A Practical Guide for Your First Multi Day Hike | Fishermans trail

A multi-day hike, or let’s say, a multi-day adventure, has so many layers of charm. It starts with the big question: what should I pack? By the third time you repack your backpack, you realize what really matters and what you can easily leave behind. In the end, the load becomes manageable… well, mostly. Somehow it always ends up being a few grams too heavy.

On a long hike, you’re constantly exposed to the elements. Sun, wind, rain, dust, or here in Portugal, salty air and sand, it’s all part of the experience. And that’s exactly what makes it so special. Step by step, you move toward your daily goal without any rush. Slowly, but steadily. It’s a wonderful contrast to our everyday lives, where everything happens all at once.

On the trail, life boils down to the essentials. Whether you’re walking, cycling, or paddling, you feel your body more intensely than usual. Muscles, tendons, and joints you barely notice in daily life suddenly make themselves known, but amazingly, your body adjusts quickly. Everything becomes easier — or maybe it’s just that your backpack gets lighter as your food supply shrinks faster than expected.

Slow travel, whether on foot, by paddle, or by pedal, gives you time to truly observe. The landscapes, the people, the details that usually rush by unnoticed. On the Fishermen’s Trail, you see surfers riding waves effortlessly, people looking after their gardens, resting in the shade, or working in the fields. These scenes make you reflect about life, about society, about our world in the past, present, and future.

And you’re never really alone. On the trail, you meet all kinds of people, young, old, solo travelers, couples, and groups. Some love to chat, others just nod or smile, but everyone shares something in common: walking. Each person has their own story, their own pace, their own goal. That’s what makes these encounters so special and always inspiring.

After several adventures in northern regions and Switzerland, we wanted something new, different vegetation, warmer weather, and a new atmosphere. So we started browsing and stumbled again upon the Fishermen’s Trail, that legendary coastal route in Portugal we had seen in a few videos some time ago.

We bought a hiking guide, flipped through it, and instantly knew: this is it! The mix of sea, cliffs, and sunshine promised a completely different kind of outdoor experience.

From the very first glance at the photos, you could almost hear the waves crashing against the cliffs, sometimes gently, sometimes powerfully. Between them: colorful flowers, tall reeds lining the paths like natural fences, pine forests, sand dunes, and those “almost” deserted beaches where you can take off your shoes and wade through the water. The guidebook and videos definitely didn’t exaggerate, the trail truly delivers. And yes, walking on sand really slows you down, not only your mind but your legs too.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I (Alexandra) was a bit too optimistic. We had booked an EasyJet flight with hand luggage only. Dimensions: 45 × 36 × 20 cm. Sounds doable, right? Minimalism fascinates me. There’s something freeing about traveling light. But… maybe this time we made it a bit too challenging.

To be fair, we weren’t camping this time. We stayed in hostels and guesthouses, so we could leave the tent, sleeping bag, and mat at home. Still, fitting everything into such a small backpack wasn’t easy, especially when you also plan to spend four days exploring Lisbon afterward without looking or smelling like Indiana Jones. Sorry, Indy.

Honestly, we both cursed a few times while packing, but in the end it worked out surprisingly well, maybe because we’ve become Tetris masters, or maybe because the EasyJet crew turned a blind eye when we boarded.

Looking back, we could have left a few things at home, and to be honest, even Indiana Jones would blend right into Lisbon’s colorful city life. As long as one washed their stuff along the trail.

The many beautiful beaches were definitely among the highlights. It’s incredible how often you suddenly catch sight of the sea on the Fishermen’s Trail, and the best part was that we could cool off several times a day. You might think it’s too chilly for swimming in autumn, but it was quite the opposite. During the day, it was often warm, and the water was the perfect refreshment in between the kilometers. We’re convinced the Atlantic ocean and its waves helped us recover faster.

Another highlight, not surprisingly, was the food. We love good food and drinks, and the small snack bars along the trail were moments of pure happiness. After four hours of hiking in the sun, sitting down somewhere with an alcohol-free beer and a few snacks felt like luxury. These little breaks gave us exactly the energy boost we needed to keep going through the sand, step by step.

And when there was no café in sight? No problem. That’s when our NoNormal Coffee tubes came to the rescue.

We enjoyed them in all kinds of ways, classic hot, shaken cold in a bottle, or sometimes with a banana or a Pastel de Nata. However we had it, these little coffee moments became our secret boost of energy.

Another highlight was meeting so many wonderful people, both fellow hikers and locals. The Fishermen’s Trail attracts people from all over the world, so we met Italians, Germans, French, Americans, and a Brit who lives in Portugal with his family. We talked about life, nature, and everything in between. It’s always special to connect on the trail, to chat about the different landscapes, lifestyles, blisters (yes, almost everyone has them), or simply about the joy of the journey.

The locals were warm and helpful, in cafés, guesthouses, or just out on the trail. These encounters are what make such trips truly memorable.

And of course, the feeling at the end of the day, after a long hike, we were always completely exhausted. You fall into bed, read a few pages, and then sleep deeply and peacefully, like a rock (or like a baby in trail shoes). That’s the beauty of these adventures: everyday life fades away, and everything simplifies, move, eat, sleep and let your thoughts wander.

We hope the photos in our blog post (Alexandra is a photographer and documented the whole trip) give you a sense of this unique trail, and maybe spark a little wanderlust too.

At first, it felt quite challenging to walk long stretches in the sand. After the first few kilometers, we wondered if this trail had really been a good idea, but as always, it got better day by day.

It’s a bit like walking in snow: every step slips slightly, your energy disappears somewhere between the sand and the sea breeze, and you feel like you’re working twice as hard to move half as fast.

Our feet had their say too, leaving us with a couple of blisters as souvenirs. But it wasn’t a big deal, nothing that stopped us. With a bit of tape and humor, we just kept going, step by step, grain by grain.

The Fishermen’s Trail is suitable for all ages as long as you keep a few things in mind. The sandy sections are what challenge the body most. Even if you’re fit, you’ll quickly realize sand is a workout of its own. As mentioned earlier, a few blister plasters, some tape, and lightweight gaiters can be invaluable. It also helps to start training your calves and shins a few weeks before the trip and to take a few walks with a heavier backpack. (Alexander is a personal and athletic trainer, so the A-Team couldn’t skip this preparation!:))

And don’t forget to stock up on water and snacks in advance. There aren’t cafés or shops on every section of the trail, and even in October, temperatures can easily climb close to 30 degrees. Shade is rare, so regular hydration is key.

To reach the starting point in Sines, you can easily take a Rede Expressos bus. From Lisbon, the buses leave from Sete Rios Station, and tickets are easy to book online.

From the Sines bus terminal, you can get to the official start at Praia de São Torpes in two ways, either by walking about 7 kilometers (a good warm-up) or by taking an Uber to skip the industrial port area.

We hiked five stages of the trail and then took a Rede Expressos bus back to Lisbon from Odeceixe. Traveling by bus was super easy, reliable, affordable, and perfect for tired hiking feet. If you plan to hike the entire trail, you can easily arrange your return flight from Faro.

In that spirit, we wish you your own exciting A-Team or Indiana Jones moments!

Happy Hiking,

Alex and Alex

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