Regenerative tourism: for them, sustainability is no longer enough.

Having minimal negative impact is not enough. We need to regenerate soils, create closed cycles and change mentalities. These projects are trying to do this in Portugal through tourism (and beyond).

There's a new village with a rural hotel, forest and vineyard to discover in Montemor-o-Novo

Gandum Village is the name of a new rural tourism unit with agroforestry, a vegetable garden and vineyards in the Alentejo. For now, there are two two-bedroom apartments and one studio apartment. The 18 Earth Rooms will be available at the end of the summer. The restaurant at this new accommodation in Montemor-o-Novo is open to everyone.

How global innovators design a sustainable future

The sustainable village of the future, if Martina Wiedemar and Joao Almeida have any say about it, will have solar panels, earthen buildings, and an eco-friendly agroforest, a form of regenerative agriculture that mimics nature to produce climate-friendly food.   

Gandum Village is a one-of-a-kind sustainable retreat offering a rural hotel and much more on a 14-hectare estate in Montemor-o-Novo, in Alentejo.

The first phase of Gandum Village is now open, featuring three accommodation units (with 18 more opening later this year), an organic farm, a restaurant, a large pool and two smaller ones, coworking spaces, a Food Lab, and more.

More than just rural tourism, which has been open since March, Gandum is a "small village with a big purpose": to create an oasis in the heart of the countryside, giving new life to an abandoned farmhouse in the Alentejo, without neglecting design. "There's this idea that you have to be very alternative to be sustainable, but we wanted to pay attention to detail," says João.

"When you go to hotels, it seems like you have to choose: either be sustainable or be beautiful. Here, we're trying to prove that it's possible to have both."

The couple who came from Switzerland to open a "green oasis in the Alentejo"

Gandum Village is an "urban site in the countryside" that started welcoming guests in March. It's perfect for families.

Gandum Village in Alentejo - schicke & nachhaltige Oase für naturnahen Familienurlaub in Portugal

Welcome to this great Oase, which we in Portugal are looking forward to welcoming you to: In Gandum Village, surrounded by beautiful countryside in the Alentejo region, you will find 18 modern-minimalist apartments and two apartments for up to six people. Drei Pools zum Planschen, ein cooler Spielplatz, jede Menge Chill-Plätze, ein Coworking-Space und ein köstliches Restaurant sorgen dafür, dass Ihr Euch wie in einem echten Urlaubsparadies fühlt. And das Ganze auch noch in nachhaltig! Wonderful!

In the "Sustainable Destination" series, we travel to Alto Alentejo to find out about two projects that have been putting this vision into practice: Herdade no Tempo, a property that is responding to the climate emergency through regenerative agriculture, and Gandum Village, a rural tourism unit that is breathing new life into the ecosystem around it through different agricultural practices and the planting of agroforests.

Gandum Village is a rural hotel in Montemor-o-Novo, Alentejo, surrounded by nature and dedicated to sustainability. With a focus on comfort and local heritage, it offers a Mediterranean garden, coworking spaces, and eco-friendly experiences. The on-site restaurant, Provenance, highlights regional ingredients and regenerative practices. Ideal for families, groups, or remote workers, Gandum Village provides an immersive experience blending relaxation, work, and environmentally conscious living.