Full Day Guided Tour Historical Algarve Finest
4.5
Full Day Guided Tour Historical Algarve Finest
By Alsafari Tours
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 8h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, Portuguese, English, French, Dutch
More
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver/Guide
What's not included- Lunch
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Start:Traveler pickup offered.
- McDonald's, Lugar da Corrieira,Quinta da Bela Vista Lt, E1, 8200-020 Albufeira, PortugalWe will be waiting for you at the Mcdonalds parking lot in Albufeira, in a white van, with the company logo on the door.
Pickup details- Pickup in the Albufeira area it's included on the price. Pickup outside the Albufeira area has an extra cost.
Additional pickup optionsDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.- 8200 Albufeira, Portugal
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 31134P17- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 31134P17
From
$69.01
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- JakeD11830 contributionsJeep tourWe did the full day jeep tour with Alsafari Tours. Our tour guide was called Giele. From the minute we stepped into the vehicle he made us feel at complete ease. He was very friendly and approachable to ask any questions we had. He had incredible local knowledge and was very informative. Included in the price was a full 3-course meal and even came with Sangria. We were given the opportunity to try oranges, and almonds straight from the plant at the roadside. We also got to go to one of Portugal’s highest points with incredible views, and went to their own farm to try homemade goods - jams, honey and liquor. There is so much more I could say about this fabulous experience, but I think that you should experience it for yourselves!Written February 11, 2025
- carlawO5191PP0 contributionsExcellent tour/ Friendly guideGreat tour! The tour focused on some of the lesser known spots in the Algarve. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I especially appreciated that the tour was designed with some flexibility and we never were being rushed through any points of interest. I feel like the tour did a good job of showing a more authentic side of Portugal.Written February 6, 2025
- carlawill140 contributionsBest tour worth every penny and more.Our driver was Tiago, he was amazing so knowledgeable and so accommodating, we were with a lovely couple and the dinner was fantastic the views were great and the little part in the middle were we got to taste home made jams and liquor was lovley. I would recommend this tour all day long it is the best i have been on if you want to know all about the area and for the price was definitely worth it. Thankyou very much for making our first day so memorable 👌 including the couple also perfect compant and your guide.Written February 1, 2025
- Froxy540 contributionsOctopus Stew, who knewWe had a very informative day. There was only one other couple on our tour and they were also Canadian so we had lunch together and when we had time to do our own touring in towns we did it with them. Our guide made extra stops for us to see Flamingos in the salinas, Falesia beach at sunset, and had to adjust his schedule in Tavira because something on the tour was closed so he came up with an alternative to the predicament, and let me buy the last loaf of bread at his favourite bakery in Olhao, when he was going to buy it. His lunch suggestion to go to an authentic restaurant called Domino in Olhao was absolutely perfect, I tried octopus stew, amazing. It was such an informative day, and beautiful places, thanks Mario Jose.Written January 29, 2025
- dr_reagan0 contributionsMario was a fantastic super informative guide!We booked the all day West Coast excursion, but due to low booking, they switched us to the Historic Tour. We are happy they did! We received so much information and special treatment from Mario, our tour guide. The places visited were well mapped out on this tour, and Mario was so knowledgeable about them all. From ancient history, to horticulture and everything in between. This is a must tour if in the Algarve. Ask for Mario!Written January 8, 2025
- Luciana I0 contributionsFabulous day out. Really worth it.We had a wonderful experience with our guide Mario Calado. He had so much knowledge about the region and stopped in different locations to give us a truly insight of the area including of the local production of salt and agriculture. He showed us the most relevant buildings, their history and talked about their architecture. Mario went above and beyond to ensure we all had a great time and provided the information in both English and Portuguese. The amount of time spent in each city was perfect as we didn't feel rushed and had enough time to enjoy each of them. Even our young son was entertained and enjoyed the day. I highly recommend this tour especially the guide Mario. Thank you for your dedication and attention.Written January 3, 2025
- F423SApb0 contributionsonly ok and a stretch to say it was value for money we paidWould love to give the experience 5 stars but I cant because there are issues which we had with the experience. Pedro, our guide, did his best, with a jeep that had seen better days to say the least and a command of English that left a lot to be desired. The itineary was a bit over stated and consisted of orange tree, duck, pony, pig,stray dog, cat and chicken, spotting as well as a couple of nice beaty spot visits and a pleasant farm visit. All in all, a fun way to pass the day, with guides that tried their very best, but not worth the amount we paid in truthWritten December 27, 2024
- ronl0 contributionsPoorWe booked this trip through Viator. Alsafari Tours cancelled it as nobody else booked it. I cannot believe it but both Asafari and Viator asked me to review the trip even though it was cancelled. We hope now that they will be honest and refund the money.Written December 12, 2024
- marysW8373KA0 contributionsExcellent tour of Eastern AlgarveThis was an excellent tour. Our tour operator was very knowledgeable and very pleasant. I would recommend this tour. Thank you for taking care of our pick up location.Written December 8, 2024
- staceytF3081QG0 contributionsGreat Tour in Authentic PortugalWe had so much fun on our trip with Jorge. He was so knowledgeable and entertaining. What a great guy, we really learnt a lot and we had plenty of stops so we could look around and try some local produce which was out of this world. We really got to know our fellow passengers three lovely French ladies who made the journey even more fun, only wish were exchanged details :( Thoroughly recommend this company to everyoneWritten November 25, 2024
- Judy K0 contributionsGreat ride through little villagesThis was a fun tour of the back country and small villages within an hour's drive from Albufiera. Our jeep driver, Alvaro was knowledgeable and entertaining even though we was a substitute for someone sick. We drove through the small towns, stopped to see some farm animals, saw lots of orange and grape orchards, saw different trees, olives, almonds,pepper, etc and iI was most impressed by the cork trees and story of harvesting the cork. We did some stops at Alte, high point to get some wonderful view of the Algarve and at the alsafari farm where we tried some good liquors and sauces. The soup , chicken and sangria drinks were very good at the Cataplana. The jeeps were sturdy looking but I would recommend a good cushion or bumper guard for the ceiling area at the back of the jeep . The back seats are elevated and adult heads stick out which is fine and with all the shaking movements on the rough terrain , everyone can get extra safety measure with proper cushion( in case of head bump like I did ) while having fun.Written November 21, 2024
- D1031RSrichg0 contributionsMiguel the amazingWe had a great time.Miguel the elder was our guide, what a guy,funny, welcoming, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the area. History, farming, the people , the landscape , nothing was out of his reach. We will definitely do it again with the rest of our family. Highly recommendedWritten November 21, 2024
- 26shannae0 contributionsPhenomenal day out!The experience completely exceeded my expectations! Firstly, our guide was so knowledgeable and so funny, I was entertained entirely by his commentary alone. Secondly, the experience of driving around in an open top jeep was insanely fun! Feeling the sun beam down on us and being able to see, hear and smell everything so vividly was priceless plus the routes are very entertaining with all the offroading! Lastly, the views - WOW! There are no words to explain how stunning the Algarve is when you get away from the main tourist spots. I would recommend to everyone, you will experience the real Portugal in all it's magic! And I hugely recommend this company, so much was included and was amazing value for money. I will definitely use them again when I go back next year!Written November 21, 2024
- linamaris20240 contributions100/10Such a great trip! I loved all the information we got about the different plants, fruits and berries! I really liked the lunch as well, and looking at the landscape, and the small villages! Me and my boyfriend loved this trip, and we also had a great guide!:)Written November 20, 2024
- Maria D0 contributionsA nice tour with a great guideI booked both tours to Eastern Algarve and the historical tour to Western Algarve with Alsafari Tours. The company is very accommodating. They pick you up from your hotel even if it's not in the list of pickup stops and could leave you at the railway station or bus station in Albufeira if you want. Both times I was lucky to have Rui as a guide. He was a wonderful driver, who, being a local, knew the shortcuts well. He also shared a lot of information about Portuguese history, flora and everyday life which made also driving time in the bus enjoyable and entertaining. The tour to eastern Algarve included stops in Faro, Olhao where we had lunch, Tavira and Cacela Velha. The tour wasn't rushed and we had enough free time in all the places. We were back to Albufeira around 5.30 pm. I wholeheartedly recommend this company and the tour which is a nice way to see parts of Eastern Algarve.Written November 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
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Maria D
Varna, Bulgaria43 contributions
I booked both tours to Eastern Algarve and the historical tour to Western Algarve with Alsafari Tours. The company is very accommodating. They pick you up from your hotel even if it's not in the list of pickup stops and could leave you anywhere in Albufeira be it at the railway station or the city centre.
Both times I was lucky to have Rui as a guide. He was a wonderful driver, who, being a local, knew the shortcuts well. He also shared a lot of information about Portuguese history, flora and everyday life. This made the long driving time in the bus enjoyable and entertaining.
The tour to Western Algarve included stops in Silves, Foia (the highest point in Algarve), Lagos where we had lunch at a restaurant of our choice, and Cabo de Sao Vicente. I loved the tour because it was a mixture of natural and cultural places of interest. Also make sure to book it in good weather because if the weather is bad, they could skip the visit to the mountain. By the way, it was very windy and cold up there even though we were blessed with sunny weather in the end of October. On our way we also passed by Monchique and Sagres so we saw a bit of them as well. We were back to Albufeira around 5.30 pm.
I recommend this company and the tour which is a nice combination of historical sites and natural highlights.
Both times I was lucky to have Rui as a guide. He was a wonderful driver, who, being a local, knew the shortcuts well. He also shared a lot of information about Portuguese history, flora and everyday life. This made the long driving time in the bus enjoyable and entertaining.
The tour to Western Algarve included stops in Silves, Foia (the highest point in Algarve), Lagos where we had lunch at a restaurant of our choice, and Cabo de Sao Vicente. I loved the tour because it was a mixture of natural and cultural places of interest. Also make sure to book it in good weather because if the weather is bad, they could skip the visit to the mountain. By the way, it was very windy and cold up there even though we were blessed with sunny weather in the end of October. On our way we also passed by Monchique and Sagres so we saw a bit of them as well. We were back to Albufeira around 5.30 pm.
I recommend this company and the tour which is a nice combination of historical sites and natural highlights.
Written November 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denise C
Weaverham, UK10 contributions
A fantastic day full of history. Benny was our driver and he was amazing, despite being Dutch he has lived in the Algarve for 29 years and had a wealth of knowledge about the history of Portugal and the Algarve area. This was a small tour of 8 people which means that you get to see some of the areas not accessible by coach. We enjoyed Silves and Lagos mostly (only due to the fact that the mountain was foggy). I highly recommend this trip if you want a more personalised tour filled with lots of history.
Written November 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren F
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Firstly, the tour team were great before the trip and kindly reached out to let us know the capacity for our intended tour hadn’t been met, so offered a solution via upgrade to the historical tour instead, free of charge. From pick up to end the tour was incredible, mostly due to our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide Rui (my friend). We saw and learnt so much more about the Algarve than we imagined, including personal touches to showcase the local agricultural. Nothing was too much to ask, and he accommodated all of our different needs and languages fluidly without any compromise to the integrity of the tour. We also got time to explore many places and get lots of photos. The only thing that could make this even better would be slightly more reliable AC in the tour van. Would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to learn as much as possible in a short period of time.
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mw2022
Barnsley, UK46 contributions
Our guide was Benny, he picked up the 6 of us outside the doors of our hotel. He was Dutch and spoke 6 languages, lovely man, good sense of humour and his history knowledge was outstanding. We enjoyed all the sites on the tour especially the mountain view and St Vicente at the south west tip of Europe. I couldn’t give a full 5/5 because there was a couple of things the tour might do a little better, I think that it would be nice if our guide could take us inside the attractions as a group, such as the castle at Silves, and if the cost to get in was included in the price. The stops don’t allow that much time to stay, except lagos where you get about 1 & 1/2 hours, although we didn’t really know what to do with ourselves.
We did seem to spend a lot of time in the vehicle doing miles around the Algarve. However we did really enjoy what we saw, and Benny was a fantastic host, he gets 5/5
We did seem to spend a lot of time in the vehicle doing miles around the Algarve. However we did really enjoy what we saw, and Benny was a fantastic host, he gets 5/5
Written August 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inspire54392654172
France1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Couples
I booked a trip with a guide in French. The guide who was mainly a driver spoke 90% in English!!! Historical details 0 for us French people. As the bus was not equipped with headphones, we heard nothing during the entire trip which lasted 10 hours!!! It was a long day . I advise you to change operator

Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natasja De Keijzer
11 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Super nice experience to get to know the area. Too bad the guide told everything in English (with occasional Dutch translation of difficult words, because we were several people from other countries. I had deliberately booked a Dutch guide for my children. My eldest had a lot of trouble following it. Furthermore, seen a lot with an enthusiastic guide who knows a lot about the area and its history.
Automatically translated
Written July 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ianwebb75
London, UK1,541 contributions
This tour lived up to its name. Mario from start to finish was awesome!! Passionate and informative, Mario took us on a journey through time and told the stories of the Algarve, its beginnings and trade history through to the great surf spots and best places to eat. The views are amazing. Highly recommend.
Written May 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
primaadanna
Atlanta, GA25 contributions
I met our guide, Fernando, at the McDonald's in Albuferia. The tour was comprehensive, and a lot of ground was covered in a full day, roughly 300km. Fernando was an excellent guide and quite knowledgeable. The stops had stunning views, history, and/or artifacts. Fernado provided a lot of history and context to the architecture, tourism, landscape, and lives of the Portuguese people. Lunch is pretty late in the day at Lagos, so pack snacks or be prepared to buy snacks at some of the stops. I was staying in Faro a 20 to 30 minute train ride away; note that all of the tour pick-up locations are in Albufeira, I would suggest the tour company add a pick up at the train station for clients not stay in Albufeira. Fernando was kind enough to drop me off at the train station at the end of the tour. Overall, it was a great tour!
Written May 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reachbgk
Chicago, IL65 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
The your guide was very knowledgeable and a history buff. he shared lot of interesting details and educated us throughout the trip. He also played some traditional music (fado) was us. He made the trip very enjoyable.
Reason for 4 stars :
1) the tour description makes it sound like lunch is included but it is not. I think the description needs to be worded more clearly
2) We were given 2 hours in Lagos which we did not find helpful. Instead we would have liked more time at Sagres. We were only given 20 mins which is not enough. That area requires a good hour and there are multiple points along the way that you can stop at.
I understand the itinerary from the tour operator's standpoint. They have to cater to people with different interests and they cannot please everyone. In hindsight, I would have rented my own car and spent time at all the natural attractions as per my personal needs. Going with the tour is a bit of a compromise and you are dependent on their timelines.
Reason for 4 stars :
1) the tour description makes it sound like lunch is included but it is not. I think the description needs to be worded more clearly
2) We were given 2 hours in Lagos which we did not find helpful. Instead we would have liked more time at Sagres. We were only given 20 mins which is not enough. That area requires a good hour and there are multiple points along the way that you can stop at.
I understand the itinerary from the tour operator's standpoint. They have to cater to people with different interests and they cannot please everyone. In hindsight, I would have rented my own car and spent time at all the natural attractions as per my personal needs. Going with the tour is a bit of a compromise and you are dependent on their timelines.
Written December 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynsey M
9 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Mario led our small group and has a real talent for arriving at locations just before large tourist groups. It was flexible and Mario is a local who knew loads of good spots and information. He went above and beyond to show us extras and some of his favourite spots that’s weren’t expressly part of the trip. We had plenty of time to ourselves to explore where we stopped. It was much more personal and didn’t feel like a touristy trip.
Mario himself made the day, he is so knowledgable of the Algarve, incredibly likeable and friendly. He shared his personal experiences with us, loves a joke and gave loads of recommendations for just about everything (where to eat, good wines, the best things to see/do/go etc…). I was travelling alone and the others on the trip were two older couples. Mario was excellent at making everyone feel comfortable and included in conversation.
I was last to be dropped off and Mario went out of his way to show me some good places to eat near my accommodation (I went to The Market for dinner on his recommendation and loved it!).
I couldn’t recommend this enough. And thanks so much again, Mario!
Mario himself made the day, he is so knowledgable of the Algarve, incredibly likeable and friendly. He shared his personal experiences with us, loves a joke and gave loads of recommendations for just about everything (where to eat, good wines, the best things to see/do/go etc…). I was travelling alone and the others on the trip were two older couples. Mario was excellent at making everyone feel comfortable and included in conversation.
I was last to be dropped off and Mario went out of his way to show me some good places to eat near my accommodation (I went to The Market for dinner on his recommendation and loved it!).
I couldn’t recommend this enough. And thanks so much again, Mario!
Written April 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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