Self-guided motorcycle tour along the Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve is known for its special coastline with impressive cliffs and beautiful wide beaches. With its diverse natural beauty, the region is a rewarding vacation destination. The Algarve is characterized by an indescribable diversity and strong contrasts: untouched natural landscapes, traditional fishing villages and exciting vacation resorts for party-hungry holidaymakers.

Day 1: After arriving the day before, rest a little and get used to the mild climate. If you have rented a motorcycle (please do this in good time before your trip), you will have enough time to pick it up in the morning. You start the first tour from your base hotel in the afternoon at 2 pm. You will ride a shorter tour on which you will get a first impression of the winding hinterland. The way back takes you along the coast to the (old) end of the world in Sagres, the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe. A little further on, at a pretty restaurant right on the beach, you can enjoy culinary delights and round off the day. If you feel like it, you can also take your first dip in the Atlantic here. The walk back to the base hotel only takes 30 minutes.

Day 2: The hinterland of the Algarve has a lot to offer and so you explore it extensively. The landscape changes completely here and the roads are usually super empty. Don't miss out on a visit to the highest peak in the Algarve, the 902-metre-high Monte Fóia, and admire the fantastic panorama from its back.

Day 3: You ride to the Rio Guadiana on the Spanish border. After a few kilometers along its banks, you turn off to Dragon Lake, where you take a well-deserved lunch break. Today's tour is quite long at 400 km. There is therefore the option of a 100 km shorter route.

Day 4: In the morning, take a shorter tour to the beaches not far from Lagos, which are lined up like pearls on a string. A beach is a beach? Not in the Algarve! There's the beach with the red cliffs, the one with the sand dunes, one with black cliffs and even one with a river. Which one do you personally like best?

The afternoon is free. Maybe for...

• A visit to the Ponta da Piedade rock formation near Faro and a boat trip to the caves (take a boat directly at the bottom of the stairs; the small boats go closer to the caves)
• A visit to Lagos Zoo
• A visit to the small town of Tavira with its castle and the Ilha de Tavira

Day 5: Your route takes you right into the heart of Portuguese culture and the vibrant life of the market in Loulé, before the following kilometers take you back into seclusion.

Day 6: Another wonderfully winding tour through the hinterland with a magnificent finish on the coast shows you once again how diverse the landscapes of the Algarve are. End the day at our insider tip.

Day 7: The roads around Monchique are some of the most winding in the Algarve - today they are all yours. A worthy end to a fantastic experience. If you have hired a motorcycle, you have the option of returning it later in the afternoon.

Tips on sights and activities for your days off:

• Visit the only thermal spa in the Algarve and in the south of Portugal in Monchique - pure relaxation in the thermal baths; the alkaline water, rich in fluorine and bicarbonate, contributes to relaxation and well-being in a special and exclusive way.
• Sea safari with dolphin watching directly from the port of Lagos
• Swimming on one of the countless beautiful beaches along Lagos, which we got to know the day before
• Guided day tour through Silves and Monchique with wine tasting (external offer)
• Off-road tour to Sagres and the West Coast National Park on four wheels (external offer, Sagres Discovery)

Insider tip restaurant 'o Paulo', near Aljezur directly by the sea (day 6): http://restauranteopaulo.com