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Rediscovering the Essential: A Regenerative Tourism Experience at Glamping Hills

Imagine waking up to the soft sound of birds, smelling the fresh scent of the vegetation surrounding your cabin. The sun rises over the hills, inviting you to live a day in perfect harmony with nature. This is Glamping Hills: more than a rest destination, it’s an invitation to rediscover what really matters.

Located in Santa Comba de Rossas, in a region of breathtaking landscapes, Glamping Hills is not only an innovative accommodation but also an example of the future of sustainable tourism. Eight years in the making, this project was created with a clear purpose: not just to preserve nature, but to regenerate it.

An authentic and engaging welcome      

The experience at Glamping Hills begins from the moment the visitor arrives: ‘Welcome to Glamping Hills, my name is João Madureira,’ is how each guest is greeted by the host and CEO, who personally introduces the space. More than a simple check-in, this moment is an immersion in the unique concept of the place.

João makes a point of explaining the concept of Land Art, a defining feature of Glamping Hills. Elements such as the Pudence beetle mask, the giant nest in a tree and mushroom sculptures – all made with recycled materials from forest clearance – reflect the cultural, natural and gastronomic essence of the region.

Luxury in harmony with nature     

Each cabin has been designed with comfort and sustainability in mind, using ecological materials and solar energy. The accommodation offers breathtaking views and experiences such as stargazing without light pollution. Visitors can also explore the territory, which is part of Europe’s largest cross-border biosphere reserve – the Iberian Meseta.

João also personalises the stay, presenting the best routes, whether on foot, by car or by jeep, always ensuring that the visitor has a memorable experience. A unique detail is the continuous follow-up: occasional messages to make sure everything is perfect reflect Glamping Hills’ authenticity and commitment to excellence.

Regenerative tourism in action    

The heart of Glamping Hills pulses with the philosophy of regenerative tourism. As well as minimising environmental impacts, the aim is to give back to the land and the local community more than we take away. Projects such as reforesting degraded areas and enhancing biodiversity are practical examples of this commitment.

In addition, guests are invited to take an active part, whether by planting trees or learning about sustainable practices such as recycling. Even the menus in the cabins are made from recycled materials, showing that small gestures can generate big changes.

Connection with the local community   

Another fundamental pillar of Glamping Hills is integration with the community. Activities such as chestnut picking and craft workshops allow visitors to experience local traditions. Gastronomy is another highlight, with seasonal dishes prepared with ingredients from local producers or grown in the Glamping’s own organic garden.

Glamping Hills is also involved in social initiatives, such as creating job opportunities for villagers and funding educational programmes for children. These actions strengthen ties with the community and generate a positive impact on the region.

Resilience and passion for the territory

João Madureira’s journey is a testimony to resilience. After losing his job as a civil engineer, he found in the concept of glamping an opportunity to start again. Inspired by a visit to Paris and encouraged by programmes to support inland tourism, João founded Glamping Hills, a pioneer in Portugal.

Amid challenges such as the economic crisis and the pandemic, he has kept his focus on innovation and authenticity. ‘The secret to our business is trust and a genuine connection with the customer,’ says João.

A transformative experience         

At Glamping Hills, luxury doesn’t lie in hot tubs or extravagant services, but in the opportunity to live meaningful moments, reflect on the impact on the world and contribute to a more sustainable future.

If you’re looking for a place where the silence of the hills, the purity of the air and the simplicity of life are the true measure of luxury, Glamping Hills is the ideal destination. After all, this isn’t just a trip – it’s a journey towards a new way of living, where regenerating means giving back, preserving and valuing the essential.

Enforce

Enforce

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“The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”

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The Enforce project partners met in the Slovenian city of Ljubljana on 30 and 31 May. Hosted by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (CCIS), the meeting was carefully organised and offered participants a mix of business talks and leisure activities.

Two regenerative experiences were at the centre of the meeting. These immersive sessions allowed partners to recharge their creative batteries and better connect with the city. You can find the two experiences on the map!

The next steps centred around the next steps of the project, which equipped the team and partners with the necessary tools to continue working on Enforce. The Enforce journey continues and the partners are determined to deliver results of the highest quality.

Project partners met in Aveiro on the 14th and 15th of September 2023. It was the perfect opportunity to visit the destination with regenerative glasses on, to understand its many assets but also some of the challenges the destination is facing. Face to face project meetings always provide the partners with the unique opportunity to learn about the work of the hosting partner and get valuable insights about the destination. In this case partners were hosted by the dedicated team of management and tourism professionals of the University of Aveiro who shared a wealth of insights about a city that was new to many of the participants.

The Enforce project is well on track when it comes to the project work plan, which means that after having completed the Best Practice collection of innovative examples about storytelling for regeneration and also the Storyteller’s Guide, partners used the meeting to discuss the development of the Enforce Training Programme.

For the next few months partners will be working on developing the content in line with guidelines provided by the University of Usak, our project partner from Turkey.
The course should be available for piloting in January/February 2024 and will also be available in the partner languages once all translations are finalised.

The ENFORCE team met in the beautiful city of Luxembourg for its kick-off meeting. It took place at the premises of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg (also known as CCIL), which opened its doors to warmly welcome all partners.

The team was aware of the importance of this first meeting and approached it with the same enthusiasm, as it plays an important role in building strong bonds that will contribute to the success of the entire cooperation. With the common goal of building a solid foundation, the participants discussed in depth the first steps required for the project ENFORCE.

During this visit, the project objectives were discussed in depth to ensure that each partner has a comprehensive understanding of the overarching goals. The outcome of the kick-off meeting was extremely satisfying for all partners and generated enthusiasm among the team. It was a success and left everyone inspired and energised.

The journey of ENFORCE has officially begun and with the collective expertise of the committed partners, there is no doubt that it will thrive and achieve remarkable results.

Enforce

“The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”

Project N: 2022-1-LU01-KA220-VET-000089887

© 2025 Enforce Project

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