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Algarve Motorcycling Holiday - A Guided Motorcycle Tour

Algarve, Portugal

5 star hotel dinner, bed and breakfast

An outstanding 5 day, 4 night break with 4 days riding for those who want to escape the worst of the British winter and have some fun in the Portuguese sun.
On this guided tour you will ride some of the best motorcycle routes starting from Algarve
Available tour dates:
Tour 122/214 begins Tuesday 04 February 2025 and ends Saturday 08 February 2025

Contact us to discuss your bespoke tour requirements.
Provisionally Book This Tour Ask for more details about this Tour Learn about our group discounts

The weather in the Algarve region of Portugal is mild in mid-winter, this tour visits in February when the average daily temperatures around 13 cent. (55 far), high's reaching 20 degrees and low's highly unlikely to be below 7 cent and that will be overnight. Rain is generally light with about 25mm spread over around 5 days of the whole month. This climate and the quiet roads makes it ideal for winter riding.

Participants are recommended to fly into Faro from where bikes will be waiting for us close to the airport. We pack the panniers, leave our cases in storage and make our way to the a small luxury hotel at Estoi just10km from Faro. From this base we shall tour the Algarve, the southern most part of Portugal.

As many riders will not have ridden over the winter and there are only about 6 hours of sunlight in February daily distances are generally lower than we typically ride. The maximum time in the saddle will be under 5 hours. We usually ride 45 to 90 minutes between each stop. The roads we have lined up offer a broad range from tight twistys to long straights but all provide interesting places to stop, great views and being off season relatively traffic free roads.

We have packed a lot into this short tour with routes planned for four days riding though some might prefer to take a day off to do their own thing, laze around, play golf etc., on the final morning we ride back to the airport, return the bikes, collect and pack our cases then fly home.

Look at this itinerary and discover some of the most interesting motorcycle routes in portugal

Day 1 - Faro circuit 1 ~ 175km / 110 miles ~ 3.5 hours riding

Loule Municipal MarketA short Taxi ride to the hotel to drop off bags, change into riding gear then off to collect our bikes. Leaving luggage at the hotel means no panniers will be needed making the occasional traffic filtering a tad easier.

We begin our circuit heading to the coast at Olhao a charming fishing port with prominent red brick markets on the waterfront, one for fish and the other fruit and vegetables, then on to Fuseta another fishing town which sits behind a low barrier island and continuing we reach Taveria, a small town with over 30 churches! We stop at each for photographs before pressing on because from hear we head north on a great twisty road, the N397 that climbs into the hills passing several villages on our way to our first refreshment break at Cachopo.

Turning to the south west we join another twisty road, the N124, and a few minor rural roads where the surface can be a little irregular, broken at times and with the occasional pot hole, so the pace will be a little slower but still fun to ride as we make our way to Alte, a village on a steep hill with another of those pretty white washed churches and houses. Alte is renowned as one of the most typical and unspoilt villages in the Algarve region and features fresh water springs. We take another photo stop here then onwards to Loule to visit the castle and the Market. The Castle is of Roman origin although the oldest parts of what can be seen today date from the early 1400’s and it is a protected building. The market will probably be closed by the time we arrive, it makes a better early morning stop. It is an interesting mix of Arabian and Art Nouveau styles and is over a century old. It won the Prize Turismo de Portugal in 2007 and within you will find a diverse range of goods and produce.

View Route Guide (indicative only, actual may differ)

Day 2 - Faro circuit 2 ~ 330km / 210 miles ~ 6 hours riding

Looking down on Mertola from the Castle The day begins with a ride partially along the N2 then we deviate into the hills through farmland and passed many hamlets as we go towards Barragem do Arimbo where you think we have run out of road, then we cross a farm track that brings us to the other side of the hill and another paved road, Caminho do Javali, that leads to the N2/N124 junction. We take a brief stop before joining the N124 and later the EM507 that us to Mertola where we stop for lunch close to the Castle that dominates the skyline of this small town. Mertola was once an independent state before being conquered by Seville about a millennium ago. The 30-meter tower at the castle dates from 1292.

After lunch we continue our route north to Beja via Serpa. There is a lot of history in and around Beja. On the bank of a river a little to the east are the ruins of a Roman villa that is one of the largest ever excavated having over 40 rooms and the nearby baths are one of the best examples of Roman baths ever uncovered. In the summer the route to Beja and surrounding area is covered in wheat fields but in the early months of the year the seeds will be sewn but little growth occurred giving clear views across much of the landscape. The area is steeped in Moorish history and the castle, although of Roman origin with 14th century additions which are characteristic of Portuguese fortifications has the tallest castle tower in Portugal

On our return journey we deviate from the usual twisty roads taking some straighter lines across the Campo Branco (white plains) as we make our way south to Castro Verde. This region was populated by Neanderthals around 200,000 years ago. This is where we join the N2 that will bring us all the way back to the hotel.

View Route Guide (indicative only, actual may differ)

Day 3 - Faro circuit 3 ~ 225km / 140 miles ~ 4.5 hours riding

Silves CastleHeading into the hills and then westerly through lightly wooded countryside. You will note large chunks of bark stripped from the trees around this countryside. This is for cork production. The route brings us to Silves where we take a look at the ancient castle. There has been a fortress here since Lusitanian times. The Romans then occupied the site and later Umayyad Caliphate before being conquered by the Moors. Much of what you see today dates from the Moorish occupation during the 12th and 13th century. We stop to view the castle and catch a light refreshment before progressing.

We now take a loop to the north that will return us to Silves, so, anyone wanting a day with less riding could meet us back in Silves in about 90 minutes. The rest will head north to São Marcos da Serra. The square beside the church sits on a platform that affords a nice view across the valley. We continue to Nave Redonda where we might consider stopping for lunch, it will depend how long was take at the castle.

This brings us to the N266 another great twisty road that shall lead us to Portimao where we join the N124 back to Silves.

An alternative route back to Faro is used to offer variety over the day, a bit straighter than the morning, far enough away from the beachfront resorts so not to get caught in the traffic yet close enough to catch occasional glimpses of the sea.

View Route Guide (indicative only, actual may differ)

Day 4 - Faro circuit 4 ~ 175km / 110 miles ~ 4 hours riding

Row of cottages in Ameixal We begin with a run to the north on the N2, a favourite road with local bikers and will depart this road at Ameixal, a small village with pretty whitewashed cottages, to join quitter backroads as we meander west then south to arrive at Salir a small town with pretty church, ruined castle and a water tower that commands great views across the surrounding country. We shall take a short refreshment break in Salir before continuing our journey.

For much of the day we shall be riding through farmland and the roads at times will be unsurfaced. These dirt and gravel tracks and generally well compacted and easy to ride but can prove a challenge for those who have never ridden anything remotely off-road before. The picture "near California" above shows the road type. These roads are also good to help build skills riding across loose surface. By the time we break for lunch at Benafim you will be back on well surfaced roads.

Our route back to the hotel takes us to the marina at Vilamoura, much of which may be closed in February, but it still makes a pleasant stop before heading east back towards Faro where we shall return the bikes and head back to our hotel for our final dinner, bed and breakfast before flying home the following day.

View Route Guide (indicative only, actual may differ)

Route Variation

Please note that maps are indicative because it is not always possible to enter all the waypoints and on the day of departure as we need to review our routes based upon the latest traffic and weather information available making changes as and when necessary.

Currency €

The default currency for this tour is €. Any price given in another currency is indicative and will be checked against exchange rate when paying. Once your tour package has been paid in full the price is locked and will not adjust regardless of what happens to exchange rates.

Algarve Motorcycling Holiday from 04/02/25 until 08/02/25

Location: Algarve
Accommodation: 5 star hotel dinner, bed and breakfast
Tour begins Tuesday 04 February 2025 and ends Saturday 08 February 2025
Additional dates and tour variations available for groups.
Motorcycle Hire Available: €430
Rider in private room (with en-suite): €1,200
Rider and Pillion/Guest (sharing double or twin room): €1,520
Two Riders sharing twin or double room: €1,780 ( €890 each)
Rent a motorcycle from our range or bikes listed below.

Ask for more details about this Tour Provisionally Book This Tour Learn about our group discounts

Motorcycles For Rent in Algarve, Portugal, Available on this Tour

Most motorcycles available for hire are obtained directly from local mainstream dealers and are subject to change especially if the tour listed was last run in previous years. We can source others to ensure most riders needs are accommodated. However, apart from our own fleet we do not have exclusive access to third party rental motorbikes and so models, availability and prices must be confirmed. Prices and terms are set by the dealers who supply the machines and they are liable to update them regularly.

BMW G310GS Rent BMW G310GS

BMW's budget priced entry level adventure bike. 313cc, 34BHP, 175KG. Ideal for those with a restricted license.

Restrictions: Minimum 21 years old. 1 years old "A/A2" Driving License.

Daily Hire: Euro €68

BMW F700GS / F750GS Rent BMW F700GS / F750GS

Entry level Adventure style bike with 75HP 798cc engine

Restrictions: Minimum 25 years old. 3 years exp an appropriate Driving License

Daily Hire: Euro €99

BMW R1200RT / R1250RT Rent BMW R1200RT / R1250RT

The most accomplished touring motorcycle for many years and it remains the bike of choice for long distance touring.

Restrictions: Minimum 28 years old. 3 years exp an appropriate Driving License

Daily Hire: Euro €147

BMW R1300GS / R1250GS Rent BMW R1300GS / R1250GS

There is no better Enduro bike. BMW created this class with the R 80 GS over 30 years ago and it's gone from strength to strength ever since.

Restrictions: Minimum 28 years old. 3 years exp an appropriate Driving License

Daily Hire: Euro €147

Other makes and models of motorcycle may be available for hire on special request, so, if you have a preferred ride just ask and we shall see what can be arranged.

Further details

Parties interested in this tour should get in touch now to intimate interest via our Enquiries Form or email hi@mctours.eu or phone +44(0)141 416 0230