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Starting point
Santiago do Cacém
Finish point
Odeceixe
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Season
From September to June
Technical level
2/5
Fitness level
3/5
Tour type
Inn-to-Inn
Number of people
Choose your style
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- Follow the ancient routes that connect Portuguese rural villages
- Explore Roman ruins and medieval castles in Santiago do Cacém
- Walk along the Mira River valley and through eucalyptus forests
- Experience the traditional Portuguese life
- Discover the quiet Campilhas reservoir, framed by rolling hills
- Reach Odeceixe’s stunning beach, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean
Itinerary of the trip
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What’s included in the price?
Self-guided
NOT INCLUDED
What to bring to the tour
- Hiking shoes/boots
- 25 to 35-liter backpack
- Base layer
- Sports T-shirts
- Hiking shorts
- Hiking water-repellent pants
- Waterproof jacket
- Midlayer
- Sports socks and underwear
- Leisurewear for evenings
- Shade hat/cap
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hiking poles
- ID card or passport
- Snacks
- Cash
- Water bottles or hydration pack
- Toiletries
Embark on an unforgettable journey along the Historic Trail of the Rota Vicentina, where the charm of Portugal’s Alentejo region meets the thrill of a long-distance hike.
This trail weaves through unspoiled landscapes and culturally rich villages, offering hikers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance. From rolling hills and cork oak forests to ancient Roman ruins and medieval castles, this trail invites you to step back in time while surrounded by the stunning scenery of southern Portugal.
The Alentejo region, known for its vast plains, traditional villages, and warm hospitality, provides the perfect backdrop for this adventure. The Historic Trail takes you deep into the heart of this region, where every turn reveals a new facet of Portugal’s rich cultural heritage.
As you hike, you’ll pass through quaint villages like Santiago do Cacém, São Luís, and Odemira, where time seems to stand still. These towns, with their narrow streets and whitewashed houses, offer a glimpse into the timeless rural life of Portugal, making your journey as much about cultural discovery as it is about the natural landscape.
What sets this hike apart is its recognition as one of Europe’s premier walking destinations. The Historical Way of the Rota Vicentina was certified by the European Ramblers Association with the “Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe” label, joining Europe’s top hiking trails.
The Rota Vicentina trail can be traversed year-round, however spring and autumn provide the ideal temperatures for a comfortable walking holiday.
You can count on us to manage every detail - stay in charming guesthouses that we book for you, follow the detailed route maps we provide, and rest easy knowing our customer support is just a call away.
Want to extend the journey?If you’re inspired to keep going when you reach the end, you can easily extend your adventure by continuing on the Fisherman’s Trail, which takes you along the breathtaking coastal paths to the southernmost point of Portugal.
Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course. We aim to make your decision as easy as possible. Therefore, we crafted several selections targeted at particular groups of hikers – Best for Beginners, Best for Advanced Hikers, Mountain Hikes, Pilgrimages, Classic Treks, etc.
If you remain unsure and overwhelmed, you can fill out this form or book a call with us, and we can help you directly.
My friend and I went with Triglav Tours for a 3 day, 2 night hike this summer and had the most amazing time!! Our guide, Bine, was awesome and had lots of cool facts to share about the area we were hiking. Additionally, my friend and I had not completed such a technical hike before and the guide and other guests were very patient with us and encouraging, ensuring we felt safe the entire time. The overnights were also such a fun way to get to know Bine, the other guests, and other hikers as well. Cannot recommend Triglav tours enough!!!



I arranged a six-day/five-night trip with Hut to Hut Slovenia. It's the first time I've gone with a tour organizer and I can say it went really well. In the past I've arranged huts myself and it is a huge hassle figuring out how to make the bookings, if the bookings actually exist, and what good/viable routes might be. Having this all sort was, at least to me, totally worth it. The routing is via Ride with GPS, which was great. I'd recommend bringing 1:25,000 scale paper maps as a backup, just in case. The huts themselves differ wildly. Some are really rustic with, ahem, interesting toilet facilities. One was accessible by road and thus had showers, a long menu, and even espresso. All will have some sort of food, but you might only have two options for dinner (one with meat, one vegetarian). The cuisine in the Slovenian huts leans strongly to stews and goulashes with minimal fresh vegetables and/or fruit. Certainly good and hearty but pretty much everyone I talked to said the food was better in the Italian and Austrian huts. Some huts are cash only, some take cards (but the card reader might be down). A 1.5 litre bottle of water is about 6 euro, so if you have a beer with dinner and also buy lunch you need to carry about 25-30 euro per day in cash (assuming you have a booking that includes breakfast). Of the six days of hiking, four were ridiculously spectacular, with the highlight being sunrise from Mt Stol. Getting up to the high mountains, though, can be crazy steep, with switchbacks only sparsely used. Descents are similarly tough, and you have to watch every step. For the first time ever I used trekking poles and my knees thank me. Two days were a bit of a slog, but this is probably unavoidable getting up to or down from the high terrain. Would I do something like this again? Yes, absolutely! But next time it will probably be the Dolomites.




We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)



Tina and her team gave me perfect support on my hut hike through the Triglav National Park in July. In particular, they had to cater to my specific needs twice, which they did for me with no problem. I once had to cancel at short notice before the start of the trip because my father was not feeling well, but then we found a solution and I was able to start the hike. Tina and team first canceled the huts immediately and then reserved them again for me. Even when my condition caused a little tour change again, I immediately had suggestions and these were immediately available in the Trip plans app. I liked this app very much because it was easy to handle and the huttohut-team gave a short overview how the daily tour will be and which highlights – mostly beautiful views – I will see“

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