38 - 66 km
300 - 750 m
8 Days & 7 Nights
Ria Formosa, a wild Paradise
- Tour Grade
- Distance
38 – 66 km / day
- Profile
Moderately hilly
- Route
25% road , 75% off-road (dirt and gravel roads or double roads, some single tracks and some short sections of sand or rocks); Last day: 50% single-tracks
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Itinerary
Arrival Faro Airport (FAO) Transfer to Hotel
Welcome to the Algarve!
In Tavira, we recommend taking some time to explore the architectural heritage which harbors Roman, Arab and Christian influences. Enjoy and make the most of your rest as tomorrow new adventures await you!
Bike Tavira Loop
This will be the first riding day in which you will cycle on calm and serene roads, close to the Serra Algarvia.
Pass small villages and ride along the old roads and rural paths where you will cross a vast area of orange trees (it smells wonderful!). Discover, the "Pego do Inferno" where you can admire the most beautiful waterfall in the Algarve. Enjoy the ride back to Tavira where you will be staying for another night.
Bike from Tavira to Vale das Gralhas
After a great and filling breakfast, start today's journey in Tavira and ride along the incredible Ria Formosa, one of the most beautiful natural parks in the country.
As mentioned before, this is an absolute paradise for birdwatchers and part of the Natura 2000 Network. During this day, the views will be the highlight of the program and provide for some epic sights. When you get close to the town of Olhão, you will head inland and ride past small villages and once more cross vast areas of orange trees. Take a deep breath, pick up a ripe fruit and sit down between the orange and green fields. The day will finish at a lovely rural hotel in Vale das Gralhas, where you will be staying for the night.
Bike from Vale das Gralhas to Querença
On this day, you will head north and roll through the small up's and down's of the hills, close to the Algarve mountain range.
It will be a challenging day that will be well worth the effort as there will be incredible breathtaking sceneries to observe. Along the way, visit the town of São Brás de Alportel, which was once the biggest cork producing centre in Portugal. A great selection of roads and trails will take you through amazing green Algarvean fields, rich with Mediterranean flora and fauna where you can invigorate your mind and soul with the pure, natural air. Finally, arrive at the typical village of Querença where you will spend the night in a quiet and peaceful hotel.
Bike from Querença to Vale Fuzeiros
Another challenging day presents itself, where the hills will once again be there, but only to make it all the more rewarding in the end.
Start your ride in Querença and ride along the ancient and narrow roads which are surrounded by a landscape dominated by carob and fig trees. While on the way, visit the lovely hillside village of Alte, which is famous for its white painted houses and fresh water springs. The presence of water all year round adds a certain unique charm to the village. Close to the end of today's ride, you can stop by the Barragem do Funcho. This is a lovely dam which is connected to the Arade River.
Bike from Vale Fuzeiros to Lagos
Leave Vale Fuzeiros on asphalt through winding roads surrounded by nature, which will eventually bring you to the stunning dam of Arade.
From here, you will follow the Arade River until you arrive at the historic Moorish town of Silves. Your ride will continue along the Odelouca River, where we recommend that you enjoy the rural areas and typical villages like Odiáxere that you will find along the way. Eventually, you will arrive at the sea at an incredible long beach by the bay filled with golden sand called "Meia Praia" ("half beach"). You will then arrive at the cosmopolitan city of Lagos, one of the oldest towns in the Algarve. Lagos is a historic centre of the Portuguese age of discoveries and frequent home of Henry the Navigator, a historical shipyard and at one point in history, the centre of the European slave trade. Save some time to walk around downtown and dineout.
Bike from Lagos to Sagres
This day will be especially challenging, since there are a few hills and variations on terrain during your approach to the rugged cliff-lined coastline of Sagres and Cape São Vicente.
After, you will follow some beautiful trails along the coastline to Ponta da Piedade. When you arrive, you will observe a fantastic scenery of cliffs, caves and rocks with an interesting mixture of colors. The route continues west and passes through some great scenery and quaint little coastal villages. Once you arrive in Sagres, you will have the option of checking into your hotel and then cycling the extra 6 kilometres to the edge of Europe, Cape São Vicente - the south-westernmost point of continental Europe.
Departure
Time goes by incredibly fast when your having fun, but unfortunately, all good things must come to and end!
Get ready for your trip back home. Our guide will be ready to pick you up at the hotel. We hope you join us again soon to discover some more of Portugal's Nature Trails!
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