Cycle Portugal - Lisbon to Algarve

Our trip begins in Lisbon, founded on seven hills overlooking the estuary of the River Tagus, the city became the capital of Portugal after its conquest from the Moors in 1147. As Portugal built a global empire from the 15th century onwards, Lisbon became the hub of international trade and the heart of this maritime Golden Age of discovery, reflected in the monumental architecture. A devastating earthquake, and resulting tsunami, almost entirely destroyed the capital in 1755 and so today, Lisbon appears as a carefully planned 18th-century city. If you arrive earlier in the day, why not explore Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood, and sample a pastel de nata (a traditional Portuguese custard pastry)? There are no planned activities today, so you're free to arrive at any time. Our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Lisbon Airport (LIS), which is a 15 minute drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Today, we'll leave the capital behind and head south to Lagoa Albufeira. On arrival, there'll be some time to make sure we're happy with our bikes and to make any minor adjustments. We'll then ride south to Cape Espichel and our hotel in Sesimbra. Once a small fishing village, Sesimbra is now a pleasant beach town with an old Moorish fort overlooking the sands. The seafood here is also superb - a great opportunity to sample some local dishes. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 29 kilometres/18 miles (total 375 metres/1,230 feet accumulated ascent and descent).

Today, we'll ride to Setubal passing the rolling hills of the Serra da Arrabida. Greener than the south, the coastal scenery is paralleled by verdant pine forests, contrasting the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It's worth noting that there is a steep climb this morning, where we'll gain about 200 metres/660 feet elevation over 3 kilometres/1.8 miles, as well as a couple of shorter climbs in the afternoon. Along the way, we'll pass little bays and beaches and will make time for a quick swim. Finally, we'll reach our hotel in the thriving port town of Setubal where you can take a walk through the pedestrianised old town and up to the hilltop fortress for panoramic views. The routes along the coast are typically wide tarmac roads though we do spend some time on rougher small country roads inland. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres/21 miles (total 700 metres/2,296 feet accumulated ascent and 720 metres/2,360 feet descent).

This morning, we'll catch the ferry to the Troia peninsula, where we'll cycle south into the region of Alentejo (literally the land 'beyond' the River Tagus) along the peninsula to Comporta beach (12 kilometres/8.5 miles). After a short transfer, we'll begin our second cycle of the day from the little coastal town of Sines where we'll head south to Vila Nova de Milfontes (28 kilometres/16.7 miles), a laid back town known for its whitewashed houses and narrowed streets as well as the rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches we'll see on the ride. Shortly after starting, we'll enter the protected lands of the Vicentine Coast Natural Park - Europe's largest coastal natural park. The remainder of the trip is within this huge park as we cycle south to Sagres, mostly on inland routes but returning occasionally to the stunning coastline of rugged cliffs and miles of unspoilt beaches constantly pounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the routes we use will have a covering of sand though typically only for very short sections of 100 metres or so. Cycle complete, we'll relax in the laid-back town of Vila Nova with a stroll down to the harbour to see the colourful fishing boats come and go, and take in the old quarter, home to the town's most historic buildings such as the 16th century church. Today, we have one long climb of around 1.6 kilometres/1 mile in length. Around 25% of the route today is on good, off-road paths. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25.3 miles (total 222 metres/722 feet accumulated ascent and 233 metres/755 feet descent).

Today is a well-deserved free day in Vila Nova. Relax on the local beaches or take an optional ride to the nearby beaches (approximately 28 kilometres/17.3 miles). Or why not try kayaking or standup paddleboarding? You can easily hire a kayak or a board for a few hours at one of the local beaches of Vila Nova.

We have our longest ride ahead of us today as we continue south past wild coastlines and white-washed fishing villages. The final part of our ride is in the Algarve region, whose name dates back to Moorish times and means simply 'the west' in Arabic. We'll get to see the 'untouched' Algarve on the Atlantic Coast, far removed from the golf courses and beach resorts further east. Today's ride ends in the charming historical village of Aljezur. We recommend a stroll around its compact and well-preserved old quarter and, time permitting; you might like to visit the ruins of the medieval castle with great views over the surrounding area. Around 15% of the route today is on an unpaved surface, which can be rock in parts however is a known cycle route and by far the best option in terms of distance and scenery. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 69 kilometres/42 miles (total 719 metres/2,232 feet accumulated ascent and descent).

Our final ride passes some of the greatest wild beaches on the West Coast. There is one steady and gentle ascent at the beginning of our ride, then another couple later in the day. Our final destination is the headland of Cabo San Vicente, the southwesternmost point of Portugal and of mainland Europe. After celebrating the end of our ride, we'll drive to our hotel in Faro around 90 minutes away. Around 8 kilometres/5 miles of our route today is on a slightly rougher, unpaved surface. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 55 kilometres/34 miles (total 550 metres/1,800 feet accumulated ascent and descent).

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Faro. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Faro at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Faro Airport (FAO), which is a 15-to-30-minute drive away.