Western Algarve Guided Walking Holiday

Luz Guided Walking Holiday

With a choice of two walks each day, we provide you with flexible holidays. Choose easier walking one day and harder the next. You could even choose to explore independently or relax around the resort - it's your holiday after all!

Our walks from Luz help discover the incredible variety this compact area has to offer from beautifully varied coastline rich in birdlife, striking cliffs, beaches and boardwalks to the green, rolling hills inland around Monchique and Foia (the highest point in the Algarve), offering a great contrast to the more familiar sights of the region.

Day 1: Arrival Day

Depending on your arrival time you may have the opportunity to see Luz before your evening meal. On the first evening our leaders will explain more about our walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests.

Day 2: Burgau to Pona Piadade

Our first day of walks starts with a short coach ride to the fishing village of Burgau. This is one of the most unspoilt villages on the Algarve coast and it still retains its original charm and character. The rock strata between Burgau and Ponta Piadade are particularly varied and very colourful, from white limestone to red sandstone, with many minerals giving rise to different colours.  These different rocks support a wide variety of flora and in Spring there are impressive displays of wild flowers.  Orchids are common on the limestone sections, whilst other plants prefer the coarse sandy soils. Ponta Piedade (Point of Piety) is a truly unforgettable sea cliff ensemble.  On a calm day you can look all the way down to a perfectly transparent sea washing the dramatic rock bridges and grottoes. Very long stairways have been cut in the cliffside all the way down to sea level.  Look for the sea stack which is the nesting home of the egrets.  There is a lighthouse with its own shelter of palm trees.

Easier walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with 600ft (180m) of ascent,
Harder walk: 7 miles (11km) with 800ft (240m) of ascent.

Day 3: The ancient town of Silves

Today we travel inland to a reservoir built between 1944 and 1956. The Barragem do Arade supplies water for drinking and irrigation purposes as well as generating electricity. The harder walkers start here and follow the Via Algarviana through hills and eucalyptus forests to Silves. The easier walkers re-board the coach then return to the outskirts of Silves for their walk in the rounded hills to the north of the town. Both groups meet in the town and will have time to explore its history and enjoy a refreshing drink in the many cafes.

Easier Walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with 500ft (150m) of ascent,
Harder Walk: 7 miles (11km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent.

Day 4: Figueira to Sagres

These walks explore the coast line in the Cabo de Sau Vicente Natural Park.  Figueira, which still retains its old farming atmosphere, remains virtually unspoilt and is well known for its rich variety of wild flowers and birdlife.  We walk along cliff tops and then descend to beautiful undeveloped beaches, and return to the cliff tops once more.  Our final descent is at Martinhal Beach, where we walk along the sand and into the village of Sagres, which is the most south-westerly community in Europe.

Easier Walk: 5 miles (8km) with 500ft (150m) of ascent,
Harder Walk: 9 miles (14.5km) with 800ft (240m) of ascent.

Day 5: Free Day

Today there are no organised walks, allowing you time to explore the local area or just relax in the hotel or at the beach.

Your free day offers the chance to relax in this resort, visit Lagos by local bus and walk the town trail or take a boat trip from Luz or Lagos.

Lagos: The town is easily accessible by bus directly from outside the hotel. The town has a rich historical past.  There is a bold boulevard with marina and many shops and restaurants.  Lacobriga was the Roman name for Lagos and the Roman wall can still be seen, many parts of it original.  It became the capital of the Algarve with the Governors Palace at the headquarters of Henry’s School of Navigation.  Lagos became a key port in the slave trade from the 14th century until it was abolished in the second half of the 19th century.  Most of the city was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake but one survivor is the alter of the Chapel of St. Antony.  There are boat trips from Lagos to Ponta Piadade with its many grottos and sea cliffs to wonder at.

Day 6: Monchique

Today we head for the hills of the Serra de Monchique. The town of Monchique is set in a valley between the two highpoints of the Algarve, Foia and Picota at 997 and 773 metres respectively. Both parties start their walks in the town and head to the foothills of Picota before descending to the spa at Caldas de Monchique.  The harder walkers have the option of ascending Picota and will be rewarded by the magnificent views.

Easier Walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with 900ft (270m) of ascent and 1,700ft (510m) of descent,
Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with 1,500ft (450m) of ascent and 2,300ft (690m) of descent (The Harder walk includes an optional extra ascent).

Day 7: Carrapeteira and Pontal

Today’s walks take us through the village of Carrapatiera and to the West Atlantic coast.  We walk through spectacular coastal and country scenery.  The village is famous for its multi coloured cliffs at the Pontal headland.  There is a rich variety of coastal scenery as we head south towards the beautiful Praia do Amado (the Lovers Beach), very popular with surfers.  Both groups will meet at a restaurant overlooking the beach to enjoy a memorable lunch.  A short walk takes us back to the village and our coach.

Easier Walk: 5 miles (8km) with 400ft (120m,) of ascent,
Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent with 1,000ft (300m) of descent.

Day 8: Departure day

Please note that the itinerary outlined is provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and every evening your leaders will talk to you about the next day’s walks. 

Make the most of your European holiday by visiting two resorts. Why not visit Tavira and enjoy the laid back charm of the eastern Algarve.

To book any of our Two-Centre holidays call our Reservations Team on 0345 470 7558

Luz

Luz is believed to have been inhabited since Neolithic times, due to several ancient artefacts being discovered in the town. The Romans also settled here; there are ruins of the Roman baths in the town. Following the Romans, the Moors colonised the area, and brought with them fruit trees, which now flourish in the area. The bay of Luz also has an interesting Geology, although most of the western Algarve is limestone, Luz also had sandstone bedrock, and is bounded by the Rocha Negro, a black igneous outcrop, which shelters the bay. Today, Luz is a lively resort, with a beautiful beach and plenty of attractions including the Church of Our Lady of Light and the Roman baths.

Lagos

Also a town with a rich history, Lagos is larger than Luz, and has been settled by a variety of people, from the Romans to the Visigoths and later the Byzantines. As a result, there are plenty of churches, museums and cafes to explore. The harbour is a site of historical significance and boat trips run from here along the coast. You can reach Lagos by bus from Luz.

Cape St. Vincent

Sacrid ground for centuries, Cape St. Vincent takes its name from Vincent of Saragossa, whose bones, legend says, were laid to rest here. These were later transported to Lisbon in the 12th Century. The headland was the site of a Monastery until it was mostly destroyed by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The current lighthouse that stands on the cape was built in the 19th Century on the site of the Monastery and is powerful enough to be seen from 60km away.

Did you Know?

The Algarve is famous for its pottery and ceramics, in particular hand-painted pottery.