Algarve in Autumn 2026

25 October – 8 November 2025

Great Driving, Great Hotels, a Trackday and the Classic!!

Extend the Summer with a run to the Sun!
October and November might be wet, cold and blustery in the UK but It usually isn’t in Spain and Portugal and the 2026 Algarve Tour may be your last opportunity to get the hood down and feel the warmth of the sun.
We’ve put together a trip which will give great driving, great hotels, stunning scenery and a range of fun things to do. Spanish and Portuguese roads are in the main very quiet and where we’re going, great fun to drive on! We’ve had a process or ringing the changes so there are new stops to change the mix but 2025 was so good we thought we should have a reprise. Years ago after the very first day’s driving, a participant exclaimed “I’ve just driven down the best road on the planet!” In 2022 we had bright sunshine and blue skies pretty much every day bar one, when it rained at night!—not bad for October/November. In 2025 it rained once—at night again!
Starting with an afternoon crossing from Plymouth to Santander on the luxury Pont Aven, we get an early afternoon arrival so there’s plenty of time for a scenic run through the Picos de Europa mountains before running on to our first stop at Segovia with its fairytale palace, Roman aquaduct and buzzing city centre; we’re staying a short cab ride away, with great views over the city and the cathedral.
After Segovia it’s off for two nights at Hacienda Zorita, just outside Salamanca. This is an outstanding wine hotel, Christopher Columbus stayed there twice and the wonderful ancient centre of Salamanca is a short drive away, the food is always outstanding. Our next stop is at Merida, a world heritage city and the site of the best preserved Roman ruins in Iberia, the emperor Trajan was Spanish! Then we head south to Huelva on a fantastic road and then straight into Portugal to Alvor , which is just 12 miles from the circuit. We will have VIP passes for Saturday and Sunday and there may also be the chance to join an on-track parade
After the racing we’re off to Jerez for a night at the Hotel Puerto Sherry which is a lovely marina side hotel in El Puerto de Santa Maria, on Cadiz bay. It is styled inside like an art deco liner and it’s a stop where we are always more than welcome After Jerez we go to Durcal just outside Granada for two nights and a track day at the Circuito de Guadix. Here, with an English team, safety is the best and the circuit never bores. Lewis Hamilton trained at Guadix in his early days and a large number of well known drivers and teams test there all year round.
Sooner or later we have to head for home, so we’ve organised a great drive; from Granada we head to Toledo for a night with a great view and great city and then skirt Madrid over some super mountain passes for our last night in the wonderful 17th Century Palace Hotel in Lerma with a cool Saturday drive to the ferry
The trip will be limited to 20 cars and Jasper Gilder will accompany this group.

Sun 25 Oct Afternoon departure from Plymouth on the Pont Aven
Mon 26 Oct

 

 

Arrive Santander and drive to Segovia for a night—It’s a great town with the Aquaduct, Castle and Cathedral  (They claim the Disney Magic Kingdom castle is based on theirs—so do others!) The hotel is modern, but the views are great (225 miles)
Tues 27 Oct Drive to Salamanca for two nights at the brilliant Hacienda Zorita—a     superb spot just outside the city—we’ll work on getting secure parking just outside the medieval centre (106 miles)
Thurs 29 Oct Drive to Merida for an overnight at the Parador which is an 18th century convent in the heart of this world heritage city (170 miles)
Fri 30 Oct Drive to Alvor for three nights at the beach front Pestana Alvor Praia Hotel 12 miles from the circuit. The drive today is also a real drivers road, for mile after mile! We will have full circuit passes and hospitality for the Saturday and Sunday (245 miles)
Mon 2 Nov Drive to El Puerto de Santa Maria  for a night at the waterside Hotel Puerto Sherry (220 miles)
Tues 3 Nov Drive to Durcal for two nights at Hotel El Senorio de Nevada, a beautiful new hotel in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. The hotel has it’s own winery and always spoil us with just the best food (195 miles)
Wed 4 Nov Exclusive trackday at Circuito MikeG at Guadix; with a British team and very high standards we should be able to operate an open pit lane
Thurs 5 Nov Time to head North—drive to Toledo a night in the Parador—the best Hotel view in Spain? It’s very spectacular—(245 miles)
Fri 6 Nov Drive to Lerma for our last night in the C17th Palace (175 miles)
Sat 7 Nov Drive to Santander for early afternoon departure on the Salamanca  (156 miles)
Sun 8 Nov Mid evening arrival at Portsmouth

Tour Booking & Information

  • Overnight accommodation as described.
  • Return Ferry to Spain with outside cabin
  • Dinner bed and breakfast at all hotels
  • Exclusive Track day at Circuito MikeG at Guadix
  • Services of Jasper Gilder as tour leader
  • Map and Road book.

Price £4950 per car with driver and one passenger

 

To book contact Jasper

Tel:+44 (0) 1442 842542
Mob: 07831 327727
Email: info@driveespana.com