Tour Description
Groups accepted with a minimum of 6 pax.
This is a walking tour for those who love to explore and be surprised! We´ll walk among the West Algarve’s lush greenery of woodlands, on top of magnificent cliffs against a backdrop of ocean blue and always in amazing locations full of wildlife!
Carvoeiro, our center for this week, was in the past a small fishing town. Nowadays it thrives with visitors looking for good seafood, blue warm waters, and fabulous photographs of its magnificent scenery!
Seven Hanging Valleys Walk, is a scenic coastal trail in Algarve, Portugal
For this walking week, we have selected a mix of walks through coastal, mountain, and inland scenery that will present us with different facets of this beautiful area and its diverse landscape.
From the “classic” sections of the Algarve coast with its perfect sandy beaches and rugged headlands of Portimão to the splendorous old towns like Silves and Lagos, the walks in this tour take us to all the right places so that we may discover the huge welcoming heart of the Algarve.
Our varied offer ranges from the verdant hills around the small town of Monchique where we have fine views over the surrounding hillsides to the small local villages where working life continues as it has for centuries. Around here carob and olives are cultivated on farms and smallholdings, along with oranges and other citrus fruit, pomegranates, almonds, and an abundance of other produce.
Dramatic Views from West Algarve cliffs
Our search for the hidden gems of the Western Algarve continues as we reach Sagres in the edge of the Parque Natural da Costa Vicentina, the most south-westerly point of Europe where there is a chance to appreciate and most certainly view the abundant birdlife on one of the most important migratory routes of spring and autumn.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival
Fly to Faro and transfer to Carvoeiro. If time allows, an introductory walk will be offered.
Seven Hanging Valleys Walk. Hike along the coastline east of Carvoeiro
Day 2 – Estômbar & Silves
Our walking day program starts in the traditional village of Estômbar. Along the fertile valley of the River Arade, perfumed with the orange blossom scent, we follow quiet tracks and paths, enjoying the impressive natural landscape.
On the way, we visit the ecological park Sítio das Fontes, one of Algarve’s hidden gems, teeming with birdlife. Throughout the park, we find the largest limestone springs in the Algarve and an old mill house.
Our walk ends in Silves, a historical city, and the ancient capital of the Moorish Algarve, where we’ll have time for a relaxed lunch and to sightsee.
Distance: app 10 km/6.2mi; Ascent/descent: 46m/-66m; highest point: 46m
Day 3 – Monchique Hills
Known by the locals as the “Garden of the Algarve”, Monchique’s hills are amongst the highest points in mainland Portugal.
Standing in complete contrast from the rest of the Algarve, this is a green wooded area, decked in cork, chestnut, pine, and eucalyptus trees. Enriched by its rivers, small streams, and refreshing springs, the valley floors are rich and fertile, yielding an abundance of fruit and vegetables.
In the small and quaint village of Monchique, you will discover traditional skills and handicrafts like the distinctive hand-knitted sweaters and the unusual wooden chairs. Here, you may also want to taste the famous Medronho, a spirit distilled from the Strawberry tree, traditional to Monchique.
Distance: app 10km/6.2mi; Ascent/descent: +-330m; highest point: 637m
Seven Hanging Valleys walk
Day 4 – Alvor & Praia da Rocha
Between Alvor and Portimão, there are superb sandy beaches and dramatic headlands. The scenery is majestic, the rock strata are varied and colorful, from white limestone to red sandstone. These different rocks support a wide variety of flora and, in spring, there are impressive displays of wildflowers.
Our walk will provide us with some of the most beautiful views of the coastal Algarve landscape, blessed with vibrant colors and blue waters as far as our eyes can see.
Distance: app 9km/5.5mi; Ascent/descent: 107 m/-86 m; highest point: 42m
WDay 5 – Praia da Luz & Lagos
Praia da Luz is a small village near Lagos, famous for its white sandy beach and its imposing landscape, with the Atalaia hill standing 109m above sea level.
From the top of these massive cliffs, witnesses of the geological history of the cliffs below, the views are staggering and need to be seen to be understood.
In the distance, our eyes glimpse the lighthouse of Ponta da Piedade. Here, the famous sea caves are to be found and visited by many small boats carrying visitors from nearby Lagos.
Our walk finishes in Lagos and we will have time to sightsee in this attractive town that was an important Roman settlement called ‘Lacobriga’.
Distance: app. 11km/6.8mi; Ascent/descent: 260 m/-263 m; Highest point: 95m
Day 6 – Barão Villages
Just north of Lagos, away from the sea and the urban life, we find the National Forest of Barão de S. João. This protected area is home to staggering views, endogenous tree species, and small local communities.
Our walk covers the two sibling villages: Barão de S. Miguel and Barão de S. João.
These charming, rural, and peaceful villages are characterized by the typical white houses with a colored border around the windows and doors.
Distance: app 14km/8.6mi; Ascent/descent: +190m/-191m; Highest point: 180m
Day 7 – Sagres & Cabo de São Vicente
Our last walking day fittingly culminates in Sagres, the most westerly town in the Algarve.
This area of intensely dramatic cliffs, opening onto a vast horizon of sea and sky, was the last sight of Europe for the explorers setting forth on their fearsome voyages beyond the horizon.
We finish our walk-in Cabo de S. Vicente, whose spectacular cliffs were once believed to be the end of the world.
Distance: app 8km/4.9mi; Ascent/descent: +88m/-121m; Highest point: 83m
Day 8 – Departure
At a convenient time transfer to the Airport.
