Self Guided Road Tour -
Algarve
Mountains to SeaBeginner / Intermediate level, minimum 2 people
This 7 night holiday offers you the opportunity to explore the unspoilt west Algarve beginning in the hills of the Serra de Monchique – the heart of the Monchique bio park. Here you have the opportunity to cycle around the hills before heading downhill & along the Seixe valley to the village of Odeceixe. The village lies just inland from the sea but in the Cape St Vincent Natural Park and for the remainder of your holiday your routes are all within the Park. You have a day to explore the coastline here before we transfer you south to ‘Lovers beach’ where you cycle the magnificent Pontal headland before travelling to Cape St Vincent (considered by the Romans to be the ‘end of the world’) and the port of Sagres. From here you cycle the southern margins of the Park exploring unspoilt beaches and the standing stones (3,000BC) of Monte das Amantes before finishing at the fishing village of Salema.
You cycle on a mixture of quiet country roads and good tracks, busy main roads are avoided wherever possible and so are steep hills.
Included in this Holiday
• 7 nights in small 3 -4 stars hotel (or equivalent) in a twin / double room with breakfast
• transfers to and from Faro airport or arrival point in the Algarve
• luggage transfers
• bike rental, a Trek 7.3 FX hybrid or equivalent
• back up support vehicle
All accommodation is booked in a twin / double room with en-suite facilities and breakfast
Not Included
• flights
• holiday insurance
• 6 Lunches
• 6 Dinners
Cost Per Person
Cost per person:
October – March £405.00 , $810.00, 540€ and April – June & September £455.00, $910.00, 610€
Itinerary
Day 1 – arrival in the Algarve and transfer to Monchique. Overnight Monchique.
Day 2 – a circular ride around the foothills of Picota to the village of Alferce, there are stunning views down to the coast and over the foothills, 25km. Overnight Monchique (all on surfaced roads with a few gentle climbs).
Day 3 – your route takes you westwards to the small coastal town of Odeceixe. Before you arrive you have to drop 400m and cycle along the beautiful Ribeira de Seixe valley where time really has stood still. This is the longest cycling day but well worth it, 40km. Overnight Odeceixe (some short climbs at the beginning and one near Odeceixe – a mixture of surfaced roads and good tracks)
Day 4 – a circular ride down to the beach and then through the countryside to Rogil where you can visit the tiny nature reserve of Esteveira perched on the cliff tops, 24km. Overnight Odeceixe ( one real climb, mostly surfaced roads)
Day 5 – this morning we transfer you to Carrapateira (48km south) where you make a circular tour of the beautiful Pontal headland before setting off to Vila do Bispo and from there along the Sagres peninsula to Cape St Vincent and the fishing port of Sagres, 32km. Overnight Sagres (one real climb, half the day on surfaced road and half on good tracks).
Day 6 – from Sagres you journey eastwards with time to explore the beautiful unspoilt beaches of Ingrina and Zavial before passing through quiet countryside to the fishing village of Salema, 24km. Overnight Salema ( a few gentle climbs, all on surfaced roads).
Day 7 – For you final day we suggest you take time off from the saddle and use the bus to visit the historical town of Lagos, if you prefer to ride we offer a circular route to the National Forest and the Bravura lake, 32km. Overnight Salema ( several climbs all on surfaced roads).
Day 8 – transfer back to your departure point
This holiday can start on any day of the week to suit your personal travel arrangements
