Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

COUNTRY:
Portugal
LOCATION:
Algarve
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Self guided, moderate cycling holidays
DEPARTURES:
This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you (Jul & Aug are best avoided as it can be too hot) and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
PRICE:
From €620 - €708 (8 days) excluding flights
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MORE INFO:
Price includes: • 7 nights in small 3 -4 stars hotel (or equivalent) in a twin / double room with en-suite facilities & breakfast • Transfers to and from arrival point & luggage transfers • Bike rental, a cross trail bike with mixed tyres suitable for both asphalt and good dirt tracks, helmet, pump, repair kit, handlebar bag, water holder and water proof pannier bags. • route notes & maps plus information on the area
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

Travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.

How Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea makes a difference

The west Algarve coastline was designated a Natural Park to protect the unique flora which includes a large number of endemic plants; by visiting the area using designated roads and tracks you are helping to support the work of the Park officials who are under constant threat from developers.

The holiday uses small locally owned accommodation and we as a company pay a fair price for rooms, we do not seek large discounts. Many of the local people from the Monchique area and west coast have to move to the larger resorts to find employment which is having a detrimental effect on local villages & families: by using local accommodation & restaurants you can help to provide jobs & bring much needed income to the community.

Cycling is the perfect way to see an area without damaging the environment & we actively encourage all our clients to be environmentally aware. To help clients get the most out of the holiday we provide all our clients with an information sheet which includes tips and general background on lifestyle and customs of the local people.

We actively encourage our clients to be environmentally aware of all their actions and act in a proper, responsible manner at all times. Information, tips and recommendations on the life and customs of the local people are given to all clients. As much as we can our office recycles waste and we use recycled products when ever possible.

We are aware that travel in any country has some effect on the area and with this in mind we strive to lessen the impact, promote local employment through use and at all times show a positive attitude towards the environment and encourage others to appreciate its importance.

Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

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How we choose the provider of Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

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Self guided cycling holiday in the Algarve, mountains to sea

Reviewed 03 May 2012 by David Wood1 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The initial transfer from Faro Airport to Monchique was efficient as was the final transfer from Salema back to Faro Airport. The Bica Boa Inn at Monchique was the most pleasant of the pre-arranged accommodation. Being chased, while cycling on the recommended back paths between Monchique and Alferce, by sizeable aggressive dogs was of concern.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Bring a sat-nav device.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?


Not particularly, apart from the fact that cycling is obviously a green way to get around.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Being a tour operator myself, I was surprised that I was not contacted even once by the local tour operator while in Portugal. I was handed an envelope containing travel notes, directions and some maps upon arrival at Monchique by the inn proprietor. A bike, which had been delivered to the inn, on the day of my arrival, turned out the following day to be intended for me - but nobody knew this until the following morning, although I had asked about bike delivery upon arrival. (There were other travellers at the inn at the same time). This I put down to carelessness in communications and highlights the importance of a pre and post briefing by the tour operator. I found the typed route-notes and maps to be unclear and ambiguous. There isn't much point in including distances in a route-note when one doesn’t have a distance measuring device on the bike. (ie: after 4km turn left into a path) There are lots of paths. After day 1 of cycling, I then made my own routes from pre-booked place to place using Google Maps and a TomTom. Overall I felt it was too casual and pretty poor.

Read the operator's response here:

We are sorry we really did get it wrong with the bike delivery and the reviewer has every right to be crititical and for that we do apologise. The communication had been made to the person concerned but this did not get passed onto the client - we have learned a lesson. However normally the bikes are delivered once the clients arrive and we go over everything with the client - this did not happen here and I will look into why.
The route notes have been written by cyclists and our clients do not usually have a problem with them. We are considering the option of renting out sat-navs. Once again apologies that the client found the experience disappointing.
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