What to expect
Coastal Charm
Discover delightful coastal towns like Olhão
Guided Walking
Enjoy a range of escorted walks
Portugal & Spain
Experience two countries in one week
- <
- >
About this trip...
About the trip
Discover the allure and beauty of the Eastern Algarve and Southern Spain on our New Year week of excellent Solos fully guided walking. We venture through the pine forests, charming towns and nature reserves to soak up every inch of Portuguese and Spanish charm.Activity Level:
What's this?What's Included
Return flights and transfers-
Airport taxes & charges
Room for sole use
Half Board – breakfast and dinner daily-
1 x grilled fish lunch with drinks Tavira Island with drinks (meat option available)
Drinks included with evening meals-
1 x tapas lunch with drinks in Ayamonte
-
New Years Eve Gala Dinner
-
Welcome drink
5 fully guided walking days-
1 x boat tour Ria Formosa in Tavira
-
1 x ferry boat trip to Ayamonte
-
1 x ferry boat trip to Olhão
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially Protected
What's extra:
- Insurance click here
- Lunches where not included
Itinerary
- Arrive in Portugal
- Altura to Monte Gordo Walk
- Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte
- Day at leisure
- Tavira
- Castro Marim Nature Reserve
- Olhão
- Departure Day
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Portugal
After arriving at Faro airport, we transfer to our hotel - Baia de Monte Gordo in Monte Gordo.
If time allows, an introductory walk will be offered.
Meals included: Dinner
Day Two: Altura to Monte Gordo Walk
For our first walk of the week, we take the public bus to the lovely coastal town of Altura - known for its cafes, restaurants and white sandy beach. Our walk takes us along raised walkways across the sand dunes back towards Monte Gordo. Along the way, we see how the dune vegetation changes and the abundance of European beach grass and sea holly growing along the way. The beach is vast, stretching as far as the eye can see down to the calm sea.
At lunch time, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch (not included) at the Monte Gordo seafront, before returning to the hotel for a well earned rest.
- Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Walking Distance 7.5km/4.6 miles
Ascent +10m
Descent -10m
Highest Point 10m
Terrain: Board walks, good dirt roads, some short tracks with soft sand
Day Three: Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte
We begin the day with a walk through the Monte Gordo pine forest. 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. From here, we’ll take the ferry across the river to the town of Ayamonte in Spain. We’ll tour the city and enjoy a meal of traditional tapas.
After lunch, we offer the option of walking with the walking guide back to the hotel, or to stay in Vila Real de Santo Antonio and make your own return to the hotel by taxi or public bus (at own cost)
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walking Distance 5.5km & 4.9km/ 3.4 & 3.0 miles
Ascent +10m
Descent -10m
Highest Point 10m
Terrain: Good dirt and tarmac roads
Day Four: Day at Leisure
Take a well-earned rest and relax in the hotel, or take a stroll around Monte Gordo.
Day Five: Exploring Tavira
This morning, we’ll travel by train to discover Tavira, a picturesque and quaint old-Portuguese town with over 30 churches, cobbled streets, and bougainvillea-lined balconies. In the historic and charismatic old town, the castle and typical houses provide much cultural interest. The River Gilão, with its working fisherman’s riverfront, runs to the azure lagoons of the Ria Formosa.
We’ll take a boat tour along the Ria Formosa and stop at Tavira’s Island, for a grilled fish lunch, with a sea view (optional grilled meat dish, lunch with drinks included). We then take the boat back and head to the train to return to Monte Gordo.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walking Distance 5.8km/3.6miles
Ascent +34m
Descent -32m
Highest Point 25m
Terrain: Good dirt and tarmac roads. very uneven cobbled pavement in and out of Tavira historical centre.
Day Six: Castro Marim Nature Reserve
We enjoy a free morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading to the Castro Marim Nature Reserve. After lunch (not included) 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 salt pans. From the salt pans, you'll have a privileged view to the Castle, Fort, and walls of Castro Marim - one of the oldest communities in the Algarve, and an important centre of Arab power until 1242.
In the afternoon, we explore the historic town of Castro Maritim and visit the castle which was the first headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. This will give us a further insight into the historical and cultural heritage of the area. We then transfer back to the hotel.
- Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner.
Castro Marim Walking Distance 7.3km/4.5miles
Ascent +30m
Descent -23m
Highest Point 35m
Terrain: Good dirt and tarmac roads. very uneven cobbled pavement in and out of Castro Marim castle.
Day Seven: Discovering the beauty of Olhão
After breakfast, we catch the train from Monte Gordo to Olhão - a picturesque coastal town inspired by Moroccan architecture that attracts artists, writers and photographers. We have free time to discover the town and enjoy lunch (not included). The city centre has a collection of white houses with roof terraces and minarets that form a patchwork of layering cubes. The waterfront avenue near the Ria Formosa is lined with glorious tile-fronted, 19th-Century townhouses, with verandas and wrought-iron work. The highlight is the colourful atmosphere at the Municipal Market, which fulfils its traditional function by day and is the setting for lively nightlife bars.
Then it's time to discover the barrier Islands of the Ria Formosa. We’ll take a boat tour, visit and walk around one of the islands. We then return by ferry to catch the train back to Monte Gordo in time for our final evening dinner together.
- Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Walking Distance 3km/2 miles
Ascent +34m
Descent -32m
Highest Point 25m
Terrain: Good dirt and tarmac roads, very uneven cobbled pavement in and out of Olhão historical centre.
Day Eight: Departure Day
Today we check-out of our hotel and say goodbye before transferring to Faro Airport.
Accommodation
Hotel Baia de Monte Gordo Three-star
Our cosy, friendly, hotel is located near the beach and within reach of the resorts bars and restaurants, an ideal base for our week of Solos walking.
Facilities include
Facilities include restaurant, bar, small rooftop swimming pool, lounge area, Wi-Fi
Room includes
Our rooms have ensuite bathroom, desk, flat screen satellite TV, hairdryer, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and balcony
Dates & Prices
Frequently asked questions
Transfer Time
The transfer time from Faro Airport to the hotel is approximately 45 minutes, depending on weather and traffic.
Walking Schedule
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. This walking holidays is graded as Easy to Medium. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain and the length of the walks that you will be walking. Altura to Monte Gordo Walk Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte Tavira Castro Marim Nature Reserve Olhão
It is recommended to bring water & snacks for the walk. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require.
Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
What to Wear
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort. Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this.
We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
- Walking boots with good ankle support Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
Gratuities
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % add on.
Passports and visas
To enter Portugal or Madeira your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday.
All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Portugal Foreign Advice If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Health requirements
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Portugal
Currency
Euro
