Almost 50 organised walks and trails will take place across the Alentejo over the weekend of October 31 and November 1 as part of an initiative designed to establish the region as a leading walking tourism destination.
The routes form the centrepiece of the third Alentejo Walking Festival, organised by the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority in partnership with the regional tourism promotion agency and local councils.
Registration is now open and is free but compulsory, with participants able to sign up for individual routes until 5.30pm on October 28.
“It is a festival that already serves as a showcase for the best walking routes and trails in the region,” said José Manuel Santos, president of the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority.
The main public programme, Todo o Alentejo a Caminhar – roughly “All of Alentejo Walking” – takes place on October 31 and November 1, with routes spread across different parts of the region.
Organisers say the walks have an interpretative element, with many also accompanied by cultural activities intended to help participants discover the landscapes, history and traditions of the areas they pass through.
According to Santos, the festival is designed to promote the network of walking trails that has been developed across the Alentejo over the last 15 years.
“It is an invitation we are extending to customers to come and discover and make use of this network of walking trails,” he said.
But the event is not aimed only at the general public.
The festival begins on October 29 with a conference in Gavião on the governance and integrated management of walking routes, followed by a workshop for Portuguese tour operators in Nisa on October 30.
Promotional visits for national tour operators will run between October 29 and November 1, while international media will be invited to explore the region from November 5 to 8.
Santos said walking tourism allows visitors to experience much more than the trails themselves.
“When we sell the walks, we are selling rural heritage, the megalithic sites and a range of resources associated with nature tourism,” he said.
“Walking in the Alentejo is an immersive experience offering a deep connection with our culture and nature.”
Registration and details of all routes are available through the Alentejo Walking Festival website.
Michael Bruxo
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.