Algarve & Andaluzia

Meet & Greet at the Hotel on arrival – 18h. If time allows, an introductory walk will be offered.

We’ll leave the hotel this morning and take the transport to Altura, a nearby coastal village. We then return walking along the long sandy beach and its wide line of dunes. Raised walkways lead to various parts of the sands, and give us the opportunity (especially on the western walkway) to observe how the dune vegetation changes from the inland edge of the dunes to the side facing the sea. Next to the sea, where the dunes are higher, there is an abundance of European beach grass, sea holly, fluffy cottonweed and eye-catching beach daffodils. The beach is vast, stretching for as far as the eye can see, and the sea is calm and warm. At lunchtime, we’ll have the opportunity for a pic-nic lunch (not included) at the Monte Gordo seafront. We then return to the hotel for a free afternoon at leisure, with time to enjoy the sun and the sea. Ascent / Descent: minimal; Approx Km: 10km

Today we start the day with a walk through the Monte Gordo pine forest. The first part of the walk finishes in Vila Real de Santo António, a charming town with a fascinating history and architecture, in the estuary of the Rio Guadiana, which separates Portugal from Spain. We'll take you for a closer look to this city, founded in 1774, under the Enlightenment principles. It was built as a replica of the central Lisbon's street layout after the 1755 devastating earthquake. We’ll then take the ferry to Ayamonte, in Spain. We’ll tour around the city, soaking the atmosphere and passing throw the small streets. After lunch, we offer the option of walking with the tour leader back to the hotel, or to stay in Vila Real for further exploration, with return by taxi/public bus (not included). Ascent/Descent: minimal Approx Km: 10 km

This is an ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the attractions of East Algarve. You can walk/tour independently, or visit local places of interest. From Monte Gordo there is a wide variety of sightseeing available (we can advise and/or recommend options according to your interests). On free time keen bird-watchers may wish to visit Castro Marim in the fens and marshes of the "Reserva Natural do Sapal", famous for their flamingos, or enjoy other local sightseeing tours.

This morning we’ll take our transport to discover Tavira, a lovely and quaint old-Portuguese charm, with over 30 churches, cobbled streets, and bougainvillea lined balconies. In the historical old town, the castle and the typical houses provide cultural interest and special charisma. The River Gilão, with a workaday fisherman’s riverfront, runs to the azure lagoons of the Ria Formosa. We’ll take a boat tour in the Ria’s channels, and stop at Tavira’s Island, for a visit. We then take the boat back to Tavira center, and continue our walk to the train to return to Monte Gordo.

Today we’ll take a transfer to the Castro Marim Nature Reserve – a unique landscape in the Eastern Algarve. A true realm of serenity, far from the hustle and bustle of the beach resorts, this is a haven for countless bird species such as the flamingos who regularly visit this charming patchwork of green-blue marshes and crisp white saltpans. Our walk through the salt pans will take us into Castro Marim, one of the oldest communities in the Algarve, and an important centre of Arab power until 1242. After having lunch in Castro Marim (not included), we’ll explore this historic town. A visit to the Castle, which was the first headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal, will provide more information about the historical, and cultural heritages of the area. We then transfer back to the hotel.

After breakfast, we will head towards Olhão – a picturesque coastal town inspired by Moroccan architecture that attracts artists, writers, and photographers. We have free time to discover the town and take lunch (not included). The city center has a collection of white houses with roof terraces and minarets that form a patchwork of layering cubes. The waterfront avenue near the Ria Formosa is lined with glorious tile-fronted, 19th-Century townhouses, with verandas and wrought-iron work. The highlight is the colourful atmosphere at the Municipal Market, which fulfils its traditional function by day and is the setting for lively nightlife bars. Now it’s time to discover the barrier Islands of the Ria Formosa. We’ll take a boat trip and visit and walk around one of the islands. We then return by ferry to catch our transport back to Monte Gordo in time for our final evening dinner together.

Individual departure (not included)