Cycling from Estremoz/Vila Viçosa to Monsaraz

Departing from Estremoz, today’s ride will lead to the marble capital of Portugal and one of the biggest in Europe. The marble triangle will mark the landscape for the next bike tour days. The so-called white gold is the main economic driver of the region. Its richness is a constant presence in the wide streets and 18^th century buildings. We will try to visit the palace or the marble museum!

The visit to an impressive, fortified sanctuary with an interesting tale will close the morning.

Our tour destination is the fortified village of Monsaraz, an important stronghold in the defense of our nation just by the border with Spain.

Bring your swimming suit along as you may want to dip in the waters of the biggest artificial lake in Europe, the Alqueva dam reservoir. Then it’s time to conquer the castle, use all your energy to climb up to Monsaraz! Your hotel is just by the city walls. See the sunset from the tower in the castle or for the terrace of the wine shop!

 Accommodation: Estalagem de Monsaraz – Located next to the castle and more than 500 years old, this house has been refurbished while retaining its original features. It is tastefully decorated and has fantastic views over the Alentejo plain.

PREMIUM OPTION: Herdade de São Lourenço do Barrocal – Winery of several prizes, this highend farm boutique hotel is a unique experience. Staying here is a splurge we all deserve.

Location: Monsaraz.
 Distance: 91km or 61 kms depending if you started in Estremoz or Vila Viçosa
 Total ascent: 1090 or 850 mts.
Difficulty: Medium.
 Terrain: mostly secondary asphated roads. Short dirt track to the quarries.
Wine tasting: Included.
Lunch: Along the way.
Dinner: Included.

Cycling from Monsaraz to Évora

On the way we will visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see the men making magic with the clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and the ladies painting them with flowers in an impressive speed.

Leaving Reguengos behind toward the sunset, we bike along a beautiful bike lane through farm land.

The ride finishes in Évora, where you will have the chance to wonder around and get immersed in this ancient pre-roman settlement. One of the highlights will be the visit to the surreal XIII century bone chapel.

Accommodation: Mar de Ar Muralhas or Monte do Serrado de Baixo

PREMIUM OPTION: Mar de Ar Aqueduto OR Moura Suites Hotel OR Convento do Espinheiro (3 kms away from center)

Monte do Serrado de Baixo Évora: The house maintains the traditional architecture of the Alentejo region.  Each of our rooms has a different theme, inviting you to explore the arts of cork extraction, olive and grape picking or bread making.  At our farm house, you will feel at home.

Mar de Ar Muralhas: Very comfortable 4 stars hotel built by the castle wall, which is the framing of the garden and pool area. Very well located and ith great pricing.

Mar de Ar Aqueduto: The 5 star option of the hotel chain above. Also in the center and built in a convent. A very affordable 5 stars.

Moura Suites Hotel: A charm boutique hotel with less than 30 rooms, built in a palace in the historical center. A very pleasant and intimate stay.

Convento do Espinheiro: 3 kms away from the city, this beautiful convent is an impressive building. The 5 star hotel lives to its classification, with great service, amazing breakfast and lovely gardens.

 Location: Évora
Distance: 75 kms.
 Total ascent: 266 mts.
 Difficulty: Easy+.
 Terrain: undulating secondary roads and eco trail for part of the way
Lunch: Along the way.
 Dinner: Not included.

Cycling around Évora.

We start by biking to S. Miguel de Machede, a tiny village with a lovely church. From here we bike to the cork factory. Possible to add a visit to an olive oil biologic producer.

Continue and discover all about the Prickly Pear plantation, on a very interesting visit with Susana or José, 2 brothers owners of the beautiful project. Tasty the prickly pear juice or the tea made with this cactus flower, depending on season. All the way we will bike on lovely secondary roads which will take us through Igrejinha (this village’s name translates to Little Church 😊), a very white village where all houses have stripes with different colors, given a great painting look to the place.

We finish our day on the impressive winery Fita Preta, built in a 14^th century palace. From here, 8 kms to the hotel.

 Accommodation: Same hotel

Feel tired? Book a recovery massage at the hotel.
 Location: Évora.
 Distance: 62 kms.
 Total ascent: 380 mts.
 Difficulty: Medium – .
Terrain: 6 kms of main road to start. Can be avoided with an extra transfer. Undulating secondary roads for the remaining ride.
Wine tasting: included
Lunch: Pepe Aromas.
 Dinner: Not included.

 Transfer included: Earlie Transfer from Évora to Santo André (2 hours).

Cycling from Santo André to Santiago do Cacém.

After the initial warm up, explore a couple of ecosystems of freshwater lagoons, wildlife heaven on the natural reserve of Santo André and Sancha lagoons. After a drink by the sea ride to a unique outdoors library made of marble, followed by a picnic under a cork oak forest.

Then we pay a visit to a very nice family who owns a small olive mill, several generations old. The ride ends in Santiago, a very interesting and old small town with great aristocratic architecture and a castle with unforgettable views.

 Accommodation: Octant Santiago, 4*. Here you may indulge on a wonderful dinner served in a restaurant with show cooking, or book a cooking class.

Feel tired? Book a recovery massage at the hotel.

 Location: Santiago do Cacém.
 Distance: 41 kms.
 Total ascent: 574 mts.
 Difficulty: Medium.
 Terrain: Gentle rolling roads with final climb, 3 kms of dirt roads.
 Picnic Lunch: Included in van guided and guided tours only.
 Dinner: Included.

Cycling from Santiago do Cacém to Vila Nova de Milfontes.

The ride starts in Santiago, a very interesting and old small town with great aristocratic architecture and a castle with unforgettable views. The view from the top of the castle is well worth the small climb, from there you can see into the past and the future.

Santiago is also the land of wind, so with the visit to the last operating windmill say farewell to this town towards the coastline through a lush green oak forest.

The Blue Ocean and warmer waters by the schist cliffs will frame the beach picnic. A few kms away we pass the enchanting fisherman’s village of Porto Covo. This coast is already the Natural Park of southwestern Alentejo and Vicentina coast. The fortification that used to protect the natural harbor against pirate attacks is the next stop. The peach island poses for our pictures.

In the afternoon we will arrive at the village of Vila Nova de Mil Fontes, with more magnificent views. We finish at the romantic riverside farm/hotel of Zambujeiro.

 Accommodation: Monte do Zambujeiro – A hotspot for more than 170 species of birds, this is Monte do Zambujeiro! A place where nature is effusive, grows freely, without restrictions, where authentic flavors can be rediscovered through the simplest foods. Local flavors, straight from the garden to the table. A place to find the best version of Alentejo and our roots. The luxury of simplicity with a warm welcome…

 Location: Vila Nova de Milfontes
 Distance: 58kms.
Total ascent: 571 mts.
 Difficulty: Easy +.
 Terrain: Most of the day on secondary asphalted roads. Some dirt roads.
Lunch: Along the way.
 Dinner: Included at the farm.

VILLAGE CENTER OPTION
Though our chosen hotel is a really wonderful farm and a highlight of the tour for most guests, some would have preferred to stay in the center of the village, which is also a beautiful option. Let us know if this is your preference. Hotel Selina Mil Fontes for a young vibe or Hotel HS (this one is nicer if we book sea view)

Cycling from Vila Nova de Milfontes to Odeceixe.

Today we ride on an incredibly beautiful dirt road along the coast, very rocky and wild. The storks build their nests on rocky islets sticking out of the ocean. We travel near the coast along several beaches.

The dirt-road cycling is amazing and challenging, but there is always an alternative in asphalt is you find it too difficult.

After lunch, we ride to Odeceixe and you can choose to rest at the village or go to the beach, riding along a beautiful river. Wild hidden beaches will pop up during the day to surprise and invite you to a moment of leisure and relaxation, enjoy them. Odeceixe and its famous beach, one of the Portuguese 7 wonders is a good place for a coffee stop. This is where the river meets its final destination!

 Accommodation: Casas do Moinho.

Casas do Moinho: These are typical old village houses, traditional on the outside but with the comforts of a contemporary style on the inside. Each one has its own particularity, but all are identical in size and have a uniqueness that sets them apart, whether it’s the maximum capacity, the location, the decoration, or the details. The houses are along a street of the village, so you don’t fell like you are at a hotel.

 Location: Odeceixe.
 Distance: 52 kms.
Total ascent: 569 mts.
Difficulty: Medium.
 Terrain: Secondary roads and some dirt roads
Lunch: Along the way.
 Dinner: Included.

 Transfer: to Lisbon airport (3 hours) included in van guided and guided tours only.

Possible to continue biking in our Wild Algarve tour