DAY 1
Arrive in Algarve
Faro is the closest airport to Slives and is serviced by dozens of carriers from all over Europe. You will be collected at Faro Airport and transferred to Silves.
Silves is a history laden town, filled with crumbling walls of ancient beauty. The Castle and Cathedral are next to each other and both are worth visiting while you wander round the streets of this charming town, acclimatising yourself to the relaxed Portuguese way of life.
The arcades of the market hall, by the river are the best place to sample the famous Portuguese Churrasqueria and Pastelerias.
Overnight: Silves
DAY 2
Countryside North of Silves—15 km
The trail today sees you leaving Silves and walking out along the levadas, paths that run beside irrigation channels. The levadas lead you through tiny hamlets into the rural splendour of the Algarve.
Your sense of smell will be working as hard as your legs today as you walk through citrus groves, past bushels of rosemary, thyme and lavender, before walking back through eucalyptus plantations to Silves.
Overnight: Silves
DAY 3
Monchique via Picota—17 km
A transfer after breakfast takes you up into the mountains surrounding Monchique. Here you will take the gentle climb up Picota, the second highest peak in the area. The views from the top are spectacular and it displays the multifaceted beauty of the Algarve before you.
You then descend into the thermal spa town of Monchique, a shimmering vision of white painted buildings in a sea of green. Here you can treat yourself to a little Medronho (strawberry liqueur) but be warned, it packs a punch.
Overnight: Monchique
DAY 4
Monchique to Bensafrim—18km
In contrast to yesterday, today is all downhill walking, so an easier day as you head down through the foothills of the Serra de Monchique, towards the Algarve coast. The views are amazing as you walk down through the eucalyptus, cork oak and pine plantations.
You will eventually come to the manmade Lake Bravura, a little wildlife haven where you can still see some traditional agricultural practices. After arriving in Bensafrim you will be collected and transferred to the cosmopolitan town of Lagos for your overnight stay.
Overnight: Lagos
DAY 5
The Budens Wetlands—14 km
You will be collected after breakfast and transferred to the start of today’s walk. Crossing through the Budens Wetlands is a real highlight of the trip. The variety of birdlife is amazing and it is a stopping point for many species on route to/from Africa, so in the Spring and Autumn it can be mind-blowing.
From here on you will be walking along the Algarve coastline, with its sun baked cliffs looking onto the inviting waters of the Atlantic. Passing medieval forts and Roman ruins, not to mention sheltered sandy bays and stunning cliff top vistas, this makes for one of the best days walking on the whole trip.
Overnight: Salema
DAY 6
Salema to Sagres—16 km
Today you are walking through the Cabo sao Vincente National Park along ancient tracks which drop down to sandy bays as you make your way to Sagres.
The park is an outstanding area of natural beauty and it is common to see great cormorant and stork nesting on the rocks by the sea. Again, this is part of the migration corridor to Africa particularly for birds of prey and seabirds.
Overnight: Sagres
DAY 7
Sagres to Cabo Sao Vincente—14 km
Today you will be walking to the ‘End of the World’ or at least that is what the Romans thought. This is the most south westerly point in Europe and is famed for its fortifications as well as its wild seas and vertical cliffs.
The history of this rugged tip of Portugal stretches back to Neolithic times, with standing stones in the area to confirm this fact. A dramatic place to end the trip.
Overnight:Sagres
DAY 8
Depart Sagres
After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport for your departure from the Algarve.
Additional Nights and Extensions
You can add additional nights at any point along the walk.
Tailor Made Holidays
We are always more than happy to tailor our standard itineraries to suit. Just let us know what you would like and we will be happy to arrange your tailor made holiday.
Grade & Fitness
This walking tour is graded Easy to Moderate. The walks are along levadas and along uneven footpaths and coastal paths. The trails through eucalyptus plantations can get slippery, muddy and heavy-going when wet or after it has rained.
Navigation
Some of the walks on this trip are way marked but many are not and you will need to follow the route notes and maps supplied.
Accommodation
The accommodation on this walk is a combination of charming family run three star hotels. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and an authentic experience.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
Solo Walkers
This holiday is available for solo walkers but we would recommend that you are more experienced in walking and navigating alone. If you are travelling solo the holiday is more expensive as some costs are not shared.
Meals
A delicious breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch - this should be requested on arrival. Or you can pick up lunch in the village or stop along the trail. Your route notes have details for each day. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby bars, cafes and restaurants.
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Transfers
Transfers are included to/from Faro Airport, so please provide us with your flight arrival details as soon as possible. A couple of the days walking include transfers to the start of the days walk.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.
We are often asked the following questions and I hope that you will find the answers useful. Don't hesitate to contact one of our Portugal specialists if you have any further queries.
How fit do I need to be?
This walking holiday is graded easy to moderate and involves between three and seven hours of walking each day. If you are not a regular walker, some training is advised in order for you to get the most out of your trip.
When is the best time of year?
Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times of year as these are when the migratory birds can be seen in the area, sometimes in abundance. April - June and late September - December are the best.
How far in advance do I need to book?
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as this area is extremely popular. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans so just ask.
What personal equipment do I need?
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. You can download a full equipment list from the downloads page of our website.
Which is the best airport?
Faro is the closest airport and has links to most regional airports in the UK.
