Castles and Wines of Portugal
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
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Castles and Wines of Portugal
The castles and wine tour will live up to its name.
Most nights will be passed either in a castle or an old convent, now beautiful charming hotels.
Along the way the great ancient city of Évora, world heritage site, and small fortified hamlets will tell the stories of wars with moors and Spain. The border is right there on the other side of the biggest artificial lake in Europe.
The loveable Alentejo people, at first shy, the Mediterranean typical gastronomy along with the wonders of cork, marble, olive oil and other crafts will enrich your experience. And the wine… well come and judge for yourself…
All this in safe backroads with some easy bits off the asphalt riding, with us by your side.
Upgraded options are available for some overnight locations, please inquire for details and pricing.
*Note: It is not recommended to travel in July or August due to extreme heat.
Highlights
- Accommodation at castles, palaces and farmhouses – sleep in luxury!
- Beautiful rolling landscape with vineyards, olive groves, cork oaks and grazing land
- Wine tasting and very good Alentejo wine
- Impressive heritage
- Evora historical center, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
- Medieval villages
- Fantastic local foods and wine
Learn More
Not sure which type of tour to book? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.
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Traveler photos
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Daily program
Day 1: Arrival to Arraiolos
You should plan to arrive early so that you can transfer to Arraiolos and still have time to explore the town.
Overnight in Arraiolos.Day 2: Arraiolos – Évora (26 miles/42 km to Evora; or 22 miles/35 km to farmhouse)
The bike tour starts cycling through Arraiolos village, with its rich historical centre. Here you can visit the fantastic carpet’s museum, where you will learn about the history of this almost millennium tradition, and try the delicious Pastéis de Toucinho, a local sweet. Climb to the castle, one of the few round shaped in the peninsula, and conquer its unforgettable views from there.On the way to Évora it´s time to visit the Fita Preta winery, located in a medieval property with a 14th century’s palace, recently restored after several years left to abandonment. A lot of prized wines here! Or, alternatively, an aromatic herbs farm, where you will taste delicious teas, honey and olive oil. Feel the wonderful aromas.
Overnight in Évora or at a farmhouse 7 km from Évora.Day 3: Megalithic Route – cycling around Évora (28 miles/45 km)
If you are intrigued by the evolution of our kind, puzzled by the enormity of some Neolithic constructions or wondered about the magical meaning of some pre-historical sites, then this day is for you. The biggest dolmen and one of the most important cromeleques in Europe with over 5000 years of history are waiting for you.The ride finishes in Évora, where you will have the chance to wonder around and get immersed in this ancient Roman settlement. One of the highlights will be the visit to the surreal XIII century bone's chapel (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 toward the rising sun a more baren landscape will keep us company. We ride between olive groves to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Srª de Machede.A calm ride through easy backroads sets the tone to the day's final destination. We recommend a visit to a local winery where the scent of the brewing clay pots fills the air with the ancient knowledge that makes great 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 our nation just by the border with Spain. On the way we will visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see the men making magic with the clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and the ladies painting them with flowers in an impressive speed.Then with Spain in sight take a break by the biggest artificial lake in Europe, the Alqueva dam reservoir. Then it's time to conquer the castle, use all your energy to climb up to Monsaraz before going down to the relaxing country hotel to cool off.
Overnight in Monsaraz.Day 6: The Sanctuary Route – cycling from Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa (31 miles/50 km)
The day's ride will lead to the marble capital of Portugal and one of the biggest in Europe. The marble triangle will mark the landscape for the next cycling days. The so-called white gold is the main economic driver of the region. Its richness is a constant presence in the wide streets and tall buildings. Then a rare sight over distinct colored lagoons finishing with accommodation in an aristocratic convent.
Overnight in Vila Viçosa.Day 7: The Marble Route – cycling from Vila Viçosa to Estremoz (22 miles/35 km)
Today the ride is soft so take this opportunity to taste some local delicacies: Petiscos.From tavern to tavern the ride will delight your senses. The rest of the day will be spent in contemplation and admiration until the doors of Estremoz, the final destination of the journey. And the journey will not be over until you climb up to the marble Donjon tower of the castle where you will sleep!
Overnight in Estremoz.Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, depart to your connecting travels.Surface and terrain
The days are relaxing and easy. You will do between 22 miles (35 km) and 31 miles (50 km). Roads are mostly undulating. This means that you rarely have big climbs, but will go slightly up and down several times. There is a mix of some dirt tracks with asphalt, but most of the tour is on asphalt. You will cycle on dirt roads part of Day 3 to visit the Megalithic Monuments. The dirt road connections give the tour a special link to nature.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Pousada de Arraiolos, Arraiolos
www.pestana.comMonte do Serrado de Baixo, Evora
www.montedoserradodebaixo.comAlternate: Hotel Mar de Ar Muralhas, Evora
www.mardearhotels.comSolar de Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz
www.solardealqueva.ptEstalagem de Monsaraz
www.thehyggesuites.comPousada D. Joao IV, Vila Vicosa
www.solardosmascarenhas.comPousada Rainha St Isabel, Estremoz
www.pousadas.ptInterested 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, PortugalTour end
Nearest airport: Lisbon, PortugalTransfers 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
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Dates
Self-guided: Saturdays: Jan 07 - Dec 09, 2023, Holidays upon request (minimum 2 participants; additional start days may be available for a surcharge)
Guided: Group guided: Mar 25, Apr 15, May 06, Oct 07, Nov 04 2023 (minimum 2 participants; *indicates confirmed departure). Private guided: Saturdays: Upon request, minimum 2 participantsLow season: Jan 07, 2023 - Mar 31, 2023, Nov 01, 2023 - Dec 09, 2023
High season: Apr 1, 2023 - Oct 31, 2023
Prices
Self-guided package
Low season High season Per person, double occupancy €1150 €1227 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1509 €1663 Guided package
Group guided
Low season High season Per person, double occupancy €2500 €2577 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2859 €3013 Private guided
Low season High season Per person, double occupancy €3280 €3357 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €3639 €3793 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 €86 Per person, Estremoz to Lisbon airport €111 Included services
Self-guided 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)
Guided package 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 a fee)
- 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 1 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.
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Lisa Sobieniak 5 days 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
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★★★★★ Ajit Venkatraman 2 weeks 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
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★★★★★ Gail Skutezky 7 months ago
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
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★★★★★ Reigh Walling 7 months ago
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
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★★★★★ Vickie Brunstetter 7 months ago
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
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★★★★★ Kenneth Crossman 7 months ago
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.
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★★★★★ Astrid Kaulitz 8 months ago
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
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★★★★★ Christy Porucznik 8 months ago
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
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★★★★★ Robert Alexander 10 months ago
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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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.
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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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!
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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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.
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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★★★★★ 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
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