Bem vindo a Portugal!

We will meet you in the arrivals area at Faro airport. You will then be transferred, with your luggage, to Loulé, a 20 minute drive away. Loulé is a typical Portuguese town with a great vibe in the centre of the Algarve. If you have ordered bike hire, we will ensure that these are set up and ready at the hotel.

On the first day you might have the time for an easy afternoon spin to check the bikes and discover the area before enjoying a meal in town in one of the many great restaurants Loulé has to offer.

This beautiful hotel is perfectly situated on a quiet square in the centre of town. The interior is airy and green, and the rooftop pool is an added bonus.

Restaurant in town

On your first day you will roll gently towards the coast, heading east, all the way to the Spanish border, at Vila Real do Santo António. This is a grand old town, with imposing architecture, on the River Guadiana. Look out for the salt harvesting fields on the way!

Once on the coast you will ride west to Tavira, where you will stay the night. Tavira is a charming traditional coastal town with a great selection of bars and restaurants, and a peaceful atmosphere. Be sure to explore in the evening.

Duration

115km, 879m+

27km - Santa Catarina

48km - Santa Luzia

84km - Vila Real

This fabulous hotel has a great rooftop bar, delicious buffet and plenty of space to store bikes!

TBC

Come na Gaveta

Av. Dr. Mateus Teixera de Azevedo 36, 8800 - 379 Tavira

Todays ride heads into the heart of the Serra de Caldeirao – the hills above Tavira. It’s full of perfect peaceful roads, with great surface and very few cars. You will be in the forest for much of the climbing, with towering eucaplyptus and knarled cork oak providing shade throughout the year.

Alte, the ‘most typical village in the Algarve’, is a must-see for all cyclists riding in the Algarve. It has a bike café and a truly authentic feel to it. You will love this village!

Duration

92km, 1619m+

29km - Alportel

40/57km - Barranco

54/69km - Salir

This boutique guesthouse is stylish and luxuriously comfortable. An evening in the hot tub as the sun sets over the whitewashed walls of the village is one you will not forget!

Hotel restaurant

From Alte you will climb steadily up into the beautiful hills of the Serra de Monchique. Climing all the way up to Foia is optional, but this is one of the Algarve's bucket-list climbs and the views are spectacular. You can decide when you arrive in the town.

Be sure to stop at Velochique - an awesome bike cafe in Monchique - for a coffee or a beer!

Duration

72km, 1138m+

or

85km, 1530m+

11km - Messines

33km - Silves

This eco-friendly bed-and-breakfast makes for a very memorable stay. The mountain-top setting is sublime, the staff are wonderful and the homemade breakfast bufffet will keep you coming back for more!

Local restaurant

This morning you will be rewarded for the climbing you did yesterday! After a lovely descent from Monchique you will head west, all the way to the Atlantic coast at Arrifana.

After an (optional) dip in the Atlantic, you will ride inland all the way to Silves, the ancient Arab capital of the Algarve. Make some time to admire the castle, one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in the region.

Duration

117km, 1489m+

35km - Aljezur

43km - Arrifana

84km - Arão

This stylish yet luxurious guesthouse offers superb comfort and attentive service. Relax on the terrace and in the pool after you ride and fuel up on a delicious continental breakfast in the morning.

Local restaurant

On your final day you will climb into the forested hills of Barranco do Velho and Montes Novos. Enjoy a stunning descent south on twisting roads through the trees and olive groves.

You will finish the day at back in Loulé where you started the tour, well deserving of a celebratory meal at one of the many Portuguese restaurants in town.

Duration

95km, 1521m+

34km - Alte

61km - Cortelha

75km - Barranco

This beautiful hotel is perfectly situated on a quiet square in the centre of town. The interior is airy and green, and the rooftop pool is an added bonus.

Local restaurant -TBC

We will be sad to see you leave!

We will take you to Faro Airport in time for your flight.

Até a proxima...

The climate in the Algarve is suitable for cycling most of the year around. Spring flowers in April, May and June are stunning, and September and October are also fantastic times to ride.

It is possible to get some rain in the early parts of the year (Feb-April), but it usually doesn't last long! Many people find July and August rather hot to be cycling unless you are already acclimatised.

This tour is designed for advanced road cyclists ready for a challenge! The days are 98km long on average with daily elevation gain of 1300m.

We recommend a 28 cassette on the back to make the steeper climbs enjoyable ;)

We will recommend a restaurant each evening and cafes en route for you.

We support small, local cafes and restaurants, eating where we can ‘how the locals do’. The food in interior Portugal is often more simple than on the Algarve coast, with menus regularly changing with the region and season.

All dietary requirements will be happily catered for – just let us know what you require, or what your likes or dislikes are and we will adapt our recommendations.

If you book a self-guided tour, we are always on the end of the phone. This means that if you need mechanical support, want to change a booking, or anything else which may crop up on the road, our friendly (bilingual!) team are here to help

Please note that due to availability, accommodation may vary from the hotels listed above.

Depending on your group size, we may be able to offer you a choice of hotels. Where possible we will do our best to accommodate you in small, traditional hotels and guesthouses where you will enjoy a truly unique experience each night.

• Bike*

• Inner tube, hand pump, levers, multitool*

• Pedals

• Helmet

• Cycling shoes

• Powermeter/Di2/Sram batteries/Garmin chargers as appropriate*

• Sunglasses (including clear lenses if you have them)

• Cycling gloves (depending on season)

• Cycling rain jacket

• Saddle (All of our hire bikes are equipped with a saddle, of course. However, we recommend that you bring your own if it is comfortable for you rather than spending a week sitting on a saddle that may not be suitable for you.)

• Suitcase (see below)

• Bib shorts, jersey, gilet, socks- minimum 4 sets.

• Arm/leg warmers

• Rain/wind vest

• Base-layer (depending on season)

• Chamois Cream

• Rear bike light + chargers

• Water bottles x 2 (we have bottles available to purchase).

• Garmin/Wahoo and mount

• Energy bars/snacks that you particularly like!

• Regular clothes and light jacket or jumper for evening

• Swimsuit (many of the hotels have pools or spa)

• Evening shoes / sandals

• Passport (Check expiry date)

• Travel Insurance

• Sun protection

• USB charger

• First aid kit

• Toiletries

• Cellphone and charger

• Id or passport

• Credit/debit card

• Medications and prescriptions

• Power adapter

• Ear plugs / eye mask

• Powerbank

• Airport transfers from Faro

• 6 nights bike friendly accommodation

• Buffet breakfast each day

• Restaurant reservations each evening

• Detailed route planning (suited to group), GPX files given in advance plus itinerary

• Secure large luggage storage (bike boxes for example) throughout

• Civil Liability Insurance

• Telephone support whenever you should need it.

• 5 star Service – our promise

• Dinner, lunch and coffees bought at cafes en route

• Flights

• Transfers from airports other than Faro

• Other costs not listed above

• Luggage transfers + mechanical support vehicle (€300/group per riding day)

• Luggage transfers (€110/group per riding day for groups up to 5)

• Luggage transfers (€150/group per riding day for groups 6+)

• Guide (€260 per guide per riding day)

We have a range of rental bikes to suit different styles and budgets, including e-bikes. Below are a few examples. For full details and prices, see our website.

• Megamo Pulse. Shimano 105 Di2. 12 speed.

• Pinarello X. SRAM Rival AXS. 12 speed.

• Pinarello. Shimano Ultegra. 11 speed.

• Megamo e-Road. Bosch 800wh.

• Upright step-through Ladies E-Hybrid

Our bike rental partners are scaled to support large group, of 40+ riders.

Paradise Cycling Tours Unipessoal LDA

Bairro da Boavista 6
8100-016 Alte
Portugal
NIPC 517913704
RNVAT 11760

Contact:
Fiona Hunter Johnston +351 931325694

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