This was our first cycling holiday with Headwater and hopefully not the last. Everything about it... Alan and Sheila Rugman, 2018 See more reviews
Itinerary Expand all Sagres to Sagres Day 1 Arrive at Sagres Arrive at the wonderful coastal town of Sagres in time for dinner at the hotel. (Staying at Hotel Memmo Baleeira, Half Board) Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Sagres to Lagos From Sagres head inland, mostly following the Ecovia, a national cycle trail. Pass shepherds tending their flocks before meeting the coast again in time for lunch. The villages of Salema, Burgau and Luz have great sandy beaches and offer rustic restaurants with al fresco dining; grilled fresh fish with zesty lemon is a favourite dish. You end the day at Lagos and your wonderfully atmospheric 4-star hotel. (Staying at Costa d'Oiro, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 At Lagos Lagos is encircled by C14 walls - the stone work and architecture you'll find hidden within these is a delight. Ornate churches date from the C13, and tangled cobbled lanes lead to new discoveries around every corner. Visit the new marina and the lively fish market (held daily), and join the locals for coffee in one of the many bars. Popular coastal walks lead to Ponte da Piedade lighthouse and from Porto de Mos to Luz, both offering outstanding sea views. (Staying at Costa d'Oiro, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 4 Lagos to Pedralva You have a choice of routes today, with both taking you along the promenade at Lagos, before heading inland to Odiaxere where you can choose a shorter option that has fewer climbs and takes you through lovely villages on winding roads, giving you a real insight into local life. The longer route takes you past the beautiful Bravura reservoir and pretty alpine-like hamlets and meadows, meeting the coast in picturesque Carrapateira. Then it's on to Pedralva, a village where each house has been restored to create individual hotel rooms. (Staying at Aldeia da Pedralva, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 5 At Pedralva Aldeia da Pedralva is a wonderful rural retreat and you could easily spend the day relaxing in the village. If you fancy doing more you can follow one of our routes taking you out along the cliff tops with great views of the coast, or return to Carrapateira to visit the Land and Sea Museum and have a leisurely lunch. (Staying at Aldeia da Pedralva, Half Board) Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 Pedralva to Sagres There's two options today but both routes are fairly short allowing you time to visit the lighthouse at Cabo de Sao Vicente and Sagres Fortress, built by Henry the Navigator. The longer route is on off-road tracks passing holm oak forests. Both routes give great views of the Serra de Monchique passing through Vila do Bispo, a nice lunch stop with its beautiful C17 church. From Vila do Bispo head out across the Vicente peninsula to Cabo de Sao Vicente and the southwestern tip of Europe before following the coast road back to Sagres. (Staying at Hotel Memmo Baleeira, Breakfast Only) Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Leave Sagres Meals included: Breakfast
Hotels We have hand-picked three wonderful hotels all with their own charm. These include a modern 4-star design hotel perched on a cliff in Sagres, a 4-star hotel in Lagos full of Portuguese colonial charm and a hotel in Pedralva, where the village houses have been rustically renovated to create individual rooms. All hotels have pools with Sagres and Lagos boasting covered ones. Most evening meals are included so you can dine on the freshest salads, seafood or excellent meat accompanied by tasty cheeses and chouricos, washed down with a selection of Portuguese wines.
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Reviewed October 2018 Alan and Sheila Rugman Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Cycling in The Real Algarve A great cycling holiday This was our first cycling holiday with Headwater and hopefully not the last. Everything about it was excellent: the route, the hotels, the bikes, the other riders and the Headwater reps, Tony and Ludmilla. We particularly appreciated the 'rest day' in Lagos after the first day's ride, to allow for exploration, and the shorter ride to the Atlantic coast from the second hotel at Pedralva. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the fantastic cliffs and beaches on the Atlantic coast, with huge waves and dozens of surfers. Another great ride. What did you think of your group leader? Tony and Ludmilla are cut out for the job. They were friendly and helpful, with lots of good advice and always hitting the right note. Top marks. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You need to be reasonably fit for this tour, with preferably some experience of cycling off-road, but no need to be a Lycra merchant. Is there anything else you would like to add? The above says it all