Portugal Cycling & Cooking E-bike tour

Day 1: Arrival, Aires and Candeeiros
Day 2: Caves route, 27 mi. (43 km)
Day 3: The Monasteries Route, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 4: The Wine and Cork Route, 26 mi. (42 km) or 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 5: The Famous carpets, average 25 mi. (40 km) 
Day 6: Twenty Centuries of history, 12 mi. (20 km)
Day 7: From the Mountain to the Sea, 35 mi. (56 km)
Day 8: Departure

*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.

Day 1: Arrival, Aires and Candeeiros
Transfer to Alvados (included in guided and van-supported tours only).

The Natural Park of Serra de Aires and Candeeiros has a very special landscape. As you bike you will discover man-made rock walls marking the roads and properties and a barren landscape dotted here and there by boulders, fissures, and slopes.  Underground there is a rich network of caves and galleries that extend beyond your imagination. There is a rich and varied range of animal life, including 18 species of bats (the symbol of the Park) that find ideal shelter in the various grottoes. In a deep valley, the small village of Alvados is hidden. The hotel will come as a wonderful surprise with architecture with modern lines but fully respecting local trends and materials. 

7:30 pm: Dinner, included in all tours

Accommodation: Cooking and Nature Emotional Hotel, located in Alvados village, situated in the heart of the Natural Park. 

Day 2: Caves route, 27 mi. (43 km)
This cycling tour will take you first to the wonderful limestone caves of the natural park. The guided tour takes about 1 hour. In 1955 two men working at a place called Pedra do Altar went through an opening in the rock as they were trying to catch a bird. Inside they discovered a gallery of Santo António caves, formed more than 150 million years ago. The caves occupy a huge area of 6,000 square meters, adorned with stalagmites and stalactites.

From here you will continue cycling through the agriculture fields of the area, which include olive groves. In the 50s about 200.000 liters of olive oil were produced here! There may be an opportunity to visit an olive mill for a tasting. On the way, you may park your bikes for a beautiful short walk. When you reach the top of the Fornea, you find the perfect place to relax. The amphitheater is 500 meters in diameter and 250 meters in height!  Arriving at the village of Porto Mós, you may choose to visit the castle and then head back for some relaxing time in the spa. You deserve it after this biking tour!

Picnic lunch included in guided, supported, and self-guided tours.

• Total ascent: 1011 m / 3316 feet
• Level: Difficult with a normal bike, moderate with an e-bike
• Terrain: 80% asphalt, long steep hills, easy dirt track (eco-trail).

5:30 pm: Opportunity to enjoy the spa in the hotel. 
7:00 pm: Cooking class at the hotel - at the end of the day you are invited to meet the chef in the kitchen and make your own dinner. (Included in guided, supported, and self-guided tours). This class is not available on Sundays. Please plan accordingly.

Accommodation: Cooking and Nature Emotional Hotel, located in Alvados village, situated in the heart of the Natural Park. 

Day 3: The Monasteries Route, 29 mi. (47 km)
Today you will cycle from Alvados to the Monastery of Batalha and then the Monastery of Alcobaça. The route is again hilly at the beginning but then you have a wonderful downhill on a really narrow road through the mountains. The monastery of Batalha took over a century to build, starting in 1386 and ending around 1517, spanning the reign of seven kings! It is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art, mingled with Manueline style.
The Alcobaça Monastery has a beautiful 13th-century façade but the construction actually began in 1178. The impressive tombs of King Pedro I and his mistress Inês de Castro, who was murdered on the orders of Pedro's father, King Afonso IV are one of the highlights of the monastery. 

Lunch not included, but perhaps a café in Batalha will entice you?

• Level: difficult with a normal bike, medium with e-bike
• Terrain: 100% asphalt, some long steep hills.

4:00 pm: Transfer to the farmhouse in Évora
7:00 pm: Arrival to the farm followed by dinner

Accommodation: Monte do Serrado de Baixo

Day 4: The Wine and Cork Route, 26 mi. (42 km) or 34 mi. (55 km)
The bike tour leaves the farm in the direction of Igrejinha, a very white village where all houses have stripes with different colors, resembling a great painting. From here, the route leads to the cork factory, which will surely be the highlight of the day. The route then leads to  S. Miguel de Machede, another small rural village where you can stop for a drink at a local café. The day should finish with a visit to the winery of São Miguel, a really fun and interesting visit led by a local guide.

Today you are offered two options:

• 42 km, with a transfer back to the farm, avoiding cycling on the main road  
• 55 km cycling to the cork factory and back to the farm, repeating the last 15 km on the same road but not going to the winery
• Total ascent: 324 m / 1062 feet
• Level: easy
• Terrain: mostly flat on secondary roads. A few km on the main road if you cycle back

 Extra costs:

Wine tasting: €15 per person (included in guided and supported tours)
Lunch not included, cafés on the way

6.30 pm – Cooking Class at the farm – Meet one of the team members for a cooking lesson on Alentejo food!

Accommodation: Monte do Serrado de Baixo

Day 5: The Famous carpets, average 20 mi. (33 km) 
Along the eco-trail, a bike lane built on an old railway, through small farms, you'll get 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 the Arraiolos village, with its rich historical center, famous carpets, and delicious Pastéis de Toucinho. The views from its castle are unforgettable. It’s now time for a winery visit with a fantastic private carriage collection, and then a few km later a cheese production farm where local liqueurs, jams, and other regional delicacies are produced and can be sampled. 

Again, today you have options for the cycling distance.

• 33 km with all visits described and transfer from cheese farm back to the hotel. You should plan about an hour visit in each farm.
• 46 to 49 km - to winery and back - easy level
• 70 km - to winery and cheese farm and back a different way - medium level, very long day with the visits. Only for the very fast cyclist or those who just want to cycle!
• Total ascent: 425 m / 1394 feet
• Level: medium 
• Terrain: gentle rolling roads, 15 km on dirt roads

Extra costs:

Wine tasting and carriage collection: €8 per person (included on guided and supported tours).
Tasting at cheese farm: €11 per person.
Lunch not included, cafés on the way
Dinner is not included tonight.  Perhaps you would like to have dinner in the city?

Accommodation:  Monte do Serrado de Baixo

Day 6: Twenty Centuries of history, 12 mi. (20 km)
Évora is such a gorgeous city you must cycle there to explore it. Visit some of the most interesting sites, cycling through beautiful streets carefully selected for you. The Roman Temple, the Cathedral, the Bone’s Chapel, and the University are some of the places we recommend. 

After your lunch (not included), you will be transferred to Santiago do Cacém by car. There you can be dropped off at the castle for a visit, really worthwhile, and you may cycle to the hotel afterward. At 6 pm, you will meet the Chef for another cooking class. Enjoy!

• Base km: 20 km / 12 miles
• Total ascent: 121 m / 396 feet
• Level: easy
• Terrain: Eco trail for 8 km and city streets 

6:00 pm: Cooking class

Accommodation: Santiago Hotel Cooking & Nature

Day 7: From the Mountain to the Sea, 35 mi. (56 km)
After all these inland days, you deserve a few sea views and maybe a swim! Before leaving visit the last operating windmill and head out towards the coastline through a lush green oak forest. The Blue Ocean and schist cliffs will frame the arrival to the fisherman’s village of Porto Covo. On the way check out a fortification that used to protect a natural bay from pirate attacks. Soon after you will have the opportunity to “walk into the ocean” in a pier made of rock, watch the unloading of the fish and the lamprey drying in the sun. Later relax at the beach or snoop around the small streets and shops of Vila Nova de Milfontes followed by the perfect end of the day at the romantic riverside agro-tourism.

Lunch included in guided tours only. Dinner included in self-guided, supported, and guided tours. 

Base kms: 56 kms / 35 miles 
Total ascent: 660 m / 2165 feet
Level: difficult with a normal bike, medium with e-bike
Terrain: 2 climbs and then flat roads and some dirt roads

Accommodation: HS Milfontes Beach Hotel or at a lovely farm Monte do Zambujeiro in Vila Nova de Milfontes

Day 8: End of tour
Departure from Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Perhaps we can entice you to stay 1 or 2 extra nights in the wonderful farm Monte do Zambujeiro and ride to the beach for relaxing days?

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Accommodations

On this tour you are accommodated in very unique establishments; authentic Montes, traditional Alentejan farms, a design hotel located within Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, and the 4-star Santiago Hotel Cooking and Nature, blending traditional and modern design, located on a hilltop overlooking the Castle of Santiago do Cacém. On each day’s details, you will find the name of the hotel for that particular night.

Bicycles

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 Standard 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.

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.