Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in Lisbon
Begin your adventure in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital known for its colourful architecture and rich history.
Around 6pm, say olá to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Portuguese welcome by arranging a group dinner at a local restaurant.
Want to explore Lisbon further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
To Sarilhos Pequenos; ride to Setúbal
Take a 30-minute transfer to Sarilhos Pequenos this morning, where our bike fitting takes place.
Then, we embark on a relatively short ride to Setúbal, an excellent opportunity to get used to our bikes and ease into the adventure.
Around the 12mi (20km) mark, we stop for coffee in Vila de Palmela, enjoy excellent views of the castle, Serra do Louro, and the entirety of Arrábida Natural Park. Finish the ride and arrive in Setúbal for around 1pm.
After lunch, we explore the PUA (Urban Park of Albarquel) and the riverside area for coffee or a drink, before settling into our hotel.
Route: Easy ride Sarilhos Pequenos to Setúbal. Terrain: 73% paved roads, 27% unpaved roads.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Cycle from Troia to Santo André
We start the day with a ferry across the Sado Estuary to the Troia Peninsula, which was once inhabited by the Romans and was of high strategic-economic importance as a manufacturing centre for salting and preserving fish. We cycle south along the peninsula until we reach Comporta, a picturesque spot surrounded by paddy fields. With the Atlantic Ocean to one side and vast dunes to the other, we continue through pine forests to the beach towns of Melides and Santo André.
Continuing south, we cycle via the 1,235-acre (500ha) Lagoa de Santo André Natural Reserve, an area of high ecological importance not only for its wetlands, but also for its dune ridge that separates them from the ocean. Here, the fresh and salt waters provide the perfect environment for a wide array of flora and fauna to thrive. Overnight in Santo André.
Route: Flat ride out of the Tróia peninsula, afterwards undulating ride to Santo André. Terrain 78% paved roads, 22% dirt roads with some sandy sections.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Cycle from Santo André to Vila Nova de Milfontes
The start of the day takes us to Sines, a port city with an important historical role in international trade. Dating to Roman times, the settlement was a small fishing village until the 1970s, when its strategic coastal position brought rapid expansion and a large oil refinery. We visit the medieval castle, which offers wonderful views of Sines bay and Vasco da Gama beach.
Following the coast towards Porto Covo, we cycle alongside fabulous beaches and cliffs, through an area rich in biodiversity and unique geological heritage. Among the 750 plants and 200 bird species that have been identified throughout the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, we can keep our eyes peeled for peregrine falcons and Bonelli’s eagles.
We continue beyond Porto Corvo until we reach Vila Nova de Milfontes, a charming coastal town where we stop for the night.
Route: Mostly flat ride to Sines, afterwards coastal undulating ride to Praia do Queimado. Slight climb and descent to Vila Nova de Milfontes. Terrain: 73% paved roads, 27% dirt roads.
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Cycle from Vila Nova de Milfontes to Rogil
Today, we ride along key sections of the Rota Vicentina, passing highlights such as the village of Almograve and the lighthouse at Sardão, which sits in an unspoiled environment of great natural beauty and offers breath-taking views of the craggy coastline and many inaccessible beaches. At the cliffs, we may see white storks or the numerous seabirds that inhabit this coast.
Our journey continues through idyllic scenery until we reach Zambujeira do Mar, a small, peaceful fishing village with a beautiful golden-sand beach. Continuing through agricultural fields, we reach the road that takes us along Ribeira de Seixe then guides us to the sea and Odeceixe Mar Beach, a favourite of surfers and bodyboarders.
At the end of today’s cycle, we visit Junior Jacques Distillery, famed for its Medronho fruit brandies, where we have a tasting. We stay the night in Rogil, a village within the Vicentine Coast Natural Park and our last stop in Alentejo.
Route: Mostly undulating ride, with a couple of short, steep climbs between Zambujeira do Mar and the exit of Odeceixe. Terrain: 71% paved roads, 29% dirt roads with some sandy sections.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Arrive in the Algarve region and cycle to Pedralva
Today we follow a mainly inland route, crossing into the Algarve region and heading towards Sagres, the southernmost point of Portugal. This is where Portuguese sailors learned to manoeuvre the caravel ship in the 15th century and was the starting point for many pioneering voyages.
We continue cycling south towards Aljezur, a small village renowned for its cultivation of sweet potatoes, and there is an opportunity to visit its 10th-century Moorish castle, which offers fantastic views over the entire region.
Before heading to our accommodation, we visit the surfing beach and village of Carrapateira, the perfect place for a refreshing dip at the end of the ride. We spend the night in Pedralva.
Route: Undulating ride to Aljezur, short climb and descent to Bordeira. Climb from Carrapateira to Pedralva. Terrain: 52% paved roads, 48% dirt roads.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Final cycle of the trip, ending in Sagres on the south coast
Continuing south, we leave Vila do Bispo with adventure in the air, as we discover virgin beaches, a rich culture and delicious cuisine centred around the sea. There is time to visit the traditional market in Vila do Bispo before we cycle to Cordoama beach, where the cliffs reach more than 328ft (100m) in height. Overlooking the beach is a spot popular with paragliders – if we’re lucky, we may spot them taking off.
Just 3mi (5km) away from Sagres is the southwestern-most point in Europe, Cabo de São Vicente, the last piece of home that Portuguese sailors would see as they sailed into the unknown. We visit this remote, windswept headland before our final push to Sagres, a laid-back small town with an end-of-the world feel. Overnight in Sagres.
Route: Undulating ride and then slight descent to Cabo de São Vicente. Continue on a flat road to Sagres. Terrain: 47% paved roads, 53% unpaved roads.
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Adventure ends in Sagres
This morning marks the final breakfast of the adventure; an excellent opportunity to reflect on some of the many wonderful experiences you’ve enjoyed during this cycling holiday in Portugal. A group transfer is available to Faro Airport for those who wish to take it.
Alternatively, if you’d like to treat yourself to a bit of post-ride relaxation, speak to your sales representative about booking additional nights in the beach town of Faro.
Meals: Breakfast
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Additional information
Food
A typical hotel breakfast consists of toast/bread with jam, or honey, cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt. Eggs are usually available and there are frequently other cooked options; the breakfasts on this trip are always plentiful and perfect to set us up for a day of cycling.
Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region – there are up to 365 recipes to cook it.
For meat lovers, the barrosã meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to its naturally delicious flavour. Francesinha originates from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguica [smoke-cured pork sausage] and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer-and-tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint-hearted.
To drink, you will find plenty of the local Sagres and Superbock beer. Vinho verde is available from the supermarket and directly from producers. It is a young, medium-strength white wine with an almost carbonated quality. Port needs no introduction and a glass (or two) of the fortified wine will generally follow a hearty Portuguese meal.
There are an incredible number of different desserts available and if you have a sweet tooth it will be possible to try a different one each day. Local favourites include bolo de bolacha (cookie cake), leite creme (cream eggs and sugar), pão de ló (sponge cake made with lots of eggs), arroz doce (traditional rice pudding) and, of course, pastel de nata, which you will find at most cafes on your route.
Cabo de São Vicente Headland & Lighthouse Visit
Visit Cabo de São Vicente, mainland Europe’s southwestern tip, crowned by a red-domed lighthouse and cliffs soaring above whitewater. The promontory’s stark beauty and wind-whipped drama create a palpable sense of remoteness.
Stories of the Age of Discovery linger here, with nearby Sagres linked to Prince Henry the Navigator. Ocean views unfurl toward the horizon—an evocative finale to days spent tracing Portugal’s storied Atlantic edge.
Setúbal Shakeout Ride via Palmela & Arrábida Views
Ease into the journey on a supportive, low-mileage ride across quiet lanes to Setúbal, pausing to admire Palmela Castle and the sweeping ridge of the Serra da Arrábida. The route blends village life with broad Atlantic horizons, ideal for dialing in bike fit and pace.
Roll into Setúbal’s waterfront to explore the riverside paths and Parque Urbano de Albarquel. Coastal breezes, working harbors, and cafés create a laid-back scene that rewards the morning’s spin.
Sado Estuary Ferry to Tróia Peninsula & Comporta Coast Ride
Cruise the Sado Estuary to the Tróia Peninsula, a sliver of sand where Roman fish-salting works once thrived and dolphins still patrol rich tidal waters. Step off the ferry to ride past pine woods and the mirror-like rice fields of Comporta, with dunes and Atlantic surf in view.
The landscape feels elemental—sandy tracks, resin-scented forests, and long beaches near Melides and Santo André. Pedaling here showcases Portugal’s quiet coastal character at its most serene.
Sines Castle Visit & Bay Viewpoint
Visit Sines Castle, the medieval stronghold overlooking Praia de Vasco da Gama, with far-reaching views over the harbor and wave-laced bay. Its ramparts tell of watchful centuries guarding a coast that launched explorers and traders.
Inside the walls, learn how Sines—birthplace of Vasco da Gama—grew from fishing village to maritime crossroads. The panorama sets a vivid backdrop before returning to the wild, untamed shoreline of the Alentejo.
Cabo Sardão Lighthouse & Vicentina Coast Clifftop Ride
Ride to the edge of the continent at the Cabo Sardão Lighthouse, perched above wave-battered schist cliffs. Pause along the Rota Vicentina to scan for white storks that famously nest on sea stacks and for seabirds riding the updrafts.
The scenery is raw and luminous—salt-laden winds, thundering surf, and dark cliffs cut by foam. It’s a powerful meeting of geology and ocean that gives this coastline its stark beauty.
Medronho Tasting at Junior Jacques Distillery (Rogil)
Taste small-batch medronho at Junior Jacques Distillery, where the strawberry tree fruit (medronho) becomes a fiery, aromatic spirit. See traditional copper alembic stills at work and learn how careful fermentation and slow distillation shape character and smoothness.
This rural craft speaks to the rhythms of the Vicentina coast—harvesting in season, patience in process, and pride in sharing a warming sip that locals long associated with celebrations and chilly evenings.
Carrapateira Surf Beach Stop & Atlantic Dip
Pause for photos and reflection at the surfing beaches by Carrapateira, where pale dunes, boardwalk viewpoints, and rolling Atlantic swell frame a classic Algarve seascape. The cool water invites a quick swim after the ride’s inland stretches.
Fishermen’s cottages, sea breezes, and gull calls set the soundtrack. It’s an easy-going interlude that connects the day’s cycling with the ocean that shapes life along this coast.
Vila do Bispo Market Visit & Cordoama Clifftop
Explore a traditional market in Vila do Bispo, browsing stalls piled with Algarve produce—sweet potatoes from Aljezur, local cheeses, olives, and sea-salt-cured specialties. It’s a window onto daily life and the flavors that sustain coastal communities.
Continue to the dramatic Cordoama cliffs, where wind-sculpted headlands drop to dark sands and you may spot paragliders catching thermals. The vantage is a photographer’s dream: long horizons, textured rock strata, and Atlantic light.
Aljezur Castle Hilltop Visit
Climb to Aljezur Castle, a 10th-century Moorish stronghold with sweeping views over the river plain and patchwork fields. Crumbling walls and a hilltop setting evoke centuries of frontier life between the coast and the Serra de Monchique.
This visit is optional and at additional cost, bookable on tour subject to opening times. It’s a compact cultural detour that rewards with history, vistas, and context for the Algarve’s layered past.
Lisbon Welcome Dinner & Meet Your Tour Leader
Taste Lisbon’s convivial food culture as you meet your Tour Director over a relaxed group dinner at a local restaurant. Share first impressions of the city’s azulejo-lined streets while sampling petiscos and Portugal’s celebrated bacalhau, paired with regional wine.
Between courses, your leader outlines the journey south and offers tips for exploring the capital’s neighborhoods. Expect the warm, easy-going rhythm that defines Portuguese hospitality and sets the tone for the days of riding ahead.
