Mountain Biking
Highlights
- The Algarve is an ideal location for mountain biking with a 1000m extinct volcano 30kms away, vast natural parks on the west coast with endless dirt roads, and a great single track surrounding Lagos.
- Each ride is tailored to the guests on the day - from a relaxed scenic day trip to downhill riding with all the equipment included.
- MIAS qualified instructors with extensive experience in mountain biking and all of the trails the local area.
- Full day rides include lunch and drinking water.
Monchique to Lake Ride
Descents in the mountain range behind Lagos which provide a variety of routes to try ranging from red grade through to orange! You will be shuttled to the descents so you get to have an insane amount of fun squeezed into one day. You will be descending over 2,000 vertical meters and barely riding up at all, most of our routes are around 30 minutes of riding from top to bottom. For a maximum of 6 riders per vehicle and guide, you won't be hanging around waiting for big groups.
Monchique Downhill Ride
Mountain beauty with an all fun downhill. You will be driven to Foia, the highest mountain in the Algarve at nearly 1000m, have a quick drink at the café on the peak and look at the view before descending the mountain on dirt roads or quiet tarmac roads, after about 20kms the road levels out at a lake. There is a short climb to a beautiful view of the lake, the usual lunch stop. After dinner we follow the edge of the reservoir until it reaches the road (another 15kms). In the summer we'll drive to the dam wall, which is great to jump off and get rid of the dust or you can just take a swim if the jump doesn't appeal. There are some small climbs but there is a backup vehicle all the way if you don't want to pedal up!
Cross-country Rides
Explore the great outdoors, with rides to suit both novices and experts. To take part in an all day ride you will need to be reasonably fit as mountain biking can be physically demanding at times. You can ride XC for a half day if you can't get a day pass out!
Lagos Loop – A versatile ride between 30km – 45km either a shorter ride on mainly dirt roads with some steep climbs taking in cliffs around Lagos or the above with lots more technical singletrack thrown in.
Wild West Coast – A 35km ride around the west coast natural park, mainly on dirt roads, descending fast, technical routes down to the beaches and climbing back out to hit the nest descent down.
South Coast – An amazing 40km ride following the cliff tops on the stunning south coast towards Sagres. Lots of double track climbs and insane singletrack all the way, ends at a beach café where we are picked up by the backup vehicle.
Canal Loop – a 45km ride heading out from Lagos and heading out through Algarvian farmland, lots of singletrack following irrigation canals and technical singletrack out in the countryside.
Tour Prices
Please note tour prices DO NOT include the cost of the bike rental. Choose from half or full day rides with front or full suspension.
| Ride Type | Half Day | All Day* | + | Front Suspension | Full Suspension | Start Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Ride (15km) | €25 | €5 | €15 | 5.30pm | ||
| Cliff top ride (15km) | €25 | €5 | €15 | 5.30pm | ||
| Cross Country (22km) | €25 | €5 | €15 | 10am, 2pm | ||
| Cross Country (45km) | €50 | €10 | €30 | 10am | ||
| Skills training (max 3 persons) | €40 | €5 | €15 | 10am, 2pm | ||
| Monchique To Lake (35km) | €60 | €10 | €30 | 10am | ||
| Shuttles/uplifts | €70 | €30 | 9.30am |
I would thoroughly recommend this biking experience to all. The equipment it in great condition and the guide had plenty of tips for better riding. The terrain around the area is great, loads of single track rides in beautiful rugged countryside
With good, varied riding encompassing everything from beautiful, challenging XC clifftop routes to steep, rocky trail riding on Monchique. Our guide gave a rundown of the trail features for each section (switchbacks / jumps / roots / gullies etc), so that we knew was coming up and gave helpful coaching tips as we rode.
