Walking Portugal's Wild Algarve

We both had a wonderful week in May 2023, Walking Portugal's Coast and Beaches, guided by Francisco and Ines. It was theses guides that made a good walk into a fantastic walk. They are a great team, passionate about the history, nature and conservation of the area. They complemented each other like 2 pieces of a jigsaw. We were briefed each preceding evening on the appropriate clothing, type of terrain, difficulty and interesting features to expect. At the end of every day, they encouraged feedback to gauge if we were happy with the speed and terrain. The lunch packs were made up by local bakeries and were appropriate to everyone’s needs. Their choice of hotels and restaurant recommendations were excellent. The coast line is both scenic and dramatic, with every bay and cliff top being pristine and litter free. We visited a vineyard and a Medronho distillery with tasting and snacks provided. We also visited a reconstructed castle in Aljezur, an abandoned village, Aldeia Da Pedralva, which has been restored to its former glory and a huge wall mural dedicated to Amalia Rodrigues a famous female Portuguese melancholic singer. All these visits were very informative. On the first day Francisco and Ines had asked us to share our particular interests and unusually I said “Rocks”. To my surprise and delight both Francisco and Ines made a point of showing me some unusual geological features everyday. They were both careful and courteous and drivers. Had we opted for a self-guided tour we would not have seen, enjoyed nor learnt so much about the region and its excellent well priced eateries. With their local, inside knowledge they were able to tailor the walks, activities and suggestions to take account of the most up-to-date information. All in all, an excellent week of walking rendered outstanding because of the ethos of these 2 guides.

Expectations were high after a two-year delay from our original booking. It was worth the wait! The scenery was spectacular, the weather was perfect and our conditioning didn't let us down. This is a relatively unknown gem for many people - and one not to be missed. Popular with hikers and cyclists alike, hiking definitely gives you the best cliff views. The sea views and fresh breezes, coupled with the dune walks, made the trip. You'll walk across beaches and dunes, through small bush and forest areas, and across trickling brooks and boardwalks, with plenty of local flora and fauna. If you are a photographer or bird watcher, this is the trip for you. This was my first trip to Portugal - I'm already planning the next Exodus Portugal trip!

A2z travel and Exodus exceeded my expectations!!! Portugal is an amazing country and our tour guides took us to spots we definately would have missed if we traveled on our own. This was my first guided tour- I was nervous it would be very basic and boring. Our trip was the farthest thing from boring! We hiked, toured, ate and ate and ate some more, drank great wine and port and more unique spirits. So many laughs shared with very fun people! I will go in more trips with Luis and his team of exceptional guides. If you are on the fence-go for it!!!! I will return to Portugal for sure. Thanks Joao, Carlos, Luis and Hanne and the amazing women on the tour! Shawn H North Vancouver, BC Canada

The coast of Portugal offers varied terrain and great opportunity for hiking and to be guided by Francisco and Ines made it even better. Their knowledge about the area is extensive and they took time and effort to ensure everyone achieved what they wanted from the trip. I cannot recommend this trip enough - it truly was an amazing week.

This is a great trip if you enjoy the sea air with great views over the clifftops.

Roberta JohnsonSeptember 2024We have been on many Exodus trips and this one was one of the most beautiful places I have visited. The varied scenery on our coastal walks and paths were breathtaking. This is a very unspoilt, tranquil, cultural region with passionate local people. Each hotel we stayed at was lovely, especially the Aljezur as it was set in a peaceful, uncrowded location with very friendly, fun staff. Francisco and Rafael guided us throughout this wonderful trip doing their utmost to make our holiday special and enjoyable. They were very passionate in every way and extremely knowledgeable. They explained things to us in a kind, caring, relaxed and fun way. They always made sure we were comfortable and happy with what we were doing each day. They worked very hard and well together. I felt privileged to share this trip with inspiring people, exploring the region and making this a magical holiday.

The hike combined a holiday, a historical introduction to the Algarve, active coastal sustainability and a promotion of local businesses.

We are both in our mid-sixties and this was our first walking tour. We loved it. We always felt safe (even when going up a very daunting slope) and knew that our guides really, really wanted us to have a brilliant experience. Luis was extremely knowledgeable, energetic, friendly and always in good spirits. We were impressed with how the local restaurant, bar, and hotel people interacted with him; there was genuine mutual respect and appreciation. Francisco was also so knowledgeable and patient, and his grandmother makes wonderful Easter Bread. We will never forget our joy at seeing Luis and Francisco drive up to us at 10 p.m. to offer us a ride back to our hotel after another late-in-the-day Portuguese Dinner. Together, our two guides set a very upbeat, positive tone for our week together. They constantly and sincerely listened to our feedback and adjusted to our idiosyncrasies.

This trip went beyond my expectations. I mean I was hoping for a lovely week given that we were walking along the wonderful Portuguse coastline but it delivered beyond my expectations. Seeing the incredible coastline, the huge pristine beaches and the STORKS nesting on the rocks knocked my socks off. And each day was different - different terrain, different flora and fauna - it was a feast for the senses. But what made the trip so very special for me were our two guides - Francisco Simoes and Ines Monteiro - they were incredible! I can't praise them enough for their care, friendliness, patience and knowledge. They're a massive asset to the trip!

Relaxing walking in a relatively undiscovered part of Portugal - beautiful coastal scenery, great food (lots of fish!), great company. Our little group was SO happy to get away post-pandemic! The walking was highly enjoyable, and relatively undemanding for an Exodus trip - though some of the sand dunes can be good for the thighs! The first two hotels were fine, but the Sagres place is a REAL treat - a fabulous place to end the trip. I really did not want to come home.