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Trip Itinerary
Explore Portugal’s Sunshine Coast on a self-guided bike tour through the Algarve with Lagos, Southwest Alentejo, and the Serra de Monchique.
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Where to Arrive
Airport:
Faro International Airport (FAO)
Pick-up location:
The MN56 Hotel, Lagos, Portugal
Pick-up time:
11:00 AM
Where to Depart
Airport:
Faro International Airport (FAO)
Drop-off location:
The MN56 Hotel
Drop-off time:
11:00 AM
Additional Arrival Information
Your Trek Travel host will meet you at The MN56 Hotel (R. Marreiros Netto 56, 8600-617 Lagos, Portugal) at 11:00 AM on the first day of the trip. Depending on the number of guests booked for your departure date, it is possible we will ask you to shift your meeting time by approximately 30 minutes. Please have your riding gear readily accessible to avoid having to unpack your luggage. After a trip overview, you may change into your cycling gear where you will then be fitted to your Trek bike ensuring you will be comfortable for the week. Following a safety talk and a review of the details of the route, head out on a self-guided warm-up ride along the beautiful roads of the Algarve.
We suggest that you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your Portugal Self-Guided bike tour, which will enable you to adjust to the time zone and minimize the risk of missing the trip start due to flight-related delays. We recommend that you fly into Faro (FAO). The airport is a one-hour shuttle ride to Lagos. Private shuttles and taxis are available for pick up at the airport (90-120€). They will be able to take you directly to your hotel. The hotel can also arrange a chauffeur driven car from the airport. Please contact The MN56 Hotel for more information.
You can find connections to this airport from many major European cities, including Lisbon, Portugal, which is the closest (a 45-minute flight) and a great place to visit before or after your trip. There is also a nonstop train from Lisbon Oriente Station to Faro five times per day. The trip takes about three hours and costs about 25€ one-way. Buy tickets in advance at www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/buy-tickets.
If you will be late for the meeting or are going to miss it altogether, please inform your Trek Travel host. If you cannot reach them, please call our hotel, The MN56 Hotel (+351 282 244 390) and leave a message with your expected arrival time and contact details.
Additional Departure Information
Your Trek Travel host will meet you at The MN56 Hotel at 11:00 AM to take your bike and equipment and say farewell before your departure. The trip hotel can also arrange a chauffeur driven car to the Faro. Please contact The MN56 Hotel for more information. Please allow adequate connection time for any ongoing travel to accommodate possible traffic delays.
Welcome to the Algarve—the Sunshine Coast of Portugal!
Overview
Welcome to the Algarve! Meet your Trek Travel host at MN56 Hotel at 11:00 AM for a brief orientation and personalized bike fitting on your Trek bike to to ensure your comfort for the week ahead. Once you're ready, your self-guided ride begins—an introduction to the hills of the Algarve. Today’s route rolls through quiet country roads lined with Aleppo pines and cork oak, winding gently through fields and valleys. On the return, pass through the quiet village of Barão de São João, where a small artist community and welcoming cafés reflect the region’s laid-back hospitality. You'll end your ride back in Lagos, where the rooftop pool awaits and the walkable old town invites you to explore and dine at your own pace.
Hotel
The MN56 Hotel
Highlight of the Day
Barão de São João
A charming village inhabited by a mix of locals and expats known for cultivating creativity and a relaxed pace of life.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Lagos to Barão de São João Loop - Approximately 25 mi | 39 km and 1,603 ft | 486 m
Challenge yourself on remote roads circling the Odeáxere Reservoir
Overview
Today's ride begins inland, rolling through quiet roads and sun-dappled villages as you leave Lagos behind. The route winds northward up toward the tiny mountain village of Marmelete for an on-route lunch and coffee. For more miles and a bigger appetite, take the optional detour to Aljezur—a village with Moorish roots and a growing reputation as one of the trendiest communities on the Costa Vicentina, with a strong restaurant scene to match. The return to Lagos passes the expansive Odeáxere Reservoir before rolling back to the coast where your home base awaits.
Hotel
The MN56 Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Odeáxere Reservoir
Odeáxere Reservoir offers a peaceful inland detour with rolling terrain and a quiet glimpse into the hidden side of the Algarve.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Lagos to Marmelete Loop - Approximately 47 mi | 75 km and 3,973 ft | 1,204 m
Ride Option 2
 SHORT OPTION:
Lagos to Barragem de Bravura - Approximately 22 mi | 35 km and 1,818 ft | 551 m
Ride Option 3
 AVID OPTION:
Lagos to Aljezur Loop - Approximately 60 mi | 96 km and 5,382 ft | 1,631 m
Explore the Southwest Alentejo Natural Park and its unspoiled coastline
Overview
You’ll take yourself west today, pedaling along the golden coast through quiet communities and farmlands toward the coast and the Southwest Alentejo Natural Park. With strong limitations against new construction and development, the protected area is a healthy coastal ecosystem filled with flowering shrubs and chirping sea birds. Explore the quiet countryside before turning back and stopping for lunch in Salema or Burgau, two historic fishing villages that are now surf-and-sun communities within the Natural Park. After lunch, return to Lagos for a lively evening in town or a peaceful walk along the coastal trail at Ponta da Piedade, where towering sea stacks and turquoise coves define the landscape.
Hotel
The MN56 Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Burgau
A quaint fishing village where whitewashed cottages meet turquoise waves—Burgau blends old-world charm with laid-back coastal beauty.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
 TODAY'S RIDE:
Lagos to Salema and Return - Approximately 40 mi | 64 km and 3,026 ft | 917 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Lagos to Burgau Loop - Approximately 30 mi | 48 km and 2,162 ft | 665 m
Ride Option 3
 AVID OPTION:
Lagos to Praia do Ingrina and Return - Approximately 51 mi | 81 km and 4,039 ft | 1,224 m
Discover the Serra da Monchique, cycling's best-kept secret
Overview
After enjoying a relaxed breakfast, today’s ride leads you deeper into the eucalyptus-covered hills of the Serra de Monchique, where forested roads, cooler air, and sweeping views create an ideal setting for exploration. Climb gradually to Caldas de Monchique, a serene village known for its mineral-rich thermal waters, used for their healing properties since Roman times. For those looking to extend the ride, the avid option continues to Alto de Foia—the highest point in the Algarve and a celebrated climb in the Volta ao Algarve (Tour of the Algarve). At the summit, take in panoramic views before spinning into the colorful mountain town of Monchique.
Hotel
The MN56 Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Serra De Monchique Range
Explore the mountains to the north—a pro cyclist’s early-season training ground and a hidden pocket of wellness-focused villages.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Lagos to Monchique Loop - Approximately 53 mi | 85 km and 3,762 ft | 1,140 m
Ride Option 2
 SHORT OPTION:
Serra de Monchique Loop - Approximately 32 mi | 51 km and 1,858 ft | 563 m
Ride Option 3
 AVID OPTION:
Lagos to Monchique and Foia Climb - Approximately 62 mi | 100 km and 5254 ft | 1592 m
Enjoy a peaceful spin to Luz for you final day in the Algarve
Overview
Relish your final ride with a tranquil spin from Lagos to the nearby resort town of Luz, nestled between colossal cliff faces on a long, white-sand beach. The route gently meanders inland before turning south toward Luz's cobbled waterfront promenade. Pause to absorb the rhythm of the Algarve one last time and enjoy a celebratory coffee by the sea before returning—legs light, heart full. It’s a perfect send-off to a remarkable ride. Your Trek Travel host will meet you at 11:00 AM at the hotel to collect your bike and gear before you continue your journey through Portugal.
Hotel
The MN56 Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Luz
Explore the village of Luz where a 16th-century church and Roman-era fish-salting ruins sit alongside a modern resort community.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Lagos to Luz Loop - Approximately 13 mi | 21 km and 950 ft | 288 m
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
Trek Travel offers three hotel levels to match your style. Luxury hotels provide elegant, thoughtful touches with exceptional hospitality. Explorer hotels blend modern amenities with local charm in unique settings. Comfort hotels are casual and conveniently located near Trek Travel activities.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
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Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself