Family Fun in the Sun: Sailing, Swimming, Surfing & Hiking in the Algarve
Harriet is here to help give you the inside track.
Spend a week of family bonding time in Portugal's Algarve on this luxury family holiday.
Itinerary at a glance:
- Hike along the southernmost tip of Spain
- Set sail around deserted coves
- Have a sandcastle building competition on the beach
Why Book with Original Travel?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: International Flight
Your flight to Portugal leaves London late morning and will land in Faro three hours later.
We've teamed up with kid's party planners extraordinaire Sharky & George to create bespoke packs for the children (which we are rather jealous of) that contain everything that could possibly need to keep them entertained at the airport, on the plane and on holiday. After you've cleared customs and collected your luggage, you will pick up the keys to your hire car for the hour-and-a-half drive to your hotel, detailed directions included. After checking in and dropping your bags off in your room, we recommend setting off to explore the resort's many offerings, from swimming pools to tennis courts and horse riding - and, of course, a beach. It's also a great opportunity to get a list of classes and activities designed for the kids, and maybe book a few in.
Day 2: Setting Sail
Portuguese explorers of old honed their skills and planned their voyages into the unknown from Sagres and the coves around the Algarve, and this morning you will follow in their footsteps.
After breakfast you will drive down to the marina to meet your luxury yacht and skipper. After a short briefing you will board ship and set sail, navigating around the reddish cliffs - your skipper will be more than happy to teach you the ropes, so that you can do a bit of sailing yourself - to reach a deserted cove, where it will be time to practice your water-based pirate skills, as you lay anchor and jump in. After a morning splashing about in the sea you will clamber back aboard ship and sail back to the marina, before spending the afternoon at your hotel.
Days 3-5: Family Fun
The next three days are all about relaxing and having fun as a family.
We know that the daily rigmarole of school runs and removing toothpaste from seemingly every item of clothing can be exhausting, so we heartily recommend a few days of R&R by the pool and on the beach. Our favourite family friendly hotels all have excellent kid's clubs, offering everything from surfing lessons to videography classes, and parents can relax in salubrious spas or on the Algarve's excellent golf courses. Some kid's clubs even run late into the evening, giving the grown-ups a chance to enjoy a wonderful dinner a deux, safe in the knowledge that the little ones are being fed their own delicious meal, and tired out in time for a (hopefully) pain free bedtime! Should you get itchy feet and want to get out and explore the Algarve, we can arrange all kinds of activities, both relaxed and more active.
Additional Activities
- Private surfing lessons on perfect beach break beaches
- Cork workshop
- A visit to a local market, followed by a hands-on cookery class
- A pottery workshop
- Birdwatching
- Cultural and guided tours
Day 6: Hiking Tour
Today is you last full day in Portugal, so we've arranged for you to spend a full day hiking on the southernmost tip of the country.
After driving to Costa Vincentina Park. You will be met by your expert guide for a private hiking tour between the beaches of Salema and Ingrina, where jaw dropping views red sloping cliffs, and the ruins of Fort Figueira give way to glistening ocean, providing an adventure and a half (by our measures). Keeping an eye on the sky for local birdlife including Peregrine falcons and blue rock thrushes is exhausting work, so you will finish the trip with a picnic on the sands and indulge in some traditional produce. After the hike, we recommend one last dip in your favourite pools before dinner.
Day 7: International Flight
This morning it's time to wave goodbye to Portugal and head to the airport for your flight home. After dropping off the hire car, you will check in for your flight home, which will land in London just after lunch time.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£2,020pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£1,920pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special, we can discuss with you upgrading your accommodation, flights or activities.
From
£2,425pp
Harriet is our expert for this itinerary and, as a seasoned traveller, has the inside track on the most memorable adventures.