Lisbon to Algarve Ride

All breakfasts and two distillery visits with tastings included.

A typical hotel breakfast consists of toast/bread with jam, or honey, cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt. Eggs are usually available and there are frequently other cooked options; the breakfasts on this trip are always plentiful and perfect to set us up for a day of cycling.

Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region – there are up to 365 recipes to cook it.

For meat lovers, the barrosã meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to its naturally delicious flavour. Francesinha originates from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguiça [smoke-cured pork sausage] and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer-and-tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint-hearted.

To drink, you will find plenty of the local Sagres and Superbock beer. Vinho verde is available from the supermarket and directly from producers. It is a young, medium-strength white wine with an almost carbonated quality. Port needs no introduction and a glass (or two) of the fortified wine will generally follow a hearty Portuguese meal.

There are an incredible number of different desserts available and if you have a sweet tooth it will be possible to try a different one each day. Local favourites include bolo de bolacha (cookie cake), leite creme (cream eggs and sugar), pão de ló (sponge cake made with lots of eggs), arroz doce (traditional rice pudding) and, of course, pastel de nata, which you will find at most cafes on your route.

The group will generally be between six and 16 people. There will be a local cycling leader and an assistant leader driving the support vehicle.

Transfers to and from the airport will be by private vehicle (normally minibus). While you are cycling, the vehicle will carry your baggage and be on hand with assistance or if you choose to sit out a section of the ride (seats are limited). A guide cycles with the group.

We use a selection of three- and four-star hotels. All hotels offer great service and have been selected for their location, comfort and character. Some hotels have a swimming pool or a sea view.

Examples of hotels used:

Lisbon: Marques de Pombal, a four-star hotel located on Avenida da Liberdade in the centre of Lisbon. The hotel also has a gym and spa facilities.

Setúbal: 11 Hotel School, a former military barracks converted to a stylish hotel, run by the Setúbal School of Hospitality and Tourism.

Santiago do Cacém: Hotel Vila Park. Surrounded by woodlands, it has a large outdoor saltwater pool.

Vila Nova de Milfontes: HS Milfontes Beach is on the main beach avenue in Vila Nova de Milfontes and enjoys amazing views of the Mira river bay, along with an outdoor pool and gym.

Rogil: Hotel Alcatruz is a modern property with simply furnished, beach-themed rooms. The hotel is a few minutes’ drive from the coast.

Vila do Bispo: Aldeia da Pedralva offers a new kind of sustainable tourism. Pedralva used to be a farming village until its inhabitants started to leave in the 1980s, leaving the village desolate. Now, it has been carefully restored in the traditional style, giving the feel of stepping back in time. Alternatively we use the Hotel Mira Sagres which has an excellent location facing the 16th-century Mother Church. With just 21 rooms, the hotel has a personal feel and facilities include a spa area with indoor pool and a bar.

Sagres: Memmo Baleeira Hotel has an outdoor pool with magnificent Atlantic Ocean views, a spa and a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath and sauna.

Please note, some hotels might change on certain departures. For more up-to-date information about the hotels used, please contact our Customer Operations Team closer to your travel date.