Discover the best cooking classes on Portuguese Cuisine in Alentejo Region

The Alentejo Region is Portugal's "undiscovered" region. It has its own cuisine, culture, style and accent. Though it is Portugal's largest province, it is sparsely populated. Several hotels in the region are now offering cooking classes in which the particular cuisine of the region--marked by Roman and Arab flavors--are taught. The Hotel Clube de Campo Vila Galé em Albernôa, in Beja offers classes, as well as the Refugio da Vila Cooking School, Quinta dos Prazeres and Herdade da Matinha. At the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova visitors can pick and choose their experiences on site, including the spa, swimming pool, sauna, massage, Jacuzzi, cooking and wine workshops.

Cycling and walking tours off the beaten track in Portugal

Terracotta Journeys is offering cycling and walking tours off the beaten track in Portugal for the active traveler seeking fine local cuisine and wines, impressive scenery and historic accommodations. Combine a visit to Lisbon with one of their cycling tours and they will give you advice on where to stay and what to see when you're there. Many of their tours depart from Lisbon so they can pick you up right from your hotel. Other tours include the opportuniy to discover The Douro River and the Port Wine Journey or The New Costa Azul to the Algarve Tour. Click here to check each of the trip schedules.

Portugal's first pousada was created in the hills of the Alentejo regioin, near Serpa, and now that region is the site of Portugal's newest inn. The Herdade da Retorta is set in a historic manor house and estate, with six rooms. Cycling, bird-watching and traditional sports are all nearby. Prices per double room with breakfast included start at 70 Euros. http://www.herdade-da-retorta.pt/

Alqueva - Tour boat cruises in Europe's largest artificial lake

Portugal’s new Alqueva Lake, located in the southern region, is attracting many tourism development projects. Known as The Grande Lago, it is the biggest artificial lake in Europe, at 250 kilometers wide (155.34 miles) and 83 kilometers (51.57 miles) long. The Portuguese Government set up large areas around the lake as nature reserves (Reserve Ecological National). At the same time the area has been declared the 5th Tourist Region of National Interest. More than 120 tourism projects have been presented in the Alqueva Region and 30 projects have been approved. The most ambitious project is “Alqueva Parque,” the development for the tourism of Campinho, a peninsula at the lake, with a total investment of one billion euros. Apart of the Alqueva Parque, big companies like Sonae, Pestana, Banco Espírito Santo and Amorim have already started projects around the lake. Gescruzeiros is the only operator on the newly formed on the Alqueva Lake with a boat that accommodates 25 to 120 passengers. From the Amieira Marina, one can cruise swim, fish, scuba dive and relax. Visitors can choose to moor on an islet or visit the surrounding villages the village of Luz, in the past swallowed up and then identically rebuilt on the bank of the Grande Lago. Visitors can also see the Alqueva dam, an amazing piece of work inaugurated in 2002. The nearby international Airport of Beja (formerly a very large military airbase) will be reconstructed in 2007 and open in late 2008. The airport will low-cost and charter connections from the Alqueva Lake to the major destinations of Southwest and South Central Portugal. Also Amieira Marina is now offering tour boat cruises of Europe's largest artificial lake. For 35 euros, the cruise includes a full course meal and a great view. Children under 12 travel at half price. www.amieiramarina.com

Unique and authentic wine, cheese and olive tour through the Alentejo region

Every year, since1994, TurAventur's annual adventure package offers the chance to discover the Alentejo along exceptionally beautiful trails, together with the tasting of the finest wines, olive oils, cheeses, cured and smoked meats and sweets, selected directly from the producer in each region visited. It has taken place in a different part of the Alentejo every year and is open to jeeps, motor bikes and quad bikes and has the reputation for being a pleasant pretext for meeting friends and friends of friends who enjoy the emotions of off-road orienteering as much as the fine gastronomy of the Alentejo. For more information click here.

Harvest Packages at Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House and Spa

The Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House & Spa located in the heart of the Alentejo blends the traditional with a modern flare. The country inn includes a panoramic swimming pool and spa surrounded by vineyards, Bvlgari amenities, and a new trendy gourmet restaurant. Other activities include learning to be a shepherd or a miner for a morning or do a picnic in the country side. During August and September this boutique hotel is offering its guest a variety of ways to enjoy Harvest Season in Portugal that include enjoying the “Alentejo Tapas and Malhadinha Wines” with a Harvest and kit, dinner in the winery restaurant – Typical meal with Monte da Peceguina wines, Ice wine: Then, the Harvest starts early in the morning - Jeep Safari tour round the estate, Visit the winery, lunch in the winery restaurant, Wine tasting, Dinner in the winery restaurant: Next day you get to stomp on the grapes, Lunch in the vineyards, Massage and wine therapy, Dinner in the restaurant with tasting menu.

Dates offered:
18 to 21 August 2008 - Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation in a double room with breakfast, all the harvest experiences, Price: €1,200 – experience per double room
August 19 to 23 or September 19 to 23 2008 - Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation in a double room with breakfast Price €1,200 –per double room
August 24 to 26 2008 - Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation in a double room with breakfast, Price: 800 € - per double room
For more information on these promotions visit http://www.malhadinhanova.pt/spa/ing/index_ing.htm

Special art and cooking workshops at recently opened Malhadinha Country House & Spa

The Herdade da Malhadinha Country House & Spa near Beja in the Alentejo Region is offering several weekly packages that include workshops about photography, cookery and other themes. For more information visit www.malhadinhanova.pt