West Coast Tour 3.17
From Lisbon to Sagres: An unforgettable journey along the wild west coast and through the breathtaking nature reserve of the Costa Vicentina
Overview
You will ride on asphalted or natural roads with little traffic. In the high season (mid-June to mid-September) there will be a greater volume of traffic. It is also possible to do this tour in the opposite direction. It can also be combined with the Trans-Algarve Coast Tour (total of 12 stages/14 days.)
Description
A wonderful cycle ride for you to enjoy along the wild, west coast and through the Costa Vicentina nature reserve.
The west coast of Portugal, from Lisbon/Setúbal to Sagres, is an extremely beautiful part of the coastline.
First, you travel by bus from Lisbon to Setubal. You cross the estuary of the Sado River by ferry and then set off on your bike! You cycle for 30 km alongside a long, sandy beach and through rice fields as far as Sines, the birthplace of the famous explorer Vasco da Gama.
This is where the Costa Vicentina nature reserve begins with its rugged sea cliffs, falling steeply into the sea, and its countless sandy beaches and bays, mostly unfrequented and all astoundingly beautiful. You keep to the coast the whole way to the very end, the Cabo de São Vicente, the most south-westerly point of Europe. You can spend your last evening and the next day up until your departure time exploring Sagres, one of the world's best short-stay destinations. Your return transfer will be by car to Tunes and by train to Lisbon (about three and a half hours.)
Itinerary
Arrive at the airport and continue by taxi to your hotel in Setúbal (excl.). At the agreed time, you will be welcomed by a representative of Algarve Cycling in the reception area of the hotel at the agreed time. From there you will begin your bicycle tour the next morning.
A ferry takes you across the Sado river estuary and then you cycle alongside a white sandy beach with crystal-clear water as far as the rice fields, which make this area so beautiful. Just as these fields begin you have the opportunity to visit a small museum dedicated to the cultivation and harvesting of rice. A small freshwater lake, idyllically situated very close to the sea at Melide, is very inviting for a dip. You cycle through the Lagoas de Santo Andre nature reserve, an area of lagoons and dunes with a great number of wading birds, including storks and flamingos, and then you will reach your accommodation.
Soon after the start of today's ride, you will reach Sines. This town, rich in history, is built on a steep hill right by the Atlantic Ocean. In its center, there is a fortress, standing on one of Portugal's most beautiful viewpoints. Once you leave Sines you come to the beginning of the Costa de Vicentina nature reserve. Rocky cliffs and small sandy bays are now striking features of the landscape. You cycle through the small fishing port of Porto Covo and past the ruins of a fortress built in the 17th century as a defense against pirates. Far out at sea, you will see the Ilha do Pessegueiro island on which there is another fortress, built for the same purpose. You cycle onwards through the countryside typical of the Alentejo region with its large, flat fields and areas of cork oaks and pinewoods. You will then reach Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque place situated on the wide Mira river just where it flows into the sea.
Your first destination today is the Sentinela do Cabo Sardão lighthouse which stands on the edge of a very impressive cliff. The greatest surprise here is that a colony of great white storks has established itself here, nesting on rocks. This section of coastline is recognized as the only place in the world where storks nest on sea stacks and in fact, have become established here and can be observed all year round. You cycle on through the pretty village of Zambujeira de Mar, situated high above the cliffs and where the attractive village 'square' is round! After this, you pass through the unspoiled, agricultural countryside before reaching the river Seixe and the village of Odeceixe which features attractive, whitewashed, and red-roofed houses and is situated above one of the most beautiful sandy bays of the whole tour and on the wide river estuary.
Today's route takes you through a landscape of vast fields. Wild herbs grow here which together with the wildflowers, grasses, and eucalyptus groves, fill the air with a wonderful fragrance. In the spring this area is an absolute sea of flowers with swathes of green pasture land, deep red carpets of flowers, and almond trees in blossom. You cross the Rio Aljezur river to reach the town of the same name. You go through the Old Town and over the castle mound and on to Carrapateira which stands on a hill amidst extensive dunes and is reached using a truly beautiful cycle ride along the cliffs with marvelous views over the deep blue Atlantic and down to two sandy bays.
You cycle through attractive, evergreen shrubland, known in Portugal as the macchia, and come to two beautiful bays. A steep path leads first to the Praia Barriga beach, which you may well have all to yourself, and then continues over a hill to the Praia da Cordama beach. Both bays have a backdrop of high, rugged cliffs. In fact, at low tide you can ride your bike along the sand from one beach to the next – that saves you cycling over the hill! Your route continues across a steppe-like high plateau and brings you to the most south-westerly point of Europe, the Cabo de São Vicente, where the lighthouse stands on top of the high cliffs. Finally, a beautiful coast road will bring you to Sagres, a place full of myths and legends. This is where the marine school was founded and where Portugal's best seafarers were educated and went on to explore the world's great oceans. The town of Sagres is situated on a promontory at the end of which you will find the fortress, a large building that has been carefully renovated.
On your last day, we will take you by car to Tunes train station and you will catch the intercity train to Lisbon. Sit back and enjoy your train journey through the Alentejo. Dotted across the landscape you will see cork oaks and olive trees which have stood the test of time. Huge fields disappear past your window, cornfields wave in the breeze, cows and sheep graze in the meadows, these are all features of this beautiful landscape. Here and there you will see farms and vineyards with their single-storey, whitewashed houses. The heat of the sun slows the rhythm of life and time seems to stand still.... When you arrive in Lisbon, take a taxi to your hotel which is very centrally situated. You may have time to do some exploring. An alternative option: Instead of going by train, you could fly from Faro to Lisbon or any other destination. We would gladly help you with this.
Individual departure or an extension to your holiday.
Availability
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DatesPrice per person
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2024/07/01 - 2024/09/15Single: 2300 € Double: 1650 €
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2024/09/16 - 2024/10/10Single: 2050 € Double: 1400 €
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2024/10/11 - 2024/10/31Single: 1950 € Double: 1250 €
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2024/11/01 - 2024/12/31Single: 1750 € Double: 1200 €
Details
Services included in the price
- 7 nights with breakfast in 4*, 3* hotels and typical Portuguese guesthouses.
- Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation
- Welcome, info talk, bike handover, and adjustment
- Ferry ticket Setúbal -> Tróia
- Transfer Hotel -> Tunes train station
- Rail journey Tunes -> Lisboa
- Detailed route description, with references to places of interest and interesting facts on the routes
- 5 carefully designed routes to download to your mobile phone or tablet
- Mobile phone holder
- Map with daily km and elevation profile
- Service hotline Mon-Fri 09:00 to 18:00, weekends and public holidays in case of emergency
Optional against surcharge
- Transfers Lisboa Airport <-> Hotel on request
- GPS device with all daily tours
- Room with Sea View upgrade
- Half-board (on Portuguese public holidays and bridge days, there may be a surcharge that may apply)
- Single traveler supplement €80 (not applicable if more than one room is booked)
Extra / Person Bike rental
- Trekking bike: 140€
- MTB: 140€
- MTB+: 165€
- eTouring bike: 170€
- eTrekking bike: 190€
- eMTB: 190€
- Helmet: 10€
- Rack: possible on MTBs except MTB+
- Pannier: included (except MTBs)
- Included: Water bottle, Phone Holder, Air Pump, Lock, Repair kit, Spare tube
Bikes
eMTB-FS 29"
eTOURING plus
eMTB 29"
MTB plus 29"
MTB 29"
eTREKKING 29"
TREKKING 29"
eTOURING 28"
TOURING plus 29"
eGRAVEL
GRAVEL CARBON plus
GRAVEL G
GRAVEL S
eJUNIOR 26"
eJUNIOR 24"
West Coast Tour 3.17
From Lisbon to Sagres: An unforgettable journey along the wild west coast and through the breathtaking nature reserve of the Costa Vicentina
