Algarve Coastal Route
7 nights from €1100
4.39Bike the beautiful southern coastline of Portugal
Experience Portugal's 'Ecovia do Litoral', a cycle route linking Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border with Cabo de São Vicente (Sagres) in the west. The Algarve is often said to be Europe's sunniest spot offering year-round cycling for travelers with an average of 300 days of sunshine each year.
The 146 mile/235 km route combines trails in nature preserves with stretches on low-traffic roads and car-free paths. You'll wind along the coastline between fishing villages with Moorish architecture, cobbled lanes, and Roman ruins. Beaches, lagoons, and inlets offer the perfect spot for breaks and a snack.
This program affords a relaxed pace and plenty of time off the bike to experience stunning coastal vistas or linger over a traditional Portuguese lunch along the way.
An Adventure
“This is our 4th ride with this company and the Portugal ride had the most challenges but also was adventurous. The Garmin that they gave us to use was not very good. We also…” Full Review
“This is our 4th ride with this company and the Portugal ride had the most challenges but also was adventurous. The Garmin that they gave us to use was not very good. We also uploaded a Bike App but this was not always dependable as well. Each day was an adventure to find the next location. We did tap into our Google GPS (bike option) as well. We were never worried we would not make it. The hotels they put us in where first class. Each had a swimming pool, balcony views, centrally located and great breakfast buffets to start our day. Our last day we had trouble with one of our batteries on the electric bike. It did not charge properly (even though we had it plugged in all night). When we started we only had 4 our of 5 bars and within 15 minutes it went down to 3 bars. It was our shortest day ride (29 miles) so we didn't pack our charger cord (which we did not require on any of the longer days). We made it within 7 miles of the finish line when the battery went completely dead. It was a very windy and hilly day so we had to call the local tour team to pick us up. They were great to work with and very supportive of our success. The driver even drove us to the finish line so we could see the lighthouse. They took a 6 day ride down to 4 days for us to accommodate our travel schedule. The overall experience was good but the directional devices took my rating from a 5 star to 4 star.” Less
—Mychelle Fitzgerald
Best of Portugal
“This was a very good tour of the southern Portugal coastal towns. The scenery is amazing and some of the towns like Tavira are beautiful and perfect for their restaurants and artistry. The ride does fluctuate from paved roads to dirt roads with boardwalks providing very nice scenery on day 3 and 4.”
—Chris M.
Beautiful and Stressful
“We enjoyed seeing and exploring the towns of the Algarve. The beaches were beautiful, hotels were very nice, we had delicious meals. The least enjoyable was the biking. We rented…” Full Review
“We enjoyed seeing and exploring the towns of the Algarve. The beaches were beautiful, hotels were very nice, we had delicious meals. The least enjoyable was the biking. We rented Ebikes. A lot of time was spent on busy roads with traffic and cars and trucks whizzing by. On the no traffic parts, the trail was rocky, gravelly with potholes a good percentage of the time. The trails are unmaintained. We did bike through nature areas along the water which was lovely. We did this trip the third week in April. The weather was perfect- 70’s and sunny. This was our 7th bike trip. We enjoyed our trip to the Algarve and glad we did it, but the biking was not as enjoyable as our other trips and at times very stressful.” Less
—Janine
Daily Program
Day 1: Arrival at Vila Real de Santo António
Your tour operator will transfer you from Faro Airport to Vila Real de Santo António.
Overnight in Vila Real de Santo António.
Day 2: Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira
19 miles/31 km
Following breakfast, you will receive your bike and a briefing for the tour. Following a well-marked route and provided with maps, you'll cycle west towards Tavira, a charming fishing town dating back to Roman times and your destination for today's cycling.
Overnight in Tavira.
Day 3: Tavira – Olhão
19 miles/31 km
Today's ride continues west towards Olhão and passes through unspoilt coastal countryside and quaint fishing villages. Your destination in Olhão is a charming hotel near the water and not far from the heart of the old fishing town, renowned for its Moorish-style architecture. It's the perfect place to sample local specialities at local prices!
Overnight in Olhão.
Day 4: Olhão – Vilamoura
25 miles/40 km
Your third day on the Algarve Coastal Cycle Route takes you through the regional center of Faro and onwards past the prestigious golf resorts and the seafront at Quarteira, to your overnight stay in Vilamoura, with its marina full of luxury yachts and a good selection of cafes, bars and restaurants.
Overnight in Vilamoura.
Day 5: Vilamoura – Praia da Rocha
35 miles/55 km
Another interesting day’s cycling through the popular resort of Albufeira and inland through the traditional old town of Lagoa, then on to Portimão and Praia da Rocha where you will stay in a charming 4-star hotel.
Overnight in Praia da Rocha.
Day 6: Praia da Rocha – Praia da Luz
24 miles/39 km
Today you'll cycle through the fishing village of Alvor towards bustling Lagos, a likely stop-over for lunch and a little exploration. Continue on through the well-known coastal resort of Praia da Luz. There are lots of cafes and shops along the promenade and often market stalls and artists displaying their work, so it's worth getting here in time to explore.
Overnight in Praia da Luz.
Day 7: Praia da Luz – Cabo de São Vicente
24 miles/39 km. Then transfer to Loulé (+/- 1h30mins.
The final day of your cycling tour takes you through some dramatic and interesting scenery and on to the southernmost point of Europe - Cabo de São Vicente. The nearby town of Sagres, with its ancient fort and sites of historical interest, provide plenty of opportunities to explore. The tour operator will collect you and return you to a quaint hotel, set in a quiet square in the heart of the old market town of Loulé. Loulé is an explorer’s haven, with its narrow cobbled streets leading off the central Avenida, tiny shops and hidden-away bars and restaurants. There are plenty of opportunities to buy last-minute souvenirs and to sample local delights before your flight home tomorrow!
Overnight in Loulé.
Day 8: Departure
Departure day. If transfer is needed to the airport, the tour operator will arrange this.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Your hotels will be located within easy reach of a choice of places to eat and explore.
Vila Real de Santo Antonio: Hotel Apolo
Tavira: Vila Gale Tavira
Olhao: Real Marina
Vilamoura: Vila Gale Ampalius
Praia da Rocha: Hotel Jupiter
Praia da Luz: Hotel Belavista da Luz
Loule: Loule Jardim Hotel
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard touring bike
KTM X life Action
Suspension: Suntour NCX32-D Air LO 63mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG500-10 / 11-34T
E-bike
KTM Macina Style 720
or
KTM Macina Cross A410
- Trekking E-Bike w/Bosh engine
- 500WH Battery
- Shimano HG201-9 / 11-36
- Shimano MT200 / MT200 2-Piston
- Suntour NEX-E25 coil NLO 63mm
- Rear Carrier
- Integrated Lighting
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
**Exact brand and model may vary from time to time and depends upon sizes required and what is available at the time of ordering. Whilst KTM is the preferred brand, there are also other brands utilized with similar bikes and specifications**
Accessories
The bikes come equipped with:
- 1 Pannier (20ltr)
- Water bottle cage(only on standard bikes)
- Water bottle (750ml)
- Bike Lock
Pedals
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets
Helmets are included(please let us know beforehand if you would like to request one). However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Surface and terrain
This tour is on a mixture of dirt tracks and mostly traffic-calmed roads. It features relaxed cycling with occasional hills and distances of up to 35 miles per day.
Approximately 65% of the cycling is on quiet roads, 30% on dirt tracks, and 5% on main roads with a shoulder.
How to get there
Nearest airport: Faro, Portugal
Nearest train station: Loulé, Portugal
The tour operator will arrange pick-up from the airport in Faro. They can also do pick-ups from the Loulé train station, located a convenient 1 km from the bike fitting shop.
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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