Gravel Portugal
with Lane Rowland
Private: Lane Rowland Gravel Portugal
Southern Portugal’s Algarve region - maybe the best gravel riding in Europe!
A spectacular ride on the cliffs high above the Atlantic Ocean and through the Monchique mountains, the Algarve, in the south of Portugal, has some of the best Beyond Tarmac riding in Europe.
Overview
Details
Next Departure
No Upcoming Departures
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $550
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Loosely based on the famous Via Algarviana cycling and hiking route, this 6 day traverse of the Algarve region in the south of Portugal is one of the favorites of the Thomson gravel staff. Spectacular views, perfect gravel, smiling people all around, excellent food and great hospitality make this a bucket-list trip that you should not miss!
Video
Get a glimpse of what to expect in our short film following the Thomson ride leaders on our reconnaissance trip through the Algarve
Trip Technical Difficulty
Ride Surfaces
Bike Setup Recommendations
Recommended Tires
700×38
A minimum 700×38, but feel free to use more rubber for more comfort and grip if your bike has extra tire clearance.
Recommended Gearing
38T × 11-42
We recommend a minimum gear ratio of 0.90 using a 38T chainring × 42 rear cog (or equivalent). Check your gear ratios at www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios.
Gravel Explained
Read below for a brief description of our gravel definitions. We have classed the surfaces into five categories, from tarmac to boulders, to give an indication of the amount and level of rough stuff on each trip.
Michelle Turner, USA — 2024
Lane Rowland, USA — 2024
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bem vindo a Portugal | Porto Covo Hotel & Spa | |||
| 02 | Atlantic Festival | Hotel Alto da Lua | |||
| 03 | The heart of the Via Algarviana | Monchique Resort & Spa | |||
| 04 | The Monchique Mountains | Monchique Resort & Spa | |||
| 05 | Back to the Ocean | Hotel Alto da Lua | |||
| 06 | Salty Gravel | Memmo Baleeira Resort | |||
| 07 | Obrigado! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Bem vindo a Portugal
Your trip starts at the Lisbon Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in Porto Covo
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out for your first ride, an easy loop to shake the jet lag off and get sure your bike is ready for the epic week ahead
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Atlantic Festival
We kick off our journey across the Algarve with a stunning ride heading south following the Atlantic coast, crossing small fishing villages and getting the salt in our faces, plenty of cliff photo opportunities on this day!
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
The heart of the Via Algarviana
Another beautiful stage today. If yesterday’s route was all about fishing villages and cliffs, today we are going to feel adventurous and remote. We follow the Via Algarviana official track through vast eucalyptus forests without a town in sight until we reach the road again close to the famous Formula 1 track (Autodromo do algarve). From there we alternate some beautiful little roads with nice gravel tracks to get to the thermal resort in Monchique (spa time!)
Tip: don’t forget your swimsuit, we are staying in a Thermal Resort tonight!
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
The Monchique Mountains
A magnificent loop today starting and ending at the thermal resort. After leaving the hotel we ride up to Monchique where we’ll stop for a proper espresso at the cool Velochique cyclist coffee-hub. From Monchique we descend on a perfect gravel pista through the valley of Taipas. To earn your dinner, there is a steep climb to get back to the main road before the long downhill back to our spa.
Tip: don’t miss the coffee stop at Velochique, it’s a really cool space with lots of cycling memorabilia and super-friendly staff.
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
Back to the Ocean
One of our crew’s favorite stages, riding from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. After leaving our thermal retreat (with some sadness), we start the day with the climb to the Estrada da Foia, the highest point in the area, and a wonderful 360-degree viewpoint. From the summit we join the Algarviana route again and an infinite network of perfect double-track gravel to Aljezur where we start to smell the ocean breeze and can admire the hanging cliffs and the surfers on a sunny, offshore, chest-high surf day.
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Salty Gravel
A stunning end to the trip with magnificent ocean vistas and a long stretch of perfect gravel crossing the interior between Aljezur and Sagres. A remote area with no towns or people around, and the perfect place to use your smaller cassette cog. After reaching Vila Do Bispo, we start heading towards the ocean again, passing through some idyllic beaches and the view of the southernmost point of Portugal already on the horizon. Our final destination is the beautiful surfer town of Sagres where we’ll stay in a very cool hotel by the beach for the last night!
Tip: If you’re a fan of lighthouses, we can take a little 5km detour and go check out the Cabo de Sao Vicente lighthouse, just let us know and we’ll make it happen!
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
Obrigado!
Unfortunately, your trip across the Algarve has come to an end.
Our shuttle will drop you off at Lisbon Airport.
Map & Profile
Surface Details
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Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||
|
Book this tripClosed
|
Oct 13 - 19 |
Closed |
Places Available |
USD $3,895
|
USD $700 |
USD $770 |
Book this trip |
Waiting List
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Trip Hotels
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
 Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Lisbon Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
|
Radisson Blu Hotel Lisbon |
9:00am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Lisbon Airport |
11:00 am |
Rental Bikes
Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon
Frame
Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon
Groupset
SRAM Eagle
Weight
Under 1kg (size 56)
Wheels
Roval Terra C
Chainrings
40T
Cassette
11-50t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $550
View Details
Private: Lane Rowland Gravel Portugal
A stunning "beyond tarmac" ride across Southern Portugal's Algarve region!
