Detailed holiday and bike tour description

 

Day 1

 

Arrival and you take a taxi to your hotel (approx. 40€). In the evening Roadbike Holidays Algarve will greet you at the hotel, the bicycles will be handed over and adjusted, afterwards we make a trip orientation.

 

 

Day 2    Tour 1 Black · Pousada Tavira - 77 km

 

The tour begins with a few kilometers on the EN 125 road, then you branch off towards the sea, you ride on a side street pass the village of Cacela Velha and then the route leads back to the EN125 to Vila Real de Santo António, which is located by estuary of the river Guadiana, the natural border with Spain. Riding through the village, pass the deep blue river with the lagoons and salt basins and shortly after start a climb towards Azinhal. On the left side you see the village of Castro Marim, with beautiful white houses below an impressive castle. The road rises more and more and in the village of Azinhal you turn into the direction of the Serra . The top of the hills offer beautiful panoramic views over the whole Serra , marked with its numerous hill ranges. The landscape is mostly green with pine plantations, low brushes, cistus bushes and intervening farmland. Arrive in Alta Mora and ride a winding road down towards the sea. The closer you get to the coast the more the vegetation increases again. Initially, you can see pine-,eucalyptus- and cork oak trees, then Fruit plantations, and wine Vineyards . After the motorway underpass, you get to your accommodation, Pousada in Tavira .

 

 

Day 3   Tour 2 Red · Pousada Tavira - 80 km

 

You leave Tavira and cross the Rio Seco, riding along the river 2km through an area with fruit orchards and Vineyards towards the motorway. Then you ride 14km uphill until 270m altitude have been reached. Afterwards, you have a steep descent of 150 meters to the Ribeira de Carriço and a further climb to a range of hills to 450m altitude towards Ribeira Odeleite . The top of the hill offers a beautiful panoramic view into the Serra and over the Atlantic. The tour continues winding through open terrain, slightly uphill and downhill, with many cork oaks , pines- and eucalyptus trees towards Cachopo . Then you drive through dense forests and bush areas up to Barranco do Velho and cross the "Rota da Cortiça" the Cork Route. From now on you can enjoy a long descent, about 14km, towards São Brás. The small town is located at the beginning of Barrocal, the orchard of the Algarve. Afterwards the route leads you through small villages and after a climb to a hilltop, a descent takes you back to the Pousada Estoi .

 

 

Day 4   Tour 3 Green · Pousada Estoi - 75 km

 

Today's tour starts with a ride to St ª Barbara de Nexe, then pass the impressive football stadium in the Algarve, the " Parque das Cidades ", the tour continues with a short ride on the EN 125 to Vale de Judeu and from there on, northern towards Benafim. The route has some steep climbs, such as to Parragil at 230m altitude, then a steep descent into the valley of the "Ribeira de Algibre" and subsequently a long distance climb to Benafim, at 250m altitude. From there, the route leads you slightly rising and downhill along the hill range through large fruit orchards always with beautiful views to the coastline. Pass the village of Salir and after some kilometres it starts a 9km long climb, from 200m altitude to 370m altitude, towards Barranco do Velho on a very curvy road, fantastically paved and without any traffic. You ride through a wooded area with partly ancient gnarled cork oaks and pine trees. At the top begins a long descent, then another two climbs and a short roll-out to the Pousada Estoi .

 

 

Day 5    Tour 4 Blue · Pousada Estoi - 75 km

 

Today's route is a relax tour, with only 500 meters elevation and it takes you to the sea. From Estoi you ride to São Bras, then a few miles on a flat road to the hamlet Bengado. Here you start a winding descent, with good views to the hill ranges of the Serra with their widely scattered cork oaks , olive - and carobtrees, after then a flat street to the village of Santa Catarina.Next, it goes through a varied landscape, riding along the hill ranges of the Serra , downhill towardsTavira , you ride along the river valley of the "Rio Gilão" and reach the city. The route takes you throughTavira , over the "Roman bridge" which dates from the moors period, through winding streets and alleys, down to the sea and to the Ria Formosa .In the distance you can see large white salt mountains from the salt lagoons. The tour continues through the small fishing village of Santa Luzia, the resort Pedras d'el Rei, a short ride on the EN 125 towardsOlhão . At the city entrance is the "Quinta da Marim" and then to the port of Olhão , the largest fishing port in the Algarve. After, the route leads you along the railway line and the lagoons, you cross the EN125 before Faro and ride back to the Pousada Estoi .

 

 

Day 6    Tour 5 Red Pousada Estoi (with Mini-bus to Silves) - 113 km

 

This morning you will be picked up by a minibus and chauffeured to Silves . From Silves you drive along the river Odelouca to Monchique, the first 10km are flat, the next 18km rise more and more till you reach 740m altitude. Before Monchique you have to decide either you choose the flat route to Marmelete , or ride over the Fóia, a distance of 8km with an altitude of 370m. From Fóia starts a very curvy and steep descent until you come on the road of Marmelete . Again and again you have beautiful ponoramic views to the Atlantic. After Marmelete the street is mostly going slightly downhill, you leave the Serra , come to Aljezur and reach the western coast of the Costa Vicentina . The tour continues through the nature park, you are riding very close to the coast on a mostly flat road, 35 km towards Vila do Bispo. Pass Vila do Bispo riding 8km straight, you reach Sagres the end of the daily stage.Shortly before Sagres you have the opportunity to make a short detour of 8km, to the most south- westerly point of Europe, where the lighthouse complex from Cabo São Vicente , on 60m high from the ocean lapped wild sea cliffs , is located.

 

 

Day 7    Tour 6 Violet · Pousada Sagres - 55 km

 

The short tour on this day will take you to the small sandy bays, which are located in the middle of thecliffs . The route leads up to Vila do Bispo, and then you pass the small village of Raposeira up to the crossing towards Burgau. Then the tour leads in western direction, a very steep climb to a hilltop with fantastic views of the Atlantic. Next, a steep descent to a small cove which is very famous among surfers and again a very steep climb on a hill from which you can already see the next coastal village, Salema . The tour continues slightly uphill towards Figueiras, to the coast to two sandy beaches surrounded by bizarre rock cliffs , with two traditional restaurants, which are known for their fish and seafood menus. Then ride back to Raposeira and on the same street as in the morning back to the Pousada Sagres .

 

 

Day 8    Return journey

 

Bus-Transfer, you will be chauffeured by us with a mini-bus to Faro airport

Overview:

 

• Self-Guided Racing Cycle Tours from the 3 Pousadas in the Algarve

• 2 Tours Pousada Tavira , 3 Tours Pousada Estoi , 1 Tour Pousada Sagres

• 8 days/ 7 nights/ 6 racing cycle tours

• Start of the package: every day

• The routes are almost flat to mountainous, some steeply climbs and descents. Mostly on good to very good paved roads with very little traffic

• Distance 480km