Cycling Tour in Alentejo

Tucked between Portugal’s colorful capital of Lisbon, the sun-kissed shores of Algarve, and the Spanish border lies the eternal Alentejo. Its name means “beyond [além] the Tagus [Tejo]”, a reference to the Iberian Peninsula’s longest river. The Alentejo is mineral: Most of the year, its undulating fields are dressed in gold, brass, and bronze, with accents of jade and copper. Clusters of sheep and cattle snooze under the occasional shade tree, their rangelands interspersed with vineyards, and groves of olive, chestnut, oak, and cork trees. Sprightly villages, fortified small cities, and crumbling churches and castles complete the scene.

For the cyclist, the Alentejo is a dream: Luscious smooth roads, over mostly rolling terrain, draw the rider deep into pristine countryside, and in and out of whitewashed towns where houses are trimmed in bright colors and locals wave and wish you Bom dia! (Good day!) Cultivated with care over centuries, this land is revered for its production of wine, olive oil, and Jamón Ibérico (world-famous acorn-fed ham), all of which ensure continued pleasure off the bike, around the table. Our tour carries us through the Alto (High) Alentejo into the districts of Évora and Portalegre. Bem-vindo a Portugal! (Welcome to Portugal!)

About the Alentejo Region

Oldest on the Iberian Peninsula and among the oldest on the continent, Portugal is the furthest western nation of mainland Europe, flanked by the Atlantic and Spain. The Azores and Madeira are part of Portugal, although each archipelago maintains an autonomous regional government.

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Portugal is steeped in layered history, having been settled, invaded, and fought over continually. It was home to Celtic peoples and visited by Phoenicians-Carthaginians and Ancient Greeks before the Romans came. Alentejo was of particular interest to Roman rulers who prized its wheat fields. Remnants of Roman rule are still very much in evidence in the roads, temples, baths, and aqueducts scattered across the countryside. Germanic peoples came next, followed by the Moors who absorbed most of Portugal’s current territory into Al-Andalus. As an identity, Portugal was formed in 868 although it would not be settled as a kingdom until the middle of the 12th century, following the Reconquista or “reconquest” of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

The Age of Discovery, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, would mark Portugal’s pinnacle. Under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator and King John II, the Portuguese pioneered maritime exploration. Fabled voyages were helmed by Bartolomeu Dias, who traveled beyond the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 and Vasco da Gama who found a sea route to India in 1498. In 1500, Portuguese sailors landed on the shores of what would become Brazil. Such expeditions facilitated the nation’s rise as an economic, political, and military powerhouse. It would come to control the spice trade through its expanding reach into Africa and Asia, first establishing trading posts and later colonies. The Lisbon earthquake in 1755, occupation under Napoleon beginning in 1807, and loss of its largest colony with Brazilian independence in 1822 would all contribute to the eventual sunset on Portuguese power. (Interestingly, with the handover of Macau to China only in 1999, Portugal’s may be considered the longest lasting colonial empire in history.)

From a pre-tour night or two in lovely Lisbon, we set off for the nation’s bread basket: The rich and open Alentejo. Reliant since the Middle Ages on agriculture, livestock, and forestry, the Alentejo is famous for traditional cheeses, wines, olive oil, smoked ham, and sausages. Marble and cork are also prevalent industries. In fact, the Alentejo is the world's most important area for cork production. Called sobreiro in Portuguese, the cork-oak tree has been grown commercially here for more than 300 years, most commonly through a form of silvopasture where space between trees is given over to grazing. In some particularly fertile areas, cork is intercropped with citrus, vines, or olives. Centuries of carefully managed agriculture allow the Alentejo to boast a rich and varied ecosystem from which emerge the most delectable of flavors.

Around the table, we taste the treasures of the region. Portuguese cuisine is considered part of the UNESCO-recognized Mediterranean Diet with its emphasis on legumes, cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, cured meats, fish, olive oil, wine, and commensality. In the Alentejo specifically, dishes reflect the region’s subsistence farming roots in simple yet creative fare showcasing seasonal ingredients, locally available. In terms of wine, Portugal has the second largest number of indigenous grape varieties (after Italy) of any country in Europe—possibly in the world. Many of these are found in the Alentejo and nowhere else. Let’s discover its distinctive grapes, well-adapted to the hot, dry climate, which have helped to put the Alentejo on the wine map. Between bites and sips, we immerse ourselves in the region’s rich human and natural history through guided walks with local storytellers, visits to olive oil, cork, and wine producers, a cooking demonstration of traditional recipes, and explorations of a marble quarry and an enclave of heritage potters.

Beyond the breathtaking riding, we spend time in the charming fortified cities of Évora, Elvas (both UNESCO World Heritage sites), Monsaraz, and in elegant Vila Viçosa, all with their tidy squares and tended parks. Everywhere there is color: Whitewashed facades are trimmed in blue, green, purple, and yellow, or adorned in ornate tiles; burnt orange and magenta flowers spill over walls and doorways. Whiffs of eucalyptus, coriander, and wisteria travel on the wind, and the cheerful songs of resident parakeets fill the narrow cobblestone lanes. A feast for all the senses, the Alentejo awaits! Come with us to pedal this lesser-known part of Portugal. Enjoy your vacation at your own rhythm, balancing time on two wheels with other delights in terms of culture, tradition, and flavor. See you in Portugal!

Cycling Tour in Alentejo

Dates & Pricing

Minimum of 6 participants, maximum of 16, with a maximum guide-to-guest ratio of 1 to 8

DATES (7 days)

May 19-25, 2023 | October 13-19, 2023
For more info and availability please contact us.

TOUR PRICE

Per person in double occupancy: from $4,190*

Single Supplement: $690*

*Add 1-night pre tour extension - See more info below

For travel in 2021 and beyond, your tour is carbon neutral! In addition, we donate more than 1% of your trip price to food-literacy and environmental non-profits that share our values. (Details here)

Tour Highlights

Full immersion into local culture and history with experienced Tour Leaders
Delicious meals emphasizing Portuguese cuisine specific to the Alentejo
Elegant, traditional, and charming accommodations in 4- and 5-star hotels
Visit and tasting to a winemaker and sampling of the cheeses and olive oil of the Alentejo
Personalized experiences to learn about local cork, ceramic, and marble
Strolls through the two UNESCO sites of Évora and Elvas as well as in charming Vila Viçosa, Monsaraz, and other villages of the region
Exhilarating rides on quiet roads past ruined castles, sleepy and colorful villages, and cork and olive orchards and forests
Exposure to two UNESCO intangible cultural heritages: Cante Alentejano (polyphonic singing) and Fado (popular music)
Traditional, local recipes to bring home such as gazpacho Alentejano!
Add 1 night pre tour extension in Lisbon

Cycling Level 1 – Antipasto (Appetizer)

What's Included

6 nights of accommodation in 4- and 5-star hotels
6 breakfasts and 2 lunches
5 dinners each with either a 3- or 4-course menu
Guided visits to Évora and to a marble quarry
Rides in the Alentejo area on mostly quiet, rolling roads through sleep villages, surrounded by pastures, cork forests and olive orchards
Entry fees to Ducal Palace in Vila Viçosa
1 visit and tasting to a local winery
1 visit to a pottery center
Exposure to two UNESCO intangible cultural heritages: Cante Alentejano (polyphonic singing) and Fado (popular music)
Bike rental (see more info here) and Garmin Touring Edge unit (if you have one, bring yours and we’ll upload the routes onto your unit)
Comfortable transportation and assistance by 9-seat van for all travel on tour as cited in the itinerary
Refreshments, snacks, fruits, and other local delicacies during our rides
Two professional Tour Leaders
Group transfers to/from Lisbon Delgado airport (one at the beginning and one at the end of tour)
Local taxes and gratuities for luggage porters and restaurant servers on tour

What's Not Included

4 lunches and 1 dinner on your own
Alcoholic beverages at group meals (including wine, beer, and spirits)
Round-trip airfare and expenses to/from the tour
E-bike, upon request and availability, with $150-250 surcharge depending on the type (see more info here)
Trip cancellation, baggage loss or travel delay insurance (this optional coverage is highly recommended. See more info here)
Pre tour extension night (Lisbon) at a 4-star hotel, 1 breakfast, 1 guided visit of the city, and 1 dinner with Fado popular music
Gratuities for your Tour Leaders
Personal expenses, such as, but not limited to, phone calls, laundry, emails, gifts

Itinerary

Optional Pre-Tour Night in Lisbon (See 1-Night Pre-Tour Extension Info Below)
Day 1 – Lisbon to Évora

Cycling Route Info on Day 1: Main Route: 17mi/650ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 7mi/180ft

Our adventure begins with a group transfer from Lisbon airport to Évora. Here, after a stretch, our lunch, and an energizing warm-up ride, we have time to take in the city with its narrow winding lanes, which open upon small squares and breathtaking works of architecture like the ornate Gothic cathedral, Capela does Ossos (chapel of bones), and Roman temple, dating to the 1st century and constructed of marble from nearby Estremoz.

Capital of the Alentejo, Évora is the perfect introduction to Alentejan heritage. Around the table, let’s start to soak in the flavors of the region with a delicious dinner together featuring traditional recipes.

Dishes here are straightforward yet scrumptious expressions of the varied bounty of this land while local grapes, adapted to the long, hot, dry season, offer up wines that surprise and delight with their unique and excellent aromas and colors.
Day 2 – Around Évora

Cycling Route Info on Day 2: Main Route: 31mi/1480ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 7mi/180ft

The ride today carries us out of the charming city deep into the countryside through wheat fields and olive groves. Spinning into the villages that dot the countryside, we are enlivened by all the color: Tidy, whitewashed facades are trimmed in bright blue, green, purple, and yellow. Some of the more elegant buildings wear ornate tiles and deep orange and magenta flowers that drape over walls, gates, and doorways.

Lunch is on your own today and we suggest trying a typical Tasquinha, a small tavern where you can find delicious, fresh, and unpretentious local food and wines. Enjoy some downtime in the afternoon at our elegant hotel, or in Évora, followed by a walking tour through the historic center with a local guide and then dinner featuring local recipes.
Day 3 – Évora to Monsaraz

Cycling Route Info on Day 3: Main Route: 43mi/1420ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 5mi/250ft

From Évora we set off for picturesque Monsaraz. En route we stop by a famous winery in Reguengos where we can learn about the local grapes during a visit and tasting over a delicious lunch. Then we stop in Corval to visit the pottery interpretive center, called the Casa do Barro. São Pedro do Corval has the highest concentration of traditional potters anywhere in Portugal and plenty of potteries where we may see this colorful handicraft in action.

The climb up to Monsaraz rewards us with one of the most picturesque of Alentejo’s perched border towns that we explore off the bike before dinner tonight. Beautifully preserved, its highpoint is most certainly the castle. From its walls, we can see out across the plains and across one of the largest artificial lakes in western Europe. Called the Great Lake, it is the result of the Alqueva dam, built on the Guadiana river to water this thirsty agricultural region and provide habitat for birds, and recreation to surrounding communities and visitors.

Transfer to Monsaraz for a visit and another unforgettable evening meal. Your guides will love to share more stories about cork harvesting, and the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of Cante Alentejano (polyphonic singing), and much more of what's to come on tour.
Day 4 – Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa

Cycling Route Info on Day 4: Main Route: 38mi/2280ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 7mi/750ft

Spinning out of Monsaraz, we reach the elegant city of Vila Viçosa with its unusual town center. Rather than the common square, the Praça da República is shaped like a long medieval banquet table. At its head sits the town’s hilltop castle. We find a more typical, and distinguished, town square nearby, laid out before the Paço Ducal (ducal palace), built by the wealthy dukes of Bragança.

Today, we stop for lunch in the town of Alandroal where we can explore the ruined castle in the center of town (one of many on our castle-rich journey). Where Évora and Monsaraz are commonly sought by tourists, Vila Viçosa feels like a purer expression of rural Portuguese life with its squares, fountains, cafes, and narrow lanes occupied first and foremost by its own people.

This area is famous for the local marble quarries, which we'll visit to learn more about this precious material. Then, it is time for our day's end reward in solid and liquid form over dinner: Bom Apetite! (Bon appetit!)
Day 5 – Around Vila Viçosa

Cycling Route Info on Day 5: Main Route: 30mi/1470ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 7mi/850ft

Beautiful roads out of Vila Viçosa carry us to the Spanish border area. Here and in Elvas, people use both languages, so feel free to practice your Spanish, if you like!

Today we enjoy more views of the world-famous vineyards of this region. Climate-adapted grapes of this land impart distinctive characteristics to the Alentejo’s now world celebrated wines

Back to town, enjoy more downtime in the afternoon with many options including a visit to the local ducal palace and castle. Or why not take a walk and then relax with an aperitif in the historic praça (square) near the old boundary walls? Dinner tonight is on your own. We have plenty of suggestions for you in town.
Day 6 – Vila Viçosa to Elvas

Cycling Route Info on Day 6: Main Route: 29mi/1880ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 10mi/750ft

From Vila Viçosa we ride to fabled Elvas, a stronghold sitting a mere five miles from a key border crossing between Portugal and Spain. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Elvas is an impressive enduring example of a bastion fort.

The fortification of Elvas began when Portugal revolted for its freedom from Spain in 1640, although within its walls there remain elements dating to the 10th century. On our approach, we cannot miss the Amoreira aqueduct towering over the road before it stretches over the boundary walls. At nearly four and a half miles in length, this 16th-century masterpiece of 833 arches watered the city, enabling the citadel to withstand lengthy sieges.

We suggest taking your lunch in town followed by a leisurely stroll to explore the city, another UNESCO site, before our final celebratory dinner in a typical restaurant.
Day 7 – Lisbon Airport

1-Night Pre-Tour Extension in Lisbon

Dates and Pricing

Minimum of 6 participants, maximum of 16, with a maximum guide-to-guest ratio of 1 to 8

DATES (1 night before our Cycling Tour in Alentejo)
For more info, dates and availability please contact us.

TOUR PRICE
Per person in double occupancy: from $400 to $600 (tour price will vary depending on type of accommodations and group size)
Single Supplement: from $100

In addition, we pledge to donate more than 1% of your trip price to food literacy and environmental non profit organizations
Day 1 – Explore Lisbon with Us

Fly into Lisbon Delgado airport and reach your hotel in the center of the city via 20-mins taxi at your preferred time and at additional expense. Check in and enjoy the charming capital of Portugal! Meet your Tour Leaders and your local guide in the afternoon, after lunch, for a guided walking tour. Then soak in more of the city on your own

Tonight, we discover one of the essences of Portuguese culture: the popular music called "Fado". Sad and soulful, it was born in Lisbon in the early nineteenth century and the capital is the best place to experience it, which we shall over our dinner in a traditional restaurant.
Day 2 – Lisbon to Évora

To request the itinerary as a PDF or to ask us any questions please contact us today!