What to expect

New Year Walking
Bring in the New Year discovering Portugal & Spain

Coastal Charm
Discover delightful coastal towns like Olhão

Guided Walking
Enjoy a range of escorted walks

Portugal & Spain
Experience two countries in one week
About this trip...
Return flights and transfers
Airport taxes & charges
Room for sole use
Half Board – breakfast and dinner daily
1 x grilled fish lunch with drinks Tavira Island with drinks (meat option available)
1 x tapas lunch with drinks in Ayamonte
New Years Eve Gala Dinner
Drinks included with evening meals
Welcome drink
5 fully guided walking days
1 x boat tour Ria Formosa in Tavira
1 x ferry boat trip to Ayamonte
1 x ferry boat trip to Olhão
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially Protected
- Insurance click here
- Lunches where not included
What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrive in Portugal

Day Two: Altura to Monte Gordo Walk
- Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day Three: Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte
We begin the day with a walk through the Monte Gordo pine forest. The walk finishes in Vila Real de Santo António, a charming town with a fascinating history and architecture, in the estuary of the Rio Guadiana, which separates Portugal from Spain. From here, we’ll take the ferry across the river to the town of Ayamonte in Spain. We’ll tour the city and enjoy a meal of traditional tapas.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Four: Day at Leisure
Take a well-earned rest and relax in the hotel, or take a stroll around Monte Gordo.

Day Five: Exploring Tavira
This morning, we’ll travel by train to discover Tavira, a picturesque and quaint old-Portuguese town with over 30 churches, cobbled streets, and bougainvillea-lined balconies. In the historic and charismatic old town, the castle and typical houses provide much cultural interest. The River Gilão, with its working fisherman’s riverfront, runs to the azure lagoons of the Ria Formosa.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Six: Castro Marim Nature Reserve
Today we’ll take a transfer to the Castro Marim Nature Reserve – a unique landscape in the Eastern Algarve. A true realm of serenity, far from the hustle and bustle of the beach resorts, this is a haven for countless bird species such as the flamingos who regularly visit this charming patchwork of green-blue marshes and crisp white saltpans. Our walk through the salt pans will take us into Castro Marim, one of the oldest communities in the Algarve, and an important centre of Arab power until 1242.
- Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner.

Day Seven: Discovering the beauty of Olhão
After breakfast, we catch the train from Monte Gordo to Olhão - a picturesque coastal town inspired by Moroccan architecture that attracts artists, writers and photographers. We have free time to discover the town and enjoy lunch (not included). The city centre has a collection of white houses with roof terraces and minarets that form a patchwork of layering cubes. The waterfront avenue near the Ria Formosa is lined with glorious tile-fronted, 19th-Century townhouses, with verandas and wrought-iron work. The highlight is the colourful atmosphere at the Municipal Market, which fulfils its traditional function by day and is the setting for lively nightlife bars.
- Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day Eight: Departure Day
Today we check-out of our hotel and say goodbye before transferring to Faro Airport.
Trip Reviews
Accommodation
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Guided walks are included as part of this holiday. Your dedicated walking guide will brief you in resort on the daily walking programme.
The walking programme is graded by difficulty, and you can expect to walk varying distances with a range of ascents and descents. Some walks may be challenging, with uneven or rough terrain underfoot and sections at higher altitude. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for full details of each walk.
A good level of physical fitness is required to fully enjoy this holiday.
It is important that you consider whether your chosen holiday is suitable for your level of fitness, mobility and any medical conditions or additional needs. If you are unsure, please contact our team before booking. We will be happy to discuss the holiday requirements and your individual circumstances to help you decide whether the holiday is suitable for you.
We are committed to treating all customers fairly and will consider any reasonable adjustments where possible. Please let us know before booking if you have a disability, medical condition or any additional requirements that may affect your holiday. This allows us to assess whether we can safely and appropriately accommodate your needs and to ensure you have the best possible holiday experience.
Care should be taken at all times, particularly on uneven or wet terrain. If you normally use walking poles, we recommend bringing them with you. Sturdy walking boots or walking shoes are essential.
Please note that the route and content of the walking programme may need to change during the holiday, at the discretion of the specialist walking guide or local organiser, if local conditions require.
If you have any concerns during your trip, please speak to your specialist walking guide or Solos Tour Leader.
For further information, please refer to our website Terms and Conditions https://www.solosholidays.com/uk/terms-and-conditions/
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellent, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.
To enter Portugal or Madeira your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

















