Once you arrive in Lisbon, your guides will pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation in the lovely town of Évora. Settle in, walk through the garden and pet various farm animals. In the evening, soak in the beauty of the ranch and enjoy the Portuguese sunset from the back yard.
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You’ve got to check out this 4-day Alentejo Cycling Holiday! Picture yourself biking through Portugal’s stunning countryside, surrounded by vineyards, old villages, and endless olive groves. We’ll have awesome gourmet picnics, stay in cozy boutique hotels, and explore ancient castles and wineries. It’s perfect whether you’re looking for a serious ride or just some outdoor fun. This trip is all about adventure, discovery, and having a blast. You in? Let’s do this!
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Two days of cycling lie in front of you. Mix and match any of the following routes as you wish! The tour includes 2 wine tours of your choice, and every extra you pay yourself, so choose wisely if you are a wine lover.
On Day 4, check out of your accommodation and the adventure officially comes to an end!
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You can combine 2 of the tours listed below. If you need any help, let us know which days and routes sound most interesting to you and we will tailor the final itinerary to your preferences!
This 4-day tour includes 1 dinner and 2 transfers.
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Head out for a day of cycling from our guesthouse to Arraiolos and back. This eco-trail is actually a bike lane built on an old railway, crossing small farms and leading us to Graça do Divor, a very well preserved white-and-blue village. This is 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 and its rich historical center. Here you can visit the fantastic carpet museum where you can learn about the history of this almost millennium-old tradition, and try the delicious Pastéis de Toucinho, a local pastry. Climb up to the castle and capture the unforgettable views. After this, it’s time for a visit to a winery 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. Alternatively, visit an aromatic herbs farm where you can taste delicious teas, honey and olive oil. In the late afternoon, relax in your country house and prepare for a new day of adventure!
Distance: 26 km/16 mi with all visits described
Driving: Transfer from winery back to the hotel
Difficulty: Easy with transfers, intermediate without transfers
Terrain: Gentle rolling roads, 15 km/9.3 mi on dirt roadsPossible add-ons:
Wine tasting and carriage collection: 18 € per person
Transfers: 35 € per person (at least 2 transfers included) -
The bike tour leaves the farm in the direction of Igrejinha, a very white village where all houses have stripes in different colors. There is a very beautiful winery and an old olive mill you can visit on your own. Continue cycling and discover all about the Prickly Pear Plantation from Susana or José, owners of the beautiful project. Tasty the prickly pear juice or the tea made with this flower. From here, we’ll cycle to the cork factory and after a short visit, continue to S. Miguel de Machede, another small countryside village. Here there is another nice winery you can visit, ending your day with a glass or two!
Distance: 42 km/26.1 mi with transfers, 74 km/46 mi without transfers
Difficulty: Easy with transfers, intermediate without transfers
Terrain: Mostly flat, partially on main road if you cycle backPossible add-ons:
Wine tasting: 15€ per person
Prickly Pear Farm Tasting: from 12€ per person
Transfer from S. Miguel de Machede: 35€ per person (at least 2 transfers included) -
In the morning, we cycle to Évora and unravel the amazing history of this old beautiful city, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We propose a visit to the surreal Bone Chapel and to the impressive cathedral from the 13th century. Finish with a wine tasting in the Évora Wine Tour Shop. During the ride, enjoy the shade under beautiful holm oak forests and sunny vast meadows. Cycle to Zambujeiros’ Dolmen and Almendres’ Cromlech – the biggest and oldest megalithic monuments in Europe with beautiful views over Évora, the Almendres Menhir and Mitras’ Church.
Distance: 35 km/21.8 mi with transfer from the wine shop, 45 km/28 mi with transfer back from the roman ruins, 70 km/43.5 mi without transfers
Difficulty: intermediate
Terrain: Mostly gentle rolling dirt roads; climb to the Cromlech is a dirt track (no alternative, continuous climbing for 4 kms/2.5 mi)Possible add-ons:
Wine tasting in Évora: 5 € per person
Transfer from Guadalupe: 35 € per person (at least 2 transfers included) -
Leaving Évora, a more barren landscape will keep us company. Today’s tour takes us between olive groves to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Senhora de Machede. After a pause for a cold drink or coffee, we’ll visit the mysterious castle of Valongo, providing shade and unveiling its Roman past. From here, we invite you to discover the countryside at its best, following a dirt road until the gorgeous Moinho do Alcaide (a water mill) and following along the riverside, passing several more mills until we reach the main road. We can visit another winery at the end of the tour.
Distance: 60 km/37.3 mi with transfer from the wine shop, 40 km/25 mi with transfer from Castelo de Valongo, 50 kms/31 mi with transfer from the end of the route
Difficulty: Intermediate
Terrain: Gentle rolling roads; the last 6 km on dirt roads; possible to have an earlier transfer if you don’t want to do the dirt roadsPossible add-ons:
Wine tour: 11 € per person
Transfer from Valongo Castle*: 35 € per person (at least 2 transfers included)*Dangerous to cycle back unless you cycle back the same way. Alternative road has too much traffic.
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This is an easier cycling day, perfect to end with a cooking class! Cycle from the farm to a cheese factory where you can go on a tasting tour. This factory is very different from the one you may have visited on Route 1. Cycle to the gorgeous city of Évora where you may spend the day cycling and visiting several monuments suggested by your guides. The city is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and there is plenty to do and see. Try some of the 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.
Distance: 20km/12.5 mi to 35 km/21.8 mi
Difficulty: Easy except for the climb to Alto the São Bento (possible to opt out)
Terrain: Mostly flat and a mix of dirt track and asphaltPossible add-ons:
Cooking class: Price upon request
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local cycling guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 4 to 8-day Alentejo cycling, exploration and food tasting holiday (first and last day are meant for arrival/departure, the rest for cycling)
- Accommodation in double rooms in a farmhouse
- Welcome snack — regional wine, cheese and olive oil
- Breakfast and lunch each day
- 3 dinners (drinks not included)
- Up to 5 transfers
- Up to 2 wine tastings
- Water and fruit
- Portugal Best Cycling jersey
- Route informations and 24/7 phone support
- Bicycle, helmet, back rack and pannier or similar
- Basic tools
- Transfer from Évora bus station and drop off on last day
- First aid support
- Taxes
Depending on the chosen itinerary:
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- A guide for Monsaraz to Estremoz portion
- 1 cheese and liqueur tasting
- Entrance fee at Bones chapel, in Évora
- Entrance fee at Évora’s cathedral
- Entrance fee at Villa Viçosa’s Ducal Palace
What’s not included:
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- Transportation to and from the meeting point
- Accommodations before and after the tour
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks during dinners
- Single supplement
- Guide gratuities — optional
- Travel and medical insurance — optional
Possible add-ons:
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- E-bike upgrade
- GPS rental
- Cooking classes
- Extra jerseys or bib-shorts
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The best thing about cycling in Alentejo, Portugal is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. Each day brings new possibilities and most of them are beginner to intermediate in terms of fitness. You will stay on the road and cycle 127 to 293 km (79 to 183 miles) over 3 to 7 days. All itineraries are flexible — you can combine the days in different order or even do a kayak or a walking tour instead of cycling on one of the days. Almost everything is adjustable to your preferences. Let us know which routes seem the best for you in advance and we will make all the necessary arrangements.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Luggage you’ll leave at the farmhouse with everything you might need
- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight shoes for cycling
- Comfortable cycling clothes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Casual clothing for evenings
- Sunhat
- Gloves
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and pricing
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- The maximum client-to-guide ratio is 12:1.
- The pricing is based on a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. There can be up to 12 adults and 6 children in one group.
- Solo travelers can join as well, but please note that there will be an additional cost if joining solo.
- Please note that is is possible the price of the tour goes up a bit (due to accommodation availability). While this is very rare, it’s more likely to occur with last-minute bookings, as your guides need to find alternative accommodations.
Min. age requirements
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has cyclers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Alentejo, most people fly into Lisbon Airport, about 2 hours away by car. Your guides can pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your accommodation in Évora.
You can also rent a car or take a bus from any larger airports in Portugal.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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