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Cycle Europe - serving bicycle travellers since 1972

Bicycle Tours — Portugal

Cycling the Alentejo region: Portugal's Best Castles and Wine

Self-Guided - Arraiolos to Estremoz - 8 days

On this tour you will cycle through Roman ruins, rural paradise and one of the most ancient towns in Europe: Evora, world heritage site. You will pass by the Alqueva reservoir, one of the world's best places for stargazing, at the border with Spain. Visit artisan centers, wine and cheese making farms and marble workshops.

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  • Day 1

    Tour begins in Arraiolos, Portugal

    Highlights: mediaeval village famous for its round-shaped castle and embroidered carpets

    Welcome to Arraiolos! We meet this afternoon at your first charm hotel, built in a wonderful 16th century convent. We will fit bicycles and go over route details.
    Take a walk around the center of Arraiolos and admire the castle while tasting a delicious 'pasteis de toucinho' or relax in the hotel swimming pool before dinner on your own.

  • Day 2

    Cycle from Arraiolos to our guesthouse out of Evora

    Highlights: winery with its private carriage collections

    Today's ride starts cycling through Arraiolos' rich historical centre. Here you can visit the carpet’s museum, where you'll learn about the history of this almost millennium tradition, and climb to the castle, one of the few round shaped in the peninsula, and conquer its unforgettable views from there.
    On your way to Évora, you may want to visit a winery also famous for its carriage collection, or an aromatic herbs farm.
    You will sleep at our guesthouse tonight.

    Daily distance: 45 km (28 miles)
    Elevation gain: +389 m (1276 ft)

    Accomodation: our guesthouse Hotel Mar de Ar Muralhas, or similar

  • Day 3

    Loop ride on the Megalithic route or on the Wine and Cork route

    Highlights: Ancient Roman settlement of Evora, prehistorical sites and 5,000 years of history or Cork factory and wineries

    Today you have a choice today between two loop rides:
    - The first one will take you on the Megalithic route: visit one of the biggest dolmen and one of the most important cromlech in Europe.
    - On the second loop you will cycle to a cork factory, where you'll see how cork is transformed and learn about all you can do with it!

    You will sleep in Evora tonight - inhabited for more than 2000 years, Evora is on the roster of most ancient towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Be brave and visit the surreal XIII century bone chapel.

    Daily distance:
    - Megalithic route 25-40km (16-25 miles)
    - Wine and Cork route 42-62km (26-39 miles)

  • Day 4

    Cycling from Evora to Reguengos de Monsaraz

    Highlights: Degebe river valley, castle of Valongo, wine tasting

    Pedal east towards the Spanish border today, through olive groves and barren landscape to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Senhora de Machede. Here you can visit a leather factory and the mysterious castle of Valongo.

    Optional visit to a local winery where the scent of the fermenting wine in clay pots fills the air.

    Daily distance: 57km (35 miles)
    Elevation gain: +500 m (1640 ft)

    Accomodation: our guesthouse Hotel Mar de Ar Muralhas, or similar

  • Day 5

    Cycle from Reguengos to Monsaraz

    Highlights: Pottery village, Alqueva reservoir, castles and fortified town of Monsaraz

    Today you will visit the pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see the men transforming the clay into pots and plates and the ladies painting them at an impressive speed.
    After, you will be heading to the castle town of Monsaraz , which overlooks the Alqueva reservoir. The largest reservoir in Europe, this body of water straddles the Spanish-Portuguese border and was designated in 2012 as one of the first Starlight Tourism Destinations for its ideal star-gazing conditions and exceptionally low light pollution.
    Optional visit to Monsaraz castle.

    Daily distance: 35km (22miles)
    Elevation gain: +380 m (1247)

  • Day 6

    Cycle from Monsaraz to Vila Vicosa

    Highlights: marble capital of Portugal

    Today you will pedal north with views into Spain, riding toward the marble capital of Portugal Vila Vicosa through wheat fields and olive orchard dotted with cork-oak trees. This semi-arid region is one of the country's least populated and is known for its agricultural production, though today's short climb ends at a town famed for its marble (another economic driver of the region).
    The beautiful rose-colored Vila Vicosa marble can be seen everywhere in town - including the street pavers! You can learn about its properties, history and the process of extraction at the marble museum.

    Daily distance: 50km (31 miles)
    Elevation gain: +680 m (2231 ft)

  • Day 7

    Cycle from Vila Vicosa to Estremoz

    Highlights: the marble route, taste petiscos, Estremoz

    A light cycle today to give you the opportunity to stop in taverns to taste local delicacies "petiscos" and to explore the final destination of your journey, Estremoz.
    You will sleep in a historical 700 years old hotel in Estremoz tonight, which is the second largest exporter of marble in the world. And the journey will not be over until you climb up to the marble Donjon tower of the castle where you will sleep.

    Daily distance: 35km (22 miles)
    Elevation gain: +680 m (2231 ft)

    Accommodation: Historic Hotel Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, or similar.

  • Day 8

    Tour ends in Estremoz

    Highlights: Boa viagem!

    Your tour ends today after breakfast.
    We can organise an optional transfer to Lisbon if you wish and we highly recommend to spend a night in this beautiful capital. Otherwise, we can organise airport transfers according to your figlht schedule.

    Boa viagem!

    PLEASE NOTE: The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.

Includes Included
7 nights lodging in 3-4 star charm hotels (most built in castels and convents)
All breakfasts
Maps, route instructions and history notes
Luggage transfers
Transfer from Lisbon Airport to the first Hotel
Transfer from the last hotel to the Lisbon Airport
Transfer back to our farm from Megalithic tour

Not included
Any type of insurance
Airfare and travel to and from the tour start and end
Bicycle rental and accessories
Entrance to museums or other activities not indicated as included
City hotel tax (to be paid locally by traveler)
Any meals or beverages not indicated as included

Solo Traveler and Private Group departures available: please inquire.

Lodging Upgrade: Room upgrades are possible in some hotels - please inquire for prices and availability.

Extra nights: If you'd like to add nights before or after the tour, please inquire - we will be happy to provide a quote and add the nights to your tour package.
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Navigation and roadbook
GPS device rental is available at an extra fee: €50
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Luggage transfers
Luggage transfers are included in your package.
Please use luggage tags on all your luggage being transferred. Please have your luggage ready before the driver comes to collect it, otherwise you may have to pay a local taxi for the service.
Please consider that the luggage is not insured during the transport. You need to have your own insurance. Do not leave valuables or fragile items in your luggage.
Normally, the luggage transport service cannot be used by participants to skip the cycling stage. In case you need help to skip the cycling stage, please contact our emergency number and we will arrange it for you.
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PLEASE NOTE: The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.

Tour code: ptbs3476
Countries Portugal
Begin/End Arraiolos/Estremoz
Arrive/Depart Lisbon, Portugal - Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS)
Total Distance 267km (166 miles)
Daily Distance 35-50km (22-30 miles)
Rating 101
Notes This tour is part of our Partner Tours Collective program: operated by select local partners that we know and trust, the tour is similar in quality to those we operate directly in many ways. Please click here for more details.
Terms Terms & Conditions
Dates Prices Single Supplement
Dates This tour is available between April 1 and October 31 (though July and August can be quite hot).

Starts every Saturday. Other start days available by request (at an extra fee: €110).
Extras available upon request:
Dinners and activities
Room upgrade options
Bike rental

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High-Season surcharge (Easter, Christmas, New Year's Eve and national holidays): a surcharge is applied on high-season and holidays departures. If joining an existing, confirmed departure date, the fee may be waived - please inquire.
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Bike Rental options:
We offer quality bikes in different styles, all great options for this bike tour. Our bikes are maintained and delivered in optimal working condition.

Bike rental rates
Bicycle rental with helmet, back rack and pannier or similar: €95
E-Bike: €185

For more information on bikes, please see Portugal Bikes
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Curious about in which European countries we offer bike tours? Check our page Bike Tours in Europe.
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Additional useful information:

• Do you have any questions about how our bike tours work? Check out our FAQs page!

• If the self-guided formula isn't right for you, check out this blog introducing the differences between Guided and Self-Guided Tours.
Prices €1565 per person*
Single Supplement €660
Next Step Request space on this Bicycle Tour »
  • It was loads of fun. Loved it.

    Anonymous

    October 2018

  • The hotels were in general beautiful."What was your favorite experience on this trip?" Marble quarry, wine tastings, the towns.

    Anonymous

    October 2018

  • The accommodations were excellent! "What was your favorite experience on this trip?" The beautiful country and excellent cycling roads and paths. I really liked going to the cork factory and the marble quarries. The hybrid bike that I used was terrific.

    Anonymous

    October 2018