Portugal Bike - The Megalithic Heritage in Alentejo
SUMMARY:
Alentejo is a scarcely populated region with open horizons, where the rhythm of life follows the idle sound of regional songs. It is perfect for riding a bicycle and experiencing an unforgettable adventure. This is a land of unimaginable heritage. Our tour will take us to remarkable traces of ancient Cultures where dolmens and cromlechs, and Roman and Arab ruins mingle with the most recent signs of Christianity of which the numerous medieval castles are but one example. We will ride alongside vast wheat-fields and vineyards where the intense green and golden colours are the main characteristic of the plains in Alentejo. One of the most typical sights in this region is a vast field with some cork trees here and there 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. We will have the opportunity to visit Evora, which is classified as World Heritage in UNESCO’s International Heritage list, and some other beautiful villages, including Estremoz, Vila Vicosa and Monsaraz. The people here are very proud of their heritage and they preserve the ancient buildings and also the ancient practices. This is a region that has a very rich handicraft tradition – pottery, embroidery, hand-painted furniture, wrought-iron works, etc. The local gastronomy is varied and quite tasty and perfectly matches the famous local wines. This is a tour where the quietness and silence of the endless landscapes invite us to share nature in a rural environment and socialize with the people that live and work there. This is a spectacular tour characterized by moderate physical and technical difficulty and it takes us to the most ancient vestiges of our history and heritage.
TECHNICAL DATA:
Region of Portugal: Alentejo (inland)
Time: 8 days / 7 nights / 5 days cycling / 1 day rest
Begin: Santiago do Escoural (Alentejo)
End: Reguengos de Monsaraz (Alentejo)
Type of Course: Rolling. Not very mountainous or technical.
Overall difficulty: level: 1 2 3 4 5
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate. You are not in good shape
Distance: 228km / 142mi
Average: 46km (28mi)/day
Trails: 70% off road; 30% road
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| Property Amenities |
Restaurant |
Business Center |
Steam Room |
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Bar |
Internet Connection |
Wheelchair Accessible |
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Room Service |
Conference Facilities |
Animal Friendly |
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Laundry Service |
Swimming Pool |
Concierge Desk |
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Storage Areas |
Gym |
Travel Desk |
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Car Park |
Sauna |
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Room Amenities |
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Private Shower |
Microwave |
Telephone |
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Private Bathtub |
Air Conditioning |
Fax |
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Private Jacuzzi |
Electric Fan |
Minibar |
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Private Toilet |
TV |
Coffee Maker |
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Private Kitchen |
Video/DVD/Movies |
Hair Dryer |
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Stove |
Internet Connection |
Trouser Press |
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WHAT DOES THE PRICE OF THIS PORTUGALBIKE GUIDED TOUR INCLUDE?
- 8 days with PortugalBike
- Mountain Bike Tour with a Guide
- Transfers from and to Lisbon Airport
- Accommodations (usually a 3/4 star-quality hotel, double bedroom occupancy)
- 7 Breakfasts
- 5 nourishing and energetic picnics
- 5 Dinners (including our famous wines, our amazing cheeses and lovely desserts)
- Daily energy-bars and water
- The vineyards – guided visit and wine tasting
- Luggage transport from Inn to Inn
- Car connections at some stages (when necessary)
- Documentation about PortugalBike Tour
- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Techno-Mechanical Assistance
- First-Aid assistance on location
- Permanent Backup Vehicle
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| Nearby Attractions |
1. Cork trees
2. Dolmens and Menhirs more than 10.000 years old
3. Tourega Roman Ruins
4. Almendres Cromlech and Xurez Cromlech
5. Vineyards - guided visit and wine tasting
6. The typical and ancient S. Gregorio village
7. Evora - a World Heritage town
8. The fields with wild flowers and olive trees
9. The beautiful and white marble quarries
10. The highest Anta in the Iberian Peninsula (pre-historic monument)
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DATES FOR 2008:
06~13 April
27 April~04 May
21~28 September
PROGRAMME:
1st day: Arrival – Welcome at Lisbon airport. 1H30 drive to S. Escoural followed by dinner.
2nd day: On the trails of the Dolmens and the Cromlech – 64km (40mi), level 3
3rd day: FREE. Visit to Evora, Classified as World Heritage by UNESCO
4th day: Alentejo Fortresses and the quarries – 45km (28mi), level 3
5th day: The pure and beautiful marble of Alentejo – 47km (29mi), level 2
6th day: The Megalithic Heritage – 42km (25mi), level 2
7th day: Monsaraz, the white sentinel – 30km (19mi), level 2
8th day: Departure – Farewell at Lisbon airport. 2H00 drive to airport.
TESTIMONIALS:
»»»» Regarding our tour, we spent a marvellous week in Portugal and were happy to discover the nice countryside of the Alentejo. This week out in the wonderful nature, discovering lots of nice trails and some cultural sites made us really forget everyday's life. It was fantastic and we enjoyed very much the perfect organisation and your company, while riding the bikes, around the pick-nick-table or during one of the nice dinners together with you. PortugalBike is a great team that we can warmly recommend to all our friends. We hope to see you again, perhaps on another tour. = Max and Franziska Beckmann (Germany), 2006 =
»»»» Although the Tour was not difficult, we feel like a personal victory to get to the end. We loved the ride and the beautiful sceneries. We also liked the picnics a lot; it's great to eat admiring the landscape and listening to the birds and feeling the presence of animals. Everything was very well organised and we really appreciated how you quickly adapted the programme to our riding capacities. = Jean Linda Genders (Netherlands), 2006 =
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| Required Skill Level |
Intermediate
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| Required Equipment |
Optional
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| Our Certificatons |
- Licensed by D.G.T. (Portuguese Tourism Board). License no. 12/2003.
- APECATE Member Associated (Portuguese Association of Professional Organisers of Congresses, Tourism Animation and Events).
- PACTA Member Associated (Portuguese Association of Cultural Animation and Nature and Adventure Tourism Companies).
- ARPTA Member Associated (Regional Association for the Promotion of Tourism in Alentejo).
- In 2006 we were Finalists in the PUBLITURIS Travel Trade & Hotel Guide 2005 Awards for the «Best Company of Active and Animation Tourism in Portugal».
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Mountain Biking Skills & Disciplines |
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Road Cycling |
Urban Terrain |
Lap Racing |
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Offroad Biking |
Cross-country |
Hill Climb |
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Downhill |
FreeStyle |
Dirt Jumping |
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Basics & Backgrounds
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