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Dutch TV crew films Algarve’s lesser known attractions
Updated: 24-Aug-2012

Geraldine Kemper and cameraman Ivo Kasbergen at Arrifana beach Photo: SUPPLIED

A Dutch television crew from travel programme 3-op-reis was in the Algarve in June to discover and film the Algarve’s lesser known tourist attractions.

The team told the Algarve Resident this week that it was “flabbergasted” with how much the region has to offer its visitors and invites all to watch the programme being shown this Sunday, August 26 at BNN on Nederland 3 at 19.50.

The non-commercial Dutch travel programme, watched weekly by more than 750,000 viewers, is known for its presenter’s trips all over the world. Floortje Dessing is a famous travel journalist, who earlier this year filmed a unique documentary in Korea. She was one of the few journalists allowed to enter the country.

She visited the Algarve in March for her new book. Company Heavenly Events put together an attractive travel itinerary for Geraldine Kemper, one of their presenters, to come back to film the Algarve and its many little known attractions.

Geraldine with Sasha Zoe de Groot and Naomi Francis de Groot after they interviewed people at the beach about what makes the Algarve so special Photo: SUPPLIED

For the summer edition of the BNN channel, Geraldine travelled from Brussels via Paris, Biarritz, Salamanca and Seville ending her trip in the Algarve.

Her Algarve foray started in Fuseta in the east, where they visited the Ria Formosa and its islands Armona, Culatra and Farol. The TV crew rented a boat for the full day from Passeios Ria Formosa.

From spotting dolphins to seeing sea horses, having a caipirinha at beach bar Mar a Mais, lunch at Á do João to a walk on Armona bay, the team were able to make the most of their time in this unique part of the Algarve.

The next day, they drove a 30-year-old VW bus from Siesta Campers, passing by Albufeira to later spending the day at Praia do Alvor, where one of the few female surf teachers in the Algarve, Sofia Teles, taught Geraldine how to kite surf. Following this, the crew enjoyed a picnic of home-made gazpacho and other fresh foods from Taste Algarve.

Gerardine and her Siesta Camper in Fuseta Photo: SUPPLIED

The west coast was then visited and a stop made at Aldeia da Pedralva, a restored typical tourism village just above Vila do Bispo. The location has much to offer including affordable, authentic accommodation with surfing, biking and trekking programmes.

The trip ended at Longevity Wellness Resort in Monchique where they hiked part of the Via Algarviana in the mountains, quenched their thirst with fresh water from the springs at Caldas de Monchique and enjoyed a massage from Barre de Groot, a well-know therapist on the coast.

Karin van den Hemel, who regularly hosts journalists, was hired as the “fixer” for the BNN crew and took pride in putting the itinerary together.

The crew enjoying a picnic prepared by Taste Algarve in Praia do Alvor (also read page 23) Photo: SUPPLIED

She said: “We show the Algarve in a positive way focussing on its unique and varied features and only by working together, promoting each other’s businesses, will we all do well.”

Karin said she could not have done this without the help of Heavenly Events, which coordinated the event and attracted companies to promote unique travel experiences.

For more details about 3-op-reis and interesting travel information, please visit 3opreis.bnn.nl