Tavira FESTIVE WALKING 2017

Transcription

1 Tavira FESTIVE WALKING 2017

2 WELCOME TO Tavira Thank you for booking with HF Holidays. We look forward to welcoming you to the Eastern Algarve. This booklet will give you some essential information about your resort and holiday; please read this carefully before you travel. Your holiday will include a full Guided Walking programme and a free day in the middle of the week. Our experienced leaders will also ensure that the sociable atmosphere of your holiday continues into the evenings. Wishing you a great holiday from everyone at HF Holidays. Tavira is located in the Eastern Algarve and once was a traditional Portuguese fishing town. This area has a diverse history. Between the 8th and 13th centuries Tavira was under Arab rule until its conquest by the Knights of the Order of Santiago in It was elevated to a city in1520 by King Manuel I and was the main trading port in the Algarve during the 16th to 18th centuries. Today it has managed to stave off the influence of mass tourism to hold onto its unique tradition and handsome character. It still has the well preserved cobbled streets and arguably has some of the finest churches in the Algarve. The seven arch bridge over the River Gilão is reputedly Roman in origin, although its present appearance was acquired in the 17th century. The River Gilão has a great river front, an area to sit and enjoy the picturesque setting from one of the cafés. Nearby is the incredibly beautiful and unspoilt Mata Nacional de Conceiçäo National Park. The area offers beautiful coastline, saltpans teeming with birdlife and has year round sunshine, making it a perfect destination for gentle guided walks. Our holiday at Tavira is based within easy walking distance from this delightful town and in a great location to access our walks. 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

3 The walks are tailored to the short daylight hours, with occasional adjustments to provide the right balance of safety and enjoyment and always with a careful eye on the weather. Each day there ll be a choice of 3 grades of walk. Easier Up to a maximum of 7 miles (11km) Medium Up to a maximum of 9 miles (14.5km) Harder Up to a maximum of 12 miles (19km) We will generally leave the house between 9.15 and 9.30am and all the walks are planned to finish by 4pm. We ll tell you more about each walk (precise distances and ascents) and answer any queries about terrain and conditions underfoot, on the holiday itself. ACCOMMODATION Hotel Vila Galé Rua 4 de Outubro Tavira Tel: Built in 2002, this 4-star hotel is less than 10 minutes walk from the historic centre of Tavira. The Vila Galé group owns and runs 27 hotels in Portugal and Brazil. Bedrooms: There are 268 en-suite bedrooms, simply decorated in a distinctive Arabian theme to reflect Tavira s rich and fascinating history. The rooms have either a balcony or terrace with views over salt pans or across to Tavira town. Each room has air conditioning, telephone, TV, radio, hairdryer, shaving point, complimentary toiletries and a safe deposit box (small charge). Facilities: The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a spa pool. Guests have free access to the health club with jacuzzi, gym and Turkish bath. There is also an attractive tepidarium in which to relax. Treatments can be booked via the reception (extra cost). There are billiard tables in the bar area as well as table tennis (bats and balls are available from reception). 24-hour room service is available and, if required, there is a laundry service (payable locally). Wi-Fi is available free of charge in all public areas but chargeable in your room (password via reception). There is a small shop that sells postcards, toothpaste, newspapers and other basic essentials. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. Festive Meals: We hope you enjoy the festive gala meals at this hotel, which will be on Christmas Eve and New Year s Eve. The arrangements for these will be slightly different from the rest of the week and your leaders will have all the details for you. Breakfast: This is served from 7am until 10.30am as a well-stocked hot and cold buffet. Evening meal: Served at 7.30pm, this is a three course buffet, with a wide selection including soups, tapas, salads, and 4 or 5 hot main courses served with a selection of vegetables. For dessert there is a selection of cakes, ice creams, fruit and cheese with quince jam. Lunch: You may be able to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local shops or on some days to eat at one of the local cafés; your leaders will advise you of the options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Holiday itinerary A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Tavira you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. Easier Walks: 5 to 7 miles (8-11km) sometimes on rough and stony paths. Up to 1,100ft (330m) of ascent in a day. Harder Walks: 8 to 10 miles (13-16km) using steeper and rougher paths. Up to 1,200ft (360m) of ascent in a day Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. Your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. DAY 1: Arrival day Transfer to the Hotel Vila Galé Tavira and settle into your room. There ll be time to explore the facilities of the hotel and surrounding area and meet your fellow guests. DAY 2: Vila Real de Santo Antonio Coast Today we have the services of a local interest guide who will join us on the coach from the hotel. Both groups will travel to the city of Vila Real de Santo António on the Guadiana River, which forms the border with Spain. Built in 1773 by the Marquês de Pombal, it was based on the urban criteria used for the re-construction of Lisbon following the 1755 earthquake and was built on the site of a small fishing village and largely completed within 5 months. We will see remnants of the sardine and tuna fishing industry, which was once its main economic activity, before embarking on a short tour of the city. The guide will leave with the easier group for the first part of their walk before joining the harder group after lunch. Easier Walk: Accompanied by the local interest guide we start our walk at the seafront at Altura where we walk along the beach for 2.5km. Heading inland slightly we pass through a wooded area, which has a bird hide overlooking a small lake, until we reach the popular tourist resort of Monte Gordo. We are soon back on the beach in the area of Sertão where we will see typical fishing boats of the community as well as their fishing arts. This is where the local interest guide leaves us to await the harder group. Walking along the back of the beach on boardwalks, we enter the Mata Nacional das Dunas Litorais (sand dune woodland) before emerging on the edge of Vila Real de Santo António where there will be time to look around whilst waiting for the harder 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk group to arrive. 6 miles (9.5km) with minimal ascent. Harder Walk: After our short tour of Cacela Velha, we ll take the coach a short distance before walking along quiet lanes and part of the Eco Via long distance cycle route. We walk beside cultivated farmland via the hamlet of Alto to arrive at Altura and join the route of the easier group. Meeting the local interest guide at Monte Gordo, we continue to our destination at Vila Real de Santo António. 10 miles (16km) with minimal ascent. Both groups visit Cacela Velha before starting the walks. DAY 3: The Guadiana River Easier Walk: Today we travel north parallel to the Guadiana River, which marks the border with Spain. Starting in the small hamlet of Balurço Baixo we walk on well- defi ned tracks descending towards the Guadiana River. The walk is partly located in the Guadiana site of the Natura 2000 Network, a Special Protection Area (SPA), formed in response to the EU 1992 Habitat Directive. Well above the river we turn north and then west, returning via the hamlet of Torneiro before passing through an area of orchards and wine to our starting point. 5 miles (8km) with up to 500ft (150m) of ascent. Harder Walk: Starting at the same point as the easier walk we continue descending to the Guadiana River. Initially following a path alongside the river we turn west and ascend to Miradouro do Pontal with wonderful views down to the river. Ascending more steeply, our walk converges with the easier route as we make our way via Torneiro back to the starting point. 8 miles (13km) with up to 1,000ft (300m) of ascent.

5 DAY 4: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are off ered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Day trip to Faro and the Ria Formosa Explore the old city of Faro, the district capital of the Algarve and visit the cathedral, Gothic and Baroque in style. In the afternoon, depart from the Porto Nova; this gate is also known as Portas do Mar (Doors of the Sea) because it s one of the sites where you can depart on a boat trip to the islands of the Ria Formosa Nature Park. You ll be dazzled by this wonderful landscape with numerous small islands, marshes and barrier islands that separate this coastal lagoon from the sea. Tavira Spend the day in and around Tavira and/or go to the beach. The beach in Tavira is a sandspit beach, separated from the mainland by the sea and has to be reached by a ferry boat or water taxi. The ferry runs all year round from Quatro Águas about 1.5kms out of Tavira - follow the signs for Ilha de Tavira. An alternative is to use the little tourist train which runs every hour. The circular trip lasts for approximately 40 minutes, taking you into the old town of Tavira and out along roads bordering the salt marshes. Local information website: For information on Tavira please visit DAY 5: Palace and Ruins At the other end of the historical scale are the Milreu ruins, amongst the most important remains of the Roman presence in the Algarve, and now classifi ed as a national monument. After visiting these ruins we walk in the foothills of the Serra do Caldeirão. The Rococo Palácio of Estói with its Frenchinspired gardens was built at the end of the 19th century for a local aristocrat of the Carvalhal family. Bought by Faro City Council in 1987, it is now a Pousada state owned hotel. Easier Walk: Starting from the town, this walk passes the Milreu ruins and, using good tracks and quiet roads, heads north through a series of hamlets before turning again for the return to the main square in Estói with its imposing church and selection of cafés. 7 miles (11km) with up to 700ft (210m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We too head out of town sweeping further west ascending almost to the summit of Guilhim with extensive views to the mound of São Miguel in the east to Faro in the south, before contouring round the hill and completing the circuit back to Estói on a series of quiet tracks and roads. 9 miles (14.5km) with up to 1,100ft (330m) of ascent. DAY 6: Along the Coast to Tavira Easier Walk: Short coach ride takes us west to the resort village of Pedras de El-Rei (Stones of the King). Here we cross a wooden bridge over the lagoon to walk beside the small railway that runs to the vast expanse of Barril Beach. Pausing to look at the outdoor display of anchors a remnant of the tuna fi shing industry, we walk along the beach for 2km before taking a water taxi from Terra Estreita to the delightful fi shing village of Santa Luzia. We walk along the promenade before turning inland along the Eco Via a long distance cycle track that runs the length of the Algarve and back to our hotel in Tavira, walking through the saltpans. 6 miles (9.5km) with minimal ascent. Harder Walk: Having dropped off the easier group we continue west for a further 10 minutes to the village of Livramento, where we walk directly to the saltpans and lagoons of the Ria Formosa. Walking along the coast on tracks and lanes we pass through the tiny resort of Pineiro before turning inland to join the Eco Via to make our way to the village of Pedras de El-Rei. From here we follow a similar route to the easier walk back to Tavira. 10 miles (16km) with minimal ascent. DAY 7: Mata National de Conceiçao Easier Walk: From the drop off point, we walk through cultivated land before reaching the undulating tracks of the Mata Nacional de Conceição (Tavira National Forest). From the parking area we descend very quickly into the unspoilt forest passing a derelict well and small lake. From here our undulating track takes us around the forest aff ording views north to tiny hamlets. Leaving the forest we make our way through open arable land until we arrive at a small quinta (farmhouse) where we can purchase refreshments as we wait for our coach. 6 miles (9.5km) with up to 500ft (150m) of ascent. Harder Walk: From the drop off point we walk through cultivated land before continuing north to take a wide look through the forest and tiny hamlets. We rejoin the easier route to walk through fl atter arable land to Quinta da Colina where we will meet the coach. 10 miles (15km) with up to 600ft (180m) of ascent. DAY 8: Departure day IN THE EVENINGS The friendly atmosphere of our Guided Walking holidays continues into the evening. We ll enjoy a leisurely meal. You may also like to join your leader for an evening stroll, listen to local musicians, relax with a book in a quiet lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar with your fellow walkers talking about your day. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Faro Airport. From the UK we offer fl ights from several airports which may arrive at different times. Please note that meals are not usually provided on European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met in the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. Your leader may be on the same flight as you or may arrive on another flight. Occasionally we will ask our transfer coach company to meet you. The driver will be in the arrivals hall holding an HF Holidays sign. The onward journey to Tavira by coach takes approximately 45 minutes. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Faro Airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional HF Holidays flight times can be found on hfholidays. co.uk or by calling +44 (0) ). Cost per single journey is Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Our Airport Taxi service operates at this resort, offering quick and easy transfers for guests booking their own fl ights. All prices are per taxi for single journeys, allowing you to mix and match different transfer options. From Faro Airport by taxi transfer 70 per taxi single journey. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your fl ight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quot e HX031 or book online at holidayextras. co.uk/hfholidays WALKING INFORMATION Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfi ed with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The maps available for this area is 1:40,000 Tavira Tour & Trail map. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, tel: or visit themapshop.co.uk. Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. WALKING SAFETY We are committed to running our Guided Walking holidays in a safe manner and your co-operation with this is much appreciated. No outdoor activity can be 100% risk free; however, if you take sensible precautions and adhere to your leaders instructions, your holiday will be both safe and enjoyable. On the fi rst evening of your holiday (dependent on arrival time), the leaders will give a short talk about safety on the walks we would ask everyone to attend. Walking as a group: Our leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole, and will show more caution over potential risks (such as bad or exceptionally hot weather) than an individual or couple might make 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

7 on a private outing. Walks may be modifi ed or cancelled following the leaders assessment of the day-to-day situation. Your leaders will refuse to accept any guest whose clothing, equipment, behaviour or walking ability is considered unsuitable, and where it could affect the safety and enjoyment of other guests on the proposed walk. It is your responsibility to follow the leader s guidelines, for the benefi t and safety of the group as a whole. If you leave the group, then your leader will no longer have responsibility for you. For safety reasons, we stipulate a minimum party size of two guests in addition to the leader. First aid: In line with current practice, each leader carries a group fi rst aid kit but is not able to supply any medication, including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry a minimum of two litres of water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a two litre hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be fi lled up from additional water sources as required. Your leader will inform you of the possibilities for replenishing your water during the walks. Your health: It is essential that you describe on your guest registration form any health condition or disability you may have. The leaders will treat this confi dentially and may be able to take it into account on the walks; for example, by not delaying lunch if they know they have someone with diabetes in their party. EU citizens should ensure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to their holiday. There can be problems with medical authorities and insurance companies if you cannot produce this when you require treatment details are available at dh.gov. uk/travellers EHIC cards have an expiry date please check yours is valid before you travel. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for preexisting illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov. uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. Money: Access to emergency money, preferably via a credit card, is very important as you never know when an emergency may arise. WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Please note that some of our Atlantic island and Mediterranean destinations are also in mountainous areas and at height (up to 4,000ft) the temperatures can be as low as 0 C. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses small rucksack In addition to the above, the following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: camera personal first aid kit walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents FOOTWEAR We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 Holiday tips Language: Portuguese Currency: Euro. Changing money: There is an ATM machine in Tavira where you can obtain money. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Maltese number Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: (local rate) (0) (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. info@hfholidays.co.uk Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or: +44 (0) Friday 7pm to Monday 9am. Your feedback: We are always interested in your comments, so please complete and submit your holiday survey online at If you would prefer a paper copy please contact Holiday Services.