Winding gravel roads along the mountainsides, forgotten forest tracks and breathtaking hill climbs leading us over the next ridge. Algarve Mountains is our classic adventure motorcycle tour in southern Portugal, where gravel and off-road riding take centre stage. It takes you deep into an Algarve that few visitors ever get to experience.
Over the years, we have come to know an almost web-like network of gravel, forest and mountain roads throughout the Algarve. Today, we have hundreds of route options that can be combined in countless ways. Which ones we choose depends on the group, experience and conditions on the day. We have built this knowledge since our first tour in 2011 – through thousands of hours on motorcycles, countless days of route scouting and more than 60 completed tours.
This means we rarely take the obvious route. A small turn-off can lead to a fantastic stretch of gravel, which in turn branches off into several new possibilities. We don’t rely on a single route – we have hundreds of roads to choose from. Thanks to that local knowledge, our guides can select and adapt the riding to you, your experience and what you are looking for.
We ride past cork oaks and orange groves, through deep valleys and exciting water crossings. Along the way, we tackle challenging hill climbs and follow exposed mountain ridges with sweeping views across the landscape and the Atlantic as a backdrop. The Algarve’s twisting tarmac roads connect our favourite stretches of gravel, forest tracks and mountain roads, taking us on towards the next adventure.
You don’t need any previous gravel riding experience to join us. Professional off-road training is included. Throughout the rest of the tour, our instructors and tour guides are there to help you develop your riding with tips and feedback along the way. We split into several groups according to experience, riding style and preferences – from those looking to find their flow and build confidence on gravel to riders seeking more technical challenges and a more dynamic pace.
After the day’s riding, we return to White Shell Beach Villas, our comfortable oasis by the sea. Here, the pool, several restaurants within walking distance and a relaxed evening together await – knowing that new gravel roads are waiting on the other side of the mountains.
Four days on the bike. Hundreds of possible route options. And 17 years of experience finding the absolute gems. Welcome to our Algarve!
Photos on this page: Ann Cathrin Erga, David Johansson, Joachim Cruus, John Brown
Four days, hundreds of route options and some of the most enjoyable gravel, forest and mountain roads we know. The Algarve is made for adventure riding. Roads wind along the mountainsides, disappear into forests of cork oak and eucalyptus, drop down into valleys, cross rivers and then climb towards the next ridge. At times, it almost feels like riding a roller coaster on a motorcycle – and here, you’ve got a four-day pass.
The focus is on gravel and off-road riding. On a typical riding day, we spend around 5–7 hours on the bike, combining flowing gravel roads with narrow forest tracks and more technical hill climbs and descents. In between, we use the Algarve’s winding paved roads to connect our favourite sections and take us on to the next area.
Not everyone wants to ride the same way. Some riders are looking for flow, sweeping roads and the chance to look up and enjoy the scenery. Others are drawn to more technical routes, challenging hill climbs and a slightly faster pace.
That’s why we’re introducing CHILL and PULSE – our way of making it easier for you to choose the kind of riding you’re in the mood for.
CHILL is all about flow, riding enjoyment and the experience. We choose roads and a pace that give you time to look up and take in the landscape around you, while avoiding the most demanding technical sections. The focus is on rhythm, enjoyment and plenty of great kilometres on the bike.
PULSE is for riders who want to take things up a notch. The pace can be higher and we’ll seek out some of the more technical route options – steeper hill climbs, rockier sections and other challenges that demand a little more from both you and the motorcycle. The focus is on the challenge, the riding and that extra rush when the road ahead starts to get really interesting.
Chill and Pulse are not two fixed routes. Quite the opposite. Thanks to the huge number of roads and trails we’ve discovered over the years, our guides can adapt the route throughout the day according to the group, the conditions and how the riding develops. The groups meet up for coffee breaks and lunch, and you don’t have to choose the same style of riding every day. Feel like more of a challenge one day and a more relaxed flow the next? Simply switch groups.
Algarve Mountains is also suitable for riders with limited gravel experience. Professional off-road training is included and gives you the skills and confidence to feel more comfortable on loose surfaces and get even more out of the riding during the days ahead. Our instructors and tour guides continue to provide tips and feedback throughout the tour. You can read more about the training further down the page.
Whether you choose Chill or Pulse, the goal is the same: to step off the bike at the end of the day with a big smile on your face, already looking forward to the next morning.
Throughout the tour, we stay at White Shell Beach Villas, a modern and comfortable resort within walking distance of the beautiful beaches of Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha and Praia Nova. After a long day on the bike, it’s the perfect place to unwind – take a dip in the pool, relax at the spa or sit down together and look back on the day’s riding.
You’ll share a villa/apartment with another participant, but you’ll always have your own bedroom and private bathroom. The accommodation is of a high standard and the apartments are fully equipped with a kitchen, air conditioning, fast WiFi and a washing machine.
The resort has indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with jacuzzi and a gym. Several restaurants are within walking distance, with the Algarve coast right on your doorstep.
If you’d like to stay a few extra days before or after the tour, there’s plenty to explore in the area – from boat trips along the Algarve’s dramatic coastline and caves to golf, vineyards, cycling and fantastic hiking along the Atlantic.
Professional rider training is included in Algarve Mountains, giving you a solid foundation to feel confident on loose surfaces and get even more out of your days on the bike.
We start at our training area, where you’ll get to know the motorcycle and work on the most important techniques for gravel and off-road riding. We cover riding position, braking techniques and cornering, among other things. If conditions during the week require it, we’ll also cover the basics of riding in ruts, mud and river crossings.
The training doesn’t have to stop at the training area. After the fundamental exercises, we head out onto the roads and start putting the techniques into practice. Along the way, we stop at suitable locations to go through the challenges ahead – such as steeper hill climbs and descents – and then fine-tune the techniques where they’re actually going to be used.
This way, the training becomes a natural part of the riding, with opportunities for continued practice, tips and feedback out on the roads of the Algarve whenever you need or want it.
The training is led by a BMW Motorrad Certified Instructor.
For 2027, we continue to develop Algarve Mountains. Since we started creating our first routes here in 2011, we’ve returned year after year to explore, scout and discover new roads. This winter, we’ll be back again, spending several weeks in the Algarve developing our routes further, exploring new roads and creating new route combinations.
Our classic favourites will remain, but they’ll be mixed with reopened roads, new route options and completely new combinations. The goal remains the same as always – to make every riding day the best possible mix of riding enjoyment, variety and challenge.
The day-by-day programme below therefore describes the character of each riding day rather than fixed routes. The roads we choose are always adapted to the group, the conditions and whether you choose Chill or Pulse.
Click on each day for more information and photos.
If you arrive early, there’s plenty of time to settle in, enjoy the resort or explore the beautiful beaches of Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha and Praia Nova, just a short walk away. There’s also a supermarket and several restaurants nearby.
In the afternoon, we get together for the first time. We go through the plans for the tour, get familiar with the motorcycles and make sure everything is ready for the next day’s riding.
In the evening, we enjoy our first dinner together – a relaxed start to the week and a chance to get to know the other participants and the Ride Nordic team before the adventure really begins the following morning.
After breakfast, we get on the bikes for a short ride to our training area. Here, we go through the most important techniques for gravel and off-road riding before heading out onto the roads of the Algarve.
Throughout the rest of the day, we combine riding with further training whenever it fits naturally – and get our first taste of the network of gravel, forest and mountain roads that awaits us during the week.
Today, our first full day on the Algarve’s gravel, forest and mountain roads awaits. We split into CHILL and PULSE groups and head into the vast network of roads we’ve built up over 17 years. Expect sweeping gravel roads, forest sections, big changes in elevation and plenty of kilometres with the riding firmly at the heart of the day.
Today, we raise the bar a little further and head deeper into the mountains. The day brings a new mix of sweeping gravel sections, winding forest roads, hill climbs and technical challenges – with different options for CHILL and PULSE. Classic favourites are mixed with new route options, while the conditions of the day help determine which roads we choose.
We bring out some of our favourite roads and combine them into another full day in the Algarve mountains. CHILL or PULSE, flow or more technical challenges – this is the day when we aim to fit in as much as possible of everything that makes Algarve Mountains special.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and after one last breakfast at White Shell, it’s time to say goodbye to the Algarve – for now.
If you have a later flight, there’s time to enjoy a few more hours at the resort, on the beach or in the sunshine before heading to the airport.
Hopefully, you’ll head home with plenty of great memories, some new skills and experiences on the bike – and an appetite for more adventures. Until next time!
Flights, airport transfers, dinners and personal riding gear.
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Algarve Mountains, along with facts and statistics from all our years in the Algarve. We started exploring the area and creating our first routes back in 2011 – so we’ve gathered quite a bit of experience along the way.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? You’re always welcome to contact us!
You need to hold a valid unrestricted motorcycle licence and feel confident riding on paved roads. However, you don’t need any previous gravel or off-road riding experience to join Algarve Mountains.
Professional rider training is included in the tour, where we cover the fundamentals of riding on loose surfaces before heading out onto the roads to put the techniques into practice. Throughout the rest of the tour, our instructors and tour guides are there to provide riding tips and feedback whenever you need or want it.
We split into several groups based on experience, riding style and preferences. With CHILL and PULSE, we can also adapt the route and pace, and when needed, even the distance covered during the day.
Among our previous participants:
Absolutely! The Algarve has plenty of challenges even for highly experienced riders. Thanks to our extensive network of roads and the ability to split into several groups, we can adapt both the route and pace to suit different levels of experience and preferences.
Choose PULSE and we’ll seek out the more technical route options, with steep hill climbs and descents, rocky sections and other challenges that demand more from both you and the motorcycle. The Algarve offers everything from sweeping gravel roads to genuinely technical sections where even our most experienced tour guides need to stay fully focused.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed many riders with extensive experience in gravel riding, enduro and motocross – and the endless opportunities to find new challenges in the Algarve are one of the reasons why so many choose to return.
Among our previous participants:
Absolutely! In fact, most of our participants travel on their own, so you definitely won’t be the only one. The group quickly gets to know each other, and the social side becomes a big part of the experience – both during the days on the bikes and in the evenings together.
Many riders leave the Algarve with both new friends and new riding buddies, and it’s not unusual for participants to stay in touch or book another tour together.
Among our previous participants:
Around 70% of our participants come from the Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. But Algarve Mountains attracts riders from all over the world, and over the years we’ve welcomed participants from countries including the UK, USA, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India and Thailand.
Our tour guides are mainly from Scandinavia, and we adapt the language to the participants in each group. If you’re Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, you can always communicate with our tour guides in your own language. We use English whenever needed for our international participants.
Day 1 is the arrival day and Day 6 is the departure day. We recommend booking a flight that allows you to arrive at White Shell during the afternoon on Day 1, as this is when we get together for the tour briefing and introduction to the motorcycles. On Day 6, you can book your return flight at whatever time suits you best.
Information on the easiest way to travel between Faro Airport and White Shell will be included in the pre-tour information.
Absolutely! The Algarve coast and White Shell Beach Villas are also perfect for anyone who wants to join the trip without riding a motorcycle.
White Shell has a spa, indoor and outdoor pools and a gym, while the beautiful beaches of Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha and Praia Nova are just a short walk away. There are also restaurants and coastal walks nearby, as well as plenty of opportunities for independent excursions and activities – from boat trips along the Algarve coast to golf, vineyards and small villages to explore.
So while we’re out riding, there are plenty of ways to simply enjoy the Algarve at your own pace – and in the evenings, we all meet up again at White Shell.
The price for upgrading to a private apartment and bringing a non-riding partner is shown during booking.
Photos by: Ann Cathrin Erga, Douglas Retsler, Henrik Hofling & David Johansson.
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Videos by Ride Nordic
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Photos by Niclas Elneus
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| Incl. BMW R 1300 GS rental | 44 900 SEK(Approximately EUR) |
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| Incl. BMW R 1300 GS Adventure rental | 44 900 SEK(Approximately EUR) |