Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
An eight-day, tailor made, hotel-to-hotel cycling vacation, taking an east to west route through inland rural idylls and along the Algarve coast.
Silves Alte Monte de Cima Foothills of Monchique Mountains Quiet Algarve beaches Alvor Estuary Lagos
Price
€975To€1175 excluding flights
More info
Including bed and breakfast accommodation, airport transfers, luggage transfers, maps and descriptions of the area.
With back-up service.
Rental hybrid bike € 95.
Rental E-bike € 195 .
GPS tracks available.
With back-up service.
Rental hybrid bike € 95.
Rental E-bike € 195 .
GPS tracks available.
Description of Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
Price information
€975To€1175 excluding flights
Including bed and breakfast accommodation, airport transfers, luggage transfers, maps and descriptions of the area.
With back-up service.
Rental hybrid bike € 95.
Rental E-bike € 195 .
GPS tracks available.
With back-up service.
Rental hybrid bike € 95.
Rental E-bike € 195 .
GPS tracks available.
Departure information
This trip can be arranged at any time to suit your requirements although we do not recommend trips in August due to high temperatures
Travel guides
From the volcanic wonders of the Azores to the sunny Algarve, Portugal might have been made for cycling.
Our Algarve travel guide explores one of Europe's most popular summer destinations.
Vacation information
Our top tip:
Many of the accommodations provide dinner. But good to have cash, as most don’t have card facilities.
Trip type:
Tailor made.
Activity level:
Moderate, averaging 40 km/day.
Accomm:
Small rural hotels with pools.
Included:
Accommodation, luggage & airport transfers, back up service. Note: bike hire extra.
Meals:
Breakfasts included. Portugal is a hugely underrated foodie destination - you won't go hungry.
Solos:
Solo travelers welcome. Surcharge for single room.
Reviews
29 Reviews of Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 10 Nov 2025 by Gwen Rochester
A great vacation, different places to visit each time and lovely hotels. Bert gave great information and was there to help so that's' a great comfort when you are moving to different places every day. The bags were there waiting when we checked in. Highly recommend. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Oct 2025 by Eithne O Shea
A wonderful vacation…. Total freedom. The not knowing what was around the next corner, the freedom of the bikes, cycling along with nothing to organise as it was all done for us by Bert. The bikes were very comfortable with smooth gears and gel saddles. Bert met us in Loule and fitted us for the bikes helmets etc and went through all aspects of the trip. He was available should we need him but everything went so well not even a puncture. We used the app recommended by Bert but he also gave written notes and maps for each days trip which we used together with the app. We had nothing to do, no decisions to make except get on the bike and go the variety of scenery was fabulous and we went to places we never would have gone had we not done the cycle vacation. It was lovely to see the real rural Portugal and get a sense of real life. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Jun 2025 by Jill Chrisp
I rode this self-guided cycling vacation as a sole, and older, woman. My partner met me at each of the accommodations. Great organisation and support. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Oct 2025 by Lori Moore
Good [...] Beautiful scenery. Lovely hotels. 4 stars. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Jul 2025 by Huw Cadwallader
The whole vacation was very enjoyable. The route was very well planned, showing a side of the Algarve you probably would not normally see. The bikes were excellent and all the accommodation was at least good. Bert was very supportive. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Oct 2024 by Anne McCarthy
Amazing vacation. It is very evident that Bert really cares about his customers and wants to provide a great experience. His maps and directions were faultless and the bikes were good quality. We also knew that support from Bert was available if we got in trouble. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Apr 2022 by John Butler
It was well planned by our local agent, Bert S., he monitored our progress and helped us out when there were difficulties. The accommodation was generally well suited to our party of older people. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Apr 2019 by Keith Mahony
The trip allowed us to get away from the more touristic areas and experience 'real' Portugal. This included coming across a village celebration in a large picnic area by the road we were traveling on where there was music, dancing and food. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Oct 2019 by Marc St-Cyr
The most memorable part of the vacation was the detail oriented instructions to get from one village to another, challenging climbs rewarded by descents. Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Oct 2018 by Anne Millerd
This was one of the most memorable vacations we have ever taken. We had a fantastic time, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an active vacation, and who loves to explore new places. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Jul 2018 by Louis Elortondo
Perfectly organized trip, from the route, to the bikes, the recommendations, all was good! Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Nov 2017 by Barry Ryan
Cycling through fantastic countryside on quiet roads, orange groves, hill passes, really getting a chance to take it all in. The accommodation was also superb! Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Oct 2017 by Janet MacGregor
Cycling through quiet villages and back roads. Lovely places to stay especially Casa do Palmeiro. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Jun 2017 by Sheila Kerr
The highlight was the first day of our cycling experience. Meeting Bert our host and having him explain our itinerary and routes. Getting on our bikes for the first time. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Jun 2017 by Alan Johns
The 50k ride down from Monchique to the coast was the most memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Oct 2017 by Julia Pound
Arriving at our hotels, particularly the really rural ones, although they were all good. Read full reviewReviewed on 22 May 2017 by Roy Leitches
Probably Duas Quintas outside Silves was the highlight. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 May 2017 by Anne Nicholl
Great vacation if your looking for a good mix of cycling, relaxing and sight seeing of some of Portugal's untouched areas. Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Oct 2016 by Jost am Rhyn
Beautiful memories. I can only recommend this tour. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Jun 2016 by Karen Tweed
It was fantastic and would recommend it. June was a great month as the weather was stable and sunny everyday. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Jun 2016 by Fran Kelly
The west coast is breath taking and feels unspoilt. I would really recommend this vacation, it is so well co-ordinated to appeal to lots of different tastes. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Apr 2016 by Richard Scott
Great, very well organized, good maps, well-considered route. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Nov 2016 by Annmarie Woodcraft
Arriving in Lagos, a beautiful town on a lovely sunny day. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Dec 2015 by Debbie Merrick
It was all just wonderful. Great weather, great food, great scenery, great accommodation. The organising of it was first class. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Oct 2015 by Patricia Houston
Having the opportunity to cycle through the beautiful countryside and villages and looking forward to our next accommodation in spectacular locations. The first place we stayed in Querenca was a great start to the vacation. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 May 2015 by Sally Forster
10 out of 10. We could not fault any part of the vacation. The rides were routed through beautiful landscapes, visiting interesting villages and all felt very safe. The accommodation was clean, friendly and in wonderful locations. The personal service provided was great which meant that the vacation met our needs perfectly without any worry at all. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Sep 2015 by karen austin
Do it! it's great fun and a wonderful sense of achievement reaching the destination. The organiser was always available although thankfully we didn't need him as his instructions were spot on. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet and people
Cycling is an ideal way to explore the countryside without damaging the environment. Through our range of Portugal cycling vacations we support the following Portuguese National Parks: Reserva Natural do Sapal, Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana.On our Portugal cycling vacations we encourage guests to visit their information & exhibition centers, keep to the recommended paths, take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints.
We always use local services and accommodation such as small hotels and wherever possible “turismo no espaço rural” which offer rural accommodation run by local families. On these Portugal cycling vacations we work exclusively with small local businesses and use locally owned restaurants. In this way we help to conserve a rural lifestyle and contribute to the overall sustainable development of the region.
We encourage our guests to be environmentally aware and act in a proper, responsible manner at all times. Information, tips and recommendations on the life and customs of the local people are given to all clients on the Portugal cycling vacations.
As much as we can our office recycles waste and we use recycled products whenever possible.
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