Taste of the Alentejo Cycling Tour

Set out on a captivating journey through the heart of Alentejo, Portugal, the “Land of Golden Plains.” This flexible cycling adventure offers the freedom to set your own pace while experiencing the region’s most enchanting highlights.

Highlights:

• Admire Arraiolos – a quaint castle town with an embroidered carpet making tradition
• Experience Evora – a whitewashed beauty, once the capital of Portugal
• Visit key Evora attractions: the Roman temple, Evora Cathedral and the Chapel of Bones

Our guides will meet you in Lisbon, Portugal at 9am for a short brief and to get acquainted with the group. We begin our adventure with a transfer due south east from Lisbon to quaint Arraiolos, a sleepy castle town known for its traditional embroidered wool carpets found in many a palace and home in Portugal. After completing our bike fittings, we’ll cycle from the cobblestone streets to quiet paved roads. Our route takes us through rolling hills of golden plains and wildflowers, cork tree estates, generations-old olive groves and meadows dotted with sheep and cattle.  The elegant aqueduct comes into view as we arrive at Evora and pass through the city walls to enter this stunning whitewashed town with the hum of university life and a collection of impressive historical monuments.  After reenergizing over the flavors of Alentejo cuisine at a local restaurant, we visit the captivating Roman Temple, Evora Cathedral (the largest in all of Portugal!) and the intriguing Chapel of Bones. As the sun sets, we’ll enjoy a delightful dinner, walking distance from our historic hotel. 

Biking: 17 mi | 1hr30 | + 557 ft elevation gain.

Walking tour: 1hr30
Driving: 1hr45
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Hotel: Evora 

Highlights:

• Meander the pottery village of São Pedro de Corval
• Discover the fortified hilltown of Monsaraz, inhabited by many peoples since before Roman times
• Marvel at the stars in the darkest skies in Europe

Today we’ll hop in the van for a short transfer south of Evora, where your cycling adventure continues. Pedal through the gorgeous country scenery painted with same wildflowers that appear in the region’s colorful pottery. We’ll have a chance to learn more about the distinctive painted pottery, made from deep red local clay, in the village of São Pedro de Corval, where we also enjoy lunch.  After a rest, we will take the winding road up to the impressive fortified hilltop village of Monsaraz, “The Hill of Rock Roses”, once occupied by countless peoples from the Romans, to the Moors and to a medieval Jewish community as well. Tonight we’ll dine on local specialties such as Iberian pork before peering into the night sky at the Dark Sky Observatory, an unforgettable stargazing experience.

Biking: 30 mi | 3.5hrs | 1148 ft elevation gain
Walking tour: 1hr
Driving: 1h30min
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Hotel: Monsaraz

Highlights:

• Admire the Alqueva Reservoir – a source of sustenance for local agriculture and wildlife
• Discover a prehistoric Megalithic menhir,  evidence of local Iron Age peoples
• Explore the marble capital of Vila Viçosa: Ducal Palace, Castle and Marble Museum
• Stroll along marble sidewalks

This morning we begin with a gorgeous descent from Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa. As you ride along the Alqueva reservoir, you’ll pass over rivers, through silvery olive groves and visit an impressive Iron age menhir.  As we glide into Vila Viçosa you’ll be amazed by the impressive Ducal Palace clad in blue gray marble, facing the massive marble square.  Due to its exceptionally high quality, the local marble is exported worldwide, including to Manhattan to build the new translucent Perelman arts center. Savor a leisurely lunch on your own in Vila Viçosa, at one of the various local options. In the afternoon, you can take a guided visit of the neighboring Ducal Palace or exploring the local sites on your own such as the Museum de Marmore (Marble Museum) or the castle.  Alternatively, take it easy and relax by the pool. The day concludes with a delightful dinner by the local square.

Biking: 52 mi| 4hrs30 | + 1,804 ft / 550 mt
Walking: on your own in Vila Viçosa
Driving: none
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Hotel: Vila Viçosa

Highlights:

• Enjoy a delicious winery lunch with pairings
• Admire the magnificent views of the plains from the castle tower
• Visit the castle of Estremoz gifted by King Dinis to his wife in the 13th c.

Today offers lighter cycling with more time to discover the vibrant wine-producing industry of Alentejo. You’ll enjoy lunch with wine pairings at an urban winery in Estremoz and have the chance to explore their unique art gallery featuring local artists.  You can ride in the van up to our exceptional lodgings in the town’s castle. If you need feel the need to climb just a little bit more, follow the stairs to the castle roof and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape dotted with fields and olive orchards. Otherwise, enjoy exploring  our historic hotel or take a walk to see this famous market town and visit the Museu Berardo Estremoz, renowned for its tile collection.  Dinner is on your own tonight, with many delicious options available nearby.

Biking: 28 mi | 4hrs40 | + 3,313 ft elevation gain
Walking: 1 hr
Driving: none
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Hotel: Estremoz

Highlights:

• Enjoy view from the eagle’s nest hill town of Marvão, on the border with Spain
• Wander the cobbled streets of Castelo de Vide to see Jewish museum and marble fountain
• Mosteiro Flor da Rosa – experience the unusual silence of a fortified 14th c. monastery

We enjoy a scenic downhill ride from Marvão through forest and vineyards to the spa town of Castelo de Vide at the base of the Serra de São Mamede. Your guide will take you on foot to the clandestine Jewish quarter and synagogue museum to learn more about local Jewish history. We later cycle down to the plains to the elegant fortified gothic monastery built by the Knights Hospitaller in tiny Flor da Rosa. After a stop for a light lunch in Alagoa, we return to Estremoz for a farewell dinner at a special restaurant in town.

Biking: 65 mi| 5hrs | + 3,937 ft. elevation gain
Walking: 1 hr
Driving: 1 hr
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Hotel: Estremoz

Highlight:

• Coudelaria De Alter – a Lusitano horse breeding and riding center

Today you can opt to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and read by the hotel pool, or join our guides for at 10am visit to a Royal horse breeding center founded in the 18th c., dedicated to raising purebred Lusitano horses. We all reunite for a final lunch with our friends, near the hotel, before we transfer to Lisbon or arrival by 4 pm. Any flights should be books from 6 pm onwards. Farewell! Adeus! Adios!

Walking tour: 1hr
Driving: 2hrs (optional) + 2 hrs
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.