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Equestrian Experience Meets Tranquil Living in Portugal

Find happiness on horseback in this village built on the sand.

Katharina Kiéck
Scenset travel expert
Relax under the always sunny skies of Portugal's Alentejo region
Relax under the always sunny skies of Portugal's Alentejo region
Barefoot luxury living in the Portuguese Alentejo

Welcome to the barefoot version of the luxury life. The Casas Na Areia – houses in the sand – are four thatched houses that form a luxury village a mere 45 minutes' drive from Lisbon, making it the perfect home for travelers who want to ground themselves in style.

Each house has heated sand floors in the living and dining room, with easy access to the rolling dunes of Setubal.

Feel the sand between your toes from the comfort of your living room
Feel the sand between your toes from the comfort of your living room
Horseride on pristine beaches

Close to your house in the sand, you'll find the Cavalos Na Areia – or horses in the sand. These stables are home to over forty horses. Riders from all over Portugal come for the trainers' expertise, along with their commitment to giving back to the local community.

Take a lesson with one of the masters or take out a horse for a ride between the rice fields, through pine fields and over dunes onto the long sandy stretches of the Silver Coast. This whole area is part of the Reserva Natural do Estuario do Sado – a nature reserve and long-kept secret that feels as if it belongs to only you and the locals.

Trot or gallop along the pristine beaches of the Silver Coast
Trot or gallop along the pristine beaches of the Silver Coast
Other activities to enjoy

The nature reserve is a playground that you can explore by kayak, on horseback, or with dirt bikes. Whichever mode of transport is more to your liking, you should definitely make time for one of the local vineyard's tasting sessions or an olive oil workshop at the nearby farms, before chilling out at one of the beach bars along the coastline.

If you want to capture your experiences, a photographer and drone pilot can join you on your excursions. You can also opt for a photography tour to improve your own creative skillset.

Take a horse riding lesson or rent out a bike or kayak to explore the nature reserve
Take a horse riding lesson or rent out a bike or kayak to explore the nature reserve
Paddle through the rice fields
Paddle through the rice fields
Want to add in some local flavor?

You can combine all of this with a tour of the best restaurants in Lisbon, a spot of summer jazz concert hopping, or a surfing adventure in the south of Portugal. Just reach out to our curators to get things started.

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Katharina Kiéck
Having dreamt of becoming a race car driver, Katharina studied to be an anthropologist, worked as a futurist, and tried brand strategy at Twitter before founding her own media production company. When she's not traveling or surfing herself, she's organizing network and surf experiences for people working in tech. Constantly on the move, her Achilles heel is cinnamon buns.

All images copyright of Silent Living.