Portugal walking tour

Planet

The Schist Villages region is made up of four zones in Portugal’s interior: the Serra da Lousã, Zêzere, the Serra do Açor and the Tejo-Ocreza. It’s area is a region of Portugal’s interior that has successfully been promoted to tourists.

We are dedicated to promoting authentic experiences, supporting the appreciation and enjoyment of Portugal’s natural and cultural heritage sites while at the same time encouraging their protection by raising awareness of environmental issues with our travelers. Furthermore, we are also committed to minimizing the impact of their activities on the environment, such as: protecting the environment, the flora, fauna, and landscapes; conserve natural resources in all destinations of this tour; minimize the acoustic pollution, elimination of residues and overcrowding.

Along this journey, we always promote the world of secular trails that connect each unique village to another, where centuries of History, tradition and landscape remain preserved. With these trails into the wild, walking is a perfect way to explore this region without pollution during your stay in Portugal.

After the 2017’s fires, were implemented some reforestation and protection projects in this region, in Ferraria de São João, for example. First of all the fact of eucalyptus covered hills in this region is a big problem for the environment because these trees are very flammable. In the general way, these reforestation and protection projects are based in reforest with “firefighting trees” - chestnut and cork oak trees, for example.

Promoting tours like this increases the economy in the region in order to reforest much of the burning area. We believe it will be an effective way of alert to the consciousness of the people to the native species role instead of the exotics.

We believe it will be an effective way of alerting people to the conscience of caring for the environment.

People

We have been mindful of the social and environmental consequences of our work and have consistently sought to find sustainable and innovative ways to create a positive impact.

A fundamental aspect is that all who visit us, are informed about the territory and history of what is now Portugal and for this to be possible nothing is better than a good relationship with the local population.

For this Walking Tour we did a previous selection of tourism accommodations in that schist villages and places, allowing the client the integration with the owners and their families that also live there or simple to take the option of relaxing on these unique places. Using our walking vacation tours we support the local economy by booking directly with local accommodations. On this tour as well as using locally-owned accommodations and recommending the typical restaurants that serve traditional dishes focus on our local gastronomy.

Each Village holds its own identity so you can perfectly enjoy several days in the same village while exploring the Caminhos do Xisto (a network of circular walking trails). During your stay in Portuguese Schist Villages, you can experiment baking bread in a wood oven, making artisanal goat cheese, carving wood, cooking clay-pottery, weaving, producing olive oil or simply relaxing. All of these activities are supported by local people.

After the 2017’s fires, is important make something. Some reforestation and protection projects are already underway, but tourism support is also essential. In this way, with this tour and all of activities in Center of Portugal are important to support the local economy affected by the fires.
Sustainable tourism, therefore, has become an alternative for the protection and preservation of destinations that do not want to give up certain social, cultural and environmental characteristics that should be threatened by tourists.