Portugal Bike - Cycling Alentejo Wineries

Evora, Portugal Bike Tours

	Guided		Notes
upon request	1,900 Euro		Per person/week

*Please contact advertiser for rates & availability for your travel dates.

Evora, Portugal Bike Tours

Active Adventure

Tour Highlights

1. Vast vineyards in Alentejo
2. Visit to four wineries with wine tasting
3. The state of the art to produce the good Alentejo wine
4. Dinners with the selected and tasted wines
5. The secret of various Grape Varieties
6. Cork oak trees and Olive trees
7. Évora - a World Heritage town classified by UNESCO
8. Arraiolos - famous for its tapestries
9. Dolmens and Menhirs more than 10.000 years old
10. A collection of coach harnesses and coach styles


Summary

Alentejo is one of the most famous wine regions in Portugal and is the perfect set for this Eno-tourism programme. It is perfect for riding a bicycle and experiencing an unforgettable adventure. This tour starts in Arcos (Estremoz), and the winery visits will start in Estremoz, a beautiful walled town surrounded by vast vineyards. This is a spectacular tour where you will have the opportunity to visit some vineyards and also four different wineries, members of Selected Wineries, where you can taste several types of wine. We will ride along the vineyards and learn a lot about the wine industry. One of the most typical sights in this region is a vast field with some cork oak trees here and there (the so-called Montado) and the herds (sometimes sheep, sometimes pigs or cows) usually enjoying the shade of the trees. The villages with their whitewashed one-floor houses are a picturesque landscape in Alentejo. You will have the opportunity to visit some towns and villages, such as Arraiolos, famous for its rugs. The people here are very proud of their heritage and they preserve the ancient buildings and also the ancient practices. You will visit a beautiful 18th century chapel whose walls are covered by glazed tiles and a fantastic family collection of coaches. This is a region that has a very rich handicraft tradition �" pottery, embroideries, hand-painted furniture, wrought-iron works, etc. The local gastronomy is varied and quite tasty and perfectly matches the famous local wines. The tour will end in Évora which is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

Typical Day

Programme

Day 1: Arrival - Welcome at Lisbon airport. 1H30 drive to Arcos, briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with swimming-pool.

Day 2: Cork oak trees and olive trees. The land of cork and herds - 21km (13mi), level 1. After breakfast we visit a winery and taste the wine. This winery is part of a wonderful estate dated from the 18th century. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with swimming-pool.

Day 3: The town of Estremoz and the vineyards �" 17km (11mi), level 1.
After breakfast we ride along the quiet fields in Alentejo. Visit to a winery and wine tasting. FREE afternoon. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Palace which was converted into a Pousada and where you can admire a superb view over the city of Estremoz and the vast Alentejo plain.

Day 4: Cycling to the small town of Arraiolos �" 23km (14mi), level 1.
After breakfast we ride towards Arraiolos where we visit a rug workshop. Then we visit another winery and taste the wine, we have our picnic and then we visit a private collection of coach harnesses and coach styles. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 16th century convent converted into a Pousada where you find the perfect harmony between the traditional and modern concepts of Portuguese architecture.

Day 5: Towards Evora, the town of Alentejo classified as World Heritage by UNESCO �" 29km (18mi), level 1. After breakfast we ride towards Évora where we visit the last winery on this program; we taste the wine. FREE afternoon to wander around Évora. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with swimming-pool, located in the middle of the historical center of Évora, next to the 14th century city wall.

Day 6: On the trails of the Dolmens and the Cromlech - 32km (20mi), level 2. After breakfast we follow the route of the pre-historic monuments located in this Alentejo region; these monuments are dated from 5000 to 10000 years ago. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with swimming-pool, located in the middle of the historical center of Évora, next to the 14th century city wall.

Day 7: Departure �" After breakfast transfer to Lisbon airport. 1H30 drive to airport.

Age range, type of group

Technical Data

Type: Hybrid bike tour
Class: HISTORIC TOUR
Version: Guided
Region of Portugal: Alentejo (inland)
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling
Begin: Estremoz (Alentejo)
End: Évora (Alentejo)
Overall difficulty level: 1 2 3 4 5
Beginner. You are not in good shape
Distance: 122km (76mi)
Average: 24km/day (15mi/day)
Trails: 67% asphalt - 33% dirt roads

Sleeping and meals

The price includes:

- 7-day Hybrid Bike Tour with a Guide
- Transfers from and to Lisbon Airport
- Accommodations (6 nights): 2 Pousadas (one 16th century Convent and one luxury Convent), 2 four* Charm Hotels, 2 three* Rural Hotels. Double bedroom occupancy.
- 6 Breakfasts
- 3 nourishing and energetic picnics
- 5 Dinners (including the tasted wines, our amazing cheeses and lovely desserts)
- Daily energy-bars and water
- The wineries �" 4 guided visits and wine tasting
- Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel
- Documentation about PortugalBike Tour
- Visit to a Museum
- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Techno-Mechanical Assistance
- First-Aid assistance on location
- Permanent Backup Vehicle
Upgrade wine tasting is possible
(on request and paying an extra fee)

Rates

Dates and Prices for 2012:

PLEASE NOTE: Dates on request.

Ask us about prices and availability for 2012.
Average Price: € 1900(Guided version - only).

Other Information

On this tour you will ride with this bicycle

HYBRID BIKE: BH K30k Silvertip
DETAILS:
Frame: Alluminium
Fork: Front fork suspension with lock
Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: Shimano XT/LX, 27 speeds
Pedals: Normal (with cages or not) or Shimano SPD
Tires: Hybrid tires 700x40 (28"x1.6)
Weight: 13,5kg
Other: Seat post with small suspension, man or woman seat, front bag on the handlebar.
(please see the picture #26)



Testimonials

»»»» We participated on a tour organized by PortugalBike in April 2010; it was the best tour of our lives. It was one surprise after the other, each being better than the previous one. It was very well organized by Jose and Cristina who offered us some unforgettable moments during the week we were together. We visited some beautiful places in Alentejo, met its welcoming people, learned its history, tasted its wonderful wines, felt the aroma of the fields… The tour was very well organized combining sport, leisure and a lot of wine. And the best of all, apart from our many good memories, we came to Brazil with the joy in our hearts of having 2 more friends. The friendship that grew between us and Jose and Cristina was based on sensitiveness, sincerity and good intentions. Luckily, via Internet, we discovered PortugalBike, chose our tour and contacted them. We expected a wonderful tour, but not only it exceeded our expectations, but we also received Jose and Cristina’s affection and determination, which was not “listed” on the package. Our wish is to do all the tours organized by PortugalBike.
= Celisa & Angelo Frias Neto - Ages: 50 & 53 (Piracicaba, São Paulo - Brazil), 2010 =

Evora, Portugal Bike Tours

Evora, Portugal Bike Tours

Cristina Henriques (View My Profile)
Being a Portuguese-owned Company, we know our country better than anybody else and we want to expose people to places and curiosities about Portugal that only a Portuguese knows! Our goal is that you visit Portugal …riding a bicycle!

On PortugalBike Tours you have the opportunity to visit our historical, cultural and landscape heritage in our National Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner. You can taste our famous wines, amazing cheeses and lovely desserts, and sample typical dishes of each region of Portugal.

Travelling with PortugalBike will connect you deeply with the country, becoming part of its everyday life, observing details that typical tourists miss and enjoying spontaneous encounters along the way. You will rest in cosy and charming accommodations. We always choose 4-star quality hotels whenever possible in each region or Bed & Breakfast units. Our accommodations are always the best offer of each region.

PortugalBike Tours are designed so that we begin at a certain point and we end elsewhere. You do not start and end at the same place. We think that is the best way to discover Portugal ...riding a bicycle! Read the specific information about each ride to learn more details.

PortugalBike Tours have a maximum of 16 participants, and a minimum of two. Larger groups are also possible upon request and according to our availability. Our Bike Tours are prepared for one week (7 days / Sunday to Saturday).

The dates of PortugalBike Tours are according to our calendar, or on request, according to our availability. The prices below are for the scheduled PortugalBike Tours. If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.

WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER YOU A GOOD PRODUCT AND A QUALITY SERVICE