Guadiana River Guided Tour

“Andrea and I had a good holiday , and am happy to give feedback – the guides were Marco , and Kurt. Marco was very efficient and organised it all pretty well, and timed our cycle trips well, kept an eye on us all when cycling . Kurt was driving the van , and was generally  very sociable and good company for us in the evenings . Both could not have been more helpful. The bikes , electric , were wonderful , and I wish I had a bike that good at home . Comfortable , reliable , and new-ish , we felt very privileged to be using them . None of the days were too challenging for us , not on those bikes . Hotels were all fine , and the restaurants were impressively good , and not expensive . They had been well researched…” Philip Matthewman (January 2022)

“I absolutely loved it Paul some of the views were amazing along the way, the hotels were lovely and I feel very privileged to have seen a bit of unseen and authentic Portugal. Everything was very well organised and there’s definitely a benefit to doing something like that with a touring company.. your bags get brought to the next destination, there is a degree of safety in knowing that the van isn’t far away – if anything should wrong the van isn’t far away.  Both the guys were great and the restaurants were lovely!  I really enjoyed the trip Paul! Thanks very much for asking!  ” Patrick McFerran, (January 2022)

“I had the most incredible adventure – filled with spectacular scenery, beautiful villages and people…an experience forever cherished…” Carla Alves (January 2020)

Guadiana River Guided Tour 18th to 22nd January 2023

Day 1 Vila Real de Santo António – Alcoutim: (47km, 600m elevation gain)

We will meet in central Loulé, where we will be transported with our bikes and luggage to the beginning of the route and to our first sight of the majestic Guadiana River, at Vila Real de Santo António. After a quick coffee and briefing from our tour leader, we will set off towards the ancient settlement of Castro Marim. We will initially enjoy views across the widest point of the river to Spain, before turning off to traverse the salt pans (a still thriving local industry), and entering the town via the medieval castle.

Heading out through the nature reserve we are surrounded by marshlands, where we may spot some interesting wildlife, before continuing North and leaving the last remnants of the Algarve tourist region behind us.

Here the landscape starts to change and we will climb a little as we follow the road that runs parallel to the river. It is an opportunity to really savour the peace and quiet of this region, as we pedal along country roads, punctuated by small villages filled with tradition. We can stop and sample the homemade sweet pastries and admire the locally mined slate houses (known as xisto) that are populated by generations of families who still live life according to the old customs and beliefs. It seems like the more we pedal forward the further back in time we go!

Eventually our route takes us close enough to the river that we can actually dip our toes in. There’s a museum and a roman excavation along the way or we may just fancy a cold drink and a peaceful break at one of a number of cafes that we will pass.

After a final climb we descend into Alcoutim, our destination for tonight. It is a beautiful town with a rich history and an impressive castle that overlooks the river, surrounded by typical white houses on narrow streets that reflect the traditional way of life. Dinner will be a local affair with the opportunity to sample fresh fish from the river or the home reared smoked ham and sausages.

Day 2 Alcoutim – Mértola: (48km, 790m elevation gain)

Our second day’s cycling is a complete contrast to Day One as we make our way through the interior Algarve and enter the Alentejo, the land of wheat and bread produce. It’s a vast, scarcely populated landscape with a noticeable lack of establishments serving food and drinks, so it’s a good idea to go prepared with plenty of water and snacks, which we can stock up on before we leave Alcoutim.

Leaving the hotel this morning the biggest climb of the day greets us almost immediately! But we are in no rush, so we can wind our way slowly up and out of town as we look forward to another day of new experiences.

As we head inland the roads become straighter and we begin to appreciate the vastness of this land as we cycle along narrow lanes surrounded by low-lying hills. Punctuated rarely with the odd farmstead we go for long stretches where the only sign of human life is the manmade dry stone wall that lines the road. Eventually we reach Giões, probably the largest village we will encounter before our day’s destination, so we will stop here for a break and a bite to eat. Suitably refreshed, we will continue towards Mertola, crossing the Vascão river, which forms the natural border between the Algarve and the Alentejo.

Dating back to Roman times, Mertola is beautifully located on the crest of a hill and makes for a dramatic scene as we approach it, with its castle and city walls that dominate the landscape. It is known as a museum city because it has so many ancient buildings and places of interest intact, so it is worth a slow exploration on foot.

Day 3 Mértola – Serpa: (65km, 947m elevation gain)

The central theme for today’s ride is the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park, a huge area of open country where farmers and wild animals live in relative harmony. This is the land of wild boar, vultures and the endangered Iberian lynx. So we will want to keep our eyes open for some rather special photo opportunities. The ride is slightly longer than most days and fairly tough in places, but worth it for some of the spectacular sites we will see.

Leaving Mertola across the river we will head East through the park towards Mina de São Domingos, passing through a couple of small villages along the way. There is a beautiful Praia Fluvial (river beach) just outside of town, so this could be an interesting spot to linger in for a short time and catch our breath.

From here the road is long and straight, so it’s a good opportunity to pick up the pace and put some kms behind us (but keep half an eye out for those lynx!). Before too long we will arrive in Vale do Poço, a pretty little village, where we might like a quick break before the final leg.

With about 20kms to go, we will have an opportunity to take a small diversion of around 4kms to see the famous Pulo do Lobo (wolf’s leap). This is a very pretty spot on the Guadiana river, where a waterfall has carved out a gorge and, according to legend, is narrow enough for a wolf to cross it in a single leap. We will cross the river ourselves (though on two wheels) before the final climb of the day.

We should reach Serpa in time for a walk around. It’s a charming working town that produces all manner of goat and sheep related products. As we stroll past the impressive gates and walls of the medieval castle, be sure to notice the natural stone pavements of which they are so proud that they hold an annual competition to see which are the whitest!

Day 4 Serpa– Mina de São Domingos: (63km, 600m elevation gain)

Today’s ride from Serpa to Mina de São Domingos is a very similar distance to yesterday, but the good news is it will feel like an easier day because the terrain is less of a challenge and we should, with luck, have the wind behind us most of the time. Of course there’s some serious cycling to be done but there is plenty to distract us as we travel through working farms and olive groves, passing cheese and olive oil factories.

Heading out east will take us on to a different route back down to Mina de São Domingos. We will cycle close to the border with Spain, enjoying spectacular mountain views towards the Spanish Sierra de Aracena, home to the Pata Negra, twin brother of the Porco Preto Alentejano (black pig).

Travelling through sleepy villages we will begin to appreciate the different pace of life here. It’s not uncommon to see people sitting around in the village square or in front of the church, just chatting or dozing in the shade. They will no doubt sit up when they see strangers on bikes passing by…but a smile and a wave is all that’s required!

Heading South now, we will eventually turn off onto a dirt track through the valley, where we can enjoy the unspoilt scenery until we reach a river. Crossing over we will climb steadily for the last few kilometres, until we see the familiar sight of Mina de São Domingos. Home to one of the largest former mining operations in Portugal, which was functional right up until 1966, there is a mining museum and a worker’s house worth a visit. It also has a rather lovely river beach, where we may be tempted to soak our tired legs at the end of your last day’s cycling.

Day 5 Departure

We will transfer you from your accommodation for your journey home.

Prices

Price per person, based upon two people sharing a twin/double bedded room, is €475pp

Single room accommodation subject to availability, please specify if preferred .

INCLUDING:

• Transfer between the Central Algarve and Vila Real de Santo António on Day 1
• Transfer back to the Central Algarve from  Mina de São Domingos on Day 5
• 4 nights b&b stay in comfortable guesthouse or hotel based on 2 persons sharing a twin room.
• Daily luggage transfer between accommodation

NOT INCLUDING:

• Flights to and from the Algarve
• Lunches and evening meals
• Bike rental is available on request
• Helmets and SPD pedals. You can hire at a small fee, but we suggest you bring your own
• Personal accident insurance, which we strongly recommend you take out.