Faro Trip Overview
Rambling in the West Algarve is an exciting Self-Guided walking tour in a walker’s paradise destination. The climate is perfect for hiking for most of the year, and the countryside teems with wildlife, bright coloured flowers, and picturesque villages. The coastline boosts impressive rock formations, cliffs, secluded beaches and amazing blue seascapes. The base of our tour is Portimão, on the banks of the river Arade, a town with a low-key and relaxed ambience. The adjoining Praia da Rocha is one of the most scenic and famous beach resorts in the Algarve.
Additional Info
* Duration: 8 days
* Starts: Faro, Portugal
* Trip Category: Tours & Sightseeing >> City Tours
Explore Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Rambling in the West Algarve is an exciting Self-Guided walking tour in a walker’s paradise destination. The climate is perfect for hiking for most of the year, and the countryside teems with wildlife, bright coloured flowers, and picturesque villages. The coastline boosts impressive rock formations, cliffs, secluded beaches and amazing blue seascapes. The base of our tour is Portimão, on the banks of the river Arade, a town with a low-key and relaxed ambience. The adjoining Praia da Rocha is one of the most scenic and famous beach resorts in the Algarve.
Itinerary
Day 1: Day 1
Stop At: Faro Airport, 8006-901 Faro, Portugal
Fly to Faro and transfer by road to Portimão, taking approximately 1h
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 2: Day 2
Stop At: Alvor Boardwalk, Praia de Alvor, Alvor, Portimao 8501-906 Portugal
This walk in centred on the Alvor estuary. This protected natural haven contains a wide array of habitats. The walk uses quiet paths and lanes to take us through a variety of landscapes from salt marshes, farmland, pastures and orchards. It’s great for birdlife observation, so pack your binoculars.
We can contemplate the ever changing shades of blue and green along the secluded inner lagoon, as well as the beautiful Rocha Delicada (‘Delicate’ or ‘Elegant Rock’), an ochre promontory formed during the Miocene period.
Embedded in its calcareous rock face, it is possible to detect some marine fossils from this remote period, mainly composed of oyster, scallop and clam specimens.
The walk finishes at the attractive village of Mexilhoeira Grande with cafés and restaurants for a welcome cooling drink. If there is time before the train back to Portimão enjoy a stroll through the village.
Distance: 8 km / Ascent/descent: minimal
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 3: Day 3
Stop At: Municipal Park of the Springs, Estombar, Lagoa Portugal
This walk starts in the traditional Algarve village of Estombar. We follow the valley of the river Arade visiting the Ecological Park of Fontes, an attractive beauty spot on the way.
The route itself enables us to explore this river valley following quiet tracks and paths so we can appreciate the diverse habitats and wildlife.
We finish in Silves, the ancient capital of the Algarve. We have time to visit this historic town before returning to Portimão.
Distance: 10 km / Ascent/descent: minimal
The route itself enables us to explore this river valley following quiet tracks and paths so we can appreciate the diverse habitats and wildlife.
We finish in Silves, ancient capital of the Algarve. We have time to visit this historic town before returning to Portimão.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 4: Day 4
Stop At: Praia Grande, Off N 125, Ferragudo Portugal
From Ferragudo´s Light House we follow a stunning coastline westwards to Portimão & Praia da Rocha. We visit en route the charming and very traditional village of Ferragudo before continuing into Portimão itself to finish at the stunning Praia da Rocha.
Distance: 10 km / Ascent/descent: minimal
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 5: Day 5
Stop At: Villa Figueira, R. 25 de Abril Lote 26, 8500-132 Portimão, Portugal
This imaginatively designed walk in the rolling hillsides just inland from Portimão enables us to visit and appreciate an area hidden from normal tourism, giving us an insight into the traditional Algarvian way of life as we walk through ancient farmland, smallholdings and the “dry” orchards so typical of this area, to finish in the attractive village of Mexilhoeira Grande.
Distance: 12.6 km / Ascent/descent: +/- 60m
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 6: Day 6
Stop At: Alvor Boardwalk, Praia de Alvor, Alvor, Portimao 8501-906 Portugal
Today we offer a fantastic coastal walk taking in the superb sandy beaches and dramatic headlands between Alvor and Portimão, including the much photographed beach at Praia da Rocha, one of the best in the Algarve.
The rock strata are particularly varied and very colourful, from white limestone to red sandstone. These different rocks support a wide variety of flora and, in spring, there are impressive displays of wild flowers.
Distance: 9.2 km / Ascent/descent: minimal
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 7: Day 7
Stop At: Moinho de Odiaxere, Rua da Barragem, Odiaxere, Lagos 8600 Portugal
Starting from the village of Odiáxere we walk through gentle countryside to the salt pans on the Alvor Estuary with its abundant bird life. We then parallel the extensive Lagos beach where, at any time, we can drop down to the sea for a rest and a swim. We crown the day with a visit to Lagos with its beautiful waterfront and old historic centre.
Distance: 10 km / Ascent/descent: minimal
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 7 nights in a twin/double room
Day 8: Day 8
Stop At: Faro Airport, 8006-901 Faro, Portugal
Individual departure or extra days
At convenient time, departure to Faro Airport or Faro Train station.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
