Silves Tours

29/07/2024

Passeio no cume acima de Silves

Ridge Ride above Silves

04/07/2024

Caros,

Com alguns amigos subimos ao topo da serra de Monchique para fazer um piquenique. Eles filmaram e eu editei e estou satisfeito com o resultado.

O último vídeo de jipe ​​que editei há um ano era de um percurso diferente de 2,5 horas, era mais curto e mais sobre a paisagem.

Este é mais longo e é mais uma história. Vou utilizá-lo para promover o meu último passeio: uma viagem de regresso à Picota, o segundo cume mais alto de Monchique. O passeio dura cerca de 4,5 a 5 horas, mas se você adicionar refeições ou um piquenique ou passeios opcionais, pode ser mais longo.

🙏🙂🙏

22/06/2024

Dear Guests and Friends,

The new season has began and I have much to share. The last months I have been quiet, not only because it was the calm part of the year but also for other reasons...

First of all my beloved 35 year old jeep needed a break from the bumpy dirt roads we travel together. "He" or "She" has enjoyed 6 months of restoration in a garage and is now back in action.

Secondly, I decided to stop the boat trips. Until now I was allowed to navigate alone with customers (because I have a small boat, stay on the river and do not go out to sea). But recently the rules have changed - due to a fatal incident in the Portimão harbour - and I am obliged to employ a second crew member. Not only is this an extra cost but it is impractical to organize as the times of the tides change every day on the river… So with a little sadness and nostalgia it is time to let this activity go.

This winter the walking tour of Historic Silves has continued to grow. The walk is published on the Silvestours website but is also popular on the GuruWalk platform (https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/46108-free-walking-tour-of-historic-silves). I usually guide couples or small groups but sometimes there are larger groups. The largest group so far were 32 Canadians and I was sided with an audio system.

I am excited about the new Jeep Tour up to "Picota", the second and most untouched of the Monchique summits. It is almost 5 hours plus time for optional extra walks or meals. It is quite a long and adventurous ride but the varied landscapes, river crossings and views from above make it all worth it ... an intense and beautiful experience. I explored this route last year and now want to promote it. Last Sunday, 16 June, a friend filmed it with his drone and I am busy editing a video.

There will be a new tour this year probably called "Secrets of the Coast". As a child I spent sunny and relaxed summers in the Algarve and know the coastline very well. South of Silves, between Armaçao de Pera and Benagil there are still areas with sand roads, hidden beaches and exciting places to swim or walk. I plan to do a jeep tour showing some of these places with optional stops for walks, a drink or short swim to a "secret" beach.

Occasionally I guide walks in the local countryside. These walks are custom made but I realize that many guests prefer a more detailed itinerary in advance. After the summer I think I will develop one or two fixed itineraries - with photos and prices - to present on my website.

Lastly the combination of Jeep Safari with a visit to a winery continues as before.

Best Wishes to All.

21/06/2024

Caros hóspedes e amigos,

A nova época turística já começou. Desejo-vos felicidades e tenho muito para partilhar. Nos últimos meses estive em silêncio... Não só por ser a altura mais calma do ano, mas também por outras razões.

Antes de mais, o meu querido jipe de 35 anos precisava de uma pausa das estradas de terra que percorremos juntos. "Ele" ou "ela" teve 6 meses de restauro numa garagem e está agora de volta à ação.

Em segundo lugar, decidi parar com os passeios de barco. Até agora, era-me permitido navegar sozinho com os clientes (porque tenho um barco pequeno, fico no rio e não vou para o mar). Mas recentemente as regras mudaram - devido a um acidente fatal no porto de Portimão - e sou obrigado a contratar um segundo tripulante. Não só é um custo adicional, como também é impraticável de organizar, uma vez que os horários das marés mudam todos os dias no rio... Por isso, com alguma tristeza e nostalgia, é altura de deixar esta atividade.

Este inverno, o meu passeio a pé de duas horas pela zona histórica de Silves continuou a crescer. O passeio é publicado no sítio Web, mas também é popular na plataforma GuruWalk (https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/46108-free-walking-tour-of-historic-silves). Normalmente guio casais ou pequenos grupos, mas por vezes há grupos maiores, por exemplo, um passeio guiado com 32 canadianos e um sistema áudio.

Estou entusiasmado com a viagem de jipe mais longa até à "Picota", o segundo e mais intacto dos cumes de Monchique. São quase 5 horas, mais tempo para passeios ou refeições opcionais. É uma viagem bastante longa e aventureira, mas as paisagens variadas, as travessias de rios e as vistas lá de cima fazem com que tudo valha a pena, é uma experiência intensa e bela. Explorei esta rota no ano passado e agora quero promover o passeio. No passado domingo, dia 16 de junho, um amigo filmou-a com o seu drone e estou a editar alguns vídeos.

Este ano, haverá um novo passeio, provavelmente chamado "Segredos da Costa". Quando era criança, passei verões ensolarados e descontraídos no Algarve e conheço muito bem a linha costeira. A sul de Silves, entre Armação de Pêra e Benagil, ainda há zonas com estradas de areia, praias escondidas e sítios excitantes para nadar ou caminhar. Tenciono fazer um passeio de jipe mostrando alguns destes locais com paragens opcionais para um pequeno passeio, uma bebida ou um mergulho de 20 metros numa praia "secreta".

Ocasionalmente, oriento passeios no campo local. Estes passeios são feitos à medida, mas apercebo-me que muitos hóspedes preferem um itinerário mais detalhado com antecedência. Depois do verão, penso desenvolver um ou dois itinerários fixos - com fotos e preços - para apresentar no meu site.

Por fim, a combinação do Jeep Safari com uma visita a uma adega continua como antes.

Felicidades para todos.

18/07/2023

Eu faço safaris de jipe ​​até Monchique (que recomendo vivamente) mas já tem belas vistas das colinas mais perto de Silves. A maioria destas paisagens f**a a 15 minutos de jipe ​​de Silves, a mais distante no máximo 40 minutos. Cumprimentos. Thyl.

I do Safaris all the way up the Monchique (which I highly recommend) but you already have beautiful landscapes closer to town. All the footage here is between 15 and 40 minutes from Silves.

29/06/2023

Hello Friends,

in this hot weather the cool blue water is particularly inviting. I have recently learned how to edit my own videos and a friend helped with some drone footage. This video is when we where the Arade River joins the Odelouca River on the way to Portimão. The first part of our trip we glide very gently along the narrow section of the river but then we speed up a little as the river widens and feel the wind in our hair.
Regards and happy holidays,
Thyl

16/05/2023

Dear Friends,
Blue skies, the friendly sun and the season sprouting... Back in full swing with a few new surprises. I highlight especially the "Monchique Discovery", a 6 hour combination of jeep safari, 2 hikes (to some natural springs and the Picota summit) and a picnic that I prepare with a local touch. It took some exploration off the beaten track to find this original route but I am very satisfied: the hills displayed at their best - all the scenic variety unseen from the normal road. Wishing you all the best and below some vistas from the last year. 🙂🙂🙂

05/01/2023

In the "quiet" season there is more time to paint. The landscapes are often of the Algarvian countryside but this time some inspiration from the jungle canopy. Have a great New Year.

21/12/2022

A sunny winter day is the perfect moment to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views of the hills or to have a walk in historic Silves. I offer personalised tours on foot and with my jeep in Silves, the surrounding countryside and also up the Monchique. Meals, walks, picnics, medronho or wine tasting ... are all options which can be added to a trip. Have a look at my website Silvestours.com or give me a call (+351 928 080 653). Merry Xmas to all !!

10/10/2022

Hello Friends, beautiful water and weather on the Arade River approaching Portimāo. In 10 days I drive to Morocco on holiday so join me on a River Cruise before winter. More info at www.silvestours.com. All the best. Thyl

16/06/2022

Drifting close to the pretty fishing village of Ferragudo, on a rivercruise, between Silves and the sea.

16/06/2022

Passing by the pretty fishing village of Ferragudo on a rivercruise between Silves and the sea.

19/05/2022

Walking tours in Silves, a 2 hour overview of the beautiful town where I live, past and present.

05/05/2022

Yesterday evening in the hills

26/04/2022

Hello friends and guests, Welcome to a new season of Walks, Jeep Safaris and River cruises starting from Silves.

10/09/2021

07/08/2021

Under the bridge

19/07/2021

The great blue...

16/07/2021

Road trip with kiddies along the Guadiana River to Mertola. Not exactly Silves or even the Algarve but Mertola reminds me of Silves in many ways... Both towns were ports as far as one could navigate up the river. Both saw Phoenecians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Germanic tribes, Moors, Monastic Knights and Portuguese passing through. Both are beautiful although the setting of Mertola is more dramatic. Both have a Moorish presence, a hill, a Castle on top, a citadel, and the river below...

23/06/2021

Dear All,
Here is a shortened one minute promotional video about River Cruises and Jeep Safaris starting in Silves.
All the best.
Thyl

https://youtu.be/9QUCVyOyv48

Short overview of the tours offered by Silves Tours

22/06/2021

HISTORY WALK SILVES.
A few weeks ago I guided a history walk for the first time. It was an enriching experience which I enjoyed with a nice group of people. I was a little nervous at first and wanted to do it well, partly because the organiser was a city guide herself. It was a challenge to lead a large group and also a big motivation to study more history. Silves is a beautiful town and encapsulates many themes. It is possible to touch on many questions of general interest, without need for too many details. I have enjoyed guiding and driving nature tours, for small groups, the last two years. This was something similar but also very different! I think I would like to develop this further, a new service of Silves Tours in the years to come.

25/05/2021

One misty moisty morning

23/05/2021

Hello everyone, here is a short introduction to the history of Silves.

22/05/2021

Evening glory viewed from beyond