Discovering hidden gems in the authentic Algarve

If you spend just a short time talking about the Algarve with Ellen Walker of Travel Editions, you quickly realise that she is an enthusiast for this most attractive part of Portugal and has a real passion and desire to reveal its hidden side to group travellers.

I have enjoyed many holidays in the Algarve over the years and indeed, it is very near the top of my list when it comes to choosing a favourite destination. However, despite my personal history of visiting the area, I found our trip a revelation. I did not realise I had missed so much!

Led by local expert, Luis Goncalves, who was born and raised in the Algarve, and has an emotional connection to the area, I was amazed at what was revealed on this trip and the way Luis kept our group of GTOs entertained and interested over the five days we were there.

Luis brought the area and its history and culture alive, and was charming, knowledgeable, funny and caring. In short, the perfect guide to make the excursions around the area so enjoyable and unique.

We based ourselves in Tavira, a town (in fact it’s a small city by Portuguese standards) with a unique mix of traditional architecture and Moorish influences. The region is steeped in history and culture, as well as interesting architecture going back more than 3,000 years, from the Phoenicians and the Romans to the Visigoths and Moors. It also boasts some great restaurants.

The taster itinerary from Travel Editions combined breathtaking vistas with Portuguese culture, highlighting the dramatic inlets and lagoons of the Ria Formosa National Park, ancient salt pans, quaint fishing villages, authentic market towns, local museums and an award-winning olive oil farm (which was surprisingly brilliant).

Our hotel at Tavira was the Vila Gale which was of a really good standard. It is spacious, comfortable, clean and offers a superb large pool area. Breakfast was buffet style with a good range of food choices and the hotel offers plenty of room for group eating or individual dining, plus a convivial bar with snacks and local beers.

Of course, the Algarve, which is Portugal’s southernmost region, is well known for its Atlantic beaches and remains a firm favourite with golfers and a wide range of golfing resorts are available. But Portugal and the Algarve offers so much more than just golf. The western Atlantic coast is less developed and Tavira straddles the Gilao River which reaches the sea through the inlets and lagoons of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

The area is captivating and full of history with Tavira Island attracting flamingos, spoonbills and other wading birds. Our guide Luis had an encyclopaedic knowledge of birds, flowers and fauna in addition to his wide knowledge of history which brought our travel around the area to life.

I have always enjoyed the food and wine in Portugal and in particular those who enjoy fish and seafood are in for a treat. Some restaurants will offer a set meal for groups and are generally good value for money. And if you like wine then Portugal is a hidden gem. You should always find a decent selection even at the most basic of restaurants.

Highlights of a visit

We were spoilt with five days of exploration and it’s hard to pick out all of the many highlights. Here is what springs to mind:

Sao Braz and the Cork Route: With the passion that Ellen Walker has for the area and the skill of Luis Goncalves in leading group tours, I found every day a revelation. For example, did you know that around 54% of the world’s cork production comes from Portugal? We explored the art of debarking this entirely natural product and learnt about the noble cork oak. Sao Braz and the Cork Route is highly recommended.

Ria Formosa Islands: The islands are a beautiful natural park of sandbanks, marshes, barrier islands and lagoons. Apart from birdlife it is an area for salt farming, fishing and shellfish harvesting – a fascinating area and well worth visiting.

Tavira Salt Pans: This important mineral has been extracted around Tavira for years, going back to Roman times and beyond. Considered as white gold, to this day nothing but sea, sun and wind, plus the help of human hands creates salt of fantastic quality. It is a fascinating location.

Faro: The capital of the Algarve area, Faro is a charming and historic old town. Be prepared for great restaurants, quaint cafés, and atmospheric streets. One highlight is the Igreja do Carmo which is famous for its Chapel of Bones. Surrounded by ancient city walls, it is full of history, culture and some very good shopping.

Olhao: If you like whitewashed houses, narrow alleyways and brilliant history, then Olhao is your sort of place. A small town, it is well known as one of the best locations to eat fish. It remains an important fishing port to this day and again, you will find its history fascinating as Olhao had an important part to play in the rebellion in the Algarve region during the French invasions in 1808.

Loule: I have been to this traditional market town many times. Did I know it? Nope!! Again it was a revelation to visit on a revealing and interesting trip. It was actually founded by the Romans who had a fort there, but started to truly flourish after the Moorish invasion in the 8th century. There are fantastic chapels and medieval buildings, a superb castle and a wide range of churches. And don’t miss the undercover market - a really atmospheric and enjoyable visit was had there by our group.

Olive Oil Tour & Wine Tasting: We visited the Monterosa Olive Grove for a tour and tasting and it was extremely well done being both entertaining and interesting. Visitors also get the chance to buy all sorts of products too and I can testify from first-hand experience that the quality is excellent. In addition, a lunch with wine tasting at Quinta da Tor was another success and highly enjoyable.

Tuna Museum: In a word – fascinating, and certainly an experience I would not want to miss. The history of tuna fishing in Portugal is incredible and once again our guide Luis brought history and culture to life.

This feature alone cannot give the reader a full and comprehensive report on what is available or the great fun we had, but for me it was a real eye-opener. It’s clear that Travel Editions goes the extra mile to make sure the group experience is hassle-free. In addition, flights to and from Gatwick were on time and very straightforward.

All of the ingredients were there for success; we had a great guide, a competent and friendly coach driver and a wonderful itinerary. Talking with the GTOs that participated, the visit seemed to strike a chord with many and feedback to me was very good. I am sure as a result Portugal will see additional groups sampling its delights over the months and years to come.

Ellen Walker of Travel Editions said: “I hope that these few days were able to showcase the authentic Algarve, with a mix of culture, history, wildlife, traditional food and artisan crafts, along with wine and olive oil tastings.

“The Algarve has so much to offer groups, you can come for just a few days at leisure or immerse yourself for longer in the rich history and culture of this wonderful region which is my second home.”

Maureen Tidbury of M&G Holidays summed up for all the GTOs on the trip saying: “I would like to thank Ellen and Luis for looking after us so well. It’s been a brilliant few days and I never realised just what hidden delights the Algarve can offer. We all really enjoyed it.”