Welcome to the barefoot version of the luxury life. The Casas Na Areia – houses in the sand – are four thatched houses that form a luxury village a mere 45 minutes' drive from Lisbon, making it the perfect home for travelers who want to ground themselves in style.

Each house has heated sand floors in the living and dining room, with easy access to the rolling dunes of Setubal.

Close to your house in the sand, you'll find the Cavalos Na Areia – or horses in the sand. These stables are home to over forty horses. Riders from all over Portugal come for the trainers' expertise, along with their commitment to giving back to the local community.

Take a lesson with one of the masters or take out a horse for a ride between the rice fields, through pine fields and over dunes onto the long sandy stretches of the Silver Coast. This whole area is part of the Reserva Natural do Estuario do Sado – a nature reserve and long-kept secret that feels as if it belongs to only you and the locals.

The nature reserve is a playground that you can explore by kayak, on horseback, or with dirt bikes. Whichever mode of transport is more to your liking, you should definitely make time for one of the local vineyard's tasting sessions or an olive oil workshop at the nearby farms, before chilling out at one of the beach bars along the coastline.

If you want to capture your experiences, a photographer and drone pilot can join you on your excursions. You can also opt for a photography tour to improve your own creative skillset.

You can combine all of this with a tour of the best restaurants in Lisbon, a spot of summer jazz concert hopping, or a surfing adventure in the south of Portugal. Just reach out to our curators to get things started.

All images copyright of Silent Living.