Name: Portugal’s Wild Atlantic Coast-The Rota Vicentina Way
Brand: Secret Hills Walking Holidays
SKU: 1
Price: 1980 GBP
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This seven-night holiday in the sun – walking the Rota Vicentina along the wild Atlantic coast of the Western Algarve – is led by local guides from our partner business, WALK INN, and supported by a UK tour guide. It showcases the very best of this magnificent coastline.

If you have a penchant for dramatic cliffs and awe-inspiring ocean scenery with secluded sandy bays, are fascinated by gangly storks nesting on sea stacks, then begin to dream. If you are to walk around 20 km per day, and appreciate fresh fish and charming guesthouses and hotels – not forgetting ancient oak forests, brilliant carpets of wildflowers, sweet oranges, Don’t forget mouth-watering traditional Portuguese cuisine, and inimitable custard tarts – then the Rota Vicentina is definitely for you. Rest assured, it will quickly become one of your favourite treks.

Much of our walking follows one of Europe’s grandest hikes: the Rota Vicentina, a 400-mile-long trail along the western Atlantic coast. We follow this trail for most of our coastal walking. Sometimes known as the Fisherman’s Trail, it offers some of the finest coastal scenery in Europe.

Walking is moderate, with some ascents and descents – it is a rugged coast after all – so you should have a good level of walking fitness. We walk for six days.

You buy your own flights and evening meals at local restaurants each night, giving you complete freedom of choice.

We pride ourselves on creating a sociable atmosphere, so join us on this active holiday where we meet as strangers and depart as friends.

We organise everything for you, from the moment your flight lands until you arrive back at the airport.

Walking along Portugal’s wild Atlantic coast is simply stunning, with an incredible variety of scenery in every direction.

Our guided walking holiday for solo travellers introduces you to the very best walking in this beautiful landscape.

The price shown here excludes flights, and there is no sole occupancy supplement.

We specialise in offering guided walking holidays for solo travellers and singles in beautiful locations across the UK and Europe. Guided walking holidays for solos and singles are our unique speciality, unlike many other walking holiday companies. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.

What's Included

Refund guarantee
Portugal's Wild Atlantic Coast
Buy your own Flights
Expert Tour Guides
No sole occupancy supplement - the price shown on this web site is the price you pay

The price shown here excludes flights – no sole occupancy supplement

We specialise in offering guided walking holidays for solos and singles in beautiful locations in both the UK and Europe. Solos and Singles Guided Walking is our unique speciality – unlike other walking holiday companies. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.

What you get on a Secret Hills Solos Guided Walking Holiday

You buy your own flights- we can assist with up to date information.
Choose from your local airport to fly to Faro.
Transfer from airport to our first hotel and return transport back to Faro airport
Bed and breakfast accommodation. Sole occupancy rooms
Dinner, at your cost, at local restaurants
Guided walking- local Algarve expert- 6 guided walks
Any transport needed on the walks
Transfer between hotels
Picnic lunches
The services of a Secret Hills tour guide
Return transfers to the airport on the last day
No single supplement
Individual attention
Our administration and management service
Sole occupancy as standard

What’s not included

Dinner
Entries to museums
Any drinks you have in the hotel and out on the walks

Additional days

We can arrange extra days at the end of your holiday/ coming out earlier. There will be a transfer from airport supplement payment should you add extra days- but of course you can arrange your own.

Holiday Highlights

superb locations in the sun drenched Algarve- far away from the madding crowd on the more touristy beach lovers coastal area- experience the wild Atlantic coast
walking in beautiful scenery- a well maintained footpath network on the Rota Vicentina
lovely villages to explore
Super hotels along the way.
Lovely local restaurants to enjoy both a convivial evening and good food.
Our friendly tour guides to help you enjoy this area
small groups
our administration support

Hotel and Meals

Accommodation

We stay in three hotels with the last night in the Algarve’s capital Faro

For the first three nights we stay at https://www.vicentinahotel.com/en/

The Vicentina Hotel is located in the heart of Costa Vicentina, Aljezur, within the Natural Park of the Alentejo Southwest and Vicentina Coast.
A warm, family friendly and personalized atmosphere combined with the hospitality and quality welcoming place that will offer you a memorable stay and experience.

Services to enjoy
• Restaurant & Bar/Laundry/Daily Cleaning Service/ Outdoor Pool/Elevator/Lift/Full internet provision

Aljezur is a peaceful town on the Algarve’s dramatic west coast, surrounded by the raw beauty of the Costa Vicentina Natural Park. Known for its surf beaches, historic ruins, and laid-back charm, it offers a quieter, more natural side of the region

For nights 4 to 6 we stay at https://www.maretaview.com/

Located in the centre of Sagres. Mareta View is an independently owned Boutique hotel with magnificent sea views. WIFI throughout, modern en suite bedrooms

For night 7 we stay in Faro at Hotel Eva Sense 4*

Bedrooms are equipped with free Wifi, a safe, hairdryer, air conditioning, a fridge and LCD television.. Each room has a small balcony.
The hotel has a well appointed bar and a good restaurant.
Indoor Pool
A new indoor pool is now available, featuring water jets and a jacuzzi. In addition to this new facility, you will also find a sauna and sensory shower.

Breakfast in all the above hotels is self service with a good variety of fruit/yoghurts/cereals/cheese/ham/salami. Many breads and baguettes/ croissants. Hot dishs each day will vary but will be a variety of eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, beans and hashbrowns. Cereals and porridge is available.
Coffee and tea stations.
Dinner
This holiday is priced for bed and breakfast. We will use the many and varied restaurants in all three towns we stay at– a few minutes walk away, where you can choose your own dinner options. Prices are very reasonable with 20 euro’s a standard main course price.
Fish is a speciality in the Algarve, such a wide variety is available- and the locals know how to cook it well.
Local Portuguese wine is superb and also reasonably priced

Itinerary

Our local partners WALK INN- A WORLD WIDE DESTINATION BUSINESS

Secret Hills Walking Holidays partners with local guiding businesses to ensure the effective and professional management of holidays in a range of countries. WALK INN have designed this holiday with us, and will manage and lead it throughout.

WALK INN are our holiday partners in Portugal’s Algarve region. Their knowledge of the Rota Vicentina trek makes this a truly enjoyable experience.

Our Itinerary

Walks will either start directly from the hotel, or require a short transfer to the start (included). We use local guides from WALK INN supported by our UK tour guide to manage the varied walks. We will be at Faro airport to meet and greet you and settle you into your first hotel.

Some days we will need to take packed lunches, others we can get lunch at a local cafe. Your guide will advise you locally the day before each walk.

Each day we have a short transfer to the walks start.We walk from 10am to about 4.00pm,

This programme is designed and will be delivered by WALK INN, in collaboration with Secret Hills Walking Principal Alan Garner

DAY 1 – Arrival in Faro and transfer to Aljezur

Arrival and welcome at Faro airport by your guide. Transfer (1h30) to Aljezur on the West coast.

Night : Aljezur – Hotel Vicentina 4*

DAY 2 – From Aljezur to Monte Clerigo

The Moorish castle offers a beautiful morning view of the small town of Aljezur and the Amoreira valley. Then through the valleys and hills, you reach the small port and surf spot of Arrifana before the spectacular point of Atalaïa. The ruins of an ancient Sufi place of worship add a mystical touch to the natural beauty of the place. The hike ends in the lovely, small village of Monte Clerigo with its beautiful beach. Transfer back to Aljezur (20 min).

Walk: 5h30, 20 km – 12,4 miles, +/- 380m

Night: Aljezur – Hotel Vicentina 4*

DAY 3 – From Odeceixe to Aljezur

Transfer (30 min) to Odeceixe. The village’s narrow street lead to a « levada », an irrigation channel used for agricultural purposes. This particular region is famous for sweet potato, cereal and vines. A walk through a beautiful pine forest leads to the stunning Amoreira beach, the trail then continues through the hills towards Aljezur, the capital of the Vicentine coast, with its narrow streets and medieval castle.

Walk: 5h30, 22km – 13,7 miles, +/-240m

Night: Aljezur – Hotel Vicentina 4*

DAY 4 – From Bordeira to Carrapateira

Transfer (30 min.) to the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, which is home to about 1000 plant species, a real refuge of biodiversity. In the shade of the umbrella pines, we reach the beach of Bordeira and its dune ridge, then walk along the spectacular cliffs of this wild and steep coastline to the small village of Carrapateira. The café terraces bring together local fishermen and international surfers in a relaxed atmosphere. Transfer (30 min.) back to Sagres.

Walk: 4h30, 16km, 10 miles, +/-200m

Night: Night in Sagres – Mareta View B&B

DAY 5 – Saint Vincent Cape

Transfer (15 min.) to Vila do Bispo, a barnacle fishing village. This walk takes you through wild heathlands, home to aromatic herbs, and along the multicoloured cliffs to the « promontorium sacrum » the southwestern most point in Portugal to Cap Saint-Vincent. You are on the edge of the world!

During the migrating season, hundreds of birds swarm the skies and each year a bird watching festival takes place in this area. You can walk (or go by transfer) to Sagres fortress, an important maritime monument where a huge wind rose bears witness to the great scientific navigational research of the 15th Century, encouraged and financed by Henri Le Navigateur, Prince of Portugal.

Walk: between 4 and 5h, 15 or 20km, 9,3 or 12,4 miles, +150/-250m

Night: Night in Sagres – Mareta View B&B

DAY 6 – From Sagres to Figueiras

From the port of Baleeira, this coastal hike allows you to discover the secret coves and beaches nestled in the limestone cliffs of the southern coast of the Algarve, in a more Mediterranean atmosphere. Fig, almond and olive trees bear witness to the challenges of agriculture and irrigation, initiated in this region by the Romans and then perfected by the Moors. There are many swimming opportunities on the small, protected beaches of Barranco, Ingrina or Zavial, Return transfer (20 min.) to Sagres.

Walk: 4h30, 16km, 10 miles, +/-300m

Night: Night in Sagres – Mareta View B&B

DAY 7 – From Burgau to Lagos

Transfer (30 min.) to the beautiful coastal village of Burgau. The route follows the coastline built against erosion, passing by inviting beaches and coves all the way to the village of Luz, which means “light”. Coastal paths or footbridges lead to Ponta da Piedade, famous for its ochre cliffs, spectacular arches and caves, close to Lagos, the city that sent the first caravels to discover new continents in the fifteenth century. Guided tour of this beautiful white city, its pedestrian streets, its shady squares and its monuments before a transfer (1h) to Faro.

Walk: 4h30, 16km, 10 miles, +/-380m

Night: Faro – Hotel Eva Sense 4*

DAY 8 – End of the trip

Free time in Faro (if time allows) before your transfer to the airport.

The weather

Should be nice and sunny – up to 24 degrees, and about 15 degrees at night.

WALK INN – see Walk Inn – destination specialist in walking & cycling tours

Portugal office

R. João Vaz Corte Real 100 8800,
Tavira
PORTUGAL

Flights and Transfers

You purchase your own flights for this holiday.

The price you pay to Secret Hills Walking Holidays is a land only price.

Flights are from most UK regional airports to Faro

When you reserve your flight, our policy is to enable you to fly from your local airport, wherever possible.

This means that clients will arrive at the destination airport at different times and we will arrange the onward transfers to the hotel, and return you to the airport at the end of the holidays.

We prefer clients to arrive at Faro for a 1 .00pm transfer. If you choose a flight that is later or earlier- then we may need to levy an extra transfer charge.

First transfer time is around 90 minutes.

In the return flight – we will provide a transfer at around 10am – to link with most UK return flights- however our last night in Faro is close to the airport – a 12 euros taxi ride, so if you wish on your own initiatie to spend the day in Faro and take a later flight – you provide your own taxi transfer.

Grades and Difficulty

Grade of walking

This holiday walking programme is designed for good competent walkers on a mixture of terrains. We walk between 7 and 9 miles a day and potentially average around 250 metres ascent/ descent. Ascents are taken slowly to allow plenty time to absorb the magnificent environment around you.
The walks on this trip are moderate suitable for competent walkers with experience of walking for five days on good paths – 5 – 6 hours walking per day.
The holiday requires a reasonable amount of fitness, ideally with some previous walking experience in similar conditions.
Underfoot conditions are generally good and we walk on mature paths and tracks. Some tracks my be stony underfoot and on the coast the paths may rise and fall steeply for short distances.
Walking poles recommended on this tour.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.

Great Reasons to Join us

There are other walking holiday companies that cover Europe but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….

We specialise in organising guided walking holidays for solos and singles.
We are a small friendly company
We have a loyal customer base who return again and again (so we must be doing something right) – read our testimonials page on the website
We offer a lot of flexibility – you can stay extra nights which we are happy to organise for you. We are also very flexible on the walks we provide, adapting to suit walkers and weather conditions
Our walk leading is second to none. Unlike some other large Walking Companies, we use LOCAL leaders who live in the area and who love their surroundings. They have expert knowledge of everything you need to know to make an area come alive.
You are safe in our hands – our guides are experts, fully qualified in first aid. Also, because of their local knowledge of the hills, they can respond to any situation that might for example demand cutting short a route. They don’t need to consult maps – they know the hills intimately.
Our leaders are all easy-going, genuinely sociable people who want to ensure that you have the best time you can with the rest of the group. They make the weekend fun by engaging with all members of a group, and ensuring that everyone feels part of the group experience.
We give great value for money. Because we recognise that lots of walkers holiday on their own, we have negotiated no single supplement deals with all our hotels to ensure the best possible deal.
We always use good hotels, selected and constantly reviewed.
We have smaller groups than some of the larger walking companies because we believe the social experience is much better in a smaller group. People can talk to everyone, especially at dinner where you can all sit at one table in a small group. Our numbers vary from holiday to holiday but an average group size would be 8-12.

How to Book

How to book your holiday

You may book and pay online.

The easy way to book your Secret Hills Walking holiday – everything is on line.
If you are a current customer, then you will be able to log on to the website, then choose your holiday. Then fill in the reservation form in full.
If you are new customer, register on our website with a chosen user name and password as a new user, then follow the process as above.
Payment is in two parts – you pay a deposit of 25%, payable when reserving your holiday place. You will receive an invoice for the holiday showing the deposit paid, and full amount to pay for the holiday. This acts as your confirmation.
The balance is due 8 weeks prior to the holiday start date. You will be sent a reminder.
About three weeks prior to departure, we will send you holiday joining details, and details of the transfer from the airport to the appointed hotel we have arranged for you.
Once you arrive at your holiday destination
Secret Hills Walking Holidays organise all aspects of your holiday– including guiding, transport to walks start and provide you with an experienced tour guide. You make your own arrangements to get to the airport in the UK, we meet you at the airport you are flying to, and help you with your transfer to the appointed hotel.
It is important to read Secret Hills Walking Holidays Terms and Conditions – click on the tab on our web site – before you complete the booking form.

Insurance – you need to be fully covered

It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you must be fully insured against travel, medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services where appropriate).
We will ask you to provide us with the details of your insurance prior to the holidays start date and it is a condition of reserving a place.
If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is available only online from the UK Government website.
This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate travel insurance.

Location

A FABULOUS SEASCAPE AND LANDSCAPE

The wild Atlantic Coast, west of Lagos, as far as Lisbon, remains one of the least spoiled parts of the Algarve and mainland Portugal, largely thanks to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina which prohibits large-scale building on the coastline west of Burgau. As a result, the resorts – certainly west of Luz at Burgau and Salema – remain largely low-rise and low-key. Most of the coast is linked by a craggy coast path and you can easily walk between the villages.

The Western Atlantic coast also offers grand walking – beautiful sandy beaches and low level cliff walks with the hinterland of pine and holm oak. On several walks – we end up on the beach for lunch.

LAGOS, where we finish Day 7 – is one of the Algarve’s most attractive and historic towns, its centre enclosed in largely fourteenth-century walls at the mouth of the Ribeira de Bensafrim. For all its historical significance, Lagos’s main attraction is its proximity to some of the region’s best beaches. To the east is the long sweep of Meia Praia, while to the west – from Praia de Dona Ana to Porto de Mós – you’ll find the series of coves, caves and rock stacks for which the Algarve is best known

Photos

Guided Walking for Sole Travellers in Portugal's Algarve

Guided walking for Sole Travellers in Portugal

Reviews

1 Review

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John Chen

Solo Traveller

Guided walking – Excellent – good variety, at a nice pace and good scenery. Organisation of holiday – excellent. Very nice hotel with good facilities. (John is a repeat client)

November 11, 2024

Portugal’s Wild Atlantic Coast-The Rota Vicentina Way

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