Portugal Sportive Self-Guided Tour

Day 1: Lisbon (Arrival)
You will arrive individually at Lisbon Airport and make your way to Palmela; a transfer from the airport, approximately 45 minutes, can be booked at an extra cost. After checking in, you will receive a personal tour and bike briefing by a local guide, with access to a personalised navigation app, then settle into the evening at your own pace.

Day 2: Palmela – Setúbal (79 km; +1110 m)
The road will first take you to Sesimbra, where you will visit the castle and the village. A tour of the fisherman's market in the charming village will be the perfect start. Continuing along quiet secondary roads and occasional dirt tracks, the rolling hills and scenic climbs of the Arrábida Natural Park will keep you company, through cork oak forests, vineyards and coastal cliffs with panoramic views of the Atlantic, until you reach the beach of Portinho da Arrábida — the ideal place for a swim or a drink. The last stretch will bring you along coastal roads to Setúbal. If you prefer an easier day, you can skip Sesimbra village; if you want more, an optional extra mountain route adds 13 km and 250 m of ascent.

Day 3: Setúbal – Santo André (77 km; +225 m)
After breakfast, you will visit the centre of Setúbal before taking the ferry across the Sado River, home to a resident dolphin population. You will ride along the Troia Peninsula, surrounded by sand dunes, and stop for a wine tasting. The mostly flat terrain will then carry you along a 50 km stretch of white sandy beaches and rice fields, where you may spot wild egrets and storks, before you explore freshwater lagoons and the unique outdoor marble library. Scenic, easy roads will bring you to Santo André. An optional 6 km of dirt roads is available.

Day 4: Santo André – Vila Nova de Milfontes (67 km; +1240 m)
After warming up, you will reach Santiago do Cacém, a historic town with aristocratic architecture and a castle overlooking the surrounding landscape. You will visit the last operating windmill before heading toward the coastline through lush oak forests. Scenic routes framed by schist cliffs and the blue Atlantic will lead you to the fisherman's village of Porto Covo and its historic fortification, where you can stop for a swim, watch the local fish being unloaded or explore the village streets. Some dirt tracks at the end will bring you to Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Day 5: Vila Nova de Milfontes – Aljezur (80 km; +480 m)
You will set out mostly on quiet local roads and optional dirt tracks, passing dramatic coastal cliffs, hidden coves and small beaches, with stork nests along the way and the contrasts of ocean, rocks and greenery. Some sections will follow dirt tracks and paths along water channels, with asphalt roads as an alternative. You will take breaks at wild beaches and stop for coffee at Odeceixe beach, one of Portugal's 7 wonders. The stage will end in Aljezur, one of the last villages reclaimed from the Moors, with its local artist shop, gallery and museum.

Day 6: Aljezur – Sagres (64 km; +460 m)
You will start the day from the Castle of Aljezur, enjoying the view over the village and its vegetable gardens. You will spot the impressive "needle rock" in the ocean and choose between an undulating asphalt road or a dirt track through lush valleys full of life. In Carrapateira you will visit the fisherman's museum, then continue via asphalt or dirt paths to Vila do Bispo. Before reaching Cape S. Vicente, the SW point of Europe, you will enjoy beaches and small villages along dramatic cliffs. The day will end at the Fortress of Sagres, before you reach your hotel on the cliffs.

Day 7: Sagres – Lagos (46 km; +550 m)
Pedalling along the south coastline, you will see the cliffs change from black schist to orange sandstone, with calm, warm waters along the way. You may choose to pedal entirely on asphalt or follow the more scenic and challenging dirt tracks along the ocean, passing villages with cafés, restaurants and shops and the sea's natural erosion formations. Lagos, a lively cosmopolitan coastal city with charming architecture, will welcome you with its vibrant atmosphere. You will explore the downtown, the local museum and the beautiful churches, with an optional boat or kayak trip for coastal views. Lagos is a great place to consider an extra night.

Day 8: Lagos (Departure)
After breakfast, you will make your way to Lisbon Airport; a transfer from Lagos can be booked at an extra cost. You will carry home the memories of an extraordinary cycling adventure along Portugal's wild coast.