Southwest Portugal Cycling Holiday

Day 1: Arrival in Faro -

Individual arrival and transfer to Silves.  Check into the hotel and then explore the village. Silves Castle, the finest example of the Islamic architecture in Portugal, is a must see.  (There is an optional transfer from Faro airport to the hotel in Silves).

Day 2:  From Silves to Caldas de Monchique

Cycle along quiet roads and tracks, surrounded by a superb mountain landscape as you make make your way to the spa village of Caldas de Monchique.  Set in a beautifully wooded ravine, Caldas de Monchique has been a spa since Roman times and was once popular with Portuguese royalty. The cobbled, tree-shaded main square is surrounded by lovely nineteenth-century buildings and the wooded setting is a delight. At the foot of the village, the modern thermal spa offers specialist treatments including water massage, jet-showers and a steam room.

Approx distance: 17 miles (27 km)

Day 3: From Caldas de Monchique to Santa Clara-a-Velha

From Caldas de Monchique follow a route that offers fantastic views of the Monchique mountain, which is covered by pine trees, eucalyptus, chestnuts and holm oaks among many others.

Approx distance: 23 miles (37 km)

Day 4: From Santa Clara-a-Velha to Odemira

Leave Santa Clara-a-Velha and cycle along the peaceful roads and tracks. Pass through traditional villages with cafes where you can enjoy some regional delicacies as you head towards Odemira, your overnight stop This beautiful name is said to have originated from the Arab words wad (meaning river) and Emir, leading to the name Odemira in Portuguese.  The towns charm lies in its location on top of a small hill, forming a kind of amphitheatre with its brilliant white houses facing towards the river Mira. The source of the river is in the Serra do Caldeirão, but from this point on it is navigable as far as its mouth at Vila Nova de Milfontes, over a stretch of roughly 30 kilometres, a most beautiful setting for sailing, rowing or canoeing.  
The region has also taken great care to preserve its handicrafts and various craftsmen can be found here making baskets, furniture, pottery and hand-woven fabrics.

Approx distance: 29 miles (47 km)

Day 5: From Odemira to Aljezur

Emerging from the beauty of the Vincentina Coast into the Algarve region at Praia de Odeceixe, one of the seven wonderful beaches of Portugal. On the mouth of the Seixe River, itself good for boat and canoeing, Odeceixe Beach offers both sea and river swimming. At low tide, the large sandy surface is dotted with lagoons.  From here head to the small market town of Aljezur with its whitewashed houses and cobbled streets.  Straddling a fertile river valley and famed for its sweet potatoes, the town is dominated by the ruins of a tenth century Moorish castle, which sits at the top of a narrow and very steep cobbled hill. Entry to the ruins is free and the views from the top of the hill are spectacular. On one side of the river stands the old town, which dates back to the tenth century when the Moors first settled here. Christian armies conquered the town in 1246 and five centuries later, when Aljezur was rife with malaria, the Bishop of Algarve ordered the town's inhabitants to move to the other side of the river to escape the disease.  The oldest building in the new town is the eighteenth century Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Alva which is in the main square, surrounded by shops and cafes. More cafes can be found either side of the bridge that connects the two halves of the town.

Approx distance: 46 miles (74 km)

Day 6: From Aljezur to Aldeia da Pedralva

Cycle along mostly off road tracks between the valleys of the mountains of the Algarve, Enjoy the peace of the natural and the beaches that Carrapateria has to offer.  The Village of Pedralva, a rural village of Vila do Bispo, was once inhabited by over 100 people, but entered into a painful process of desertification in the last 25 years.  In 2006 it had only nine of its original inhabitants left, and a set of about 50 houses in an advanced state of disrepair. Only nine of these homes met the minimum conditions of habitability.  At this point A process of urban rehabilitation was introduced, trying to reproduce faithfully the rural environment through the use of restored furniture in all the houses, as well as the use of building materials faithful to the traditional old buildings.  Today, the village is alive again with over 24 restored houses, a “Gourmet Grocery” operated in the area of the former village store, the Reception Area of the Village also runs the snack-bar, a Summer store “Pedralva Outlet” and two restaurants already famous on the Costa Vicentina “Pizza Pazza Pizzeria” and “Sitio da Pedralva”. 

Approx distance: 25 miles (40 km)

Day 7: From Aldeia da Pedralva to Sagres 

Set off from Aldeia da Pedralva and cycle along the coast enjoying exceptional  views over the wild Atlantic, wonderful cliffs, the fishing activity and to some unique monuments of the history of Portugal.  Sagres is at the extreme western tip of the Algarve and is like no other destination in southern Portugal. It is a region whose dramatic landscapes are dominated by nature’s raw power; from the raging seas that carve immense cliffs and bracing winds that create barren landscapes.  Sagres is good for surfing, but there are sheltered pristine beaches for relaxing on, and an unassuming cool vibe about the town. People are drawn to Sagres by the Cabo de Sao Vicente, a remote and bleak headland, aptly fitting for the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe.

Approx distance: 25.5 miles (41km)

Day 8: Depart 

Individual departure from Sagres (Optional transfer to airport).

Key Details:

• This tour has an 8 day, 7 night itinerary
• The total distance of this cycling tour is approximately 165 miles / 266 km
• This tour starts in Silves and end in Sagres
• The nearest airport is Faro

• The routes are along quieter roads and off road tracks

• The tour is mostly flat terrain with an average of one or two medium ascents per day

During this cycling tour in Portugal you will enjoy: 

• Warm climates
• Stunning beaches
• Portuguese villages
• Natural Parks
• Natural wildlife
• Food
• Thermal Spa

Getting to Portugal:

By Rail - You can reach Portugal by train from London, by early morning Eurostar from London to Paris, a high-speed TGV from Paris to Irun on the Spanish frontier, then the famous Sud Express overnight to Lisbon, with sleeping-cars, restaurant & bar.  Or you can take Eurostar and TGV high-speed train to Barcelona, stay overnight, then take a high-speed AVE train to Madrid and the overnight Lusitania trainhotel to Lisbon. 

This page explains the best train times, fares, and how to buy tickets.

By Bus - Eurolines run coaches to Faro

This is the Eurolines Website

By Car – The Algarve can be reached by Ferry or Eurotunnel and motorways

Here is the AA route planner.

By Air: You can fly from several UK airports to Faro or Lisbon airport (there are connections from Lisbon to Faro by Bus or Train)

Here is the Skyscanner website