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Algarve (Portugal)
(individually or guided)

Short description – about 270 kilometres
It is one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes of Europe with picturesque rock formations and hidden dream beaches. You can find remnants from an empire hundreds of years ago, as well as magnificent arrays of blossoms in the Portuguese spring, snow-white villages and wild surfs along the west coast. Sheer nature, historical relics and the hospitality of the indigenous people are all offered to you by this experience-bicycle tour through the undiscovered Algarve.

Route
You mainly ride your bicycle on minor and less frequently driven roads. The roads transverse flat and undulated countryside with small inclines followed by smooth downhill rides. Occasionally, the route makes it necessary to ride on busy roads but only for short periods.

Tour
1st day – Journey to Faro
Find your own way to the start hotel.
2nd day – about 20 kilometres
In the morning you have the opportunity of exploring the town. Afterwards the narrow-gauge railway takes you directly along the coastline of Sandalgarve to Vila Real d.S.A. After you have checked in and got your bicycle, we offer you a little tour down to the delta of the Guadiana River or a trip by ferry to the Andalusian Aymonte
3rd day – about 40 kilometres
This tour passes Castro Marim where you have a beautiful view over the lagoons-countryside of Sandalgarve to Manta Rota (which is a fantastic beach for swimming). We visit the defence castle Cacella Velah and then move onto the day’s destination – the small fishing village Tavira at the mouth of the Rio Sequa.
4th day – about 40 kilometres
This route to the lively craft town Loulé leads us from the coast to the hinterland of Algarve, passing through orchards of orange and lemon groves.
5th day – about 60 kilometres
A bicycle bus takes us to Salir where we start today’s tour. First we ride our bicycles to Alte, the geographical centre of Algarve. After a visit of the Fontana Crande (virgin’s well) and the famous church of Alte, we move onto the Arade reservoir where we stop for a longer period in a Quinta, which is surrounded by eucalyptus. Then the road leads us through oranges groves to Silves, the old capital of Algarve. After visiting the cathedral and castle we stay overnight at Silves.
6th day – about 60 kilometres
Bicycles are transported along a short trip up Sierra de Monchique to Marmelete. From there we ride downhill in a fantastic long run towards the west coast – Atlantic to Aljezur. We move along the coastline to the dunes around Carrapateira, where we take the time to relax or go for a swim. Then we get close to the climax of our cycling tour – the ‘Cabo de San Vincente’ (the south western point of Europe) before we reach the destination of today’s tour – Sagres.
7th day – about 35 kilometres
On our last biking day we travel through Salema and Luz to Lagos. There we find another jewel, ‘Ponte da Piedade’ which is the final destination of the tour. After you spent some time in the town we go back to the end hotel in Faro by train or bus. (There will be a farewell party when you booked the guided tour.)
8th day – transport to the airport/ taxi

Service:
7 overnight stays (partly with breakfast, ***/ **** hotels or in typical Residencials and Estalagems of the country – shower/ toilet)
We would like to draw your attention to the point that we might change the hotel depending on the booked rooms to another hotel in a neighbouring town of the destination but in the same category.
Baggage transport
Transport mentioned in the program
Tour description
Information material

In addition when booking the guided tour:
2 x half board
7 times half-board
Accompanying bus with bicycle trailer
German/ Austrian guide
Admissions according to the program

Additional costs
Rental bicycle and saddlebags
Taxi – airport about 5 kilometres

more information, dates, prices .....

For more details just e-mail us, please: radreise@web.de