Detailed holiday and bike tour description

 

Day 1

 

Arrival and you take a taxi to your hotel (approx. 10€). 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 Faro - Odeleite 90 km

 

The tour starts with a few kilometres on the EN 125 before you turn towards the sea and ride on a small side street to the village of Cacela Velha. Then go back to the EN125 and ride to Vila Real de San António, which is located by the estuary of the Guadiana River, the border to 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 direction Serra . The hills offer beautiful panoramic views over the whole area, marked with its numerous hill ranges. The road rises more and more and after a hill you can enjoy a wonderful view of the deep blue water reservoir and your milestone, the village of Odeleite . 

 

 

Day 3    Tour 2 Odeleite – Pechão 81 km 

 

Today's tour takes you through the Serra . The area is characterized by numerous hills, which offer beautiful views of the hilly, green landscape with large pine plantations and intervening farmland with low bush and cistus bushes. It is a natural area, but still with good paved roads with very little traffic. You ride west through some small villages to Cachopo . After that, the tour takes you towards the sea. Drive through an area with many cork oaks , dense forests or bush areas. On the high points, you can enjoy beautiful views into the Serra or to the sea. You pass through the village of Barranco do Velho and cross here the Cork Route, named "Rota da Cortiça". Then, start a long descent, interrupted with some short slightly rises, to São Brás, the town is located at the beginning of Barrocal, the orchard of the Algarve. You continue riding downhill towards Estoi , you drive through some small villages and finally reach your milestone, Pechão.

 

Day 4    Tour 3 Pechão - Silves 75 km

 

Today's tour starts with a ride to Stª Bárbara de Nexe, then pass the impressive football stadium of the Algarve, the " Parque das Cidades ", the tour continues a short ride on the EN 125 to Vale de Judeu, and from there on in northern direction. The route has some steep climbs to Parragil at 230m altitude, then a steep descent into the valley of the "Ribeira de Algibre" and subsequently a long distance climb towards Benafim, at 250m altitude. After then you ride along the range of hills, through large orange s- grapes- and fruit plantations in the direction of Alte . You will pass many wineries that offer visits and degustation. After Alte , you continue for 30km, reach on the end of the tour the valley of the Rio Arade and your destination of this stage, the town of Silves .

 

Day 5     Tour 4 Silves – Aljezur 56 or 73 km

 

From Silves you ride along the river Odelouca to Monchique, the first 10km are flat, the next 18km rise more and more till 740m altitude. Monchique is located between the two highest peaks in the Algarve, the Picota with 773m and the 902m Fóia. 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, you start a very curvy and steep descent until you come on the road of Marmelete . Shortly before Marmelete you ride over some double bends on a hilltop from where you can already see the village. Again and again, you have beautiful views to the Atlantic. After Marmelete the street goes mostly slightly downhill, you leave the Serra and reach the western coast of the Costa de Vicentina. After some kilometres, mostly downhill, you see the sea and the small town of Aljezur , today's destination. The place is situated on a hillside and it has a Moorish castle.

 

 

Day 6    Tour 5 Aljezur – Lagos 81 km

 

Today’s tour leads you through the natural park, you are riding very close to the coast on a mostly flat road, 35 km towards Vila do Bispo and straight on to the most south-westerly point of Europe. The area is a treasure trove for nature lovers, a diverse marine flora and fauna with many species of native and migratory birds and beautiful river valleys. Then, the tour leads a barren plateau to the lighthouse complex at Cabo São Vicente , at 60m high from the ocean lapped wild sea cliffs , is located.On a beautiful coastal road the route continues towards Sagres , and then you head back to Vila do Bispo towards Burgau to the coast. You reach Praia da Luz, a small quiet seaside village with an old church and a fortress. You ride through the village on a main road with cobblestones and continue riding along the Gold Coast “Costa d'Oiro” towards Lagos where you have reached today's destination stage.

 

 

Day 7     Tour 6 Lagos – Faro 98 km

 

The last stage takes you along the coast, and then you ride on the National Road 125 to Portimão . There you cross on an imposing bridge the estuary of the Rio Arade directly to the port of Portimão . Then you ride towards river Arade, which you are driving along on a hilltop road, with beautiful view of the wide river valley, and reach the town of Silves . From there, the tour leads you a flat road through the fertile field of Barrocal, with lots of fruit- and vintage plantations to the small town Tunes. It starts a slightly climb with magnificent panoramic view of the Serra and the coast, after a short descent you reach Paderne. Below the castle you ride through the town on a hilly route towards Loulé . You cross the city partly on cobblestones and then it goes in the direction of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, further on to the football stadium in the Algarve, the “ Parque das Cidades ” until you arrive at your hotel near the airport.

 

Day 8    Return journey

You take a taxi from your hotel to the airport (approx. 10€).