Algarve Holidays

See a slice of Algarve life away from the coast on a tour through unspoiled rural landscapes dotted with traditional villages. You’ll start by soaking up the cool clean air and stunning views in one of the highest parts of the Serra do Caldeirão mountains, before making for various villages known for their handicrafts. You’ll visit Querença, set on a hilltop that marks the transition between the inland barrocal zone and the mountains. It’s a picturesque spot, with steep cobbled streets lined by small whitewashed houses known for their blue-trimmed doors and windows and ornate chimneys. Your next stop is Salir, the site of a late Islamic castle that’s now a romantic ruin in a dramatic setting. The last port of call is Alte, a typical Algarve village tucked away in a valley in the Serra do Caldeirão, where you can admire quaint cottages with lattice chimneys, check out the blue-and-white-tiled church and dip your toes into spring-fed pools.

• Duration: full day
• Time 7.15am
• Departures on Wednesday from Algarve resorts except Sagres & Quinta do Lago
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Entrance fees and meals are not included.

Enjoy a skillfully curated selection of the Algarve’s natural and manmade delights on a private tour by Land Rover Jeep. This fascinating day begins at Porches Pottery, founded in 1968 by two artists - one Irish, the other Portuguese - who were determined to show that handcrafted ceramics still had a place in the modern world. Here, you’ll be able to watch its talented artisans at work, and perhaps pick up one of the workshop’s beautifully hand-decorated pieces as a stylish souvenir. From here, you’ll make your way to Benagil, Carvoeiro and Algar Seco, where you will be able to check out the amazing sea caves carved out of the limestone cliffs over the centuries. Afterwards, you’ll stroll the cobbled streets of Ferragudo, a traditional fishing village at the mouth of the Arade river. The last visit is to a winery, where you can have a guided tour and sample some of the wines produced in the region.

• Duration: Full day
• Start time: 8.45am
• Departures on Monday to Friday from Algarve resorts except Sagres & Quinta do Lago
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
This private tour doesn’t include a guide.

See a side of the Algarve that many visitors miss on a private tour with a delightfully foodie theme. Setting off in style in a Land Rover Jeep, you’ll head inland to São Brás de Alportel, a typically sleepy Algarve village of low whitewashed houses. The surrounding area is home to plantations of cork oaks, and you’ll visit a factory where the raw bark is prepared and treated for use. From here, you’ll stop off at a bakery renowned for its delicious traditional products, such as carob bread, almond cakes and honey cakes, and have a taste of carob liqueur. At the fascinating little São Brás Ethnographic Museum, you’ll be able to check out displays devoted to everything from local traditional costumes to the history of the cork industry, before heading to Salir to explore the ruins of its ancient castle. The final stop is at a large organic farm, where you’ll learn how they make their popular preserves and sample some of them.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.50am
• Departures on Monday and Friday from Algarve resorts except Sagres & Quinta do Lago
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Entrance fees and meals are not included, and nor is a guide.

Quinta dos Vales is not just one of the best wineries in the region, it’s also a cultural centre and colourful outdoor sculpture park. On this visit, you’ll be given a fascinating overview of Portugal’s wine industry, which includes a tour of the cellars. You’ll learn about the different varieties of grapes that grow here, such as Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Aragonez and Viognier, and taste some of the highly regarded still and sparkling wines that are made from them. You’ll also discover some of the 100-plus sculptures that are dotted around the estate’s 44 hectares. Most of these are designed by owner Karl Heinz Stock and realised by local craftspeople in everything from fibreglass to Alentejo marble. Look out for the delightful and eye-catching “Dance of the Bears”, a project that brought together 26 painters and mosaic artists from around the world.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 9am to 6pm
• Departs Monday to Saturday
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included. Participants must be over 18.

Explore the Algarve’s fascinating past on a full-day guided adventure to some of its most scenic places. You’ll visit the dramatically located castle at Silves, a former capital blessed with a wealth of historical architecture. From here, you’ll continue up into the Serra de Monchique to enjoy the verdant landscapes, the cool mountain air, the sense of peace and the breathtaking views from the summit of Fóia, the highest point in the Algarve. Your next port of call is Lagos, a coastal city with a rich seafaring history that’s known for its walled old town, where you’ll have time to see the glossy modern marina, the 17th-century fort and the fabulous baroque interior of Santo António church, among other highlights. The day concludes with a stop at Sagres and its unusual sea fort, and windswept Cabo de São Vicente with its tiny lighthouse, the most south-westerly point of Europe.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.15am
• Departures on Tuesday and Friday from Algarve resorts except Sagres & Quinta do Lago\ • Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Entrance fees and meals are not included.