Probably the best tour I've ever taken!

Avaliação de: Meio dia off-road na serra dos Candeeiros

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I used to be a travel writer based in London, so I've taken quite a few tours. I want to tell you that, in my experience, this is one of the best I've had - very warm, personal, and well-informed. My husband and I wanted an 'orientation' to the Parque Natural de Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, but what Hernâni gave us was far beyond our expectations. He was patient with our non-stop questions and took us through the park and its small hamlets to see dinosaur footprints, explaining the hill formations carved by rushing water and quarrying of limestone over the ages, showing us artistically painted azulejo tiles that unfolded the story of the production of olive oil , and others that paid homage to locals who fought in foreign wars. We visited little lakes and an ingenious water capture and filtration using local materials that provides water for the precarious little farms, and treated us to hot rosemary and fennel tea with gorgeous pastries made by his wife, Teresa. We heard about the history, geology and customs, visited an old corn windmill just as a local lady sprinted across the stony outcrops driving her sheep before her. It was a timeless scene that brought everything to life.

There was much more - misty morning views of olive groves and cottages that gave way, as the sky cleared, to far views of the rolling hills and craggy outcrops. Lots of opportunity to see, get out and walk and simply enjoy the beauty of this fascinating part of Portugal. A first-rate tour from an excellent guide. Highly recommended!!

Jude I