5 Days & 4 Nights

4.4

Algarve Cycling Short Break

Enjoy a mix of inland and coastal cycling routes
Pedal past limestone cliffs and wild beaches for refreshing dips
Explore Ria Formosa Natural Park, a wild paradise
Indulge in traditional and delicious Portuguese cuisine
Explore the hidden inland villages of the “real” Algarve

Discover the wild side of the Algarve, pedalling in its rolling hills and past dramatic cliffs and wild beaches along its coast. Explore hidden villages and towns, and be at one with nature as you cycle through the Ria Formosa Natural Park, home to a flock of majestic pink flamingos and a variety of birdlife amongst its pristine wetlands and sand dunes. This is the true Algarve, where the beach crowds are non-existent and where you cycle through a mixture of wonderful inland and coastal scenery. Enjoy the Portuguese culture and cuisine, whether it's in the traditional town of Tavira with its Moorish influences and labyrinth of cobbled streets, or at the waterfront of the Algarve's capital, Faro.

From £495.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive in Tavira

Our guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. If you have some free time on the first day, make sure to have a stroll around the city. Located right on the southern coast of Portugal, Tavira is a very pretty town with hilltop castle ruins, an ancient bridge, and other historic buildings and like most of the cities in the region, Tavira has a mix of Roman, Arabic, and Christian heritage. Depending on your arrival time, use your free time to discover its charming cobblestone streets, beautiful churches, and interesting things to see and do.

Overnight Tavira

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Vila Galé Tavira | 4 Star | Hotel

Situated in the centre of the historic Algarve town of Tavira, Vila Galé Tavira has Arab-inspired décor and offers spacious rooms and comfortable suites.

Day 2 Tavira Loop Ride 24 miles / 38 km

Explore the hidden secrets of the Algarve. Today you will cycle along calm and serene roads close to the Algarve hills. You will pass by small villages and ride along the old roads and rural paths, where you'll find a vast area of orange trees. A perfect moment to connect with nature. Ride back to Tavira, where you will be staying for another night.

Why not also enjoy a boat tour today, along the Ria Formosa (not included).

Ascent/Descent: 170m/160m

Overnight Tavira

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Vila Galé Tavira | 4 Star | Hotel

Situated in the centre of the historic Algarve town of Tavira, Vila Galé Tavira has Arab-inspired décor and offers spacious rooms and comfortable suites.

Day 3 Cycle from Tavira to Faro 31 miles / 50 km

After a great and filling breakfast, you will start today’s journey in Tavira and ride along the incredible Ria Formosa, one of the most beautiful natural parks in the country. An absolute paradise for birdwatchers and part of the Natura 2000 Network. During this day, the views will be the highlight of the trip and provide some epic sights. You will also pass by Fuzeta, a fishing village full of character, famous for its traditional clay pottery and lively harbour. Admire the spectacle of colourful fishing boats and watch the many local fishermen land their catches or fix their nets in front of their huts. A day being close to the simple and traditional Portuguese life.

Ascent/Descent: 85m/118m

Overnight Faro

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Faro Boutique Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

Faro Boutique Hotel is located in the centre of the Algarve capital and has modern rooms equipped with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and some have seating areas as well as beautiful views of the city.

Day 4 Faro Loop Ride 31 miles / 50 km

Today is your last cycling day and after a delicious breakfast, you will emerge into a scenery over the cliffs, where the ocean stretches as far as your eyes can see. This loop provides a mix of coastal beauty, cultural exploration, and countryside landscapes. You will get a chance to swim in Loulé Velho Beach, which is surrounded by a strip of cliffs with pine forest, and where an area of dunes form a barrier with a wetland. A bit further you will pass by a viewpoint called Vale do Lobo (or Wolf ́s Valley in English), offering stunning and unparalleled panoramic views of the ocean.

Ascent/Descent: 190m/190m

Overnight Faro

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Faro Boutique Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

Day 5 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 17kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 17kg is equivalent to 100 cans of coke. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

This short break cycling tour is a wonderful opportunity to explore contrasting landscapes of the Algarve in 3 cycling days. Enjoy a mixture of wonderful inland and coastal scenery and explore the “real” Algarve and its traditional villages. On the coast, enjoy the rugged cliffs, wild beaches and azure waters of the Atlantic. It's the perfect combination of riding through pristine nature, whilst also enjoying the hustle bustle that comes with staying in beautiful historic towns. This trip is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active holiday.

Trip Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Foodie

Wine

Short Break

E-Bike

Grade & Terrain

This tour is graded easy to moderate and includes daily distances ranging from 38km to 50km. This grade is perfect for occasional riders seeking to discover a region from the saddle. Shorter daily mileages allow time to stop and take in the scenery, visit museums or stop for a long lunch before arriving at your destination. You may be cycling on dedicated cycle paths or quiet country roads with very occasional stretches on busier roads. Terrain will be largely easy-going but may be rolling or include 1 or 2 short steeper ascents/descents. These gains are mostly when you are cycling inland and on the coast it is much flatter, so the elevation gains each day vary significantly, but will be anywhere between 85m and 190m.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

4 Nights in 3 and 4-star hotels
All breakfasts
Baggage transfers
Airport transfer from Faro Airport to your first hotel
Transfer from your last hotel to Faro Airport
Orientation meeting
GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
24/7 Emergency support for our local partner and our office

Excluded

Travel to and from Lisbon / Faro
Dinners, lunches, snacks & drinks
Bike rental
Admissions or entrances
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights before or after the tour
Bike rental
Return transfers from Lisbon Airport to the start, and from the end points

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat and sun screen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/cycling gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

Bike Hire

Minimum age for ebike hire is 16yrs.

Brand	Giant/FOCUS / Sensia (e-bikes)
Bike Type	Hybrid
Frame types	gents, ladies
Sizes	S, M, L
Front suspension	Yes
Stand	No
Mud guards	Yes
Luggage rack Rear/Front	Yes (optional)
Paniers	Yes (optional)
Handle bar Bag/ map holder	Yes (optional)
Bottle holder/Water bottle	Yes
Computer meter	GPS
Interchangeable pedals	Yes
Front gear set	3 (48,38,28)
Back gear set	8 (34,11)
Brakes	Hidraulic Disc
Helmet included	Yes
Puncture repair kit	Yes
Spare inner tubes/ how many	Yes/4
Pump	Yes
Lock	Yes

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes cycling gear and lots of other useful bits and bobs.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable Travel Insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.