All tours are held on Friday, July 3^rd, 2020. Tour can be purchased through online registration in addition to registration costs. Seats are subject to availability and will be booked on a first come first served basis.

• Please note that changes may occur to the following schedule due to organizational reasons.
• All tours include lunch. If you have any dietary restrictions please indicate in the registration form.
• In the event of not reaching the minimum number of participants in a particular tour, you will be asked to change tour and payment will be adjusted accordingly, or, in alternative, you can decline attending another tour and ask for a refund.
• Please check the cancelation policy in the registration form.
• Tours are available for people older than 13 years.

#1 Tour: River kayak and barbecue, historical city of Coimbra and visit to a vertical-slot fish pass

A bus tour will depart for Penacova, where the kayak tour will depart. The kayak (sit-on-top) trip is considered one of the most famous kayak descents passing through the beautiful landscape of Mondego valley. The tour, 12 km long, starts just downstream river beach of Penacova and finishes in Torres do Mondego, passing on a fish ramp in a small weir. This part of the river usually has a light current, which makes this kayak-tour easy accessible to all ages. Close to the river we will have a barbecue at Pedra Aguda farm to relax and enjoy the sun and a taste of the local food.

After lunch, the bus will take us to the center of Coimbra city where its historical buildings were classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Culture and Tourism Division of the City Hall will give a guided tour to some of the city's historical places. Rising scenically from the Mondego River, Coimbra was Portugal’s medieval capital for more than a century and it is home to the country’s oldest and most prestigious university.

At the end, we will visit the well-known Coimbra fish pass, located close to downtown of Coimbra. Research oriented to management and conservation of diadromous fish in Mondego River began in 1998, and since then the knowledge about the ecological requirements of these species and the specific threats in this watershed increased substantially. More than 6 million euros have been invested in this river basin on direct actions regarding the rehabilitation of diadromous species, including long-term studies on the biology, ecology and distribution of migratory species, and in habitat restoration measures, such as the construction of this 120 m long vertical-slot fish pass in Coimbra dam by the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) and of five nature-like fish passes in small weirs, four of which are located upstream from the Coimbra dam.

The tour fee includes all transportation, sit-on-top kayak, visit to Coimbra city, light snack and the barbecue. You should bring adequate clothing, including bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, and a hat. Don’t forget the sunscreen. To participate in this tour you need to know how to swim and be comfortable in water.

#2 Tour: São Pedro do Sul thermal springs, wine tasting and walk in the vineyards, visit a mini-hydro fish pass

A bus tour will depart for São Pedro do Sul village in the north of Portugal, where the spa and health springs will be visited. Throughout history, São Pedro do Sul has been known for its thermal waters - hot, alkaline and sulphurous, recognized for their mineral and medicinal effects. Due to their healing properties, they were already used by the Romans and later in the 12th century. Prominent persons of the Portuguese kingdom, such as the first King of Portugal D. Afonso Henriques, attended these thermal stations. Nowadays, the thermal springs of São Pedro do Sul have modern equipment, as well as several leisure structures. They are among the most important thermal stations in the country. A guided tour to the Queen Amélia and King Afonso Henriques’ bath will take place right after arriving to São Pedro do Sul.

We will have lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy the famous “Vitela à moda de Lafões” (veal meat). After lunch the bus will take us to Águas Frias small hydropower plants (SHP) to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and visit the fish pass. The SHP was built on a medium-sized stream at an altitude below 600m. One of the principal environmental challenges facing SHPs is related to fish passage. Indeed, upstream and downstream movements are ecological imperatives for populations of both anadromous and potamodromous fish. Efficient fish passage is thus required for regulatory agencies to approve hydropower projects, whether they are new developments or applications for re-licensing.

At the end of the day, we will get a taste of the famous wine of Lafões at the House of the Quinta da Comenda. The House dates before the foundation of Portugal, belonging to D. Teresa, mother of the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques. In Quinta da Comenda, organic farming has been practiced since 1987, by not applying any synthetic pesticide or any chemical fertilizer. Usually, the Lafões wines show some acidity, close to the neighbor designation of Green Wine.

The tour fee includes all transportation, visit to São Pedro do Sul springs, lunch, light snack and wine tasting. You should bring adequate clothing, including a hat and sunscreen.

#3 Tour: Walking Tagus River trail, visit historical Belver castle and a boat trip in the Tagus River to see the geological feature of Portas de Rodão

A bus will take us to Belver, a village located in the center of Portugal close to Tagus River. We will walk the 3 km of “Passadiços do Alamal” trailhead alongside Tagus River left bank. The scenario is stunning with the extensive blue waters of Tagus River just below the green hills of Belver with the castle always on sight. At the end of the trail we will reach the beautiful beach of Alamal with incredible yellow sand.

Before having lunch we will visit the first and most important castle to be constructed by the Hospitalers in Portugal during the Middle Ages to defend the access-way along the Tagus River. This beautiful and well preserved castle is located on the top of the hill in the right bank of Tagus River, in a region then known as Guidintesta. Here, you will find breathtaking views of Tagus River.

We will have lunch at a restaurant to enjoy the local cuisine. In the afternoon it is time to relax with a boat tour in Tagus River. The tour will take us to the so-called Portas de Ródão, an imposing rocky structures that stand out as the guardians of Tagus River. The rare bird species back stork or the eagle owl inhabit these cliffs together with the largest population of Ruppell’s griffon vulture of Portugal, covered by rockroses, heather, broom and juniper. This place is also an excellent viewpoint, due to its privileged location and its rich surrounding natural landscape.

The tour fee includes all transportation, visit to the Castle, lunch, light snack and the boat trip. You should bring adequate clothing, sunscreen and hat. Bathing suit and towel are optional but strongly recommended.   

#4 Tour: Aqua adventure and river sightseeing, barbecue in the river bank, visit the Fluviário Museum with the freshwater Iberian fish species and wine tasting

A bus will take us to Azenhas da Seda, in North Alentejo region. Old water-mills, rapids and waterfalls makes "Azenhas da Seda" a magical spot that surprises everyone. We will have an aqua adventure that involves soft-canyoning. The activity takes us on a journey of discovery along rocky streams with rapids and small waterfalls. Filled with surprises and challenges, it includes overcoming natural obstacles with the help of fixed ropes, swimming down the rapids and jumping into the water. All of that, in the spectacular scenario of Seda River. To refill the energy, a lunch will be served right in the river bank. There you can enjoy the lunch between swims in the river.

After lunch, a bus will take us to the famous Aquatic Freshwater Museum, the Fluviario, where you can see the Iberian freshwater fish. This was the first big freshwater aquarium in Europe. Besides the freshwater fish you can spot the otters playing around. You can also enjoy the “Passadiços do Gameiro” trailhead (1.5 km) alongside Raia River.

Before getting back to Lisbon, we will still have time for a wine tasting at Monte da Ravasqueira a typical Alentejo winery dating from 1943. The Alentejo region was already elected as the best wine region to visit in the world. It is a vast and one of the largest regions in Portugal with delicious gastronomy and great wines. The Herdades and Quintas (wineries) are part of its culture and identity and are definitely a must tour when coming to Alentejo.

The tour fee includes all transportation, aqua adventure, lunch and the wine tasting. You should bring adequate clothing, including bathing suit, towel, sunscreen and hat. To participate in this tour you need to know how to swim and be comfortable in water.