Tour Description
This is a relaxing week holiday in the East tip of the Algarve, near the border with Spain.
You’ll enjoy a mix of gentle walks, spiced by a ferry excursion across the great river of the South, the Guadiana, for a meal of tasty tapas in Ayamonte.
Also, we’ll hop on the train to visit the historical and quaint towns of Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, and Olhão.
In Tavira and Olhão, get ready for two boat tours in the amazing Ria Formosa. A lunch with your feet on the sand, overlooking the ocean, awaits for you in the lovely Tavira Island.
A day in the Castro Marim Nature Reserve, where we’ll look for flamingos, a common site amongst the traditional saltpans.
Our base for these holidays will be Monte Gordo, a popular resort town situated on one of the finest beaches of Portugal, stretching for miles in either direction with fine sands and clear crystal waters. Last, but not least, our hotel offers exquisite spa facilities, ready to enjoy some deserved “me time”.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival
Transfer to Monte Gordo. If time allows an introductory walk will be offered.
Day 2 – Altura to Monte Gordo Walk
A gente walk in walkways along a long sandy beach and its wide line of dunes.
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.
We then return to the hotel for a free afternoon at leisure.
Day 3 – Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte
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 then take the ferry to Ayamonte, in Spain. We’ll tour around the city, soaking the atmosphere, and enjoy a meal of traditional tapas (included).
Day 4 – Free Day
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.
Day 5 – Tavira
This morning we’ll take the regional train 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.
Day 6 – Castro Marim Nature Reserve
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.
Day 7 – Olhão
After breakfast, we head to Olhão – a picturesque coastal town inspired by Moroccan architecture that attracts artists, writers, and photographers.
Now it’s time to discover the barrier Islands of the Ria Formosa. We’ll take a boat tour and visit and walk around one of the islands.
Day 8 – Departure
Insurance
You must be adequately insured to join our Guided holidays walking and Self-Guided holidays in Portugal. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday.
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