Alentejo Cycling Holidays: Discover Portugal on Bikes

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.

Five 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 7, check out of your accommodation and the adventure officially comes to an end!

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 roads

Possible 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 back

Possible 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/3.7 mi on dirt roads; possible to have an earlier transfer if you don’t want to do the dirt roads

Possible 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.

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: 20 km/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 asphalt

Possible add-ons:
Cooking class: Price upon request

This route begins with a transfer to Reguengos in the morning. Today’s destination is the fortified village of Monsaraz, an important stronghold in the defense of the locals, just by the border with Spain. We will visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see people creating magic from clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and painting them with flowers at an impressive speed. Try your hand at the workshop! With Spain in sight, have lunch by the biggest artificial lake in Europe, the Alqueva Dam reservoir. Afterwards, 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: 30 km/18.6 mi without any detours, 43 km/26.7 mi with a detour to the lake, 50 kms/31.1 mi with the Mourão village and transfer
Difficulty: Intermediate
Terrain: Mostly flat, tough climb in the end

Possible add-ons:
Pottery workshop: 8 € per person

Today’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 economic 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. You may choose to visit the impressive Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa. Finish the day off with a visit to the fortified sanctuary of Terena.

Distance: 30 kms/18.6 mi if you only cycle until Vila Viçosa // 50 kms/31.1 mi if you cycle to Terena
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Undulating, mostly downhill