Dates
17th to 21st April
Difficulty
4/5
Distance
325km
Ride Overview
An unforgettable route across the entire Algarve over three stages, exploring the rural and traditional side of this beautiful region.
Starting on the Spanish border in Alcoutim, we use the massive network of farm tracks gravel trails including the famous Via Algarviana to head west all the way to the South West point of Europe in Sagres.
Staying in a mix of local hotels and beautiful 4* Spa resorts, this is a small group, social ride led by our expert guides and the perfect way to experience a different side of the Algarve.
Book now: Deposit £299 | Private Single £1,699 | Shared Twin / Double £1,399
Highlights
- From the East to the West of the Algarve: Our route takes you though the unseen rural Algarve, travelling across the whole length of the Algarve in the process.
- Glorious Gravel: Take in stunning ridgeways, gravel trakcs & back roads with epic views throughout.
- Experience the real side of the Algarve: Away from the tourist hotspots on the coast, when we travel inland, experience the unique culture of rural life in Portugal.
Included in Ride Package
Accommodation
4 nights in 3 to 5* hotels. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) rooms.
Airport Transfers
Fly into Faro (FAO) and our friendly team will be there to collect you on arrival day and drop you back when you leave.
3 Epic Stages
And a prologue! We break the group into small groups with guides & support vehicles so you can just focus on the epic riding.
Meals
Bring some money for drinks in the evening but our package includes 4 dinners, 3 lunches & 4 breakfasts.
Checkpoints
Real food and mechanical support are waiting for you every 35km with a mix of sports bars, fruit and local specialties.
Luggage
We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch with spare kit etc.
Stages
After arrival in Alcoutim, we have time to build bikes, grab a bite to eat and then get ready for a short ride to make sure legs & bikes are in good condition for the 3 day journey west.
Today’s ride gives us a quick glimpse of the Via Algarviana and then hits the gravel trails south. We pick head to the River Guadiana that separates Spain & Portugal before finishing back at Alcoutim. Despite the short distance today, we pack in a couple of climbs and some variety in the off road riding so should take us a leisurely 90 mins to 2 hrs with a little stop.
Distance: 32km
Elevation: 700km
Ride Difficulty: 3/5
Technical Difficulty: 2/5
Our first day on the bike is also our Queen Stage with over 100km and 2,500m to get through.
The first 20km is on the Via Algarviana over some lumpy terrain. We then have a long 30km transitional section on the road where we will get together in a group and chat the miles away together.
Most of the climbing is in the last 50km as we get into remote parts of the Algarve. The gravel here is a mix of smooth trails with slightly lumpier stuff but all fast rolling.
Distance: 105km
Elevation: 2500m
Ride Difficulty: 4.5/5
Technical Difficulty: 3/5
We pick up the Via Algarviana trail and follow this around the beautiful Barragem do Funcho. As the track follows the contour lines around the reservoir there is not too much challenge for a while and a chance to enjoy the scenery. Leaving the reservoir by cycling over the dam our route heads further inland and up hill and into sparcely populated wild countryside . As our route climbs up there are views across the Barragem de Oudelouca and then a twisty track leading down to the hotel in Caldas de Monchique .
Distance: 75km
Elevation: 1300m
Ride Difficulty: 3/5 Long
Technical Difficulty: 3.5/5
It is around a 7 km gradual climb out of Caldas de Monchique to the town of Monchique and here we can pick up on some of the Via Algarviana trail again. Onwards past the hill top summit of Foia the highest point in the Algarve and a definite photo stop and then heading down towards Marmelete and the west coast in the distance . Gradually heading down hill nearly all of the way to the final destination at Cape St Vincent the trail passes though a variety of landscapes.
The end of the Via Algarviana is at Cape st Vincent the most south westerly point of Europe and fortunately there is a bar there where a celebratory beer can be sampled and richly deserved it will be too. Having reached the “end of the trail” there is another 5 km to ride to Sagres where the hotel can be found for the last night.
Distance: 100km
Elevation: 1400m
Ride Difficulty: 3.5/5
Technical Difficulty: 2/5
Event Overview
Our Off:Roader series are non-competitive, designed to take you off the beaten track with a group of friendly, supportive riders. The whole event is social starting on arrival day with a gentle prologue and a cold beer all together at the finish line.
Each evening we eat together and have a ride briefing where our UK event manager goes through the next stage & our Portuguese hosts talk us through the region we will be riding through.
This is a small group ride with maximum 24 people. We have 4 guides to ride with you in small groups of people going at your pace.
We have regular feed stops at local cafes and a lunch stop each day. Our support van is always on call if you need anything. We take delight in our reputation of providing multi stage rides of a lifetime and nothing is too much trouble to ensure you have a great time.
Accommodation & Meals
We stay on Wed night in the small town of Alcoutim and avoid the main towns of the Algarve all week.
The second night is in a small hotel in the countryside which we have all to ourselves..
On Friday we stay in the lovely village of Moncique at a pretty 5* hotel with a pool, spa and excellent chef.
On Saturday we reach the coastal town of Sagres and stay in another luxurious 4* hotel with stunning views of the Atlantic ocean.
In the evenings we all eat together in the hotel or a local restaurant. We will send across a menu of what we will be eating before departure and there will be options for vegans & all dietary requirements.
Equipment & Packaging
We will send a full packing list but mid April in Portugal should still have great weather with warm days and cooler evenings and mornings. Whilst we never go that high above sea level the weather can change quickly and a waterproof jacket & layers (arm warmers, gilet etc) are must packs.
Evenings are casual, don’t forget to pack swimmers as some hotels have pools and wellness areas. You will need to bring one small sided item of luggage which we will take from hotel to hotel and you will get a small day bag on arrival where you can pack extra clothing etc to collect at the second checkpoint.
The ride takes in a mix of gravel roads, tarmac and some off road sections on dirt / grass. It is ideal for gravel bikes with all rounder tyres (35mm plus). We have spare inners, lube & CO2 at all the feeds. There is also a bike wash available at the end of each stage
Event Program
17th April (all day): Arrive into Faro airport, see below for transfer times.
17th April (3pm): Prologue (32km) starts.
17th April (7.30pm): Pre Ride briefing & dinner.
18th April: 8.30 to 9am stage start. 7.30pm briefing & dinner
19th April: 8.30 to 9am stage start. 7.30pm briefing & dinner
20th April: 8.30 to 9am stage start. 7.30pm briefing & dinner
21st April: Departure day, see below for transfer times
FAQs
17th Apr – 11.30am (arrive before 11am) & 1.30pm (for arrivals up to 1pm).
21st Apr– leaving the hotel at 3am and arriving at the airport at 4.30am (suitable for any flights after 6.30am) & leaving hotel at 6am for flights after 9.30am.
Bike boxes get transferred on the first night from Alcoutim to Sagres. We have mechanics available at the start & finish to help with bike building / packing.
We have Sonder Camino gravel bikes available in sizes S to XL. These are £199 to rent for the trip.
Yes, in the checkout there is a box to put whoever you want to share a room with. If you are booking a double room (2 people, 1 bed) please select 2 people in the checkout.
You can secure your place with a deposit of £299. This is non-refundable so we strongly suggest you get travel insurance before booking (you can also purchase cancellation insurance in the checkout).
Full payment is due 3 months before departure (Jan 17th), we will send you a reminder when this is due.