Portugal Top to Bottom Challenge

Since its launch in 2014 our ‘end-to-end’ of Portugal had proved to be one of our most popular trips, attracting universally positive feedback. For those who are looking for an even bigger challenge with high daily mileages this new version with 6.5 days of riding is for you.

Best known as a resort/golfing destination, Portugal offers some outstanding cycling and the promise of sunshine. This trip starts on the Spanish border in Valenca and ends on the Algarve coast just east of Faro. As well as being an ‘end-to-end’ you can also bag a ‘side-to-side’ as the route touches Portugal’s western and eastern borders.

We love cycling in the sunshine and we love bagging ‘end-to-ends’ so this trip ticks all the boxes. As the icing on the cake it also counts as a ‘side to side’. With 9 hours of sunshine, temperatures in the 20’s and little rainfall, Portugal offers superb cycling conditions in the spring and autumn. It also offers convenient international airports (in Porto and Faro).

We start at the magnificent fort in Valence, with views over the river to Spain, a perfect back-drop for the start of trip photos! The day is starts in the spectacular hills of Northern Portugal, before striking the coast and following coastal paths, where we remain for the second day.

We then slowly work our way down and across the country, finally reaching the Spanish border in the northern Algarve. Riding conditions get progressively easier as the country flattens but the scenery is always great!

Our final ‘day’ is really a short half day as we strike the Algarve’s southern coast and then follow cycle trails as far as Olhao, just a few miles from Faro and its airport. There will be plenty of time to pack away the bike and take advantage of the 5* hotel’s facilities before a celebratory drink or two.

Portugal relies heavily on tourism and has a superb hotel infrastructure which we fully exploit. Accommodation is 3/4* throughout with many hotels offering pools and/or other leisure facilities.

We cover between 70 and 90 miles each day including some hilly days and this trip is for physically fit cyclists who train regularly.