8 days
Duration
370km
Distance
Easy+
Difficulty
Alentejo, Coast
Location

Bike castles and beaches

Highlights

  • Sleep in castles, palaces and farmhouses.
  • This Portugal bike tour takes you through beautiful landscapes with vineyards, olive groves, cork oaks and beaches.
  • gastronomical paradise for the palate. The wine, food, pastry and the unforgettable picnics at the beach.
  • Fun and relaxing days at your own pace.
  • Two different regions, variety in landscape

Description

Bike Castles and Beaches takes you from the rich heritage inland are to the stunning coastline, in only 7 days!

Cycling tour in Portugal on the Alentejo interior and SW Atlantic coast through pristine natural parks and reserves like the Lagoas de Santo André and Sudoeste Alentejano, the biggest artificial lake in Europe Alqueva, finishing in Costa Vicentina, swimming in the cool blue waters of the Atlantic every day.

Taste the fresh fish with awarded Alentejo wines and enjoy our famous picnics, the true definition of a gourmet luxury light meal in the white sands of secluded beaches… there is nothing quite like it!

Learn about olive oil, cork extraction and its many uses, rice fields, pine forests, the dictatorship, and many other intriguing facts.

Easy level safe routes with a challenge here and there will make for a relaxing and fun ride while you live the present, learn about the past and discover the future of the oldest and sunniest country in Europe.

You can make any of our Portugal Cycling Tours:

  1. with us on a guided tour getting all the interpretation and companionship,
  2. having the support car guiding you,
  3. or friends on a self guided tour.

Additional information

Tour typeCity, Heritage, Inland, Landscape, Local handscraft, Ocean views, Wine
1

Day 1

Arrival
Transfer to Estremoz or Vila Viçosa – Estremoz only on e-bike option (1h45 from airport if you choose private transfer)

 6 p.m. – Welcome drink and first briefing about your self guided or guided cycling tour in Portugal, followed by a superb dinner at local restaurant (welcome drink and dinner included in van guided and guided tours only).

Accommodation on E-Bike option: Pousada de Estremoz or Páteo dos Solares

Pousada de Estremoz: The Pousada Castelo Estremoz is located in a castle built by Dom Dinis for Queen Santa Isabel in the 13th century. Located in the historic centre, it is the perfect place for you to discover the city on foot.

Páteo dos Solares: The Pateo dos Solares Charm Hotel is located at the heart of historical Estremoz. A fully renovated 4* boutique hotel, it has privileged access to the town’s centre, local commerce, and its people.


 Accomodation on Hybrid bike option: Pousada D. João IV, built in a convent, with swimming pool or Solar dos Mascarenhas, a charm boutique hotel built in a manor house, with swimming pool

PREMIUM OPTION – You may also upgrade to the 5 stars Marmoris hotel, wehre you will find all sorts of marble aplications in the architecture and decoration.

2

Day 2

Conquest of the Castle of Monsaraz

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 18th 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 BarrocalWinery of several prizes, this highend farm boutique hotel is a unique experience. Staying here is a splurge we all deserve.

Location: Monsaraz.
 Distance: 50km or 75 kms depending if you started in Estremoz or Vila Viçosa
 Total ascent: 490 mts.
Difficulty: Medium.
 Terrain: mostly secondary asphated roads. Short dirt track to the quarries.
Wine tasting: Included.
Lunch: Along the way.
Dinner: Included.
3

Day 3

Bike to Évora plus visit in the city

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: 70 kms.
 Total ascent: 350 mts.
 Difficulty: Easy+.
 Terrain: undulating secondary roads and eco trail for part of the way
Lunch: Along the way.
 Dinner: Not included.
4

Day 4

Round trip Wine and Cork

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 14th century palace. From here, 8 kms to the hotel.

 Accommodation: Same hotel

Feel tired? Book a recovery massage at the hotel.
 Location: Évora.
 Distance: 65 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.

5

Day 5

The Lagoons Tour
 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: 36 kms.
 Total ascent: 450 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.
6

Day 6

From the castle to the beach

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: 60kms.
Total ascent: 250 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)

7

Day 7

The Cliffs Route

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: 60 kms.
Total ascent: 300 mts.
Difficulty: Medium.
 Terrain: Secondary roads and some dirt roads
Lunch: Along the way.
 Dinner: Included.
8

Day 8

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

Possible to continue biking in our Wild Algarve tour


Notes

On Self guided tours, you are expected to know how to fix small problems in your bike. You should be an independent traveler, used to read maps, route instructions and manage your own time. You will bike at your rhythm and do “as you please”. From us, you will get 24 hours support by phone, maps, route instructions and historical notes. We will also give you suggestions of places to eat. The downsides will be not to have the support car to take you in case you get tired and not to have the company and expertise of our guides, which are like family to us and will be like family to you!

On Van guided tours the guide will be the driver. He/she will guide you from a distance. The car will be near enough so that you can see it on the junctions. The guide will stop at important or interesting places to give history explanations or tell a story. Some people call this a supported tour, though in our case it is more than that because you are actually being guided. Lunches are picnic type with traditional foods from the area where we are cycling. Some times we also use local restaurants. Though price, most of the times, includes meals, we can give you a price with no meals if you prefer to have a more independent trip.

On Guided tours groups are accompanied by one or two cycling guides, besides a guide who takes the support car, prepares the picnics and transports your luggage. Lunches are picnic type with traditional foods from the area where we are cycling. Sometimes we also use local restaurants.

On van guided or guided cycling tours, you can expect full service from your guides. They will do their best to make your holiday an unforgettable one.

Our guides are all Portuguese and know our region very well. They are very service minded and most of them have been working with us for many years. They are bikers themselves and love to go cycling on their holidays, so they know what you expect from them!

In dinners arranged by us and you can be sure you will try the best gastronomy as we choose restaurants well known by us for its good traditional food. No «touristy» places included!

MAP


1st cycling day from Estremoz/Vila Viçosa to Monsaraz

1st day Altitude gain: 490mt/ 1607 ft
Total Distance: 50 km/ 31mi or 75 km/ 46 mi
Level: medium-.

2nd cycling day from Monsaraz to Évora

Altitude gain: 350 mt/ 1148ft
Total Distance: 70 km/ 43 mi
Level: easy+.


3rd cycling day around Évora

Altitude gain: 380 mt/ 1246 ft
Total Distance: 65 km/ 40 mi
Level: medium-


4th cycling day from Santo André to Santiago do Cacém

Altitude gain: 450 mt/ 1476 ft
Total Distance: 36 km/ 22 mi
Level: medium


5th cycling day from Santiago do Cacém to Vila Nova de Mil Fontes

Altitude gain: 250 mt/ 820 ft
Total Distance: 60 km/ 37 mi
Level: easy +


6th cycling day from Vila Nova de Mil Fontes to Odeceixe

Altitude gain: 300 mt/ 954 ft
Total Distance: 60 km/ 37 mi
Level: medium

Prices per person – 2025

Departures everyday for all types of Tour.

Come on our set dates and Get a Better Price.

LUXURY OPTIONS – Upgrade cost under request, depends on type of room available and season

If you book the 3 upgrades we suggest you shall count on about 80 to 150 € per person. Amount to be confirmed after we send your booking to the hotels

Discount price if you book 2 tours!

Tour extension: Continue Cycling south, on our Wild Algarve or get a transfer with us to the gorgeous inland of the Alentejo and do the Castles and Wine Tour.

Notes:

Not Included: Bikes insurance, Travel insurance, Tour cancellation insurance, and all items not mentioned above. See Terms & Conditions for more details.

Turaventur uses the REDUNIQ @Payments System. These payments are made in a simple, practical and secure way. The payment link is sent to your email, which will be redirected to a secure UNICRE page. Here the customer places the card details and makes the payment. After the data is validated and authorized by the bank, the transaction is finish. At the end you are notified of payment via email.

Guided group tour dates


September 21st – Garanteed departure. Book today!!!

Subject to availability, you can do this tour at any date as a private guided tour or as a self guided tour. The fact that a group date is full does not mean you cannot do a private tour on that date. So contact us anyway!

estremoz castle
stork
quarries of marble
Bike Tour Portugal
picnic in monsaraz
Sea
beach
portugal cycling tours
nature
cork ride
Bike Tour Portugal
Bike Tour Portugal
clifs
Bike Tour Portugal
portugal cycling tours
portugal cycling tours
cheese and olives
cycling break in Portugal
Pousada dos Loios
Pousada Vila Viçosa Pool
Pousada Vila Viçosa
Pousada Vila Viçosa room
Pousada Estremoz
bike tour evora
beach pessegueiro
food tour
Pousada Estremoz room
Premium cycling tour
Pousada dos Loios room
food tours-wine tasting
Convento do Espinheiro
Convento do Espinheiro
Herdade do Barrocal
Herdade do Barrocal
pastry shop
food tour
architecture
evora bike tours
cathedral
queijada

Tour Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Leave a Review

Rating