From Cloisters to Castles & Palaces to Gardens – The Sintra region is tremendously rich in culture, history and nature, as well as famous for its superb cuisine and wines. Join us and visit some of the most stunning monuments and gardens in the region. We use our know-how to provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
Trip Highlights:
- Obidos: a picture perfect walled castle village, ginginha liqueur.
- Sintra: palaces, castle, lush scenery and pastries.
- Cabo da Roca: the most westerly point in Europe.
- Cascais: fishing village on scenic bay.
- Great food from start to finish: fresh grilled fish served with chilled white wine, among other specialties.
Note: for private group tours contact us about alternative tour dates and lengths.
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION: | Hotel Lisboa Plaza, Lisbon | |||||
| DEPARTURE TIME: | Please arrive by 9:00 am for a welcome brief and departure at 9:30 am. | |||||
| RETURN TIME: | Approximately 5:30 pm. | |||||
| WHAT TO WEAR: | Comfortable cycling gear such as shorts and jersey, shoes with clips if desired. | |||||
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| SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: | € 80 / night (2023) |
ÓBIDOS
A short transfer takes us to the Ribatejo region and we’ll cycle along the quiet and flat back roads of the Tejo River plain past farms, vineyards and roadside fruit stands while flocks of egrets fly overhead. Tonight, we sleep in Óbidos, a picture-perfect walled village with meticulously kempt whitewashed houses covered in vines and flowers. It is impossible not to succumb to the village’s charms. Its name comes from the Latin oppidum, meaning “citadel” or “fortified city” and its walls are still standing today. The tranquil atmosphere is perfect for quiet conversation in a local tavern and tasting ginginha, the liqueur made from locally grown cherries. Tonight we’ll sleep within the castle walls in a classic, charming hotel.
Distance: 44 m / 70 Km or 19 m / 30 km
SINTRA
After a short transfer, we’ll cycle the calm back roads heading south (generally we with a tailwind) in the direction of lovely Sintra, a lush mountain town jutting out of the landscape topped with a fantastical pink palace and 8th century castle. The poet, Lord Byron called it a “glorious eden”. It is no surprise then, that this UNESCO World Heritage site was once the summer residence for the kings. Visit Regaleira Palace and relax afterwards in town over piping hot travesseiro (pillow) pastries, a local specialty.
Distance: 22 m / 36 km
CASCAIS / SINTRA
We’ll depart from the doorstep of our hotel and bike through the forest of Sintra Natural Park to visit the moss-covered Capuchos Monastery with its tiny cork-lined chambers for the monks and then coast down to Praia Grande on the Atlantic. After a short pit stop you have the option to hike to the most westerly point in Europe – Cabo da Roca or “the rock cape” over the cliffs above the waves. When we are done, you can ride downhill along the winding coast to Guincho beach and Cascais, a once tiny fishing-village now turned world-class sailing center. Enjoy exploring this pedestrian friendly beach town with its many souvenir shops, cafes and seafood restaurants, before we transfer to Lisbon.
Distance: Bike 24 m / 38 Km with optional hike along the coast: 6 m / 10 km.
What’s Included
- Full use of high-quality, Trek 7.4 FX bicycles with GPS unit and front pouch
- Bike maintenance as needed
- Guilt-free van support with snacks and water
- Highly experienced and enthusiastic bilingual guides / mechanics
- Entries for specific monuments, events or points of interest
- Gratuities for all accommodations and group meals
- Baggage transfers and handling.
- Wine with dinners
- Premium lodging and meals as indicated below
Accommodations
Hotels, 2 nights in 2 hotels:
Sintra: 1 night
Cascais: 1 nights
Meals
2 dinners, 1 lunches:
Day 1: Lunch / Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast / Dinner
Day 3: Breakfast
Please contact us for available dates.
Tour Reviews
What a Fabulous Trip!
Pedro did a fantastic job of showing us his beautiful country. The biking was great (lovely vistas, wild flowers and charming farms). We enjoyed learning about local foods and the wine was wonderful. I hope there is another Terracotta Journeys in my future.
– Marci B.
Many Many Thanks for Making us Falling in Love with Portugal
This sounded like a wonderful cycling trip when we carefully researched the sites being visited before we made our reservation, but it surpassed all our expectations. (…) We loved the towns being visited (especially Obidos & Sintra) and every hotel was superb. Thank you for introducing us to the cuisine of Portugal – wonderful restaurants with everything fresh. Eva and Pedro, you are such welcoming and gracious hosts, we feel we now have friends in Portugal. We hope we can join you again for another tour.
– J. & R.
Our Bicycle Tour with Terracotta Journeys was the High Point of our Visit to Portugal
My wife and I had never done a bike tour before but Pedro and Eva and Luis treated us like family and attended to every detail to make this a great experience. They were very knowledgeable and gave us a unique perspective on Portugal and its people. The visits to the tile-making factory and to a monastery near Sintra were memorable. Traveling around the country, seeing a host of beautiful towns and the raging Atlantic coastline, all from the seat of your bicycle, was spectacular. Everything was first rate and we would heartily recommend this bike tour. Obrigado!
– Bonnie and Bruce
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