Chãos Roots: 2-Day Trip To The Rural Village Of Chãos

How about spending two exciting and versatile days in intimate contact with nature in the Natural Park of Serras de Aire e Candeeiros? You’ll stay in the small mountain village of Chãos near Rio Maior, just a few kilometers outside of Lisbon.

DAY 1
Explore the endless paths and landscapes of the Candeeiros mountain range on the back of a friendly donkey! After a hearty lunch at the restaurant “Terra Chã”, you’ll get to participate in a traditional workshop. Which workshop you will follow is dependent on the availability and your own personal preference. You could spend your afternoon learning how to make bread or cheese or discover the art of weaving!

Bread workshop – We invite you to make your own bread and learn about some old superstitions revolving around the practice. Knead it and let it rise before you bake it cross! And in the end, of course, you’ll take a bite and see whether you could prove your skills!

Cheese workshop – Dare to milk a goat from our herd and learn how to turn it into your own delicious cheese?

Weaving Workshop – Experience the whole process of crafting your own textile piece from warp to weaving!

The rest of the afternoon will be free for you to relax and reflect on the new skills you gathered, to get mesmerized by the beautiful landscapes around you or to discover the trails and smells of the flora of the Candeeiros mountain range. Maybe you’ll also simply feel like taking a stroll around the village of Chãos. But the day isn’t over just yet! After dinner, there’s still time for a night walk full of surprises and good vibes.

DAY 2
After a good night’s rest, your next day will start early in the morning and provide you with another unique experience! We invite you to become a salt worker for one day and experience the traditional salt work in the natural salinas (salt pans) of Rio Maior. You’ll be using traditional tools and of course get to take “your” salt back home.

The professional salt workers will teach you everything you need to know about the historical background of this industry, the traditional work practices at the salt pads as well as their formation and importance. And finally, the moment will come to get active yourself! Pick up the tools and jump right into the daily life of a salt worker, “working” in the pans and splashing around in the salt water.