The Routes
Note that, rather than a continuous point-to-point hike, these tours have been created from our favourite coastal hikes in the Algarve’s Authentic East and Golden South-West. Depending on which of our hiking holidays you chose, your tour may not include all of the hikes listed below or just the best parts of them. The hikes for each itinerary have been carefully selected to offer the best scenery and most enjoyable walking experience.
Experience the very best of the Algarve’s breathtaking coastline on these carefully curated walking tours, blending dramatic clifftop trails, golden beaches, and charming seaside towns. This journey takes you along some of Portugal’s most stunning landscapes, from the remote barrier islands of the Ria Formosa to the striking rock formations of Ponta da Piedade.
Begin in the historic fishing town of Olhão, where a short ferry ride brings you to the tranquil island of Culatra. Here, sandy trails wind through a traditional fishing village and untouched dunes, offering breathtaking Atlantic views. Back on the mainland, explore the wetlands of the Ria Formosa at Ludo, a sanctuary for flamingos and other birdlife, and explore Tavira, one of the Algarve’s most picturesque towns. An inland walk from Quinta do Marco to Tavira, winds through orange groves, olive orchards, and farms, showcasing the Algarve’s rural charm before returning to the coast.
Follow the coast east from Altura to Vila Real de Santo António, a charming riverside town on the Portuguese-Spanish border, passing golden beaches, dunes, and pine woods. A scenic train ride returns you to Tavira. A highlight on all tours is a visit to Tavira Island, with its stunning beaches and famous Anchor Cemetery. Take a trip on a narrow-gauge railway, and return to Tavira via the picturesque fishing village of Santa Luzia and saltpans brimming with birdlife.
Further west, walk the famous Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, where craggy limestone cliffs and hidden coves lead above the iconic Benagil Cave. Follow dramatic coastal paths past Praia da Marinha’s dramatic sea stacks, before reaching the charming town of Carvoeiro. From here, the Trail of the Headlands offers an unforgettable mix of rugged cliffs and serene bays, guiding you to Ferragudo, a traditional fishing village where whitewashed houses line the waterfront.
Wooden boardwalks take you across the dunes and salt marshes of Alvor, a haven for birdlife, before reaching the sweeping sands of Praia da Rocha. Moving west, quieter trails lead you through the sleepy villages of Salema and Burgau, where rolling hills and rugged coastal cliffs offer a true sense of escape. The journey culminates in Lagos, where the towering sea stacks of Ponta da Piedade mark a spectacular finale.
With a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, this tour showcases the Algarve’s most spectacular scenery, from its wild eastern lagoons to its dramatic western cliffs, creating an unforgettable walking experience along Portugal’s sun-drenched southern coast.
Terrain Overview
These routes offer a nice mix of coastal terrains. In the east, well-maintained footpaths, sandy island trails, and boardwalks provide an accessible walking experience, with short ferry and train rides connecting key sections.
Starting in Ria Formosa Natural Park, the trail features flat paths through saltpans, lagoons, and dunes. On the islands you mostly follow beaches while inland, quiet dirt tracks pass olive groves and citrus orchards, with gentle ascents.
In the south-west the trails follow a rugged limestone coastline from Senhora da Rocha to Ferragudo and here the terrain is more dramatic, with sandy paths and some more rugged sections. Further west, the landscape is wilder, with rolling hills between Salema and Burgau and a final climb to the breathtaking cliffs of Ponta da Piedade.
This route offers a perfect mix of coastal stretches, scenic inland trails, and occasional climbs, providing an unforgettable walking experience along Portugal’s southern coast.
