Bike Tour in Alentejo - Heritage and Wine Country

Bike tour in Alentejo, perfect for road cycling, where you’ll get to discover the millennial history, culture and traditions of one of the world’s best wine countries, from north to south of the region. Start riding by the castles and monasteries of Marvão, Crato, Estremoz, discovering the medieval heritage of Portugal, explore the marble region of the Alentejo and its renaissance palaces, the fortified villages atop of the Alqueva and enjoy a week long ride in these peaceful rolling hills while exploring local wine cellars, sleeping in convents and discovering the UNESCO world heritage sites of cities like Évora, Vila Viçosa and Monsaraz.

Discover the amazing history, culture and traditions this wine region has to offer. Voted Best Wine Region of the world in 2014, Alentejo is a picturesque and charming place, where you’ll fall in love with the whitewashed villages, medieval castles, sunbathed plains and the secular traditions and lifestyle. Visit the UNESCO world heritage sites in Évora, the fortified village of Marvão, the former Palace of the Portuguese Kings and the rural lifestyle of the local homesteads;

Ride the never-ending rolling hills and the hidden trails between the fields. The car-free roads and trails of the Alentejo provide a great atmosphere for bike tours and its topography makes it a great region for beginner and intermediate riders. You’ll have plenty of time to stop and check out the “Sobreiros” and visit the “Antas” along the way.

With its trademark gastronomy, wine and amazing accommodations, the Alentejo is a great destination to experience the best of Portugal, where luxury meets tradition. You’ll get to sleep in Convents and dine in some of the country's best restaurants, harmonizing every meal with amazing wines;

Admire the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, visit the Esporão Wine and Olive Oil “Herdade”, experience a boat ride in Europe’s biggest artificial lake and try an amazing array of experiences the Alentejo has to offer!

Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon, Transfer to Marvão

Pick up from your hotel for a 2 hours transfer to Pousada do Marvão, in Alentejo. Check-in at this Pousada on the top of the hill and inside the village walls, overlooking the northern Alentejo plains. Set up of the bikes. Free afternoon to relax at the hotel or walk through the village’s narrow streets, visit the 9^th century castle, cistern and admire the beautiful S. Mamede mountain range

Hotel – Pousada de Marvão( upgrade to superior room in "premium" option)

Day 2: Bike tour in Alentejo - Marvão – Beirã  – Castelo Vide – Crato/Alter do Chão (55km, 550 meters of accumulated height)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of the ride to Alter by the beautiful “Beirã” region, passing the medieval city and stronghold of Castelo de Vide, for a quick stop and coffee. Keep riding through this rural area, rich in olive groves and Cork Oak trees, going through Flôr da Rosa and then Alter do Chão, home of the Lusitano thoroughbred. Relax at the hotel in the afternoon.

Hotel – Convento D'Alter or Pousada do Crato – 5 star small luxury hotel of the world (included in the "premium" option)

Day 3: Bike tour in Alentejo: Crato – Alter do Chão – Estremoz/Serra de Ossa (up to 75km, 1000 accumulated height)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of the bike tour, from Crato to Alter do Chão, where we will ride the rolling hills of North Alentejo to the top of yet another medieval village: Estremoz, where our hotel, the Pousada de Estremoz (included in the premium option) is marvelously located overlooking the Alentejo plains, or the Convento de São Paulo, a unique historical house convent in the Ossa mountain range. Enjoy your afternoon visiting Estremoz or relaxing at this amazing charm hotel.

Hotel – Convento de São Paulo or Pousada Castelo de Estremoz - Rainha Santa Isabel (included in the "premium" option)

Day 4: Bike tour in Alentejo: Estremoz – Redondo - Monsaraz (69km, 790 meters accumulated height)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of our bike tour, from Estremoz to Redondo going through the Ossa mountain range, a steady climb will let you enjoy the views from the top. Ride through Redondo and this quaint countryside of farmed land and rolling hills all the way to Monsaraz, a fortified village atop the Alqueva Lake, with beautiful views over the Alentejo plains. Arrival at our hotel, the Horta da Moura, in Monsaraz, the first rural hotel in the Alentejo or Herdade São Lourenço do Barrocal, a Small Luxury Hotel of the world (included for “Premium option”), perfect for relaxing and visiting its renowned Wine cellars.

Hotel – Horta da Moura or Herdade São Lourenço do Barrocal (included in the "premium" option)

Day 5: Bike tour in Alentejo: Monsaraz - Montoito – Évora (61km, 580 meters accumulated height)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of the ride towards Reguengos home of Herdade do Esporão, one of the iconic wine and olive oil producers in Alentejo. Once you leave Reguengos you'll ride some of the quietest roads of this region, through Montoito village and endless vineyards and farmland almost to the edge of the city of Évora. On arrival check in at the hotel M’Ar de Ar Aqueduto hotel, an amazing 5 star hotel by the Évora Aqueduct, or M'ar D'Ar Muralhas, a 4 star hotel placed inside Évora's fortified walls. Free afternoon to visit Évora before dinner at Luar de Janeiro, another opportunity to taste the majestically prepared local gastronomy.

Hotel – M’ar de Ar Muralhas Hotel or M’ar de Ar Aqueduto Hotel  (“premium” option)

Day 6: Bike tour in Alentejo: Évora – Arraiolos – Évora (55km, 500m accumulated height)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of today’s optional bike tour, a morning loop towards Arraiolos, an amazing white washed fortification on the outskirts of Évora, famous for its woolen carpets with intricate and traditional motifs. Ride by the central plains of Alentejo enjoying the views of the cork and olive trees, the bulls and cattle that roam free in the big properties of the region, here called Herdades. Lunch in Évora. Free afternoon for visiting and shopping in Évora and its amazing monuments

Hotel – M’ar de Ar Muralhas Hotel or M’ar de Ar Aqueduto Hotel  (“premium” option)

Day 7: Bike tour in Alentejo: Évora – transfer to Lisbon

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out and free time to enjoy Évora's city center before transfer to Lisbon (airport or hotel) or extended stay in Évora.

EXTENDED STAY IN LISBON/ÉVORA: On Demand

Extend your stay in Lisbon or Évora for an extra day before or after this trip.

Receive this ride day-to-day itinerary on your e-mail

Prices:

1390€ per person for the self-guided experience of 7 days;

1990€ per person for the guided experience of 7 days;

2890€ per person for the premium experience of 7 days;

High season supplement (1st May to 31st October) - 100€

Add-ons:

Half-Board - All dinners at the hotel (6 meals): 210€, drinks not included

Full-Board (only available for guided and premium tours) - Lunches and Dinners at hand-picked restaurants throughout the tour: 420€, drinks not included

What's Included in the Self-Guided, Guided and Premium tours:

- Transfer from Lisbon airport/hotel to the beggining of the tour and return;

- 6 nights in charm 4 star hotels (5 star)*, in shared double/twin bedroom with breakfast included;

- Rental of a Road or Touring bike (Scott Addict 20 or Scott Aspect 930), helmet and spares;

- Garmin GPS for daily navigation;

- Luggage transfer between hotels, everyday;

- Detailed briefing and routebook provided pre tour;

- Liability and personal accidents Insurance;

- Portuguese mobile cellphone for contact with your travel agent;

- Personal guide accompanying your group, providing daily guided cyling tours, restaurant reservations, booking of local experiences and all passenger transfers throughout the tour;

- Support vehicle (SAG Wagon) and mechanical support throughout all the rides;

- Nutrition, hydration and snacks during our rides;

- Live Love Ride complete cycling kit (jersey, cap and bib shorts);

- 2nd guide, riding with the group;

- Entrance in museums, wineries and other selected experiences (wine tasting and visit to local wine cellars)**; 

- Hotel upgrade or upgrade to or superior rooms during the entire experience

* - Premium tour option or Premium hotel upgrade

Not Included:

- Meals, except when specified (optional);

- Personal expenses

- Flights;

- Gratuities (optional);

Extra nights:

Extra night in Lisbon or Évora before or after this tour - on demand;

Other discounts:

Non cyclists - 20% discount;

Children up to 10 years old - 35% discount;

Children from 11 to 14 years old - 25% discount;

Children from 15 to 17 years old - 20% discount;

Private and Customized cycling tours and dates

If you have a group and want to make this a private bike tour, or want to schedule a different date than the ones listed above, we are available to customize this and other bycling experiences to better suit your needs and availability. Please contact us at ricardo.costa@liveloveride.pt for more information.

Additional information:

All prices include VAT and may be subject to change. The information in this program is valid from 01/12/2016 to 31/12/2019, and may suffer from additional changes, due to the availability of the hotels and activities listed in the program. Does not dispense confirmaion of this information by Live Love Ride.