Via Algarviana - Individual Riders

Meet other MTB Lovers on this Algarve Mountain Bike Adventure

The Via Algarviana in Portugal, also known as the Grande Route 13, is leading you from the Spanish border, to Europe´s most South-West cape; the Cabo São Vicente.

It is designed as a hiking path, and you can also bike it!

Our MTB leader will lead you daily along 50 - 75 km with single and double tracks. You will challenge daily an average of 2200 altitude meters.

As the Via Algarviana is designed as a hiking route, each day we will see one or two obstacles where you might find yourself walking. But feel challenged to ride it all the way!
Frequently we will bike on wide gravel roads…rarely you will feel tarmac. Needless to say we will not meet much traffic or dense population.
The Via Algarviana is a new route and relatively unknown and quiet; on an average day we encounter only 1 or 2 couples walking or biking on the tracks.

This mountain bike week will challenge your skills and it will make an excellent (winter)training for you.
These are over 300 kilometers off-road fun, in one week.

Individual Riders on the Via Algarviana

For single riders and couples we have chosen two weeks in 2012 to form a group. This guided mountain bike adventure in the Algarve, covers the same itinerary as the group weeks. All our selected accommodations in the interior of the Algarve have a choice of single, twin ánd double rooms, so both individual mountain bikers and couples are very welcome.

The minimum group size is 6 riders, and the maximum is 20 riders.

The airport transfers from/ to Faro Airport are private and exclusive for you. On your arrival day, one free transfer to Alcoutim is included. This transfer is scheduled to leave Faro Airport at 15h00. In case you would arrive later in Faro, we can book a private and direct transfer for you (and your bike) to Alcoutim. Feel free to request a quote with us, or see below for the price for 1 till 4 people.

This Algarve Mountain Bike week is guided by a fit and experienced MTB guide. The guide will speak mainly English, but most of our guides do speak German and Dutch, and of course Portuguese. The guide carries a First Aid certificate and is also your group leader. Daily he will give a small briefing about the next riding day and is available in the lodges for any questions, help with bike repairs and local information.

Itinerary:

You will bike through the interior of the Portuguese Algarve. You will pass Algarve villages lost in the past, and discover amazing landscapes of the Sotavento, Barrocal and Serra de Monchique. Your MTB leader will show you the sub-tropical fauna and flora on the most interesting sites of the Algarve interior.
The overnight stays will be in rural accommodations, located in unique settings in the Portuguese countryside. Here you will rest and fill up your reserves for the next day with a healthy and nutritious diner. And, we´ll make sure there is a cold drink available when you arrive.

Day 1 - Sunday:
Arrival at Faro Airport, transfer at 15h00 to the hotel in Alcoutim. Briefing and diner.

Day 2 - Monday :
First day on the bike; rolling hills, authentic Portugal - 59 km, 1510 altitude meters.
Stay overnight in a local lodge nearby an old copper mine and a donkey sanctuary in Vaqueiros.

Day 3 - Tuesday:
Biking through cork tree forests and beautiful farmlands. - 60 km, 2800 altitude meters.
Stay overnight in a rural bed & breakfast, run by a fantastic chef near Baranco do Velho.

Day 4 - Wednesday:
Biking to Silves, passing Salir and Alte with amazing landscapes near well known Rocha da Pena - 63 km, 2600 altitude meters.
Stay overnight in a comfortable hotel near the river Arade, and 2 minutes walking distance to the historical centre of Silves.

Day 5 - Thursday:
Climbing up the Serra de Monchique with the highest point of the Algarve - 46 km, 2900 altitude meters. Stay overnight in a cosy bed & breakfast on the south slope of the highest mountain (Fóia - 902 mtr), with outstanding views.

Day 6 - Friday:
Riding downhill the Serra de Monchique, our trail will lead you to Europe´s most south west point, Cabo São Vicente - 78km, 1366 altitude meters.
Transfer to buzzing Lagos and time to look back to a fantastic week of biking, in one of the many bars in the old centre of surf town Lagos. Stay overnight in a comfortable 3 star hotel near the centre.

Day 7 - Saturday:
Free day to relax and discover the historic town of Lagos, from where the Portuguese started to discover the world. There is a great coastal trail to ride, or lots of water sport activities to do.
Stay overnight in a comfortable 3 star hotel near the centre.

Day 8 - Sunday:
Transfer at 09h00 from Lagos back to Faro Airport. End of a great mountain bike week.

Is the Via Algarviana my tour?

This MTB adventure in the Algarve is suitable for everyone between 15 - 65 years with mountain bike experience and a good fitness level. Please make sure that you and you´re equipment are in excellent condition for this demanding week. We assume that when you book this holiday, you have already some mountain bike experience, and that you will not join this tour to learn to ride, or see it as a try out. We offer this guided mountain bike week more as a social then as a competitive event, it is for sure not a race.
The guide holds a valid First Aid certificate and knows the quickest ways to emergency health services in Portugal. Outdoor-Tours.com has an excellent safety record, and it´s our ambition to keep it like that.

Fitness level required nº 4, technical level required D, see our grades here.

2012 PRICES & DATES:

Check below the dates for individual riders.
Included in the package are two return airport transfers (also for your bike!), every day luggage transportation, 1 week accommodation with half board and an experienced mtb guide. The price for this guided mountain bike week, based on half board, is EUR 629 pp.
For 2012 we introduce the following special offers. There are 5 riding days and 1 rest day at the end:

03 - 10 June 2012 - Book/ pay deposit before 15/03 and receive 10% off (= EUR 62.90 pp) >> already 3 riders have booked!
07 - 14 October 2012 - Book/ pay deposit before 01/06 and receive 10% off ( = EUR 62.90 pp)
The price is per person, per trip and in Euros.

Includes:

• Maintenance fee that goes to the Association Via Algarviana, EUR 5 per person (non members would pay EUR 20 pp)
• Yearly company membership fee to the Association Via Algarviana is paid by Outdoor-Tours.com
• one private transfer for your group and your MTB´s from Faro Airport to Alcoutim (departure time from Faro at 15h00)
• one private transfer for your group from Lagos to Faro Airport & free transportation of your MTB (departure time from Lagos at 09h00, flight time to be advice not before 12h00 !)
• private transfer for your group together on the last riding day from Sagres to Lagos & free transportation of your MTB´s
• 7 nights staying in rural hotels or lodges, based on sharing a room with 1 other person (on days 2, 3 you might be sharing your room with 2 people, depending on groups size and availability)
• couples sharing a double room needs to be mentioned at time of booking
• most accommodations have internet access, but some do charge for it
• a healthy breakfast with lots of fruits and energy
• a tasty diner, full of carbo hydrates and vegetables
• every day luggage transportation to the next accommodation
• mountain bike guide with first aid kit, mobile phone and mechanical support kit
• a support car is stand-by

Not included:

• MTB rental for your size is now available at € 87 for the 6 riding days, see specs
• lunches in local tavernes in the Algarve interior, allow yourself € 7 - 14 per day
• energy snacks during the day
• drinking water to fill up your Camelbak or bottles
• drinks during the diners when not included
• personal expenses
• travel insurance for personal accidents and repatriation (Outdoor-Tours.com offers this at € 14 for the week per person, minimum insurance conditions accordingly to Portuguese law)