Walk the Algarve's Wild West
Walk the Algarve's Wild West
Walk the Algarve's Wild West
7 Days Starting and ending in Sagres
Visiting: Portugal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W06AV
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Far beyond the 'developed' Algarve in Portugal's most southerly Atlantic corner, lies the Sagres Peninsula, a startlingly pristine region of golden beaches, imposing cliffs, swaying flower meadows, dramatic coastlines and tree-lined paths. Locals here offer a warm welcome and hold on to the traditions of rural life. The easy-to-follow trails take in rich verdant valleys, pine forests and rugged coastlines, making exploring on foot amazingly rewarding. Birdlife also abounds here with endemic and migratory species passing through from Africa and Northern Europe. With winter very similar to spring in the UK, you can enjoy the warm temperatures of the Algarve from October right through to May.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive At Sagres
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive in the characterful coastal town of Sagres in time for your dinner. (Staying in Hotel Memmo Baleeira, Half Board)
Day 2 : Sagres To Pedralva
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a 30-minute transfer you'll follow the Fishermen's Trail, passing pines and gorse as you head to the cliff tops and the impressive Amado beach, an internationally renowned surf beach. Make your way down to the village of Carrapateira, with its bars and restaurants offering a great lunch stop. Do take time to visit the interesting Land and Sea Museum for an insight into the history of the village and its fishing economy. You'll then pick up the Rota Vicentina passing one of the Algarve's finest viewpoints, following a lovely trail through the Sinceira Valley and the course of the River Sinceira, as you make your way to charming Aldeia da Pedralva and your own village house for the next two nights. (Staying at Aldeia da Pedralva, Half Board)
Day 3 : At Pedralva
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
You can be as active or as relaxed as you like: spend time unwinding in the pretty village or enjoy one of two optional walks. Follow a lovely cliff-top trail back along to Amado beach or take a smaller loop along the Marreiros plateau with great views of the Algarve's highest point. (Staying at Aldeia da Pedralva, Half Board)
Day 4 : Pedralva To Vila Do Bispo
Meals Included: Breakfast
There are two options for today, both setting off through a forest of pine and eucalyptus as you follow the Rota Vicentina, then a meandering trail through flower meadows leading you along a path and down to the pretty village of Vila do Bispo. The longer trail adds a wonderful horseshoe loop heading into the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, to Praia da Barriga (Barriga beach) with its impressive cliffs and crashing waves - the perfect picnic spot. (Staying at Hotel Mira Sagres, Breakfast only)
Day 5 : At Vila Do Bispo
Meals Included: Breakfast
The cosmopolitan coastal town of Lagos is a short bus ride away; encircled by 14th century walls, the stone work and architecture within is a delight. Ornate churches date from the 13th century, and tangled cobbled lanes lead to discoveries around every corner. Alternatively, you may wish to follow one of two walks, one taking in the cliffs and viewpoints above Vila do Bispo, the other a real gem of a walk through a landscape of rolling hills and gentle valleys through the village of Raposeira to Guadalupe chapel, thought to be one of the only Knights Templar buildings left in Portugal. (Staying at Hotel Mira Sagres, Breakfast only)
Day 6 : Vila Do Bispo To Cabo De Sao Vicente/Sagres
Meals Included: Breakfast
Surrounded by foaming Atlantic breakers, Cabo de Sao Vicente marks the most south-westerly point of Europe. The walk out to the edge of the continent should prove to be one of the highlights of your week! You are spoilt with amazing coastal scenery on this wild and unpopulated route that follows sandy paths and gorse-strewn meadows to the very edge of the Iberian Peninsula. At the Cape there is a lighthouse, museum and small bar, offering wonderful photo opportunities. It's a short transfer (5 mins) back to Sagres where you can relax with a cold drink on the waterfront, watching fishermen mending their nets. (Staying at Hotel Memmo Baleeira, Breakfast only)
Day 7 : Leave Sagres
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast in Sagres.
What's Included
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Luggage transfers between hotels
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Services of your local Headwater Representative
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All continental breakfasts and 3 evening meals
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All accommodation
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Route directions and maps
What's Not Included
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Single supplements
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Travel insurance
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Visas and vaccinations
Accommodation
All your hotels have pools, and range from designer chic above the bay in Sagres, to country village style in Pedralva, where every house in the village has been restored to provide rustic accommodation. In Vila do Bispo you stay in a traditional pensao (coaching inn), now beautifully modernised, that was once a stopping-off point for pilgrims on their way to the Cape.
Food
All continental breakfasts and 3 evening meals
Three dinners are included and the local cuisine is a sumptuous mix of fresh
fish, local meats and fresh vegetables, accompanied by tangy cheeses and
quality chouricos; all complemented by a superb choice of Portuguese wines.
The local speciality from the sea is the Barnacle Perceve, this is not
taken from the bottom of boats but the bottom of submerged local cliffs, it
is harvested by hand using a dangerous and traditional method,
which involves one of the two collectors dangling by a rope from the top of
the cliffs! They are a bit of a delicacy not too dissimilar to
mussels. Away from the sea the dried hams, salamis and chourico are as good
as anything that Spain or Italy can produce. The strange sounding
bread sausage Alheira is very good, invented by the Portuguese Jews during
the Inquisition to avoid persecution, bread and non-pork products are
used. Good quality meat is also on the menu, beef and pork are of a high
quality and lamb in season is superb. Vegetables are plentiful and with
big harvests of almonds and oranges, fruits are in good supply
alongside another local vegetable, the sweet potato.
The Algarve’s other surprise is the quality of cheese; from mild to
strong using cow, goat or sheep milk there is a great range of cheeses for
all tastes, Queijo de Cabra do Algarve, is a particular favourite.
Check out our Q&As
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
No visa required for British passport holders.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Luggage transfers between hotels
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 8 year age passenger can go on this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.