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Église Saint-Antoine dans la ville de Lagos

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Portugal: Oceanic delights of the Algarve

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Discover our exclusive new range of "Nos Inspirations ATC" trips. In other words, 10 places reserved out of 45 participants for our members only, to experience this trip to the Algarve like never before.

Main advantages of the travel

Spectacular panoramas of Serra de Monchique and Cape St Vincent
History and culture in Silves, Lagos and Tavira
Memorable cruises to the Benagil caves and Ria Formosa
Local tastings: Fado, aguardente and olive oil

Discover the Algarve, the jewel of Portugal

Set out to discoverthe Algarve, a sunny region in southern Portugal, renowned for its golden beaches, spectacular cliffs, charming villages and rich cultural heritage. This trip will take you through a variety of landscapes, from the mountains of the Serra de Monchique to the secluded coves of the Atlantic coast, via authentic towns and natural wonders.
The Serra de Monchique and Silves: between mountains and history

Your journey begins in the Serra de Monchique, where you'll discoverexceptional panoramas combining sea and mountains.At Monchique, explore a town full of charm with its church featuring a Manueline portal. At Silves, former capital of the Algarveunder the Moors, admire the beautifully restored castle and Gothic cathedral.
Lagos, Sagres and Cape St Vincent: at the end of the world

Dive into maritime history at Lagos, starting point of the great Portuguese discoveries. After a visit to the baroque church of Santo António, enjoy the wild beauty of Ponta da Piedade. End the day inSagres and at Cape St. Vincent, a spectacular promontory offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic.
Faro, Almancil and Estoi: at the heart of Portugal's heritage

In Faro, capital of the Algarve, stroll through the old town and visit the fascinating Chapel of the Bones. In Almancil, let yourself be seduced by the azulejos of the São Lourenço church, then discover in Estoi its rococo palace and the Roman ruins of Milreu, a real trip back in time.
Tavira, Olhão and Moncarapacho: local traditions and flavours

Discover Tavira, one of the Algarve's most beautiful towns, with its white houses and Moorish castle. In Olhão, visit the famous fish market, then explore an olive grove in Moncarapacho to learn all about olive oil production and taste its flavors.
Ria Formosa nature reserve: an ecological treasure trove

Cap off this trip with acruise in the Ria Formosa, a protected lagoon home to exceptional flora and fauna. This magical place, dotted with fishing villages, will offer you a moment of calm and serenity in the heart of nature.
A journey through culture, nature and tradition

The Algarve harmoniously combines history, natural landscapes and the art of living. This discovery-filled holiday will take you on a journey throughthe best of this unique region of Portugal, where each stop offers a new facet to explore.

The day-by-day programme

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Day 1

FRANCE - FARO/ALGARVE

Departure from France. Arrival, welcome and transfer to your 4* hotel.

Check-in and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

SERRA DE MONCHIQUE - SILVES - ALBUFEIRA

Breakfast.

Drive to the Serra de Monchique, where you'll discover a breathtaking panorama of sea and mountains at every turn. Stop at Foia, the highest point in the Algarve (902 m), offering magnificent views over the region.

Then on to Monchique, a town pleasantly nestled in greenery on the eastern flank of Foia. The town boasts a church famous for its Manueline portal.

Continuation to Silves, capital of the Algarve in Moorish times. Guided tour of the castle, with its magnificently restored crenellated rampart walk, offering numerous views of the town and surrounding area. Discover Sé's 12th-century Gothic cathedral, with its splendid Manueline doorway.

Lunch.

In the afternoon, departure for a cruise to discover the incredible Benagil caves and watch the dolphins.

Continuation to Albufeira, a former Arab stronghold now a fishing town and seaside resort.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

LAGOS - SAGRES - CAPE SAINT VINCENT

Breakfast.

Drive to Lagos, famous for its fortified old town, cliffs and stunning beaches.

Morning devoted to a visit to Lagos, a city linked to the Portuguese discoveries with its fishing port, from which the first expeditions to Africa left in the 15th century. Visit to the golden church of Santo António, a masterpiece of Baroque decoration.

Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, take a stroll along Ponta da Piedade, one of the wonders of the Portuguese coastline, offering a magnificent panoramic view of the bay.

Drive to Sagres. Visit to the fortress, home to the old navigators' school and the former home of Henry the Navigator. Continue to the end of the world, Cape Saint-Vincent, a 100 m-long promontory at the south-western tip of France, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean with its 80 m sheer cliffs and impressive views.

Typical dinner with Fado demonstrations.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 4

ALTE - LOULE

Breakfast.

Depart for Alte to discover the parish church, one of whose chapels is entirely covered in ceramics. In the surrounding scrubland, arbutus trees grow, the fruit of which is used to produce the Algarve's famous brandy: aguardente de medronho. Taste this famous brandy in a small village taberna.

Continuing on to Loulé, an authentic town with a charming downtown area full of shopping streets, tree-lined squares and narrow cobbled streets.

Spend the morning visiting the city and the Loulé market, one of the region's most important craft markets, ideal for soaking up the local art of living.

Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, descend below the town of Loulé to discover the history of the rock salt mine and admire ancient geological rock formations.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

FARO - ALMANCIL - ESTOI

Breakfast.

Departure for Faro. Morning tour of Faro, the capital of the Algarve. Discover the old town, a quiet, picturesque district sheltered by a circle of houses arranged in ramparts.

Discover the Arco da Vila, an Alphonsine wall with magnificent Italian-style pilasters, Faro Cathedral, which rises from a square planted with orange trees, and the intriguing Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Faro's beautiful Carmelite church, which was built from the bones and skulls of over 1,000 monks, inlaid into the walls.

Stop off in Almancil for a guided tour of the Church of São Lourenço, a Romanesque building transformed in the Baroque period. Admire the magnificent azulejos dating from 1730.

Lunch.

In the afternoon, head for Estoi to discover the palace (exterior) and gardens of Estoi. This rococo-style palace, now a hotel, is one of the region's gems. It also boasts ornamental gardens amidst splendid azulejos that leave you speechless.

Continue on to the remains of a Roman villa called Milreu, another gem in the small town of Estoi. These are the best-preserved Roman ruins in the region, with mosaic remains dating back to the 1st century AD.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

OLHAO - TAVIRA - MONCARAPACHO

Breakfast.

Departure for Tavira. Spend the morning discovering the magnificent region of Tavira, which retains an atmosphere firmly rooted in Portuguese tradition. Its colorful boats set off the immaculate white of the houses, which are often trimmed in gold.

Stopover in Olhão, an old fishing town famous for its fish market.

Continuation to Tavira, one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve thanks to its Moorish architecture. Tour of the old town: the Church of Mercy, the ruins of the Moorish castle, the Roman bridge... Discover the medieval castle and the church of Santa Maria do Castelo, said to have been built on the foundations of an ancient mosque and housing the mausoleums of seven knights defeated by the Moors.

Lunch.

Continuation to Moncarapacho, an idyllic little village in the middle of the Olhão countryside. Guided tour of an olive grove to learn about olive cultivation, the olive oil production process and taste the famous olive oil.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 7

RIA FORMOSA

Breakfast.

Morning free for personal discovery.

Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, take a boat cruise to discover the Formosa protected nature reserve, an immense lagoon over 60 kilometers long, classified as a nature park since 1987. One of the region's wonders, with exceptional flora and fauna. The Ria Formosa coastline is dotted with charming fishing villages where a wide variety of seafood is grown.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

FARO/ALGARVE - FRANCE

Breakfast.

Transfer to Faro airport according to flight schedule. Check-in and departure for France.