Paradise in Portugal

This is a flexible cycling tour. You may combine the days in a different order or even kayak or hike instead of cycling. If you tell us your preferences in advance, we can help you plan the itinerary that works for you. You can enjoy short days or longer days, you can also reserve transfers so that you can linger longer at the place that interests you the most. 

*All distances are approximate. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, you may find temporary local deviations/detours caused by roadwork not reflected in your route book or GPS tracks. In this case, please follow the directions posted locally.

Example of routes

Route 1: The Famous Carpets
This suggested tour is an easy ride from the guesthouse to Arraiolos and then back, following the "green lane", or rails to trails path. It is a peaceful ride on gently rolling hills, 10 km of which is on dirt roads. You will cycle past small farms, eventually reaching Graça do Divor, a beautiful and well-preserved white and blue village. This is a wonderful place to stop for a drink and try delicious (and famous) meat pies. Following your refreshment, you continue to the village of Arraiolos, famous for its rich historical center, castle, and embroidered wool rugs and carpets which have been made since the Middle Ages. A local delicacy that you must sample is the delicious Pastéis de Toucinho. There is an opportunity to visit a winery (extra cost), and a cheese farm that also produces local liqueurs. (extra cost) From the cheese farm, you can order an optional transfer back to the farmhouse. If you cycle back to the guesthouse, you pass Divor Dam and its lovely lake. You can shorten the daily mileage by 12 km if you do not visit the cheese farm.

Distance:
22 mi. (36 km) all visits described and a transfer from the cheese farm back to the hotel
28 - 33 mi. (45 - 53 km) to the winery and back
43 mi. (69 km) to the winery and cheese farm and return by the same route
47 mi. (75 km) to the winery and cheese farm and back a different route

Level: easy to moderate, depending on the option you choose and if you purchase transfers. You will cycle on gently rolling hills which include approx. 15 km of dirt roads.

Route 2: The Wine and Cork Route
Leaving the farm, the cycling leads in the direction of Igrejinha, a "white village" where all houses have stripes of different colors. There is a lovely winery here that can be visited. From Igrehinha, you cycle to the cork factory to learn how cork is transformed. This will be a highlight of your day. In the same village, you can visit a knife factory and see the process of making kitchen knives, cork-cutting knives, and others. Nearby there is a wonderful sanctuary with murals from floor to ceiling. Next on the agenda is the village of S. Miguel de Machede where you can stop for refreshments.

Level: easy with rolling hills (270 m of climbing with a transfer, 430 m without).

Distance:
27 mi. (42 km) - with a transfer back to the farm
46 mi. (74 km) without transfer

Route 3:  Megalithic Monuments 
In the morning you cycle to Évora and unravel the amazing history of this old beautiful city, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Recommended is a visit to the surreal Bone chapel and to the impressive cathedral, originally from the 13th century and you can finish with a wine tasting in the Évora Wine Tour Shop. After, you ride into the country discovering beautiful holm oak forests and vast meadows, a peaceful landscape of grazing cattle, and cheerful birds. Zambujeiros' Dolmen, the biggest in Europe, the Almendres' Cromlech, the oldest megalithic monument in Europe with a beautiful view over Évora, the Almendres Menhir,  and Mitras' Church are also highlighted.

Distance: ​
22 mi. (35 km) - with a transfer at the end of the day back to the farm
28 mi. (45 km) - with a transfer back from the Roman ruins
44 mi. (70 km) -  cycling from farm and back 

Level: moderate to difficult without a transfer and moderate with transfer and including cromlech. The climb to the cromlech is a 4 km dirt track ascent.

Route 4: Conquest of Valongo Castle
The day begins on a road lined with olive groves, with gentle ups and downs until Nossa Senhora de Machede. There is an opportunity to visit a traditional leather factory and, if traveling in October or November, an olive oil mill. If traveling off-season, it could still be possible to arrange a tour subject to availability.

Valongo Castle, dating from 1283, is on the agenda as well. Located in the solitary surroundings of Montoito, it stands alone and surreal. Following then a dirt road, through the country at its best, you reach Alcaide Water Mill and continue along the river passing several mills until you reach the main road. If you want to extend your cycling itinerary, you can add an extra 10 km and cycle to the Ervideira winery (extra cost). At the end of your cycling day, there is an included transfer back to the farmhouse.

Distance:
25 mi. (40 km) without the wine tasting and with a transfer from Castelo de Valongo 
31 mi. (50 km) without wine tasting and with transfer at the end of the route
37 mi. (60 km) with wine tasting and transfer from here.

Level: easy with gently rolling hills. The last 6 km is on a dirt road which you can avoid if you request to be transferred early.

Route 5: Evora and its surroundings
This is an easier cycling day, perfect to end with a cooking class! From the farm, you will cycle to a cheese factory where you may do a visit and tasting. This cheese factory is very different from the one you may have visited in the Famous Carpet Route. Then cycle to Evora where you may spend the day cycling and visiting several monuments. The city is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and there is plenty to do and see. After lunch, you can climb to Alto de São Bento, a favorite place for locals to watch the sunset.

Distance: 16 to 22 mi. km (25 to 35 km) 
Level: easy except for the climb to Alto the São Bento, but you may choose not to do.
Terrain: mostly flat and mix of dirt track and asphalt.

Route 6: The Medieval Village
A morning transfer will take you to Reguengos from which you cycle to medieval Monsaraz, perched high on a hill, overlooking the Guadiana River.  The view spreads below for miles. As you enter the village, surrounded by castle walls, it is as though you have stepped back in time. The houses are made of white Schist with blinding white walls. In the area surrounding Monsaraz are several fascinating megalith and dolman monuments. These symbolic remains date back to between 4.000 and 2.000 years BC. Another highlight is the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval. At the end of the day, there is a return transfer to the farm.

Distance:
19 mi. (30 km) not including the lake
27 mi. (43 km) including the detour to the lake
31 mi. (50 km) if you cycle to Mourão village and transfer from here

Level: easy to moderate with the majority of the itinerary on flat roads, however, there is a moderate 2 km climb to Monsaraz

Route 7:  Wine and marble
You begin in Estremoz, an unforgettable city. It is highly recommended that you climb to the top of the marble donjon tower, from the 14th century, to take in the impressive views. From here you ride to the fantastic Villa Viçosa, where the marble used gives an aristocratic look to the village and you can visit the Ducal Palace, built between 1502 and 1700, or the marble museum.

Continue through the marble land, visit a marble quarry, and ride to Alandroal, where marble, the white gold, continues to be the king. You then ride to Terena, where you cycle through the flowery center.  The ride ends in the amazing fortified sanctuary of Srª da Boa Nova. Even if churches are not your thing, you'll enjoy this one!

Distance:
19 mi. (30 km)  if you cycle from Estremoz to Vila Viçosa
31 mi. (50 km) if you cycle to Terena

Level: easy with undulating terrain but mostly downhill

Tour length options

4 days/3 nights
1st day: Arrival. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.
2nd and 3rd day: Cycling 2 routes, choose between Route 1, 2, or 5
4th day: Departure.

5 days/4 nights
1st day:  Arrival. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.
2nd - 4th day: Cycling 3 routes, choose between Route 1, 2, 3, and 5. One more dinner at the farm on one of the nights.
5th day: Departure.

6 days/5 nights
1st day: Arrival. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.
2nd - 5th day: Cycling routes 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Two more dinners at the farm in two of the nights.
5th day: Departure.

7 days/6 nights
1st day: Arrival. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.
2nd - 6th day: Cycling 5 routes, Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

8 days/7 nights
1st day: Arrival. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.
2nd - 7th day: 5 cycling routes - one free day or one extra route at a supplement.
8th day: Departure.

On one of the nights, you can enjoy a cooking class featuring Alentejo food. You will be taught to prepare a delicious Alentejo meal, using fresh and readily available ingredients.

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Accommodations

The main accommodation used for this tour is the Monte de Serrado de Baixo, a traditional and ancestral Alentejan farm located outside of Evora, Portugal. The guesthouse has 4 rooms (accommodating 8 people), with the possibility of adding extra beds in the rooms or accommodating extra guests on a nearby farm for larger groups.

For those wanting to stay in town, it is also possible to reserve the 4-star Mar de ar Muralhas. Supplement applies, please ask us!

Bicycles

Trekking Bike

Kross Evado 6.0

• Aluminum frame
• Shimano Alivio 27 gears
• Shimano hydraulic disc
• Schwalbe CX Comp Tires (28 x 15)
• Selle royal Shadow
• Fenders
• Kickstand

Bikes come equipped with pannier and helmet.

Electric Bike

Focus Aventura 1.0

• Aluminum alloy frame
• Pedelec
• Impulse 2.0 motor
• Shimano 11 speed
• Magura hydraulic brakes
• Fizik Rondine saddle
• 28 inch wheels
• Schwalbe Energizer Pro, 700 x 38c tire

Cube Touring One 400

• Aluminum Superlite frame
• Pedelec
• Bosch Drive Unit Active Plus Motor
• Bosch PowerPack 400 battery
• Shimano 9 speed
• Shimano hydraulic brakes
• Selle Royal Ariel saddle
• Schwalbe Energizer Pro, 700 x 38c tires

Bikes come equipped with pannier and helmet.