The Charming Pousadas in Alentejo Scheduled

Road Bike | Scheduled | Historic

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This is a gorgeous Road Bike Tour in Portugal which takes you to several Castles, Palaces, Monasteries and Convents; these magnificent places were once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings of Portugal and now are converted into exquisite lodgings, which we call POUSADAS.

The overall difficulty level of this tour is 3, Intermediate (more precisely, level 2.8 between 1~5). It is recommended for “bikers” and “cyclists”. It is supposed that you are in good shape.

This Bike Tour in Portugal starts in Marvao, a small medieval town on the top of the hill, surrounded by walls and with a majestic castle that defended this small town from the Spanish people many times. There you can admire a spectacular view before you start riding down. Afterwards, you will climb to a little chapel on the top of a hill where there is an amazing view over another medieval town, and its rows of whitewashed houses.

You will ride along narrow roads, either sided by cork trees or stone walls and you will get to a quiet place, where you will stay in an amazing building that was once a convent and today is a luxury hotel.

On the next day you will ride towards one of the most traditional wine regions in Portugal. You can visit a vineyard and taste the world famous Alentejo wine.

The ride continues to the capital of marble in Portugal, where even the sidewalks are made of marble. You will also visit a pottery workshop and a cork processing plant. The cycling day ends at a small town which is famous for its rugs that are still handmade following a tradition that is documented since the 17th century.

This PortugalBike Tour ends in Evora, which is the largest town in Alentejo. This is a wonderful walled town with many Roman vestiges, medieval churches and buildings, fountains, the aqueduct, charming streets, etc., that is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

From

Euro 2810

Scheduled

Tour

7

Days

Level 3 (2.8)

Intermediate

Distance

258km/160mi
52km/32mi day

Hotels

Monument and Historic

Trails

100% asphalt

Start | End

Marvão | Évora

Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

29 Apr – 05 May, 2024

Confirmed

Euro 3410

05 May – 11 May, 2024

Complete

Euro 3470

26 May – 01 Jun, 2024

Confirmed

Euro 3470

08 Sep – 14 Sep, 2024

Available

Euro 3600

06 Oct – 12 Oct, 2024

Confirmed

Euro 3550

27 Oct – 02 Nov, 2024

Complete

Euro 3350

Available: You can sign up for the bicycle tour, but we must have a minimum of 4 cyclists.

To be Confirmed: We already have some cyclists, but we need more to Confirm the bike tour.

Confirmed: We already have a minimum of 4 cyclists on the bicycle tour and you can still sign up.

Complete: The bicycle tour is already full.

Contact us if you prefer a Private Bike tour.
If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.
Scheduled bike tours usually start on Sundays.

Looking for another Guided tour date?
See all Confirmed Departures

RESERVE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

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Minimum number of people: 4

Location: Alentejo

Price per person:

Single room supplement:

WHAT’S INCLUDED

7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling

Support Level

Experienced, knowledgeable local Guides
A GPS device on your handlebar with all bike tracks preloaded
Our comfortable support and backup vehicle van with air conditioning
Techno-mechanical assistance at all times
All transportation from airport pick-up to drop-off
All baggage transportation by our team
Documentation booklet about PortugalBike Tour
Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance
First-Aid assistance on location

Accommodations

One Pousada – Monument Hotel (14th century former Monastery – Luxury Hotel)
One Pousada – Historic Hotel (13th century former Castle)
One Pousada – Historic Hotel (16th century former Convent)
One Pousada – Historic Hotel (16th century former Convent)
One 5* Historic Design Boutique Hotel- Charming Hotel (15th century former Convent), or one Pousada – Historic Hotel (15th century former Convent)
One Charming Hotel (20th century typical house located in the Fortress)

Meals

6 Breakfasts
6 Dinners (including our famous wines, cheeses and desserts)
Daily water supply, fruits, energy-bars, nuts etc.

Gear

Carbon frame and superior quality road bicycles with hydraulic disc brakes and 20 speeds, tailored to your height and specifications
PortugalBike cycling jersey to keep
PortugalBike water bottles to keep
BBB helmets (optional)

Activities

Visit to Pottery Workshop
Visit to a winery and wine tasting (included in the price)
Visit to a cork processing plant (included in the price)

Please note:

Prices are based on a double bedroom occupancy (hotels may be different depending on availability) | Scheduled version: We require a minimum of 4 people to confirm a scheduled departure | Groups: Discount for Groups of 8 or more people | E-bike rental: + Euro 300 | If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.

DAY BY DAY

Day

1

Arrival at Lisbon

Welcome at Lisbon airport. 3H00 drive to Marvão. Briefing about the tour. Lodging in a Pousada with a cozy ambience and almost family atmosphere. Lodging in El-Rei Dom Manuel Hotel, a Charming Hotel located in the Fortress.

Day

2

The beautiful Natural Park with its medieval towns

48km (30mi), 610m total climbing (2000ft), level 3 (2.9).
After breakfast we ride down from the medieval village of Marvão on the top and we ride into the Natural Park of São Mamede Hills. Here Nature and History embrace each other. It seems time has stopped! …Everything is quiet. Lodging in a Pousada that manages to combine the genuine characteristics of the former 14th century Convent with modern luxury. Lodging in Pousada Mosteiro do Crato, Monument Hotel, Luxury Hotel.

Day

3

Cork oak trees, olive trees and vast vineyards

67km (42mi), 900m total climbing (2950ft), level 4 (3.7).
After breakfast we leave the Monastery and ride towards small villages where we can admire the whitewashed houses with a yellow or blue stripe, the roads sided by trees, beautiful manor houses dated from the 17th and 18th centuries and we can also visit the small castle. The day ends in a small town, the land of marble and wine. Lodging in a 13th century former Castle converted into Pousada from where you can admire a superb view over the city and the vast Alentejo plain. Lodging in Pousada Castelo de Estremoz, Historic Hotel.

Day

4

The capital of marble

42km (26mi), 380m total climbing (1250ft), level 2 (2.3).
After breakfast we visit a winery and taste the wine. Then we ride towards the capital of marble in Portugal. This is a quiet small town in Alentejo where even the sidewalks are made of marble. You can visit the small Marble Museum where you can learn how the marble was extracted in the past and how it is extracted nowadays. Lodging in a Pousada that was once a Convent from 16th century. It is full of legends and tales. Lodging in Pousada Convento de Vila Viçosa, Historic Hotel.

Day

5

The old small town famous for its rugs

71km (44mi), 890m total climbing (2920ft), level 4 (3.7).
After breakfast we ride to a pottery workshop. Our way leads us to a small town in Alentejo with its whitewashed houses. This town is famous for its rugs. On the way we visit a cork processing plant (guided and supported tours only). Lodging in a Pousada which is an example of perfect harmony between the traditional and modern concepts of Portuguese architecture. Lodging in Pousada Convento de Arraiolos, Historic Hotel, a 16th century former Convent with blue tiles.

Day

6

Towards the Roman Temple

30km (19mi), 270m total climbing (890ft), level 1 (1.2).
Our tour leads us to Evora, a city classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. You will have the afternoon free to wander around the city where you can find evidences of 2000 years of History. Lodging in a Pousada, which was originally a Monastery, then a former 15th century Convent and is one of the most precious architectural buildings of this town. Lodging in a 5* Historic Design Boutique Hotel, 16th century former Palace, M’Ar de Ar Aqueduto Hotel (or in Pousada Convento de Évora, 15th century former Convent).

Day

7

Departure

After breakfast we leave to Lisbon airport – 2H00 drive.

Total distance 258km (160mi) | Average 52km/day (32mi/day) | 100% asphalt

SEE CLIMBING PROFILE

ACCOMMODATIONS

The accommodations for this tour are Monument and Historic Hotels (gorgeous Castles, Palaces, Monasteries and Convents once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings and now converted into exquisite lodgings)

Charming pousadas in alentejo portugal bike tours hotel 4

Charming pousadas in alentejo portugal bike tours hotel 3

charming-pousadas-in-alentejo-portugal-bike-tours hotel lobby

Charming pousadas in alentejo portugal bike tours hotel 2

“Our guided cycling tour of the Pousadas of the Alentejo couldn’t have been better, especially after we postponed it twice due to the pandemic. The accomodations were wonderful and unique, the food and wine was delicious and plentiful (and how!), the scenery, especially the cork trees, was unlike anything we’d seen before, and our guides, Andre and Ricardo, took care of all of our needs. Cycling abilities in our family group range from strong to none (one non-rider), but everyone on the bikes enjoyed riding the region’s rolling terrain. We all rode nicely appointed road bikes that were expertly maintained and functioned without a hitch. We’ve been on many guided cycling vacations, with both large (you know the names) and small outfitters, and found the trip with Portugal Bike to be one of the best.”

Lloyd Widom, 62 – NY, United States

“Amazing Guided Bike Tour in Alentejo!
My husband and I joined the guided Portugal Bike Charming Pousadas tour in Alentejo with the two Joses and a group of four other bikers. The Joses were terrific throughout the trip – answering our numerous questions, making sure we had a good time, and being polite as we destroyed the local language. The only complaint is that we had to go on a diet once we got home due to the amount of tasty food that we had (seriously, there was a lot of amazing food – they don’t let you starve). We were glad we had the e-bikes, since it is a hilly trip, but with the e-bikes we were able to keep up with the group without any problems (other than feeling a bit guilty that it was so easy for us compared to the standard road-bikers – did get a nice workout and the legs felt it by the end). Cristina was also very nice and helpful with the pre-trip questions, we were sorry we didn’t get to meet her this time. We would definitely do another trip with Portugal Bike again (though may eat a little less)!”

Catherine Reilly, 49 – CA, United States

“We just completed a six day bike trip with Portugal Bike, exploring the Charming Pousadas of Alentejo. There was no detail missed by the owners Jose and Christina who were not only charming, informative and fun, but took such good care of us, we didn’t want to get out of the van at the train station on our return to Lisbon.
We learned everything one could need to know about cork which was fascinating, not to mention a multitude of other subjects ranging from historical to cultural to gastronomical, all this while enjoying a great bike ride every day, wonderful accommodation and great meals, especially the picnics Christina made for us every lunch.
Don’t wait, book now for next year. You won’t regret it.”

Dawn Morrow, 69 – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

“I’m always wary of reviews with too many superlatives. So, I had some doubt when I read all the wonderful things people had written about their experiences with Portugal Bike. My friends, I need to tell you IT’S ALL TRUE! Our friends, my wife and I all had a fantastic time with Jose and Cristina. Our expectations were far surpassed. This was one of the best weeks of my life. We rode. We saw beautiful sights, too many to count. The vistas were breathtaking, the architecture amazing, the people friendly and the food and accommodations were fabulous. More than that, however, Jose and Cristina are national treasures of Portugal. They are genuinely lovely, friendly, welcoming people who do everything in their power to make your experience an amazing adventure. If you’re wondering if you should go to Portugal, go there. If you can’t make up your mind who should guide your tour, choose Portugal Bike. They are tremendous.”

Emil Skobeloff, 66 – Wallingford PA, United States

“Jose and Cristina are 2 of the best bike tour operators I’ve ridden with. The trip was very well-planned and Jose & Cristina are very warm, professional, and knowledgeable about Portugal, cycling and the region. The tour felt much more personalized than something that the big operators like Backroads could put together. I was completely blown-away by the Pousadas (high-end hotels converted from ancient monasteries, castles, convents) – walking into them felt like I was transported hundreds of years back into medieval Europe.”

Jennifer Huang, 32 – New York, United States

“My wife and I have just come back from the Charming Pousadas in Alentejo tour with Jose and Cristina. It was absolutely amazing. Cristina has provided all necessary information prior to the tour and answered all our questions. The tour was planned really well. Jose is a very knowledgeable guide who led us riding, but also stopped and shared history of Portugal and its cultural traditions. We learned about cork trees, marble production, meaning of colors of houses in Alentejo. We visited castles that go back to the 11th century, cycled on beautiful roads, stayed in unbelievable places. Can you imagine staying in a hotel that used to be a monastery built in the 13th century and having 3 stone walls in your room actually built in the 13th century? And how about staying in a former castle where paintings on the walls date back to the 15th century? Cristina and Jose planned evenings as well with visits to wineries, museums and great dinners in very interesting restaurants. We hope that one day we will come back for another tour. And it would definitely be with Jose and Cristina. If you like cycling and want to visit Portugal, Portugal Bike is the only company you need to know. Cristina, Jose, thank you for the wonderful week!”

Len Ioffe, 52 – Bronx NY, United States

See detailed reviews

TOUR GEAR

On this tour you can ride with one of these bicycles

CUBE Attain GTC SLT Disc

GERMAN DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED

With the culmination of carbon frame technology, this bike is all the proof you need that comfort and high performance aren’t mutually exclusive. With a brand new Fulcrum Racing 66 disc wheelset and a complete complement of new Shimano’s superb Ultegra components – with technology borrowed from the range-topping Dura Ace – this is a no-compromise speed machine that’ll flatter any rider’s best efforts.

SCOTT SPORTSTER

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Sporster 20 Solution emphasizes comfort and convenience for touring and transportation. Equipped with a lockout fork and Syncros components, the Sportster is set up perfectly for your excursions with a more vertical and comfortable position.
On this Road Bike tour you will ride with thinner tires (700×28).

portugal bike tours electric bicycle Bosch

BOSCH SYSTEM

E-BIKE

Now you don’t have any excuse for not participating on a Portugal Bike Tour! Don’t be afraid of not being able to keep up with the group. Now you can ride an e-bike without feeling too exhausted! The system works as if someone is pushing at your back! The more you pedal, the more electric assistance you have.