Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Lovely trip. Rugged scenery.
Overall a lovely trip, but not your typical road cycle.
Most Inspirational Moment
When I was able to cycle in sand.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent Group leader with huge amount of local knowledge. Joao has a brilliant sense of humour which helped to ensure we all enjoyed the trip. Powerpoint presentations debriefing the days and explaining the next day were excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Although there are percentages of road/off-road published for this trip, cycling on the roads is a lot quicker so you spend proportionately more time off road than the percentages imply. This trip is therefore suitable for a competent cyclist who wants to try some off roading, but not for a road cyclist looking for a typical road trip. A good off-road cyclist will find this easy though. The bikes are heavy (but well maintained) so are a completely different experience to road bikes.
There are some steep hills but these are limited and only one (on the last day) is of any real length, so don't be put off by these. You can always walk up the hills as it does not slow down the rest of the group.
Because of the nature of the route, the group cycles closely together, so there are limited opportunities to "do your own thing" but there are frequent stops for coffee/lunch and view points. In fact some people might find there are too many stops as the group rarely cycles for longer than 20km without stopping. However, the stops are often strategically placed before a challenging section to allow cyclists to get their energy back.
Lunch is impressive so well worth joining the kitty to have lunch included every day. They are a lot bigger lunches than the average UK cyclist would have and lunch stops are typically for an hour or so.
Hotels and guesthouses are excellent throughout with many having swimming pools for a nice dip after cycling on a hot day.
I thought this was a really enjoyable trip with a great group of people and an excellent leader. The accommodation was very comfortable, the food and drink was good and of good value. Joao was really friendly and helpful with a great sense of humour and very supportive. He gave us clear instructions every day and explained the terrain and the timetable for the day. Felipe was also really good in his support role. The countryside is beautiful, especially as you go further south.
I was unsure about some aspects of the trip so I hope the following will help others: I think that, if you are a competent road cyclist, then there is no great problem with the off road sections. You can go at a speed that is in your comfort zone. There seemed to be a greater proportion of off road than in the notes but some of this may be due to the much slower pace on this terrain. The bikes are quite heavy but well suited to the terrain.
I was apprehensive about cycling on sand, as were several others, but Joao’s explanation of the technique made it fun and everyone did it successfully. There was less of this surface than I expected.
The other question is should you hire an electric bike and I would say, if in doubt, hire one. I used it on 5 hills and I was pleased I did. You don’t have to use it all the time if you don’t want to. I tried sandy sections with and without the electrics and I found the electrics helped to keep going a little (on the lowest setting) which is the key to cycling through the sand.
As a road cyclist this was an interesting mix of road and off road; it might not suit someone who just wants to ride on tarmac.
We loved this trip and would definitely recommend it. The route (& hotels) start to improve markedly after the first couple of days, where there is a lot of riding on busy roads through some fairly industrial areas south of Lisbon. Hence 4 stars not 5. However, once you get to Sines and head towards the Algarve, the experience really takes off and the scenery becomes progressively more spectacular as you ride south. There is much more off road riding (mainly gravel trails) which we prefer and the standard of accomodation is excellent. The trip ends on a high at a superb hotel in Sagres (Hotel Memmo Baleeira) and some of the most stunningly beautiful coastal scenery in Europe. I do wonder whether the trip would be improved by starting further south eg Sines, then adding in some circular rides on the extra days that creates. We’d happily take the trip again if that was an option.
Most Inspirational Moment
Riding over the hills on gravel tracks under a perfect blue sky and descending to the sea in the Algarve
Thoughts on Group Leader
João was an outstanding group leader. We had met him on a previous Exodus trip a few years ago (Porto to Lisbon cycling, also highly recommended). Always going the extra mile to ensure his guests had the best possible experience, sorting out any issues with great efficiency and he was also a lot of fun. He found us tremendous local restaurants for lunch and dinner, sometimes in the most surprising places, so we ate very well. We had a wonderful team spirit on the trip and João was a very large part of it
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that some days are fairly high mileage and the hills are big, especially in the south. We are veterans of many Exodus trips and felt this was definitely a 3+ rather than a 3. Book an e-bike if in any doubt. A few extra days in Lisbon before the trip starts is worth doing, lots to see and Exodus use a very good hotel.
This trip was just about perfect. Our leader João was fantastic, both passionate about Portugal as well as highly organized. The scenery just got better every day. Food was great especially the coffee and pastry stops. I really enjoyed the dirt and gravel roads on this route, giving us access to the best views. So much fun! 10/10 for sure!
Most Inspirational Moment
All of the amazing ocean cliff views!
Thoughts on Group Leader
5 stars for João! He was organized, professional, caring, knowledgeable and fun.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for dirt and gravel roads. Nothing exceptionally technical but it depends on your experience and comfort level with off-road. These roads were my favorite part of the trip!
Cycling this pristine coastline was an absolute privilege in many ways .The geography was stunning ,more importantly the Exodus leadership , Joao and Victor , our support were superb and facilitated a great group dynamic .The accommodation was very comfortable at the end of a hard days cycling and meals arranged were more than adequate
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving at the 'End of the world' , having completed the cycle with stunning coastlines to take in
Thoughts on Group Leader
He had great awareness and empathy for everyone's particular needs , kept the group together and facilitated excellent group dynamics
Advice for Potential Travellers
Although rated 3/7, be prepared for a great deal of off road cycling
The perfect balance along the gorgeous coast of Portugal! Superb host in Joao and his wingman, Vitor, who led us down beautiful mostly dirt trails. We had just the right amount of side adventures for variety and uniquely enjoyable places to rest our heads each night. Excellent dining with everyone, too! Whether experienced or novice, you’ll love it! We completed our trip September 13th.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to list, but each day had at least one highlight that kept us all smiling. Very few boring stretches
Thoughts on Group Leader
Joao kept the pacing perfect and was attentive to every person and every detail. He kept us happy the whole time!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Whether a newbie or a veteran, you’ll be most pleased. I only heard great things from the others as well.
Why isn’t the southwest coast of Portugal talked about worldwide as a gorgeous destination? The scenery was spectacular day after day. This trip, just completed yesterday (Sept 13, 2026) was easily one of the best cycling trips we’ve ever taken. Our guide João Colaço and support man-of-many-skills Vitor delivered a perfect, memorable experience with every minute detail organized and managed with forethought and professionalism. The riding had its challenges, and I would encourage anyone waffling between e-bike or regular bike to opt for the ebike, which made the climbs very comfortable. Our e-bikes were the best e-bikes we have ever ridden, with ample power and comfort, while taking a beating on some of the gravel roads. The food, organized by João and Vitor, was as amazing as you might imagine, from fresh fish to octopus to lamb, shellfish, and fruits and pastries. Accommodations were lovely and uncrowded, all locally owned and very charming. João’s daily briefings included expectations for the next day as well as updates on weather and wind, and cultural and historical notes. He has a vast knowledge of Portuguese history and culture and entertained us with his orientations to all the local spots. He and Vitor are truly exceptional guides, and I can’t commend them highly enough.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many, nearly all gazing down at pristine beaches from viewpoints high above.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Outstanding in every way! Organized, detail-oriented, quite skilled at leading cyclists in a group across some challenging terrain. Very knowledgeable about Portuguese history, culture and geography. Excellent command of English. Very charming and funny.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The terrain has its challenges from some steep climbs to gravel, sandy paths. If you’d rather not dread the climbs, opt for the ebike. It made all the difference for us, turning the cycling into endless pleasure rather than anxiety over the next ascent.
Beautiful views along the cliffs. Challenging cycle conditions with deep sand sections, rough gravel roads, and several steep climbs.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving at the final hotel after an extremely hot and dusty day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ricardo is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country. His English is excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
E-bikes with experienced cyclists struggled more than non e-bikes in the sand sections. 50% off road seems longer due to the slower speeds off road. Porto to Lisbon is €1200 less money per person. Still looking for that extra €1200 in this trip cost.
Reply from Exodus
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the stunning cliffside views and appreciate your comments on the cycling conditions. We understand that deep sand, rough gravel, and steep climbs can be challenging, and we’ll continue working with our local operator to ensure the route remains rewarding and manageable for all experience levels. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon.
A delightful mix of road and offroad tracks for our 6 day route south from Lisbon. It was the perfect way to experience the rural and coastal beauty of SW Portugal in May. Our guide João briefed us each evening for the next days ride outlining coffee and lunch stops, the route and profile. Alex provided excellent support with the van to transport bags and provide cycle maintenance when required. João and Alex are local experts in the region and happy to share their experience and knowledge on all local matters, history, flora and fauna. Hotels and restaurants were of high standard throughout. I opted for an e-bike which reduced any worries about holding up the group. Highly recommend.
