Cycling On TheAlgarve & SouthernSpain
Active Trips
Half Board
£1949
7 nights in Portugal
What to expect
Five Guided Cycling Days
Scenic countryside & quaint villages
Portugal & Spain
Explore two countries on two wheels
Castro Marim Nature Reserve
Birdlife, salt flats & historic forts
Prime Hotel Location
Stay close to Monte Gordo Beach
About this trip...
Discover the scenic beauty of Portugal and Spain on two wheels with this relaxed, sociable cycling tour, designed exclusively for solo travellers. Based in the laid-back beach resort of Monte Gordo, this week-long adventure takes you through charming coastal towns, quiet country lanes, and wildlife-rich nature reserves — all with the guidance of expert local leaders and in the company of like-minded solo cyclists. With five fully guided rides, you’ll explore the unspoilt Algarve countryside and cross the Guadiana River by ferry to cycle through southern Spain. Highlights include the atmospheric salt pans and bird sanctuaries near Ayamonte, the hilltop town of Castro Marim, and the coastal gems of Tavira, Cacela Velha, and Isla Cristina. Each route offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural charm, with plenty of café stops and time to explore. Non-cycling days give you the freedom to unwind by the sea or enjoy the hotel's facilities at your own pace. Whether you’re an experienced rider or just enjoy gentle exploration, this easy-to-moderate tour offers the perfect balance of activity, scenery and connection — all with your own room and no single supplements guaranteed.
Grade: Easy to Moderate
What's included?
Return flights & transfers-
One piece of checked baggage
-
Airport taxes & charges
Twin/Double Room for sole use
Half Board – breakfast & dinner daily in hotel 
Drinks included with evening meals-
Welcome drink & information meeting
Supercross bike Model Astro Fancy or Coluer Ascent wheel 26 size M /L brakes V-brake 21 speeds, Shimano, flat pedal & helmet-
5 fully guided cycling days
Free Solos App with all your travel documents-
Dedicated Whatsapp group for your trip
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially Protected
What's extra:
- Insurance click here
- Lunches
- E-Bikes available to prebook in advance - approximately £125 per week.
Itinerary
- Arrive In Monte Gordo
- Algarve: Santa Rita
- Spain: Ayamonte And Isla Cristina
- Algarve: Tavira Ecovia
- Day At Leisure
- Spain: Ayamonte & Isla Canela
- Algarve: Castro Marim Nature Reserve
- Depart Monte Gordo
What you’ll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Portugal
- Dinner included
Day Two: Algarve's Santa Rita
- Distance: 29km
- Ascent/descent: 100m
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Three: Spain's Ayamonte & Isla Cristina
After breakfast, we leave our hotel and cycle on a designated cycleway to Vila Real S. Antonio, where the river Guadiana meets the sea. We’ll take our bikes across on the ferry to the Spanish town of Ayamonte. Next, we cycle east through the historic salt pans of Ayamonte. For centuries, these salt pans have produced salt and shellfish. Today, they also serve as a sanctuary for a diverse array of birdlife. We tour the bustling small town of Isla Cristina before returning to Ayamonte to catch the ferry back to Portugal. During the day, there will be stops for refreshments and lunch (at own cost)
- Distance: 41km
- Ascent/Descent: minimal
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Four: Algarve's Tavira Ecovia
Today we take a charming route, running along the coast and the Ria Formosa on the coastal ecovia. En route we visit the quintessential coastal village of Cacela Velha with its Moorish influenced architecture. We pass through Cabanas where cafés line the attractive waterfront. We finish again in Tavira, one of the most unspoilt towns in the Algarve. There will be time to stroll around & enjoy this lovely town. Our route takes us to the train station where we can take the train back to Monte Gordo with our bicycles. During the day, there will be stops for refreshments and lunch (at own cost).
- Distance: 26km
- Ascent/Descent: Minimal
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Five: Day at Leisure
Today can be enjoyed at our leisure, perhaps spent enjoying the hotel's facilities or exploring the seaside resort of Monte Gordo.
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Six: Spain's Ayamonte & Isla Canela
Our route today takes us through pine woodland on quiet, well-surfaced tracks to Vila Real S. António. We’ll take our bikes across on the ferry to the Spanish town of Ayamonte. We then cycle south to the resort area of Isla Canela and the Isla Del Moral, a more local fishing village. We return to Ayamonte and board the ferry back to Portugal. During the day, there will be stops for refreshments and lunch (at own cost).
- Distance: 37km
- Ascent/Descent: Minimal
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Seven: Algarve: Castro Marim Nature Reserve
Our day of cycling is based around a local circuit centred on the local Nature Reserve. Along the way we visit the reserve's headquarters where we are given information on the banks of the river Guadiana and the salt works of Castro Marim around where an abundance of birds have made their home. We also visit the attractive and historic small town of Castro Marim, dominated by its ancient castle and more recent fortifications guarding the river, and giving great views over the surrounding countryside. During the day, there will be stops for refreshments and lunch (at own cost).
- Distance: 27km
- Ascent/Descent: Minimal
- Breakfast and dinner included
Day Eight: Departure Day
After breakfast, we enjoy some free time to do any last minute local shopping and sightseeing before heading to the airport for our flight home.
- Breakfast included
Trip Reviews
Accommodation
Baía Beach Hotel
Facilities include
Room includes
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Spain's Ayamonte & Isla Canela
Algarve: Castro Marim Nature Reserve
- Cycling shorts/trousers with padded seat – to wear under your cycling clothes – definitely worth investing in a pair or two if you haven’t any already.
- Shorts to go on top of cycling shorts. For cooler climates or early/late in the season, you may want to consider packing three-quarter length shorts or tights/leggings.
- Waterproofs – light-weight fold-able jacket and trousers to fit in your small rucksack
- Comfortable trainers/footwear for cycling
- Cycling jersey or similar (insulated for warmth for cooler climates or early/late in the season)
- Base layer/breathable tops
- Mid layer (Fleece)
- Helmet - essential (we recommend to take your own for comfort and safety)
- Gloves (short or long finger)
- Lightweight drinking bottle
- Sunglasses – bright sunlight can impair your vision when riding, we recommend to bring a pair that fit comfortable and not fall off as you ride.
- Basic first-aid kit - It’s useful to have a basic first-aid kit in your small rucksack as you cycle. Cuts or scrapes can occasionally happen so make sure it includes a set of plasters, together with painkillers, bandages and any essential medication you may need.
- Sunscreen and lip-balm
- Casual clothes and comfortable shoes for when not cycling
As a precaution, if you choose not to wear a helmet during the tour, you will be asked to sign a responsibility waiver provided by the tour leader.
- issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
