Description

Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour

Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour self-guided 8 days – 7 nights
Every day all year round.

Only need a bike for the Algarve? Check and BOOK HERE

The selected stages will guide you from the Algarve to Alentejo, from the mountains to the coast, on roads with little movement, and on quiet paths. Your cycling holiday starts in Silves. Explore this historic city in the Algarve and its attractions. Cycling along mountainous scenery, you’ll discover the route to Caldas de Monchique, a place where peace and quiet prevail. Through a road, with little movement, you’ll discover the mountain traditions of this region. Cycling to the Alentejo region, the hills become softer and the typical Alentejo houses become one of the characteristics of the landscape.

Cycling along the Mira River and paths and roads with little movement, this is the route that guides you to the coast. Through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, you’ll find a mix of Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and African vegetation. The fantastic views over the coast and the cliffs are a great highlight, especially in Cape St. Vincent – the most southwestern point of Portugal. The itinerary full of aromas, knowledge, and adventure reaches its final destination in Sagres.

Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour Cycle the Algarve and Alentejo

The regions on the itinerary offer good temperatures to enjoy a bicycle tour at any time of the year. In the low season of the year, the average maximum temperatures range from 11 degrees to 15 degrees. In the high season, the average maximum temperatures range from 29 degrees. Discover the Southwest of Portugal surrounded by amazing scenery. Cycling for 266 km from the mountains to the west coast, the itinerary provides you with unique experiences through stages full of gastronomy, knowledge, and adventure. Certainly, a wonderful experience that you don’t want to miss!

Explore places with ancient roots of Algarve and Alentejo traditions
Cycle through typical Portuguese villages and towns in the Algarve and Alentejo
You’ll cycle mostly a terrain of secondary roads and quiet paths, with a few climbs per stage
Cycle through historic towns and cities and discover fishing and all the rural traditions
Enjoy incredible landscapes over the mountains and the coast

If any member of the group or family does not want to cycle one or more stages, they have the possibility to travel between the hotels in the vehicle that performs daily the luggage transfers

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Day 1

Arrival

You’ll start your cycling holiday in Silves. Silves is a region in the Algarve that has one of the most important cultural and historical heritage. Its beautiful castle, its Cathedral, its pillory, and its Misericórdia Church are some of the examples to explore in the city.

Day 2

Silves to Caldas de Monchique - distance 27 km

Start your day exploring Silves, a historic Portuguese city that was centuries ago the capital of the Algarve. The starting point is next to the cross of Portugal, at the urban end of the city. Cycling through the valley towards the mountains, the mountainous relief is of great prominence and always present, in this phase with a predominance of rockrose vegetation. Before making any of the challenging climbs of the stage, take the chance to visit the Quinta Pedagógica of Silves to hydrate yourself and visit this farm, which aims to preserve the typical animal and vegetable species of the Algarve mountains. Following the path along secondary roads and quiet paths, observe the magnificent views over the mountains and feel the aromas of pine, eucalyptus, and orange trees that are almost always present. The arrival at the beautiful village and spa Caldas de Monchique, where its properties have been used since the Roman period due to the healing virtues of its waters, is a great highlight.

Day 3

Caldas de Monchique to Santa Clara-a-Velha - distance 41 km or 51 km

Visit the village of Caldas de Monchique. Its wooded park with secular trees on the hill, the passage through the serene brook and the visit to the chapel of Santa Teresa are some of the highlights that you must explore. The trajectory of the stage is marked by a road with little movement that provides sensational landscapes over the valleys and the mountains. In Monchique, we highlight the visit to the São Sebastião Church, the Mother Church and the local shops where you can taste the famous firewater of the region - medronho. Cycling in an environment surrounding cork oaks, eucalyptus, pine, arbutus, chestnut and holm oak trees observe small historical landmarks such as the house of Cantoneiros and Fountain of Amoreira, located in the middle of the mountains. This stage is marked by the transition from the Algarve region to the Alentejo region, where gradually the climbs start to be smoother and slowly the mountain gives way to the flat land, and the landscapes are extended further. You will arrive in Santa Clara-a-Velha by cycling along a road with little movement, where the landscape is mostly surrounded by cork oaks, holm oaks and eucalyptus. Just before getting to the village, the visit to the magnificent Santa Clara dam is highly recommended for the fantastic landscapes it produces, as well as to the ruin of the D. Maria bridge, built in 1822, which crosses the River Mira. This visit makes a total of 51 km for the day.

Day 4

Santa Clara-a-Velha to Odemira - distance 33 km

In Santa Clara-a-Velha you have the opportunity to discover the Church of Santa Clara de Assis, which originally belonged to the Order of Santiago da Espada. Cycling through the flat lands with some gentle climbs you will find the typical Alentejo houses, the whitewashed houses and embroidered with ocher and blue colors. You will also find the typical village cafe, where you can enjoy traditional snacks and a good conversation with the local population. Tranquil paths with fascinating views over the gentle hills and also over the River Mira will guide you directly to the center of Odemira.

Day 5

Odemira to Aljezur - distance 74 km

After taking some time to explore Odemira, a village full of typical Alentejo houses, start your day cycling along the river Mira. Through this stage, you will cycle through numerous fields of cultivation of raspberry, sweet potato, and others. Through paths and roads with little movement, with vegetation mostly of eucalyptus, pines, and cork oaks, discover the route to the west coast. Passing through some villages and towns there is always the typical café, where you can buy water or snacks. Porto das Barcas marks the first contact on the Atlantic coast. Visit the small fishing port and enjoy the magnificent views over the cliffs and the ocean. When passing through Zambujeira do Mar, visit the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar and taste some seafood from the region, such as navalheiras, crabs, or oysters from Mira. Cycling along the coast, you have the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim on the beach of Zambujeira do Mar, on the beach of Carvalhal, or on the beach of Odeceixe. Cycling through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park the visit to Azenha do Mar, where we have fantastic views over the coast, is mandatory. On roads with little movement, sometimes flanked by pines and eucalyptus, sometimes open to an uncovered scenario, we cycle along the Seine River and re-enter the Algarve region. Enjoy the wonderful views that the river provides until it joins the ocean. The stage is cycled until Aljezur by secondary roads, mostly next to pine forests and fields of cultivation.

Day 6

Aljezur to Aldeia da Pedralva distance 40 km

Visit Aljezur, a small coastal village with typical houses of the rural architecture of the Algarve. In its municipal market, you can discover several local and regional products. Explore and visit one of its many museums. A visit to the castle at the top of the hill offers you extraordinary views of the mountains and an insight into the historical past. The route is cycled mainly by quiet paths with the common presence of eucalyptus and pine trees, through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, with fantastic views over the valleys that draw the hills. Cycling along the coast you can enjoy a refreshing swim at Bordeira beach or Amado beach. In Carrapateira, we highlight the visit to the Museum of Sea and Earth, where you can learn about the history and development of the region, ecology, and local development. Cycling for more than 5 km next to the cliffs, with fantastic views from different angles over the coast, will certainly mark your day and your vacation. Cycling through the valleys in the comfort of nature you arrive at Aldeia da Pedralva where you will stay - an active tourism village that has been rebuilt from ruins.

Day 7

Aldeia da Pedralva to Sagres distance 41 km

Start the day cycling through paths with little movement through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. Passing through the village of Raposeira you have the opportunity to visit its Mother Church of the XVI century. In Vila do Bispo you also have the opportunity to visit its Mother Church of the XVIII century and to take a break in one of the traditional cafes, while chatting with the locals. Cycling along quiet paths through the natural park, the stage offers you exceptional views of the coast and the cliffs. At Cape St. Vincent, where a visit to the lighthouse is mandatory, let yourself be fascinated by the magnificent views in the most southwestern point of Portugal and Continental Europe. The way to Sagres is marked by a beautiful environment full of cliffs, which rise almost vertically from the Atlantic to a height of 75 meters. Reaching Sagres, visit its fortress by bicycle, the Baleeira port where you witness the fishing activity of the village and make a toast on the Mareta beach, while tasting the most popular seafood in the region – the percebe (Gooseneck Barnacles).

Day 8

Departure

End of the program with optional transfer to Faro airport or to another location of your choice.

Plane – You can book your air ticket directly to Faro airport or Lisbon airport (with connection to Faro by train or bus).
Car – Your car can be parked at the first or last hotel in the program, at another location of your choice or at the facilities in Loulé.

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Booking Information

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All prices are based on double rooms. Departures all days
For bookings & inquiries please contact us at info@cycleclassictours.com

Prices January, February, March, November & December

Double room per person €1390 -Single charge €560

Prices April, May & October

Double room per person €1670 - Single charge €680

Prices June & September

Double room per person €1790 - Single charge €770

Prices July & August

Double room per person €1950 -Single charge €890

Extra Information

Fill out and submit the online booking request or send an email to info@cycleclassictours.com
We tend and try to send all over within 48 hours.
Please do not make travel plans until you receive our confirmation.
Please be advised that we make every effort to ensure that all the information given on this site is accurate. All statements and information have been researched and supplied by third parties.
The information given is accurate and reliable, to the best of our knowledge. Should errors be found, we will rectify them as quickly as possible. However, we accept no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies.

Included

7 nights’ accommodation with breakfast
7 dinners
Trekking or Mountain bicycle with front bag and side bag
Luggage transfer between hotels
Helmet
Bottle of water
Insurance
Travel pack per booking
1 Roadbook per room
Hotel vouchers
1 GPS per booking
1 Speedometer per room
1 Set of puncture repair kits for every two bikes
1 Lock for each two bikes

Not Included

E-bike + €126
Arrival transfer from Faro (airport, train station, bus terminal, or any other location of your choice) to the hotel in Silves: 1-4 persons = €70 | 5-8 persons = €90
Departure transfer from Sagres to Faro (airport, train station, bus terminal, or any other location of your choice): 1-4 persons = €150 | 5-8 persons = €175

Special rates:

*Easter - €35 per person for double room and €60 for single room - 12^nd,13^rd,14^t^h, 15^th, 16^t^h, 17^th, 18^th, 19^th, 20^th, 25^th, 26^th and 27^th April
*New year - €35 per person for double room and €60 for single room - 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, 31^st December 2025 and 1^st January 2026
*Christmas Eve dinner per person - 24^th December: €40
*Christmas dinner per person - 25^th December: €40
*New Year's Eve dinner per person - 31^st December: €120

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Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour

Cycle through historic towns and cities and discover fishing and all the rural traditions. The regions on the itinerary offer good temperatures to enjoy a bicycle tour at any time of the year.

Easy

All year round

3-4 **** Hotels

Included

+ €126

Description

Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour

Southwest Portugal Cycling Tour Cycle the Algarve and Alentejo

Itinerary