"A Different Summer has been a fantastic vacation experience. The socializing, friendships, activities (for both kids and adults), and logistics (which are important for a large family like ours) in a beautiful setting made us repeat the experience year after year since 2004. And this year, we plan to return."
Luís Antunes Francisco, Tomar, 8 children
Penhas da Saúde (Serra da Estrela, Portugal)
1st International Week: 10th to 16th August 2025
22ª Edition: 16th a 28th August 2025
Pedras da Rainha (Tavira, Algarve)
29/12/2025 a 01/01/2026
In 2004, a group of friendly families started organizing vacation programs together—two weeks of outdoor activities in Serra da Estrela. A non-profit, non-political, and non-ideological initiative. Over the past 20 years, more than 120 families have participated in A Different Summer’s vacation programs.
To provide a healthy vacation in contact with nature, including leisure, cultural, and sports activities among families who share an ideal of joyful and luminous family life.
Experiences & Activities
• Culture: Cultural activities for parents and children, including Astronomy, Museums, and Excursions to Historic Villages.
• Fun: Parent-child soccer games, various sports such as cycling, skiing, tennis, swimming, and music.
• Friendship: Meeting new friends from different parts of the country and abroad.
• Family: Strengthening family bonds through recreational activities and parental education.
• Nature: A stunning environment for contemplation, learning to love nature, and teaching children to respect environmental heritage. Guided hiking tours with professional biologists.
• Values: Promoting and passing on human values with a Christian perspective on humanity and society.
A Different Summer allows us to connect with the breathtaking beauty of the mountains and surroundings, which is very relaxing. Through other families, we share experiences that enrich and unwind us. Human development is a cultural gain that improves everyday family life.
Sofia Nunes Franco
Portela, 5 children
Family, friends, friends’ families, conversations, relaxation, chats, sports, family education, mountain chalet, tranquility, unwinding, mountains, mountain hikes, CISE biologists, Zêzere pools, nighttime barbecues, kids having fun, beach, insects, birds, Manteigas, snow, deep nature, sky, stars, constellations, friends, Family.
Carlos Soares
Vila Nova de Gaia, 8 children
This program is organized by the participants themselves, who have legally established a non-profit association. The Board of Directors is composed of the following members: Francisco Fernandes (Lisbon), Luis Francisco (Tomar), Rafael Franco (Portela), Carlos Fernandes (Belas), and José Salvador (Porto).
150€ per family
Penhas da Saúde, Serra da Estrela
ACCOMMODATION:
Each family is responsible for booking and paying for their accommodation directly with the property owner.
50€ por família
ACCOMMODATION (To be confirmed):
- T1 Apartment (4 people): €274 (3 nights)
- T2 Apartment (6 people): €363 (3 nights)
Each family pays for their accommodation directly with the hotel.
New Year's Eve Dinner & Celebration:
- Adults: €25.00
- Children (4 to 11 years old): €12.50
- Babies (<4 years old): Free
1. The registration fee includes training sessions, babysitting (during parental training sessions), monitors, and program organization.
2. Each family is responsible for booking and paying for their accommodation directly with the property owner.
3. Spots are limited. Members of the Verão Diferente Association have priority over new participants. Participants from the previous year also have priority, even if they are not members.
4. The organization reserves the right to admit only members of Verão Diferente Association, CENOFA, APFN or their international counterpart associations into the program.
5. New participants are only admitted after a personal interview with a member of the organization and receiving a positive evaluation.
6. Pre-registrations are exclusively online and follow a first-approved, first-served basis.
7. Registrations are only valid after confirmation from the organization and become final upon membership fee payment.
8. In case of withdrawal (for reasons unrelated to the organization), the membership fee and/or registration fee are non-refundable.
9. The organization reserves the right to cancel the program up to 10 days before its start if the number of fully registered families (with the membership fee paid) is insufficient.
10. Registration for the Unique New Year's Eve includes only the organization of the gathering and venue cleaning. Each family must bring food, drinks, and any sports or cultural equipment they consider suitable for sharing with other families.
11. The organization reserves the right to cancel the program at any time (before or during the event) if the authorities impose restrictions on gatherings in open or closed spaces or any other measures that make the program unfeasible. In this case, participants are not entitled to any compensation or refund of the registration fee.
12. For more information, please contact the person responsible for each activity by phone or email.
Conditions may change without prior notice and will be published on this website.
(Updated on 22/03/2025)
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