Cycling holiday in Portugal, self guided

Description of Cycling holiday in Portugal, self guided

Spend seven days exploring the Algarve, both coast and inland, by bike. Or, if you prefer, this trip is also now available using an electric bike. This is a point-to-point cycling holiday, staying in small, local hotels and cycling along quiet back roads lined by orange trees and cork oaks, passing through pretty villages, with plenty of time out of the saddle, too, to explore, swim and relax. Daily cycling distances are moderate, with a choice of a longer 50km route or a shorter, 30km route each day, and the opportunity to spend whole days by the pool, too, if you’d like a break from cycling.

The starting point for this enjoyable and hugely varied tour is the picturesque village of Querença, 12 km north of Loulé. The ‘O Autêntico’ route you’ll be following starts very close to the hotel. Some people choose to stay here for two nights as it’s a great place for familiarising yourself with the rhythm of life in rural Algarve. The owners are very proud of their accommodation and there is a beautifully located swimming pool and an excellent kitchen.

From here, cycle to Alte via a handful of small villages very typical of the south of Portugal: Nave do Barão, Espargal and Benafim. Alte is particularly pretty and famous for its excellent spring water, which draws Portuguese people from far and wide. The hotel in Alte is very comfortable and has an authentic Portuguese character and atmosphere.

The tour heads on in the direction of Silves, a lovely old town on the banks of the River Arade, towered over by a large castle. Breathe in the most unpolluted air in Europe as you cycle along quiet country roads, stopping to have a refreshing swim in the Barragem do Funcho or the Barragem do Arade. Silves was once one of the most bustling centres of the Arab-Iberian world, acquiring culture, poetry, architecture and agricultural techniques from the Moors who lived here and spreading them through the Algarve. You will spend two nights here in Silves, so there’s lots of time to soak up the atmosphere, get to know the town and enjoy its wonderful food. Café d´Inglès, next to the cathedral, has a fantastic ambience and the fish restaurant Marisqueira Rui is also excellent. Both are highly recommended.

Your next base is Monte de Cima, in the beautiful foothills of the Monchique mountains. Stay in a delightful rustic accommodation with just five double rooms, all ensuite. Relax around the pool, tuck into the delicious food the owner prepares on the lovely terrace, sip a glass of wine and watch the moon come up.

Finally, you have a choice for your last accommodation, between Lagos and Salema. Lagos is one of the Algarve’s most attractive and historic towns, with 16th-century walls enclosing the old town’s pretty, cobbled streets and churches. Here, you can stay in a comfortable hotel in the centre of town. Salema is a small coastal village with a charming, easygoing atmosphere. The accommodation here is a small bed and breakfast, just a minute from the beach.

The cycling on this trip is graded moderate to intermediate. There are some climbs although none of the routes take you above 250 meters. The accommodations in Querença, Alte, Silves, Monte de Cima and Lagos all have private swimming pools. In Salema, our bed and breakfast is located 150m from the beach. You can start this tour on any date you wish, but it’s not a good idea to plan your holiday for August, as the temperature in the Algarve is too high for comfortable cycling.

Departure information