workshops/Seminars |
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Mountain Biking Skills & Disciplines |
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Road Cycling |
Urban Terrain |
Lap Racing |
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Offroad Biking |
Cross-country |
Hill Climb |
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Downhill |
FreeStyle |
Dirt Jumping |
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Contact wild nature and the heritage in our Natural Parks!
PortugalBike offers you a First-Class Adventure!
Duration: 1 day
Distance: 35km (22mi)
Maximal Altitude: 244m (800ft)
Climbing Gain: 850m (2790ft)
Technical Difficulty: 4 (1~5)
Physical Difficulty: 4 (1~5)
Overal Dificulty: 4 (1~5)
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| Meals |
Not Applicable
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| Local Transport |
Included
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| Insurance |
Included
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| Additional |
WHAT DOES THE PRICE OF PORTUGALBIKE GUIDED TOURS INCLUDE?
- PortugalBike Tour with a Guide
- Car connections
- Permanent Backup Vehicle
- 27-speed MTB bicycle with disc brakes and front Suspension (GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc)
- Helmet (Bell) and Backpack
- Nourishing and energetic picnic
- Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance
- Mechanical assistance and first-aid assistance
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| Nearby Attractions |
- You can visit interesting historical places, such a Castle, and some aspects archeologicals.
- You can enjoy beautiful trails in Natural Park of Arrabida Hills.
- You can enjoy luxury mediterranean forest. |
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Basics & Backgrounds
in Dutch
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