Castles and Wines of Portugal

4.7/5 (27)
7 nights
27 miles/day
Guided from EUR € 2500
Self guided from EUR € 1150
Bike tour in Portugal
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours Client favorites

Castles and Wines of Portugal

4.7/5 (27)

Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours Client favorites

7 nights
27 miles/day

Guided from EUR € 2500
Self guided from EUR € 1150
Bike tour in Portugal

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • A wonderful taste of Portuguese grandeur

    Find yourself surrounded by the finer things in life on this tour of tantalizing wine tastings and classy castles. Explore the grandeur of Portugal by day and pass the nights in ambiant castles or old convents, now converted into gorgeous hotels.

    Along your riding route, glide through the great city of Évora, an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as quaint, fortified hamlets that tell authentic stories of the wars against the Moors and Spanish. The border with Spain will be right within reach - on the opposite side of the largest artificial lake in Europe.

    The gracious Alentejo people, shy at first, will welcome you into their way of life, providing heartwarming lasting memories and Mediterranean unforgettable gastronomy. You'll get to sample some sumptuous, authentic delicacies and receive insight into the myriad uses of cork, marble, olive oil, and other crafts in this captivating, sun-kissed country. As for the wine... well, you'll have to judge for yourself!

    Upgraded options are available for some overnight locations, please enquire for details and pricing.

    *Note: It is not recommended to travel to Portugal in July or August due to extreme heat.

    • Castles & Wine Portugal Bike Tour
    • Monsaraz, Portugal. Paulo Almeida@Unsplash
    • Portuguese wines! Bruno Ferreira@Unsplash
    • Évora, Portugal. Frank Nurnberger@Unsplash.
    • Alentejo, Portugal's Castles & Wine Bike Tour
    • Castles & Wine Portugal Bike Tour
    • Mediterranean diet in Portugal. Katie Luka@Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Once-in-a-lifetime accommodation in castles, converted convents, and farmhouses – sleep in luxury!
    • Beautiful rolling landscapes with vineyards, olive groves, cork oaks, and grazing land
    • Sumptuous wine tastings, including of Alentejo wine
    • Evora historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Medieval villages with captivating heritage
    • Fantastic local food

    Learn More

    Not sure which type of tour to book? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.

    Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Portugal.

  • Traveler photos

    • View of the Castle at Arraiolos from our Casa do Platano, our hotel. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Wall next to a distillery in a small village. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • View from our hotel room in Monsaraz - Alqueve Reservoir. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Lantana on a dirt road in a small village. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Marble quarry in Extremoz (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Riding the roads amongst cork trees. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    •  (photo by Lisa Sobieniak)
    • Coffee break (photo by Ajit Venkatraman)
    •  (photo by Ajit Venkatraman)
    • Photo 1 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Photo 6 (photo by Lieve v)
    • Riding through beautiful cork trees never got old. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
    • There were plenty of opportunities to say hi to the cows. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
    • We tasted 8 wines on the first day! (photo by Traveling Jackie)
    • Navigating back roads in between megalithic monuments outside of Evora. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
    • Megalithic monuments and cork trees for days <3 (photo by Traveling Jackie)
    • This chapel is in the first night hotel. (photo by Thomas)
    • Monseraz (photo by Thomas)
    • Dinner....Yum! (photo by Thomas)
    • Could ride these roads forever (photo by Thomas)
    • These scenes become commonplace (photo by Thomas)
    • Bone chapel Evora (photo by Thomas)
    • One of many countryside views (photo by Nancy N)
    • Exploring the Monoliths (photo by Nancy N)
    • Our guide, Luis, explaining patiently explaining something to us. (photo by Nancy N)

    Castles and Wines of Portugal

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Arrival in Arraiolos
    Plan to arrive early today to allow your guides to transfer you to Arraiolos and leave you with time to explore this wonderful town.

    Overnight in Arraiolos.

    Day 2: Arraiolos – Évora (26 miles/42 km to Evora; or 22 miles/35 km to farmhouse)
    Begin your bike tour with a cycle through the authentic town with its richly historic center. You can visit the captivating Arraiolos Carpet Center, dedicated to teaching about the wonderful traditions of Arraiolos carpet making, and take some time to try a tantalizing Pastéis de Toucinho, a local sweet. Climb up to the spectacular castle, one of the few round-shaped castles on the peninsula, and be rewarded with unforgettable views over the gorgeous landscape.

    En route to Évora, you may choose visit the Fita Preta Winery, located in a medieval palace property dating back to the 14th century, recently restored after years of abandonment. This ambiant setting is the production site of many prized wines! Alternatively, you may choose can visit an aromatic herb farm and taste blissful teas, honey, and olive oil. Take a deep breath of the beautiful fragrances emanating from these typical Portuguese ingredients.

    Overnight in Évora or at a farmhouse 7 km from Évora.

    Day 3: Megalithic Route – cycling around Évora (28 miles/45 km)
    Today's ride follows the Megalithic Route, packed with incredible history and intrigue. You'll visit Neolithic constructions, pre-historic sites, the largest dolmen in the country, and the most important cromeleques in Europe - over 5,000 years of history wait to be uncovered today.

    Your fascinating ride winds down in Évora, where you'll have time to wander around and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this ancient Roman settlement. One of the highlights of your stay will be a visit to the surreal Chapel of Bones (entrance fee not included in self-guided tour).

    Overnight in Evora or at a farmhouse 7 km from Evora.

    Day 4: The Valley of the Degebe River – cycling Évora to Reguengos de Monsaraz (31 mils/50 km to Evora; 35 miles/57 km if you stay in farmhouse)
    Leaving Évora behind, bike onwards into a barren but sun-blessed landscape, weaving between aromatic olive groves to reach the small, traditional village of Nossa Senhora de Machede. Enjoy a calm ride along easy backroads towards today's final destination, perhaps visiting a local winery en route - you'll be enticed by the scent of the brewing clay pots used for producing gorgeous Portuguese wine.

    Overnight in Reguengos de Monsaraz.

    Day 5: Conquest of the Castle of Monsaraz – cycling from Reguengos to Monsaraz (22 miles/35 km)
    Today's destination is the fortified village of Monsaraz, an important stronghold in the defense of Portugal on the Spanish border. En route, you'll visit the famous pottery village of Sao Pedro do Corval to witness the pottery masters at work, from the moulding of the clay into beautiful pots and plates, to the painting of the wares with delicate floral designs at impressive speeds.

    You'll enjoy a break beside the largest artificial lake in Europe, the Alqueva Dam Reservoir, with Spain just in sight across the water. Rested and ready to ride again, it's time to conquer another castle, climbing up to this grand icon of Monsaraz before zipping back down to relax in the country hotel.

    Overnight in Monsaraz.

    Day 6: The Sanctuary Route – cycling from Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa (31 miles/50 km)
    Today you'll cycle along the Sanctuary Route towards the marble capital of Portugal - Vila Viçosa - one of the largest marble towns in Europe. The so-called 'white gold' is the main economic driver in this region - its richness is a constant presence, sparkling and gleaming as the tall buildings catch the sunlight. You'll be dazzled today by the rare sight of distinctive colored lagoons before you retire for an ambiant night in a beautifully restored convent.

    Overnight in Vila Viçosa.

    Day 7: The Marble Route – cycling from Vila Viçosa to Estremoz (22 miles/35 km)
    Ride the Marble Route today, taking advantage of the easy cycling to taste some sumptuous local delicacies like Petiscos and see a few local taverns. The rest of the day will be spent on a beautiful, contemplative ride until you reach Estremoz. Climb up the magnificent marble Donjon Tower of your final spectacular castle for an unforgettable final night - this is where you'll sleep!

    Overnight in Estremoz.

    Day 8: Departure
    After breakfast, individual departure from Estremoz.

    Don't want the adventure to end? Consider taking a cycling day tour in a range of Portuguese locations.

    Surface and terrain

    This tour's routes are relaxing and easy - steep climbs are rare, but a few undulating hills are present. You'll cover between 22 miles (35 km) and 31 miles (50 km) per day.

    The tour takes place mostly on asphalt tracks, with some dirt tracks, such as en route to the Megalithic Monuments on Day 3. The dirt track is not unpleasant, and provides a feeling of closeless with the natural surroundings.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

    Pousada de Arraiolos, Arraiolos
    www.pestana.com

    Monte do Serrado de Baixo, Evora
    www.montedoserradodebaixo.com

    Alternate: Hotel Mar de Ar Muralhas, Evora
    www.mardearhotels.com

    Solar de Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz
    www.solardealqueva.pt

    Estalagem de Monsaraz
    www.thehyggesuites.com

    Pousada D. Joao IV, Vila Vicosa
    www.solardosmascarenhas.com

    Pousada Rainha St Isabel, Estremoz
    www.pousadas.pt

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start
    Nearest airport: Lisbon, Portugal
    Nearest bus station: Arraiolos, Portugal

    Tour end
    Nearest airport: Lisbon, Portugal

    Transfers from the airport to first hotel and from last hotel to airport are provided as part of the tour price for the guided and private guided option. Please reserve your transfer in advance at time of booking.

    Tips on getting to and from your tour.


    Castles and Wines of Portugal

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Self-guided: Saturdays: Jan 1 - Dec 15, 2024
    Supported: Saturdays: Jan 1 - Dec 15, 2024
    Group guided: Apr 6; May 11, 25, 2024
    Private guided: Saturdays: Jan 1 - Dec 15, 2024

    Low season: Saturdays between Jan 06, 2024 - Mar 30, 2024, Nov 02, 2024 - Dec 07, 2024

    High season: Saturdays between Apr 01, 2024 - Oct 31, 2024

    All tours require a minimum of 2 participants. Additional start days/holidays may be available for a surcharge.

    Prices

    • Low season

      High season

      Per person, double occupancy

      €1150

      €1295

      Single use room (1 person/1 room)

      €1570

      €1810

      Bike Rentals

      Kross Trans Alp touring bike

      €100

      Electrically assisted bike

      €200

      GPS rental

      €50

      Transfer (min 2 people)

      Per person, Lisbon airport to Arraiolos

      €95

      Per person, Estremoz to Lisbon airport

      €125

    • Low season

      High season

      Per person, double occupancy

      €2980

      €3125

      Single use room (1 person/1 room)

      €3400

      €3640

      Bike Rentals

      Electrically assisted bike €100
    • Group guided package

      Per person, double occupancy

      €3545

      Single use room (1 person/1 room)

      €4060

      Private guided package

      Low season

      High season

      Per person, double occupancy

      €3830

      €3975

      Single use room (1 person/1 room)

      €4250 €4490

      Bike Rentals

      Electrically assisted bike €100

    Included services

    • Package includes:

      • 7 nights accommodation
      • Daily breakfasts
      • Luggage transfers
      • Welcome briefing and bike fitting
      • Detailed maps, route descriptions, and history notes
      • Emergency contact 24 hours a day in case of questions or problems
      • Souvenir
      • Personal accident insurance
      • Basic tool kit for fixing small bike problems
      • GPS tracks available upon request (GPS rental is available for a surcharge)
    • Package includes:

      • 7 nights accommodation
      • Daily breakfasts
      • Luggage transfer
      • Route instructions and history notes
      • Support van the waits at major junctions
      • Use of touring bicycle for 6 days with helmet, back rack, and pannier (electrically assisted bike available for €100)
      • Transfer on private bus from Lisbon airport to Arraiolos
      • Transfer on private bus from Estremoz to Lisbon airport
      • Support car along the route during the 6 cycling days
      • Tour briefing and welcome drink
      • Water and fruit for the day
      • 2 picnic lunches per person
      • 6 lunches
      • 5 dinners with wine (not included on Days 2 and 3)
      • 2 wine tastings at wineries
      • Entrance fee at Bones chapel, in Évora
      • Entrance fee at Évora's cathedral
      • Entrance fee at Vila Viçosa's Ducal Palace
      • First aid assistance
      • Souvenir
    • Group and Private guided packages includes:

      • 7 nights accommodation
      • Daily breakfasts
      • Luggage transfer
      • Route instructions and history notes
      • Guide who rides with the group and another driving support van
      • Use of touring bicycle for 6 days with helmet, back rack, and pannier (electrically assisted bike available for €100)
      • Transfer on private bus from Lisbon airport to Arraiolos
      • Transfer on private bus from Estremoz to Lisbon airport
      • Support car along the route during the 6 cycling days
      • Tour briefing and welcome drink
      • Water and fruit for the day
      • 2 picnic lunches per person
      • 1 "petisco's"/snack lunch
      • 3 lunches at regional restaurants
      • 5 dinners with wine (not included on Days 2 and 3)
      • 2 wine tastings at wineries
      • Entrance fee at Bones chapel, in Évora
      • Entrance fee at Évora's cathedral
      • Entrance fee at Vila Viçosa's Ducal Palace
      • First aid assistance
      • Souvenir

    Bike rentals

    Bikes available on this tour, and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

    • Kross Trans Alp touring bikes with front shocks and v-brakes

    Bikes available to rent for an additional cost (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

    • Electrically assisted bike*

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Bikes come equipped with the following:

    • Rear rack
    • Front handlebar bag
    • Sport tires that roll fast on roads yet have enough bite for the trail

    Bike Protection:
    Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are available on this tour free of charge. We recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.


    Tour Company


    Castles and Wines of Portugal

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Castles and Wines of Portugal

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Patrick Fenton 3 weeks ago

      Portugal bike trip

      It was a great trip. We loved learning about castles, marble, cork, wine and Portuguese food.

      What was the date of your tour?
      February 2024
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Ashley Douglas 5 months ago

      Awesome Trip and No Shame in Using Ebikes!

      Thoroughly enjoyed this trip in spite of not riding bikes at all at home. Having ebikes allowed us to enjoy the scenery and navigate without overextending our physical capabilities. Hotels were excellent and perfect for the areas we were visiting. Some of them were in buildings thousands (?) of years old so don't expect elevators in all, but amazingly they all had swimming pools which we enjoyed after a hard day peddling ebikes!

    • Anne Stanek 5 months ago

      Challenging but interesting tour.

      This was a particularly challenging trip for us as we biked in 92 degree heat every day of the tour. The rides were long, there were many hills and it was extremely dry. Luckily, a couple of us used EV bikes which made a big difference. I think this trip would feel very different with cooler weather. All the folk who we dealt with were so warm, welcoming, helpful, etc. We visited some very cool towns - Evora and Monsaraz were my favorites. We stayed in some lovely hotels - ancient buildings fixed up comfortably with modern conveniences and a working farm. We ate fabulous breakfasts. We stopped at some interesting sites - monoliths, pottery factory, marble quarry were three favorites. It was a good trip despite the challenges.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      10
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • View of the Castle at Arraiolos from our Casa do Platano, our hotel. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Wall next to a distillery in a small village. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • View from our hotel room in Monsaraz - Alqueve Reservoir. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Lantana on a dirt road in a small village. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Marble quarry in Extremoz (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Riding the roads amongst cork trees. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 3/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Lisa Sobieniak 10 months ago

      Great Trip

      Local guides were excellent, responsive and knowledgable. He went out of his way to make everything work for us.
      Only problem was that bike tours .com did not let us know we needed to book winery tours in advance. Local guide did his best to fit us in.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      •  (photo by Lisa Sobieniak)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Ajit Venkatraman 10 months ago

      Turaventur is a great your company

      From start to finish the tour was excellent . Service was outstanding . Mario and Joanna were perfect hosts and guides . Deena at Evora farms house was great cook . Mario was very knowledgeable and gracious and is a perfect bike tour guide

      • Coffee break (photo by Ajit Venkatraman)
      •  (photo by Ajit Venkatraman)
    • Gail Skutezky November 8, 2022

      Best bike trip ever - so much history! Beautiful weather

      The trip was very interesting, lots of very beautiful scenery, warm weather, we saw places that you cannot get to by car. An incredible marble quarry, beautiful cork oak tree forests and chromalechs you don't see from a car road. The cafes were so quaint and welcoming. The hotels were 15th century convents, and a beautiful farmhouse with animals, one night we stayed in a beautiful palace attached to a castle that you could climb.
      The bikes were excellent. We had ebikes and they were very light. The food was excellent. The Portuguese love to please you!

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 24
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Reigh Walling November 8, 2022

      A rich historical past and a vibrant and diverse present. That's Portugal.

      If you told most people that you were going to cycle Portugal, they would only think of Lisbon. Well, that is a beautiful city, but an hour's train ride took us from coastal topography to a totally different landscape of rolling hills topped with cork trees and vineyards. The tour was a nice mix of ancient walled cities and rural rolling roads. Cows graze amid the monoliths. Sheep browse for grass under the olive trees, each wearing a tiny tinkle bell around its neck -- their movement producing a melodious windchime symphony. Accommodations ranged from a rustic farmhouse to an actual palace, and the route and attributes of the tour also bridged history and modern culture. But it's Portugal's people who are the real stars of the tour. And of course, the food.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      8
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Vickie Brunstetter November 7, 2022

      Central Portugal is delightful by bike

      It was wonderful to ride through vineyards, cork trees and small towns. Staying in the posadas and other quaint accommodations really added to the trip. Of course the wine tastings were wonderful as well. It was very educational to visit different wineries. Our only issue was with the bikes that did not consistently maintain the power assist.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Kenneth Crossman October 26, 2022

      Portugal Adventure!!

      We enjoyed our ride! The vistas, the accommodations and all the people we met along the way were great!! Wish it had not rained our last two days, but what can you do. We were able to ride with our luggage the day it was unsafe to ride our bikes, which was very much appreciated. Overall, a wonderful experience.

    • Astrid Kaulitz October 13, 2022

      Great week on the bike in a beautiful countryside

      The combination of plan, map and digital tour-advise was great to find our way.
      The tour was all in all beautiful and interesting. The planning had been done before covid and was not adjusted now. Some recommondations were wrong this way. day2 : Cafe Pola could not be found, Manizolas Farm could not be passed. There was a huge fence. day 4: there was no leather factory any more, day 7: Tasca do Anotonio dos Potes does not exist any more.
      Mario was always to be reached and helped promptly. Very nice!
      Hotels were a good choice, every spot was different. only the Solar de Alqueva in Reguengos de Monsaraz was a bit uncomfortable. Breakfast poor.
      I had expected more knowlege about the wine. The wine tasting was mostly in the day either in the morning (wine and bike is not that becomming) or in the early afternoon. You never really could plan how long the trip was - so we had to taste the wine at night with the meal, but had no instructions.

      Anyway we had a great week.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      8
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Christy Porucznik September 28, 2022

      Excellent way to see a part of rural Portugal

      It happened that my husband and I were the only ones on this self-guided itinerary. We were able to follow the provided maps and GPS tracks with the occasional assistance of Google maps. The lodgings were excellent, likely nicer than we would have selected on our own, and the provided breakfasts ranged from adequate to amazing. I should not have been surprised about the hills, after all, castles were built on hills, but I have never spent so much time in first gear. I was glad not to have my kids along on this trip because the cycling was sometimes difficult, and we had to ride with traffic sometimes. Other times were on eco-trails and quiet country roads, so it wasn't constant traffic stress, but there was some riding with cars each day. There was also frequent riding on cobblestone and bumpy village streets, could be tough on tender joints. The provided bicycles were not fancy, but they got the job done, and once we got into the rhythm of when people eat in Portugal it wasn't hard to plan for coffee breaks and lunch. It happened to be quite hot the week we rode, and the sun is intense without much shade for breaks. Overall the support and logistics were well done, and I would recommend this itinerary for someone in fairly good shape who is interested in wine, neolithic sites, castles, and spending time in rural Portugal. It was a shock taking the bus back to Lisbon at the end.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Robert Alexander August 2, 2022

      Great trip, great guides.

      Tons of fun (notwithstanding that we got COVID on the trip.

      What was the date of your tour?
      April 2022
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • julesmcsa November 8, 2019

      Great trip

      What a way to see the castles of Portugal! The history of the country is amazing, and seeing it all at eye level, literally, was amazing. Perfect weather. Our tour guides were fantastic. The food was overwhelming, there was just so much of it! Tasted a lot of wine, but expected more. Thank god for our E-bikes; some of the routes were too high for us. Overall, very enjoyable trip. We did not care for some of the accommodations: the farmhouse was too remote for us (we wanted to be in the city).

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 19th
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Lieve v November 8, 2019

      Amazing experience!

      This trip really was the perfect way to explore the region of Portugal. We saw the true heart of the country! The food and wine stops were amazing, the guide (Maria) was exceptional. Riding the bikes was a bit more challenging than anticipated due to the many undulating roads (stretched out hills and climbs), but it was a rewarding experience to have ultimately been able to accomplish it. The trip offered a wonderful mix of history and architecture, food and nature. Our only disappointment was a last minute change to the itinerary, which had us staying at a company owned farm for two nights, about a 20 minute cab drive from Evora. Part of the group had accommodations downtown Evora, which would have been much preferred for us too since the farm was in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      This was the first one!
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Lieve v)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Lieve v)
      • Photo 3 (photo by Lieve v)
      • Photo 4 (photo by Lieve v)
      • Photo 5 (photo by Lieve v)
      • Photo 6 (photo by Lieve v)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • scbythesea September 29, 2019

      Highly recommended tour of an interesting part of Portugal.

      Our local guide was wonderful, very knowledgeable, helpful, and fun. The cycling was great in this part of Portugal, and we loved the charming towns and pousadas we stayed in.

      What was the date of your tour?
      14-21 September 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • senorbogus November 10, 2018

      Rolling through beautiful Alentejo

      Our self-guided tour was a wonderful experience. We were very happy with all of the rich, multi-sensory stimulation we experienced every day on the trip. Lots of variety and interest, especially for us who are very interested in history and local culture. Highlights were getting to visit up close and in a very informal and uncrowded manner the many historic sites - castles, prehistoric graves and boulder installations, village crafts workshops, medieval churches and cathedrals as well as the pleasant agricultural countryside. We particularly liked it that we experienced zero crowds of other tourists. By the way, the castle that you show in your photo was where we had lunch one day. We were the only persons there. It was our hottest and longest day, so we really needed the rest, refreshment and tranquility. Special highlights were the beautiful, historic inns where we stayed - converted palaces and convents several hundreds of years old. It almost made us feel like royalty, and for a modest price, too.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Oct. 6-13, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Traveling Jackie August 6, 2018

      Great Introduction to Bike Touring!

      I'd never done a bike tour before, so this was my first experience, and I LOVED IT! Our guide Jorge was funny and kind, the other people on the trip were lovely and encouraging. At the end of the trip I was trying to figure out what the highlight was, and I realized everything I was coming up with was the actual riding itself. The views were fantastic, I liked the varied roads, ups, downs, back roads, cobblestone villages, paved countryside. I opted for a hybrid touring bike, it was hard work in some places but I was happy with my decision instead of getting an e-bike.

      We had a couple days of heavy rain where we couldn't ride at all, but I found it nice to have a little break from the saddle on my first tour ever. On those days we got to see more sites than we would have on bikes, because they took us in a van to explore monuments, wineries, museums, chapels, towns, marble quarries, palaces, castles, and more. We shared a lot of delicious meals together, my favorite being a hole in the wall tiny restaurant that you'd never be able to find on a map, and the owner makes his own wine. These are the types of places you can only find with a guide.

      The pace was relaxed, I loved the unique accommodations and the restaurants. Besides the rain, the weather was comfortable and cool for riding. It was April when I went, might be a good idea to go a little later to try to avoid rain. My biggest tip is to bring your appetite and eat ALL the delicious food and wine!

      What was the date of your tour?
      April 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      Video: A little recap of my first ever multi-day bike tour in the Alentejo wine region of Portugal.
      • Riding through beautiful cork trees never got old. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
      • There were plenty of opportunities to say hi to the cows. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
      • We tasted 8 wines on the first day! (photo by Traveling Jackie)
      • Navigating back roads in between megalithic monuments outside of Evora. (photo by Traveling Jackie)
      • Megalithic monuments and cork trees for days <3 (photo by Traveling Jackie)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Ottermom June 15, 2018

      Best bicycle tour company to date!

      This was our 5th self guided tour to date and Portugal's Best Cycling company was the best we have had in customer service. The bikes were perfect for the terrain. We felt safe on all of the routes even the ones that had more traffic than anticipated. All of the hotels were excellent although our personal preference is to stay away from the ones that cater to the large motorcoach tours (we had 2 that fell into that category.) Self-guided is for the adventurous and that is what we got. The dirt tracks were not for the inexperienced. Area had a rough winter and it took some technical riding to manuever safely on them. There were alternative paved routes but where is the fun in that? We added an extra 20 miles on one of our days to ride out to a fortress that was not on our itinerary. It was worth it. I would add pictures but it keeps telling me images are too large. Recommend adding 2 full days in Sintra just to enjoy.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 29, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • LuAnn April 28, 2018

      Beautiful countryside & amazing castles and wineries

      We had a great time cycling through The Alentejo region where wildflowers, castles, olive and cork tree groves, and fields of grapes were abundant. The bikes were in great shape, detailed directions and tour guides helpful!

      What was the date of your tour?
      April 14-21,2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Thomas November 13, 2017

      This is a fun trip

      Weather in October was pretty good , but we did get one day of 90oF which was unusual. The biking is not particularly strenuous, but the road conditions vary between paved and dirt so you are going to be riding double duty touring bikes that can handle the range. These make the 30 mile days feel longer than they would on a carbon road bike. There are lots of stops along the way at small farms, cafes, businesses and museums, neolithic sites, and of course, wineries and castles. I felt like we were exposed to Portugal in a way I would not have been otherwise.
      As much as I like cycling, I like food and drink even more! This is where this tour really excels. The picnics every day were great, The organized meals at night were wonderful, and when in Evora without included meals there are great restaurants everywhere. Wine flows freely and is delicous. Everwhere you turn there seems to be something from the 15th or 16th century, and you don’t have to try too hard to find things from Roman times. The hotels are very nice and usually interesting historical buildings. The towns of Evora and Monseraz are especially striking. This is a fun tour and Teresa was a great guide with loads of historical and agricultual knowledge.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Mid October 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      First guided tour
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • This chapel is in the first night hotel. (photo by Thomas)
      • Monseraz (photo by Thomas)
      • Dinner....Yum! (photo by Thomas)
      • Could ride these roads forever (photo by Thomas)
      • These scenes become commonplace (photo by Thomas)
      • Bone chapel Evora (photo by Thomas)
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany November 14, 2017

        As much as I like cycling, I like food and drink even more!"- I couldn't agree more with your sentiment. We're so glad to hear you had a great time on tour. Experiencing the best of Portugal by slow travel is hard to beat. Your pictures are fantastic, and we hope to help you again in the future!

      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Nathan June 30, 2017

      Great trip

      The tour was a lot of fun. Location was great. Tour operator was very helpful. Hotels were wonderful. Only problem was that it was very hot. Probably best before June as weather is unpredictable. We had bad luck of a heat wave and riding in 100 degree heat was hard and made us rush through some of the middle towns. This was a shame as local people were very kind and towns were interesting and filled with a lot of history. Would be a perfect Spring time ride. The second to last day is very hard as is one earlier climb but overall a great trip. We plan on doing one of the other tours offered by this operator in the future.

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 11-17
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • ontherun June 6, 2017

      Authentic, Beautiful and Engaging

      What an authentically Portuguese experience this was! Our guide was from the area and knew all the history and culture of Portugal. There were perfect choices for historical places and the rides were lovely routes through villages and farms.....so perfect. Every day was amazing.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Nancy N November 6, 2016

      Very Educational and Interesting

      We started this tour as "self-guided" but had difficulty with the maps. The tour company was able to provide a guide for us and what a difference that made. Not only did we not get lost, but we learned so much more than we would have on our own. Our guide was very knowledgeable and having someone translate for us was a big help. Plus we no longer had to waste time looking at maps.
      We upgraded to the "charm hotels" which was amazing. Everyplace we stayed was just indescribably beautiful and serene. I highly recommend the upgrade and a guide.
      We learned so much about the cork, olive, and wine harvests. We particularly enjoyed the leather and pottery factories.
      Portugal is a great country with an incredible old world charm.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Oct 18, 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      4 international, many U.S.
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • One of many countryside views (photo by Nancy N)
      • Exploring the Monoliths (photo by Nancy N)
      • Our guide, Luis, explaining patiently explaining something to us. (photo by Nancy N)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • beyeKur November 5, 2016

      Downsized tour, questionable difficulty rating.

      Overall we are all glad we did this tour, but we agreed that an honest review was required. Our group of 4, downsized the tour to 3 days of unguided cycling in the 4 star hotel option. Two of our group had, one month previous to this tour, completed a 7 day bike tour in France that was rated as a 1-2 in difficulty. So, expectations were to have a comparable tour since the difficulty rating was the same. This was not our experience however. Our contact person for the Alentejo tour was really great during the first day orientation, answered all our questions, checked us out on the bikes and gear and left us with her personal phone number in case of problems. Terrific! Our group range in age from 66-76, all fit (2 active bikers one runner) and ready for the challenge. The first 6 miles or so were on the main highway to Lisbon (fast drivers and trucks closely along side the shoulder used for biking). Then when we turned off to the quiet roads as in the suggested option, the dirt roads were not in the 1 or 2 difficulty category rating as outlined in the tour. These unpaved roads were more like 4-5 difficulty as they were often like mountain bike roads for at least 1/4 of the days' 35 mile route. Steep upgrades, deep ruts from recent rain, many rocky and sandy roads impeded travel. It rained much of this, the first day. Even though our tour operators could not control the rain, they should have reassessed the level of difficulty and road conditions and report honestly about current road conditions status of deteriorated due to recent rains. Two of our group opted out for day 2 due to exhaustion and lack of faith in level of tour difficulty, but the two who continued enjoyed the quieter country roads which were less harrowing than the dirt roads, but more trafficked and still above level 1-2. Day three was great, though still there were several long, lowest-gear slopes more of a 3-4 rating and still on medium trafficked roadways. This days' outlined tour was also changed--we walked the 3 miles each way to the top of the hill town, as the 'road' very steep and all jarringly cobbled (in the level 9-10 difficulty range). Safety concerns: due to roads with traffic, tour company should supply high viability vests and warning lights. Hotels were great, maps good. The personnel we dealt with was great!

      What was the date of your tour?
      Oct 11-15
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson November 6, 2016

        We're sorry for the misleading ratings and characterization of the terrain. We've increased the difficulty level to 3. For clients who are interested in this tour and would like to see detailed elevation profiles for each day, please contact our tour advisor team at info@biketours.com.

        This is a great tour operated by a top-notch Portuguese bike tour company.

      • 1/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 1/5 Route selection
    • Isaac June 7, 2016

      excellent guided bike trip

      I am participating bike trip almost 30 years and this was the best one .
      The service , very good guided tour explanations in every spot we visited .
      The food ,restaurants are great. Worth every penny.

      What was the date of your tour?
      21May ,2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      15
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Whatever May 15, 2016

      Castles and wines

      The company Turaventur was one of the best that we have worked with anywhere. The bicycles we rented were excellent with front suspension and a suspension seat post they were perfectly suited to the varied terrain (dirt roads, asphalt, lots of cobblestone) we covered. I also appreciated the female specific gel seat. The routes they chose were really beautiful countryside, small towns and directions were well written and easy to follow. Their support was outstanding, they were available by text, email or phone seven days a week and were always very responsive The castles we visited were just phenomenal and though it was hard to believe after one gorgeous site after another, they just kept getting better! I was only able to do one of the wine tastings and enjoyed it a lot. my suggestion is to be sure to sign up earlly as they seem to fill up ahead of time.

      How many tours have you completed?
      8
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • sandyp May 2, 2016

      Wonderful family vacation!

      Our self-guided tour lived up to our expectations and provided us with a great family vacation. They tour company did an excellent job of responding to our questions and requests. The countryside was beautiful, the bike ride was the right level of both challenging and gentle hills, and the people we met were friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this tour if you want to chill out....

      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection

    Castles and Wines of Portugal

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