Cycle Portugal – Cycling in Paradise 6d
Highlights
- Accommodation at our own beautiful Country House with caring hosts in this cycle Portugal tour.
- No packing and unpacking, just cycling and relaxing.
- Very flexible cycle Portugal tour – kms can easily be adapted to your level or will.
- Beautiful rolling landscape with vineyards, olive groves, cork oaks, and grazing land.
- Very good Alentejo wine and fantastic gastronomy of Portugal.
- Medieval villages and Évora historical center, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
- Very small groups (maximum 8 people).
Description
This is the most flexible of our cycle Portugal tour.
It’s a cycling tour combining the convenience of the accommodation at our lovely country house, cycling through Alentejo and great weather for most of the year.
The days are all very different and rides include visits to wineries, artisans and producers of local specialties.
You will feel rewarded with the high knowledge of your local guide and the gorgeous landscape around our country guesthouse. Even if you choose the self-guided option, we will meet you every day to help you organize.
You don’t have to pack and unpack every day. Every morning you will meet your guide after a delicious breakfast and indulge on a beautiful bike ride.
This is a very flexible cycling tour. Tell us what you like and we will do our best to adapt. As we meet you every day, it is very easy to adapt the tour to your preferences. After all, it’s YOUR holidays!
6 days/5 nights: 3 dinners, 4 cycling routes – a choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. If you want to do Route 6 or 7 there is an extra cost. You have 3 transfers included.
We have the same package with a different number of nights available. Check here for all the Cycling in Paradise options.
In one of the nights, you can enjoy a Cooking Class on Alentejo cuisine. We will teach how to prepare a delicious Alentejo meal. We use ingredients you will find at home so that when you go back you can invite your friends for a slide show and a great dinner.
If you buy this as an extra dinner, the cost will be 50 € per person. If you want to upgrade one of the already included dinners, the cost will be 20 € per person.
You can make this trip:
- with us on a guided tour getting all the interpretation and companionship.
- having the support car guiding you.
- or friends on a self-guided tour.
Additional information
| Tour type | Children, City, Heritage, Inland, Local handscraft, Wine |
|---|
This is a flexible cycle Portugal tour. You may combine the days on different order or even do a kayak or walking tour instead of cycling. All is adjustable. If you tell us your preferences in advance we will more likely be able to change the trip for you.
ROUTE 1 - The Famous Carpets
Along the eco-trail, a bike lane built on an old railway, through small farms, you’ll get to Graça do Divor, a very well preserved white and blue village.
A good place to stop for a drink and try the delicious meat pies of Mrs. Ilda!
From here, this bike tour heads to Arraiolos village, with its rich historical centre. Here you can visit the fantastic carpet’s museum, where you will learn about the history of this almost millennium tradition, and try the delicious Pastéis de Toucinho, a local sweet. Climb to the castle, the the views from its castle are unforgettable.
It’s now time for a winery visit with a fantastic private carriage collection.
On the way back you still have time to visit the Fita Preta winery, located in a medieval property with a 14th century’s palace, recently restored after several years left to abandonment. A lot of prized wines here! Or, alternatively, an aromatic herbs farm, where you will taste delicious teas, honey and olive oil. And the wonderful aromas?….
Distance:OUR RECOMMENDATION: 26 kms with all visits described and transfer from winery back to the hotel.
51 to 63 kms – to winery and back – easy + level
Terrain: gentle rolling roads, 15 kms on dirt roads
Extra costs:
Wine tasting and carriage collection – 18 € per person (included on van guided and guided tours).
Transfer back to the farm – 35 € per person (but remember you have at least 2 transfers included)
Even if this is a flexible cycling tour, some organization is requested. To do the suggested visits we HIGHLY recommend that you book them in advance. Last minute they will most likely be fully booked.
ROUTE 2 - The Wine and Cork Route
The bike tour leaves the farm direction of Igrejinha, a very white village where all houses have stripes with different colors, given a great painting look to the place. Here there is a very beautiful winery you can visit. It includes the visit to an old olive mill.
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 flower, depending on season.
From here cycle to the cork factory, which will surely be the highlight of the day. See how cork is transformed and learn about all you can do with it!
From here ride to S. Miguel de Machede, another small country side village where you should stop for a drink at a local café. Here there is another nice winery you can visit, ending your day with a glass of wine!
Distance:OUR RECOMMENDATION: 42 kms, with transfer back to the farm, avoiding cycling on the main road.
74 kms if you cycle all the way back to the farm
Terrain: mostly flat. A few kms on main road if you cycle back
Extra costs:
Wine tasting – 15 € per person – we recommend wine tasting with olive oil tasting.
Prickly pear farm – visit free of cost. Tasting from 20 € per person. Includes bread, olive oil, prickly pear juice or tea, jam, fruit. Possible to add light lunch.
Transfer from S. Miguel de Machede – 35 € per person (but remember you have at least 2 transfers included)
ROUTE 3 - Megalithic Monuments
In the morning we cycle to Évora and unravel the amazing history of this old beautiful city, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.
We propose a visit to the surreal Bone chapel and to the impressive cathedral, originally from the 13th century. Finish with a wine tasting in the Évora Wine Tour Shop. After ride to the country side discovering beautiful holm oak forests and vast meadows. A peaceful landscape of grazing cattle and cheerful birds. Cycle to Zambujeiros’ Dolmen – the biggest in Europe, the Almendres’ Cromelech – the oldest megalithic monument in Europe with a beautiful view over Évora, the Almendres Menhir and Mitras’ Church. A very complete day!
OUR RECOMMENDATION: 35 kms, with transfer at the end of the day back to the farm
45 kms, with transfer back from the roman ruins
70 kms, cycling from the farm and back
Difficulty: medium + without a transfer and medium with transfer and cromlech. Climb to the cromlech is dirt track (no alternative, continuous climbing for 4 kms).Terrain: mostly gentle rolling dirt roads
Extra costs:
Wine tasting in wine shop in Évora – 5 € per person
Transfer from Guadalupe – 35 € per person (but remember you have at least 2 transfers included)
ROUTE 4 - Conquest of Valongo Castle
Leaving Évora toward the rising sun, a more baren landscape will keep us company.
On this bike tour day ride between olive groves to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Srª de Machede. After a pause for a cold drink or coffee a visit to the mysterious castle of Valongo will provide shade while it unveils its roman past.
From here we invite you to discover the country side at its best, following a dirt road until the gorgeous Moinho do Alcaide (a water mill) and then following along the riverside passing by several mills until we reach the main road.
We can visit a winery at the end of the tour, which makes a very interesting and original wine tasting.
Distance:OUR RECOMMENDATION: 60 kms with wine tasting and transfer from there
40 kms without the wine tasting and with transfer from Castelo de Valongo – no dirt roads.
50 kms without the wine tasting and with transfer from the end of the route
Difficulty: mediumTerrain: gentle rolling roads. The last 6 kms on dirt road. Possible to have an earlier transfer if you don’t want to do the dirt roads.
Extra costs:
Winery – 11 € per person
Transfer from Valongo Castle – 35 € per person (but remember you have at least 2 transfers included). Dangerous to cycle back unless you cycle back the same way. Alternative road has too much traffic.
ROUTE 5 - Évora and its surroundings
We propose an easier cycling day, perfect to end with our cooking class! From our farm you will cycle to a cheese factory where you may do a visit and tasting. This cheese factory is very different from the one you may have visited in the Famous carpet route.
Then cycle to our gorgeous city where you may spend the day cycling and visiting several monuments suggested by us. The city is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and there is plenty to do and see. Try some of our great wines at Ervideira Wine Shop and after lunch we suggest you climb to Alto de São Bento, a favorite place for locals to watch the sun set.
Difficulty: easy except for climb to Alto the São Bento, which you may choose not to do.
Terrain: mostly flat and mix of dirt track and asphalt.
ROUTE 6 - The Medieaval Castle
Transfer to Reguengos in the morning. Today’s bike tour destination is the fortified village of Monsaraz, an important stronghold in the defense of our nation just by the border with Spain. 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. Try the workshop!
Then with Spain in sight lunch by 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. Enjoy the peaceful streets and return home with our transfer.
Distance:OUR RECOMMENDATION: 43 kms including detour to the lake
30 kms without the lake
50 kms if you cycle to Mourão village and have your transfer from there.
Difficulty: mediumTerrain: mostly flat. Tough climb in the end.
Extra costs:
Pottery workshop – 8 € per person
ROUTE 7 - Wine and Marble Route
The day’s ride will lead to the marble capital of Portugal. The marble triangle will mark the landscape for the bike day. The so called white gold is the main economy driver of the region. Its richness is a constant presence in the wide streets and tall buildings. Enjoy the rare sight over distinct colored lagoons that appear on abandoned quarries. Visit a working one as well and wonder about the men that look like ants down at the bottom of the huge holes. You may chose to visit the impressive Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa. Finish the day with the visit to the fortified sanctuary of Terena.
Distance:30 kms if you only cycle until Vila Viçosa
50 kms if you cycle to Terena
Difficulty: easyTerrain: undulating, mostly downhill
MAP
PROFILES
Route 1 from the Farm to Arraiolos
Altitude gain: 277 mt/908 ft
Total Distance: 26 km/ 16mi
Level: easy plus
Altitude gain: 618 mt/ 2027 ft
Total Distance: 63km/ 39 mi
Level: medium
Route 2 from the Farm to São Miguel de Machede
Altitude gain: 324 mt/ 1062 ft
Total Distance: 43.4 km/ 26mi
Level: easy
Altitude gain: 480 mt/ 1574 ft
Total Distance: 64.9km/ 40 mi
Level: medium plus
Route 3 from the farm to Megalithic area
Altitude gain: 520mt/ 1706ft
Total Distance: 49km/ 30mi
Level: medium
Without transfer
Altitude gain: 836 mt/ 2742 ft
Total Distance: 75.4 km/ 46 mi
Level: medium plus
Route 4 from the farm to Valongo castle
With transfer
Altitude gain: 676 mt/ 2217 ft
Total Distance: 56,2 km/ 34 mi
Level: medium
Route 5 from the farm to Évora
Altitude gain: 359 mt/ 1177 ft
Total Distance: 28,2 km/ 17 mi
Level: easy
Route 6 from Reguengos to Monsaraz
With transfer
Altitude gain: 417 mt/ 1368 ft
Total Distance: 31,6 km/ 19 mi
Level: easy
Route 7 from Estremoz to Terena
With transfer
Altitude gain: 420 mt/ 1377 ft
Total Distance: 50 km/ 31 mi
Level: easy
OUR GUEST HOUSE
Located in a pastoral paradise where you will find everything you need for complete relaxation, our guest house is a genuine Monte, a traditional Alentejan farm, spacious, comfortable and thoroughly welcoming.
The garden is filled with a light that permeates your soul when you awake. It is on an ancestral farm that has an orchard, an organic vegetable garden, the pasture where sheep graze and an ancient olive grove, where huge cork oaks and holm oaks grow among big granite boulders. Along with its pathways, you will find beautiful flowers blossoming among the rocks that make you feel like staying to indulge in conversation, to observe the birds or simply to let your thoughts wander.
In our guest house, we offer packages of accommodation with activities, ideal for foreign visitors who would like to discover the Alentejo in an active way, whether with a guide or by themselves.
See Adventures Holidays (Adventure Escapes I, Adventure Escapes II), Cycling in Paradise and Walking in Paradise to discover your favourite package deal! If you just want to book a room and relax, send your reservation form here.
Our rooms
Decorated in a rustic style, all rooms are personalized and each one has its own individual theme. For instance, the Cork room has pictures of men extracting cork, and of the Alentejo’s landscape full of cork trees. The colour scheme of each room has been carefully selected to reflect its theme and mood.
There are 4 rooms in total, each with its own private toilet and bath/shower. All rooms have air conditioning.
Cork room – Room with a small living area, bath and direct door to the garden. Double bed.
Wine room – Room with a small living area, bath and direct door to the garden. Twin beds can be put together.
Olive tree room – Room with shower and direct door to the garden. Double bed.
Wheatfield room – Room with shower. Twin beds can be put together.
Prices per person – 2025
Departures everyday for all types of Tour.
Come on our set dates and Get a Better Price.
| conditions | SELF GUIDED TOUR | GUIDED TOUR |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person (minimum 2 adults) | 990 € * | 1 430 € * |
| *plus season supplement if applied | ||
| *10% discout if you start in the 4th or 16th o April | ||
| Included: | ||
| Double room with breakfast | ||
| Route informations | ||
| Bicycle, helmet, back rack and pannier or similar | ||
| Personal accident insurance | ||
| 24h phone support | ||
| Basic tools | ||
| Transfer from Évora bus station and drop off on last day | ||
| Welcome regional snack of wine, cheese and olive oil | ||
| Tasty gastronomic surprises each day | ||
| 3 Dinners (drinks not included) | ||
| 3 Transfers from any route except Monsaraz and Terena | ||
| Souvenir | ||
| VAT tax | ||
| 2 Wine tasting at wineries | ||
| 1 cheese and liqueur tasting | ||
| Entrance fee at Bones chapel, in Évora | ||
| Entrance fee at Évora's cathedral | ||
| Entrance fee at Vila Viçosa's Ducal Palace | ||
| Water and fruit | ||
| 1st aid support | ||
| Portugal Best Cycling jersey | ||
| Guide | ||
| * Season supplement | ||
| Abr 1 to May 31 | 25 € | 25 € |
| Jun and 1 Set to Oct 31 | 51 € | 51 € |
| Supplements | ||
| Single** | 180 € | 180 € |
| Single supplemment Apr 1 to May 31** | 240 € | 240 € |
| Single supplemment Jun and 1 Set to Oct 31** | 290 € | 290 € |
| UPGRADE TO SELF CATERING COTTAGES WITH BREAKFAST | 190 € | 190 € |
| Easter, Christmas, New Year's Eve and national holidays under request | ||
| ** For solo travelers contact us. | ||
| Food restrictions | 12 € per pax per night | 12 € per pax per night |
| Transfers | ||
| Transfer from Airport | 105 € | 105 € |
| Transfer to Airport | 105 € | 105 € |
| Transfer back to Farm house from any route except Monsaraz or Terena | 45 € | 45 € |
| Transfer to and from Monsaraz or Terena routes, includes guide for the day | 215 € | |
| Rentals | ||
| COOKING CLASS - VERY POPULAR WITH OUR GUESTS | 50 € | 50 € |
| E-bike rental | ||
| 7 days | 30 € | 30 € |
| Full Tour | 100 € | 100 € |
| GPS Rental | 50 € | 50 € |
| Phone rental (plus calls) | 10 € | 10 € |
| Extras | ||
| Cycling shorts | 65 € | 65 € |
| Extra cycling jersey | 20 € | 20 € |
| Cycling apron | 20 € | 20 € |
For a single person tour Contact us.
Upgrade: In one of the nights you can enjoy a Cooking Class on Alentejo food. We will teach how to prepare a delicious Alentejo meal. We use ingredients you will find at home so that when you go back you can invite your friends for a slide show and a great dinner. If you buy this as an extra dinner, cost will be 50 € per person. If you want to upgrade one of the already included dinners, the cost will be 20 € per person. Wine included.
Not Included: Bikes insurance, Travel insurance, Tour cancellation insurance, lunches (guide will stop at local café), Support van (it’s a semi-independent tour, but with a guide. Pick up can be provided, at extra cost, if you are tired) 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.
| NOTES | |||||||
| 4 days/3 nights: 1 dinner, 2 cycling routes – choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 with 2 transfers included. | |||||||
| 5 days/4 nights: 2 dinners, 3 cycling routes – choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 with 3 transfers included. | |||||||
| 6 days/5 nights: 3 dinners, 4 cycling routes – choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 with 4 transfers included. | |||||||
| 7 days/6 nights: 3 dinners, 5 cycling routes – choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 with 5 transfers included. (1 of them can be for route 6 or 7). | |||||||
| 8 days/7 nights: 3 dinners, 6 cycling routes – choice between Route 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 with 5 transfers included (1 of them can be for route 6 or 7). You may also opt for a free day in the middle. | |||||||
Subject to availability, you can do this tour at any date as a private guided tour or as a self guided tour. The group dates are only available for the 8 days version. Click here to see the programme and dates.
Late June until early September can be quite hot for this tour. For these dates consider the Along the Coast or the Wild Algarve.
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Tour Reviews
Delightful Cycling Adventure near Evora and surround hills….
Just returned from a 6 day 5 night stay. The weather in November was mild and great for cyclers. I had private guides Jorge and Mario, who were very knowledgeable. The accommodations at the farmhouse were extremely comfortable and the breakfasts were bountiful. Can’t wait to come back again!
My wife and I did the self guided Cycling in Paradise tours in April 2017 and were absolutely delighted with the whole experience.
The booking, pre-visit administration, arrival and pick up from Evora, accommodation, meals, bicycles and tour back up were all first class. The tour route written guides were spot on in terms of accuracy. We travelled by bus from Lisbon to Evora where our hosts picked us up. Bus service (luxury coach actually) gets 10/10 too.
Just staying at the farm of Monte do Serrado de Baixo is a holiday in itself. It’s a superb location in the heart of the countryside with only 4 guest rooms so you are guaranteed peace and quiet (except for the donkey and the cockerill!). The house staff are as efficient and helpful as the cycling team and nothing is too much trouble for them.
Bikes provided were tourers in very good condition and we had no mechanical problems at all. If you are a beginner you will be very comfortable and confident on these. If you are an experienced cyclist it’s a bit strange sitting upright to start with but once you get some miles under your belt you will feel the benefit as you really have to work those legs to get any speed.
The tour routes as provided are generally at an “easy” level – relatively flat and no more than 40-50k so very suitable for beginners. We are experienced cycle tourers so we simply added on sections to increase the mileage and see more of the surrounding countryside. Its simple to do this if you are confident with a map as the majority of roads in this part of Portugal, at least by UK standards, are virtually empty. In general the motorists we did meet were courteous to cyclists and we did not have any near misses. The busy main highways are obvious and can be avoided easily.
Top tour for us was the Megalithic which as a standard is 45k of mostly offroad taking in some amazing iron age sites and outrageous scenery and wildlife. I loved the storks in their hi-rise nests complete with sparrows living in the basement. Like all of the tours there are neat chunks you can add or take off if 45k is too little or too much.
Whether you are a beginner or a hardened “roadie” you will love Cycling in Paradise.
Nous n’avons qu’à nous féliciter d’avoir choisi Portugal Best Cycling. Equpe de choc très bien rôdée et à l’écoute des désirs de la clientèle. Tout s’est très bien déroulé. Nous avons été très bien conseillés lors de notre souhait d’allonger le séjour. Excellente documentation qui vous permet de bien organiser votre arrivée sur place si vous ne souhaitez pas utiliser la navette proposée.(assez chère). Ils sont très souples, patients et très commerciaux, nous avons dû annuler notre séjour l’an passé pour raisons de santé et il nous a été donné le choix du remboursement ou du report, ce que nous avons choisi, tout cela sans aucun frais supplémentaire. Chapeau! Les hôtels choisis sont très bien et si votre budget vous le permet, la petite différence demandée pour les logements de charme vaut vraiment la peine. Nous renouvellerons fort probablement l’expérience dans le futur.
Muito Obrigado Mario! We would like to thank the whole Turaventur team for creating such an unforgettable experience and birthday/retirement cerebration!!! Your generous hospitality, attention to detail, great food and local knowledge will bring us back again- we really look forward to another adventure with the team! Best! Frances, Ian and Vit
We did a 6 day Cycling in Paradise tour in late March and had a brilliant time. We stayed at the farmhouse, which was very peaceful and relaxing. The meals there were also delicious. We were able to customise the tour so that we had 2 days self-guided and 2 days on guided tours. The self-guided tours are very well planned and easy to follow, but the guided tours are very good for learning more about the area and I’d recommend them. It’s hard to pick a favourite tour— they all had their highlights. Everyone was really friendly and helpful both in planning the trip and while we were there.
March 2024
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