Tours of Portugal

Over more than 30 years Explore has developed a diverse and exciting range of more than 100 walking and trekking holidays. Whether you’re new to walking holidays, a casual hiker or a seasoned trekker you will find plenty of expertly planned walks and treks to choose from. We specialise in small group walking and trekking holidays. On these you will be in a group of up to 16 along with an experienced tour leader. Depending on the trek you may also have guides, porters, muleteers, cooks and camping crew with you too. For many trekkers the camaraderie with the crew is one of the highlights of the holiday.

Azores Island Hopping

Tour Map of Azores Island Hopping

Bathed in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, these nine volcanic islands rise up from the mid-Atlantic ridge. On a series of easy day walks we explore five of the unspoilt islands, discovering crater lakes, thermal springs, deep gorges and craggy coastlines. We can also take boat trips in search of whales and spend time in picturesque fishing villages.

Walks and Whales in the Azores

The Portuguese Azores Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean about half-way between Lisbon and New York. These nine islands are lush and volcanic, and where rural life is still fairly simple with twice as many cows as inhabitants. Our one-week easy walking and whale watching holiday here takes us onto four of these Azorean Islands. Having arrived into Ponta Delgada on San Miguel we have a short flight to Faial Island. Here we enjoy our first walk, a short 2-3 hours to the lighthouse at Ponta Capelinhos. Moving by boat onto our next island '“ Sao Jorge we walk along the coast from Faja dos Vimes to Sao Joao with stunning ocean views through lush and gnarly forest on the steep sides of this fabulously volcanic terrain. In the centre of the island we walk through the wild blue hydrangeas up to a viewpoint of the caldera, a cauldron like crater formed by the collapse of an emptied magma chamber. With lakes and sweeping views of the surrounding islands it's a beautiful, still and impressive place. The Azores is known to be one of the best whale and dolphin watching areas in the world '“ so we include a whale-watching boat trip, which we do from Pico Island. A magnificent experience. Back on land we have the option of a long, hard days walk to highest summit Mount Pico (2351m), this brings our holiday on these splendid islands to a close. With low-cost airlines flying direct from the UK, this is the prefect get-a-way for those looking for a week away from the bustle of busy-life and enjoying the outdoors, walking and the marine life.

The Best of the Azores

The nine treasured Atlantic Ocean islands of the Azores, created by volcanic activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are home to some of the most stunning landscapes and naturally beautiful vistas. Discover these islands on this exciting new holiday, visiting the most cherished areas of these Portuguese-owned lands. We begin by spending time in ‘The Green Island’, São Miguel, renowned for its lush green landscapes and thermal hot springs. Next we discover the islands of Faial and Terceira, admiring the wondrous views, visiting beautiful vineyards and exploring the fascinating monuments and attractions such as the Fortress of St John the Baptist and the enchanting old fishing port of Porto Judeu. To further enhance this comprehensive itinerary, free days are included for optional activities that include searching for the cetaceans that frequent the surrounding ocean.