Accommodation

We use a selection of three- and four-star hotels. All hotels offer great service and have been selected for their location, comfort and character. Some hotels have a swimming pool or a sea view. Examples of hotels used: Lisbon: Marques de Pombal, a four-star hotel located on Avenida da Liberdade in the centre of Lisbon. The hotel also has a gym and spa facilities. Setúbal: 11 Hotel School, a former military barracks converted to a stylish hotel, run by the Setúbal School of Hospitality and Tourism. Santiago do Cacém: Hotel Vila Park. Surrounded by woodlands, it has a large outdoor saltwater pool. Vila Nova de Milfontes: HS Milfontes Beach is on the main beach avenue in Vila Nova de Milfontes and enjoys amazing views of the Mira river bay, along with an outdoor pool and gym. Rogil: Hotel Alcatruz is a modern property with simply furnished, beach-themed rooms. The hotel is a few minutes’ drive from the coast. Vila do Bispo: Aldeia da Pedralva offers a new kind of sustainable tourism. Pedralva used to be a farming village until its inhabitants started to leave in the 1980s, leaving the village desolate. Now, it has been carefully restored in the traditional style, giving the feel of stepping back in time. Alternatively we use the Hotel Mira Sagres which has an excellent location facing the 16th-century Mother Church. With just 21 rooms, the hotel has a personal feel and facilities include a spa area with indoor pool and a bar. Sagres: Memmo Baleeira Hotel has an outdoor pool with magnificent Atlantic Ocean views, a spa and a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath and sauna. Please note, some hotels might change on certain departures. For more up-to-date information about the hotels used, please contact our Customer Operations Team closer to your travel date.

Transport

Transfers to and from the airport will be by private vehicle (normally minibus). While you are cycling, the vehicle will carry your baggage and be on hand with assistance or if you choose to sit out a section of the ride (seats are limited). A guide cycles with the group.

Guide

The group will generally be between six and 16 people. There will be a local cycling leader and an assistant leader driving the support vehicle.

Meals

All breakfasts and two distillery visits with tastings included. A typical hotel breakfast consists of toast/bread with jam, or honey, cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt. Eggs are usually available and there are frequently other cooked options; the breakfasts on this trip are always plentiful and perfect to set us up for a day of cycling. Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region – there are up to 365 recipes to cook it. For meat lovers, the barrosã meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to its naturally delicious flavour. Francesinha originates from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguiça [smoke-cured pork sausage] and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer-and-tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint-hearted. To drink, you will find plenty of the local Sagres and Superbock beer. Vinho verde is available from the supermarket and directly from producers. It is a young, medium-strength white wine with an almost carbonated quality. Port needs no introduction and a glass (or two) of the fortified wine will generally follow a hearty Portuguese meal. There are an incredible number of different desserts available and if you have a sweet tooth it will be possible to try a different one each day. Local favourites include bolo de bolacha (cookie cake), leite creme (cream eggs and sugar), pão de ló (sponge cake made with lots of eggs), arroz doce (traditional rice pudding) and, of course, pastel de nata, which you will find at most cafes on your route.

Not included:

Flights

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas and vaccinations — Local city taxes (approximately €10) — E-bike hire

Insurance

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Day 1 Day 1: Start At Our Accommodation In Lisbon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start At Our Accommodation In Lisbon

Welcome meeting at 3pm in the reception of the start hotel before your guide leads the group for an orientation walk through the historic city centre. There is plenty to see and we recommend travelling a day earlier if you are interested in exploring more of the enchanting capital. Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 2 Day 2: Transfer To Setúbal And Explore The Area (Breakfast,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Transfer To Setúbal And Explore The Area (Breakfast,Dinner)

In the morning at 9am, we take a transfer (45 minutes) to Setúbal, where we check into our accommodation and receive our bikes. After lunch, we go for a short ride to get used to our bikes and see the area, including Arrabida Mountain and the archaeological site of Cumenda. A welcome dinner is included this evening and we overnight in Setúbal. Route: Easy ride around Setubal, with a slight climb and descent. Terrain: 96% paved roads, 4% unpaved roads.
Day 3 Day 3: Cycle From Troia To Santo André (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cycle From Troia To Santo André (Breakfast)

We start the day with a ferry across the Sado Estuary to the Troia Peninsula, which was once inhabited by the Romans and was of high strategic-economic importance as a manufacturing centre for salting and preserving fish. We cycle south along the peninsula until we reach Comporta, a picturesque spot surrounded by paddy fields. With the Atlantic Ocean to one side and vast dunes to the other, we continue through pine forests to the beach towns of Melides and Santo André. Continuing south, we cycle via the 1,235-acre (500ha) Lagoa de Santo André Natural Reserve, an area of high ecological importance not only for its wetlands, but also for its dune ridge that separates them from the ocean. Here, the fresh and salt waters provide the perfect environment for a wide array of flora and fauna to thrive. Overnight in Santo André. Route: Flat ride out of the Tróia peninsula, afterwards undulating ride to Santo André. Terrain 78% paved roads, 22% dirt roads with some sandy sections.
Day 4 Day 4: Cycle From Santo André To Vila Nova De Milfontes (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Cycle From Santo André To Vila Nova De Milfontes (Breakfast)

The start of the day takes us to Sines, a port city with an important historical role in international trade. Dating to Roman times, the settlement was a small fishing village until the 1970s, when its strategic coastal position brought rapid expansion and a large oil refinery. We visit the medieval castle, which offers wonderful views of Sines bay and Vasco da Gama beach. Following the coast towards Porto Covo, we cycle alongside fabulous beaches and cliffs, through an area rich in biodiversity and unique geological heritage. Among the 750 plants and 200 bird species that have been identified throughout the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, we can keep our eyes peeled for peregrine falcons and Bonelli’s eagles. We continue beyond Porto Corvo until we reach Vila Nova de Milfontes, a charming coastal town where we stop for the night. Route: Mostly flat ride to Sines, afterwards coastal undulating ride to Praia do Queimado. Slight climb and descent to Vila Nova de Milfontes. Terrain: 73% paved roads, 27% dirt roads.
Day 5 Day 5: Cycle From Vila Nova De Milfontes To Rogil (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cycle From Vila Nova De Milfontes To Rogil (Breakfast)

Today, we ride along key sections of the Rota Vicentina, passing highlights such as the village of Almograve and the lighthouse at Sardão, which sits in an unspoiled environment of great natural beauty and offers breath-taking views of the craggy coastline and many inaccessible beaches. At the cliffs, we may see white storks or the numerous seabirds that inhabit this coast. Our journey continues through idyllic scenery until we reach Zambujeira do Mar, a small, peaceful fishing village with a beautiful golden-sand beach. Continuing through agricultural fields, we reach the road that takes us along Ribeira de Seixe then guides us to the sea and Odeceixe Mar Beach, a favourite of surfers and bodyboarders. At the end of today’s cycle, we visit Junior Jacques Distillery, famed for its Medronho fruit brandies, where we have a tasting. We stay the night in Rogil, a village within the Vicentine Coast Natural Park and our last stop in Alentejo. Route: Mostly undulating ride, with a couple of short, steep climbs between Zambujeira do Mar and the exit of Odeceixe. Terrain: 71% paved roads, 29% dirt roads with some sandy sections.
Day 6 Day 6: Arrive In The Algarve Region And Cycle To Pedralva (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Arrive In The Algarve Region And Cycle To Pedralva (Breakfast)

Today we follow a mainly inland route, crossing into the Algarve region and heading towards Sagres, the southernmost point of Portugal. This is where Portuguese sailors learned to manoeuvre the caravel ship in the 15th century and was the starting point for many pioneering voyages. We continue cycling south towards Aljezur, a small village renowned for its cultivation of sweet potatoes, and there is an opportunity to visit its 10th-century Moorish castle, which offers fantastic views over the entire region. Before heading to our accommodation, we visit the surfing beach and village of Carrapateira, the perfect place for a refreshing dip at the end of the ride. We spend the night in Pedralva. Route: Undulating ride to Aljezur, short climb and descent to Bordeira. Climb from Carrapateira to Pedralva. Terrain: 52% paved roads, 48% dirt roads.
Day 7 Day 7: Final Cycle Of The Trip, Ending In Sagres On The South Coast (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Final Cycle Of The Trip, Ending In Sagres On The South Coast (Breakfast)

Continuing south, we leave Vila do Bispo with adventure in the air, as we discover virgin beaches, a rich culture and delicious cuisine centred around the sea. There is time to visit the traditional market in Vila do Bispo before we cycle to Cordoama beach, where the cliffs reach more than 328ft (100m) in height. Overlooking the beach is a spot popular with paragliders – if we’re lucky, we may spot them taking off. Just 3mi (5km) away from Sagres is the southwestern-most point in Europe, Cabo de São Vicente, the last piece of home that Portuguese sailors would see as they sailed into the unknown. We visit this remote, windswept headland before our final push to Sagres, a laid-back small town with an end-of-the world feel. Overnight in Sagres. Route: Undulating ride and then slight descent to Cabo de São Vicente. Continue on a flat road to Sagres. Terrain: 47% paved roads, 53% unpaved roads.
Day 8 Day 8: End Sagres (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End Sagres (Breakfast)

This morning marks the final breakfast of the adventure; an excellent opportunity to reflect on some of the many wonderful experiences you’ve enjoyed during this cycling holiday in Portugal. A group transfer is available to Faro Airport for those who wish to take it.

8 days tour

Lisbon To Algarve Ride

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Lisbon To Algarve Ride

Day 1: Start At Our Accommodation In Lisbon

Day 2: Transfer To Setúbal And Explore The Area (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 3: Cycle From Troia To Santo André (Breakfast)

Day 4: Cycle From Santo André To Vila Nova De Milfontes (Breakfast)

Day 5: Cycle From Vila Nova De Milfontes To Rogil (Breakfast)

Day 6: Arrive In The Algarve Region And Cycle To Pedralva (Breakfast)

Day 7: Final Cycle Of The Trip, Ending In Sagres On The South Coast (Breakfast)

Day 8: End Sagres (Breakfast)

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