Almonds and the Art of the Harvest in the Algarve Hills

Set out from a local farmhouse for a hike through Algarve mountain trails to reach the almond harvest site, passing centuries-old trees along the way. Take part in the traditional harvest using ancestral hand techniques passed down by the villagers of the Algarve hills, an almost-forgotten craft that once supported entire communities. The day culminates with a traditional lunch in the shade of a great oak: a slow-cooked stew of chickpeas, green beans, and squash, prepared in a pressure pot. Before heading back, crack open the almonds you harvested using natural tools — stones and a wooden block — in the same way generations of Algarve farmers have done before you.

• Almond variety guide sheet, detailing characteristics of each type (Portuguese and English)
• Local guide accompaniment throughout the full-day experience
• Hands-on participation in traditional almond harvesting techniques
• Cane tube for collecting harvested almonds and plants along the trail
• Traditional lunch: chickpea, green bean, and squash stew, slow-cooked under the shade of an oak tree

Farm