Lisbon to Faro

Itinerary

Day 1- Arrivals in Faro (morning) . Meet the Adventure Cafe team, and collect or assemble your bike. 
After a light lunch, we have a short ride to our hotel for the evening. (pprox 30km) 
Welcome dinner and event briefing with details of what you have to look forward to over the next 5 days! 

Day 2 -   We will cycle a flat route, close to the coas, to Vila Real de Sato Antonio, situated on the banks of the Guadiana River forming a natural border between Portugal and Spain for morning coffee.
Following our coffee break, have the oppurtunity to test our climbing legs, as we head inland into the hills. After a well earned lunch at the high point of the day's ride, it's descent most of the way to the hotel for the night, in Almodovar. (ride distance 130km, +2000m/-1750)

Day 3  - From Almodovar we will stay high with some gentle climbs, exploring the lovely villages in the plains. After a lunch stop in one of these, we will tackle the big climb to the finish - and our hotel - in the town of Monchique.(Ride distance 110km, +1300m/-1150m)  There will be the option of a shorter route today, for those wishing for a more relaxed day. 

Day 4  - It's all downhill today! Descending from Monchique, we'll head towards the dramatic Atlantic West coast, and ride to Cape St Vincent (most South-Westerly point in Europe) for lunch. We will then have a flat ride along the coast  onto overnight stop in Lagos
(Ride Distance 120km, +1100m, -1600m)

Day 5  - A final ride, via São Bartolomeu de Messines for lunch, and a last chance to take in the scenery and soak up the sunshine before descending back to the coast and to Faro. Return of hire bikes and a last night meal to wrap up this fantastic cycling break to remember! 
(Ride distance 115km, +1200/-1200m) 

Day 6 -   Return flights 

Accommodation

We'll be staying in comfortable, good quality hotels with breakfasts included each day. trips are priced on a twin share basis, though single supplement can always be arranged.

What is a Level 3.5 Cycling Challenge Like?

These challenge rides are either longer, with more ascent, or span several days. In the case of single day events, you can expect up to 10 hours cycling. In the case of a multi day ride, you can expect lower daily durations - but of course - the effort is sustained over a longer period. You need to be a keen cyclist for these events, and to enjoy training, and to ride regularly. If the ride is outside the EU, it is likely to be easier in terms of the physical riding, however, you will need to be more resilient - due to more basic living conditions (in the case of Asia / Africa especially)

How Fit Do I need to be to join a Level 3.5 ‘Bike Ride’?

You need to have good endurance for these events. You must be used to doing long rides in the countryside - 6 hours + . You should be doing regular exercise - with some serious cycle training. Your typical comfortable cycling speed will be at least 22-24 km/hr, and you should be able to cycle at high speed for up to 1 hour or 25 km. You may also be concentrating on other types of exercise - but for longer periods of time (ie sessions in excess of 1.5 hrs.) - however cycling is the best preparation (obviously!)

Included In Trip

5 nights accomodation with breakfast

5 days supported cycling on our pre planned routes

Experienced ride leaders

Support vechile with first aid and mechanical support

Water and snack provision on the rides

Luggage transfer 

Pre-event support, travel/kit/bike advice and training plan

Excluded From Trip

Flights to Faro 

Cafe lunches and evening meals 

Bike rental

Travel insurance

Equipment Required

Kit lists specific to your trip dates and location will be issued upon enquiry...below is our guide advice to give an idea of what you should bring on a multi--day ride in Europe

Bike Items
Road Bike / Hybrid Bike (with puncture resistant tyres) - please call us for guidance on type of bike on a trip by trip basis
2 X Water Bottles (bladder system/cycle water bottles)
Cycling Gloves, Bike Lock, Neck Scarf, Inner Tubes*, Multi-Tool (with allen keys)*
Day Bag for support vehicle, Small Holdall (for overnight gear)
Bike Lights (front and rear, head torch can be worn)
Saddle Bag (recommended - can be used to carry asterisk* items)
Puncture Repair Kit*, Spare parts for your bike (specialist parts and spokes), Pump (suitable for your valve type)

Helmet (compulsory)
Personal Medikit  Suncream, Plasters, Vaseline, Painkillers, Sunbloc, Insect Repellant

Washkit

Warm Clothing Medium Weight Softshell, Long sleeve Jersey / insulating layer Lightweight Gloves.

Cycle  Clothing
Padded Lycra Cycling Shorts, Cotton Shorts, or Long Cycling Trousers (Tights/Tracksuit Bottoms)
Short Sleeve Cycling T-Shirts (wicking type material) or Cycle Top with rear pockets
Cycling Shoes (approach shoes or sturdy traners suitable), 

Spare Shoes/Sandals for after ride

Casual Evening Wear - tracksuits, jeans, T shirts, fleece ...

Waterproof Clothing
1 Outer Fully Waterproof Jacket (gore-tex, e-vent) - comfortable to cycle in

Other
Travel Documents, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Credit Cards, Cash, Local Currency, Mobile Phone, chargers, EU plug adaptor, Sunglasses
Snacks for Cycling Days (dried fruits, nuts, flapjacks, cereal bars etc)
Travel insurance (not included), Passport

Important
Make sure you do not ‘over pack’ - bring only what is essential for the trip. It is advisable to check that your travel insurance covers the value of any expensive items of kit that you chose to bring along with you. 

A final kit list will be provided in your ‘Final Joining Instructions’ pre-departure

Weather

The Algarve has the best weather in Portugal and is one of the sunniest places in Europe and is protected from the Altantic winds by mountains to the north and west, meaning it’s generally warmer and drier than the rest of Portugal. The average high daytime temperature in March can be expected to be in the high teens/low twenties, though it can be cooler in the evenings and early mornings, especially when we are up in the hills.

Optional Extras

Bike Hire

Single Room Supplement

Notes on Cycling Events

This is our standard range of Cycling Challenges in the UK, Europe and further afield. However, we offer completely tailormade itineraries to your specification. Call us to discuss! Please note that for overseas point to point cycling challenges we can transport soft cases for bike transport - but not hard cases, due to space limitations on board our support vehicles. On all our cycling events, please pack sensibly and bring a reasonably sized soft holdall type bag. To participate in an overseas Adventure Cafe challenge - you must carry Travel Insurance (to be for the activity you are participating in, and to include repatriation to the UK). Please also note that you should have a good level of cycling experience and be competent to handle your bike. We ride on roads shared with other vehicles - and you need to be able to deal with this safely.

Adventure Cafe Booking Terms and Conditions

To Reserve Your Space on this Challenge