BETTER THAN BACKROADS!! My husband and I just finished the Ancient Medieval Villages Supported trip. We did not know what to expect since we have been spoiled by previous 5 star trips from Backroads. But this time, I wanted to utilize a local company and read such great reviews from tripadvisor. The price of Portugal Bike is less than half the price of Backroads and I can honestly tell you that if I had to do another bike tour in Portugal, I would ONLY go with Portugal Bike. They have a vast knowledge of all regions of the country and have connected with wonderful locals and charming hotels to make this trip unforgettable. Ricardo was our superman support system and right hand man. He was there every step of the way. In fact, when we arrived at our destination each day, we would purposely try to lose him so we could stay on our bikes longer. He would just shake his head, laugh and tell us that finding us on GPS was like trying to gather children. He was AMAZING!! In fact if Cristina and Jose are reading this, I think he needs a promotion immediately. He was professional, always punctual and delivered great service. I never thought biking in 50 degree weather with huge headwinds and rain would actually feel rewarding at the end of the day. It made us appreciate the beautiful sun even more! Biking has a way of transforming you. It is by far the best way to see any country and get to know the culture. It is when we can interact with the locals that we all realize we are all connected!! Congratulations Portugal Bike for what appears to be a stellar team! I will recommend you to all our friends back in Washington DC!!!!

Malika Nekoo, 51 – MD, United States

My husband and I had the most fabulous time with Portugal Bike. We did back-to-back rides; traveling along the Atlantic coastline “Toward the Algarve,” and biking through “Ancient Medieval Villages” in Central Portugal. Going with a “local” (I.e., Portuguese) company makes all the difference; Portugal Bike knows the safest and most interesting routes, provides unique, high-end accommodations, and sees to it that you experience restaurants serving authentic Portuguese meals. Also appreciated by us was the subtle, but ever present, attention to our safety on the road and elsewhere. We were very fortunate to be supported by Andre – his knowledge of his country, as well as its history, geography, food, wine, etc. is amazing. Also, his many entertaining stories added a most delightful element to our travels. Particularly impressive is Portugal Bike’s attention to every detail. (On a personal note, Portugal Bike managed to retrieve my biking jacket which I left behind after a hotel stay). In short, this company deserves high praise for all they do to make your bike ride in Portugal a truly memorable experience.

Jan Penz, 71 – Colorado, United States

Les Stroud, 57 – Oregon – United States

This was a bike tour around Alentejo’s medieval villages. We hired Portugal Bike Tours for support and bike rentals on this trip. We are experienced bikers, and consequently were very pleased to discover the excellent equipment and support we received from Portugal Bike Tours. They have really great German Cube bikes and even ergonmic Selly saddles. Everything was clean and well tuned.
The riding itself was great, and we got onto many of side roads and off the beaten track routes that I do not think we could have found without lots of experience with the area. Jose, who supported us was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly. This is the first time we used Portugal Bike Tours, and would hire them again if we return. The booking went smoothly and professionally.

Robert Crifasi, 60 – Boulder, Colorado – United States

What a great experience! Having previously completed bicycling tours in other countries we were very impressed with our experience with Portugal Bike. The tour was well-organized and well-supported. José and Cristina demonstrate an eye for detail, planning, and interest in their clients. They are wonderful ambassadors for their country! Prior to the trip all our questions were answered promptly and comprehensively. During the trip José and Cristina ably communicated information necessary for the ride as well as superior knowledge of the terrain, environment, history and culture of Portugal. Pre-ride orientation and daily briefings kept us apprised of what to expect, how to stay safe on the road, care for equipment, and language and cultural differences. The thoughtful itinerary kept us on quality roads with safe riding conditions and interesting stops at castles, ruins, marble quarries, cork trees, and scenery. Rest stops and picnic lunches were well timed and evenly spaced. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that traffic on the designed routes was very light and drivers were extremely, cautious, polite, and safety conscious. All accommodations were comfortable and well appointed. Arrangements varied from hotels, to boutique hotels, to convents and historical pousadas. Dining experiences provided fine examples of local cuisine and excellent Portuguese wine selection. The equipment was the best we’ve seen on an organized tour. The road bikes were extremely well tuned and in excellent condition. Helpful accessories included computers, rear mirrors, and seat bags. We found that we had unnecessarily packed bicycling equipment that we simply never needed. The transport van was large and comfortable. We will always look back on our tour with Portugal Bike with fondness and appreciation for José and Cristina as well as for Portugal, it’s welcoming people, culture and history. Thank you Portugal Bike for the warm, lasting memories of Portugal!

Bill Burke & Catalina Nocon, 64 & 62 – Sunriver OR, United States

These guys are good, really good!! Cristina and Jose created a wonderful week. A great route, with enough challenge, good hotels, good food, and of course, being in Alentejo some of the best wines in Europe. Let alone fantastic scenery. Our group has been cycling one week a year for the last 20 years, and this is a highly, picky bunch of successful people, used to the best; that there were no grumbles, and just a continuous repetition of ‘wow,’ shows how well it went. We have cycled in the USA, and in most countries in Western Europe, and we all agreed this was one of the best bike tours we have ever had.

Adam Singer, 63 – St Albans, United Kingdom