A dream Algarve

I am arriving at the airport of Lighthouse and private transfer to Monte Rei Golf & Country Club (Approximately 50 minutes east, along a coast that changes colour with every bend). Upon arrival, the resort welcomes you with its elegant architecture overlooking the hills of the Eastern Algarve — 400 hectares of absolute peace.

Check in to your suite with countryside or ocean views. Free afternoon to explore the resort: infinity pool, spa, or simply a stroll among the olive and carob trees surrounding the course. For your first evening, the restaurant Views The resort offers contemporary Portuguese cuisine with local, zero-kilometre produce and an Alentejo wine list that deserves attention.

Breakfast at the resort and departure for the Monte Rei North Course, the crown jewel of the resort and of Portugal as a whole. 18 holes, par 72, 7182 yards by Jack Nicklaus — each hole is a different painting, with the mountains of the Serra do Caldeirão to the north and the Atlantic Ocean shimmering to the south on the horizon.

The course challenges players of all levels with undulating fairways that wind through Mediterranean scrub, ancient olive trees and strategic water hazards. The large, fast greens reward accuracy and strategy.

Lunch at the Clubhouse di Monte Rei with panoramic views of the course. Afternoon relaxing by the pool or at the resort's SPA. Evening free — we suggest dinner at the fishing village of Cacela Velha, one of the Algarve's most charming villages.

After breakfast, transfer to Quinta da Ria Golf Course, an 18-hole course nestled in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, one of Portugal's seven natural wonders. Here, golf meets nature in its purest form.

From the first tee, the view stretches across the lagoon, the Atlantic Ocean, and the beach of Cacela Velha, awarded among the most beautiful in the world. The path, designed with great respect for the surrounding ecosystem, crosses wetlands where it is not uncommon to spot pink flamingos, storks and herons.

Lunch at the clubhouse. Free afternoon: we recommend a boat trip in the Ria Formosa to discover the reef islands with their deserted beaches, or a tasting of fresh oysters straight from the lagoon farms. Dinner at your leisure.

A day without golf to experience the Algarve beyond the fairways. Several options await you:

For sea lovers: morning on the beach at Green Beach o Manta Ray, the most beautiful beaches on the east coast — golden sand, crystal-clear water and very few crowds, even in high season.

For explorers: hike to Tavira, the most elegant city in the Algarve, with its gabled roofs, Roman bridge and fish markets where you will have lunch with the best Grilled octopus of the region.

For gourmets: wine tasting in the’Alentejo, a wine region an hour's drive away, or a Portuguese cooking class with a local chef. Return to the resort for a relaxing evening.

Breakfast and transfer to Quinta de Cima Golf Course, designed by the American architect Rocky Roquemore as a championship course. A strategic test of golf: the opening par 5 welcomes you gently, but don't be fooled.

As the round progresses, the Dogleg They become more insidious, the undulating greens defend themselves with deep bunkers and water hazards come into play at the most delicate moments. A course that rewards thoughtful play and precision with the iron.

Lunch in the clubhouse and return to the resort in the afternoon. SPA, swimming pool or a walk along the resort's botanical trail amongst Mediterranean aromatic plants. For the evening, we suggest the restaurant Noélia Cabanas de Tavira — freshest fish, straight from boat to table.

A day of your choice. For those who can't get enough: second round at Monte Rei North Course (supplement on request), because a signed Nicklaus course deserves to be played at least twice – and the second time, knowing the course, is even more rewarding.

For those who prefer relaxation: morning at the Spa from the resort with treatments inspired by Portuguese tradition (olive oil, sea salt, Algarve aromatic herbs), followed by a light lunch by the pool.

In the afternoon, cultural option: visit to the Forte de Cacela from the 18th century with views of the lagoon, or shopping for artisan ceramics and azulejos in the centre of Tavira. Dinner at your leisure.

Final day of golf and a grand finale in style: transfer to Quinta do Vale Golf Resort, signed by the legendary Severiano Ballesteros. A championship 18-hole layout perfectly integrated into the landscape, in a natural valley dominated by the clubhouse with breathtaking views of River Guadiana — the natural border between Portugal and Spain.

The course, which opened in 2007, reflects Seve's philosophy: spectacular, creative golf that demands imagination as well as technique. Generous fairways but well-defended greens, with the Atlantic wind adding a further variable to the game.

Lunch at the clubhouse overlooking the river. Return to the resort for a final afternoon of relaxation. Farewell dinner — we suggest the resort's gourmet restaurant for a send-off befitting this extraordinary trip.

Breakfast at the resort with a final look over the Algarve hills. Check-out and private transfer to the airport Lighthouse (circa 50 minutes).

The end of our services — but not of the memory of this land of sun, golf, and flavours.