Mountain Biking Holidays
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: 7 days / 6 nights / 4 days cycling / 1 day rest
Begin: Santiago do Escoural (Alentejo)
End: 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: 232km / 1442mi
Average: 58km (36mi)/day
Trails: 66% off road; 34% road
-
Restaurant -
Bar -
Room Service
-
Laundry Service
-
Storage Areas
-
Car Park
-
Business Center
-
Internet Connection
-
Conference Facilities
-
Swimming Pool
-
Gym
-
Sauna
- Steer Room
-
Wheelchair Accessible
-
Animal Friendly
-
Concierge Desk
-
Travel Desk
Room Amenities
-
Private Shower
-
Private Bathtub
-
Private Jacuzzi
-
Private Toilet
-
Private Kitchen
-
Stove
-
Microwave
-
Air Conditioning
-
Electric Fan
-
TV
-
Video/DVD/Movies
-
Internet Connection
-
Telephone
-
Fax
-
Minibar
-
Coffee Maker
-
Hair Dryer
-
Trouser Press
Additional:
WHAT DOES THE PRICE OF THIS PORTUGALBIKE GUIDED TOUR INCLUDE?
- 7 days with PortugalBike
- Mountain Bike Tour with a Guide
- Mountain Bike rental (BH A60k Expert Disc) with helmet and backpack
- Transfers from and to Lisbon Airport
- Accommodations (usually a 3/4 star-quality hotel, double bedroom occupancy)
- 6 Breakfasts
- 4 nourishing and energetic picnics
- 4 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
Nearby Attractions:
1. Cork trees and Olive 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 unique S. Gregorio village
7. Evora - a World Heritage town classified by UNESCO
8. Vast fields with wild flowers and herbs
9. The beautiful and white marble quarries
10. The highest Anta in the Iberian Peninsula (pre-historic monument)
DATES AND PRICES FOR 2009:
28 March ~ 03 April: Euro 1680 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
18 ~ 24 April: Euro 1710 (Single Suppl. + € 220)
09 ~ 15 May: Euro 1710 (Single Suppl. + € 220)
29 August ~ 04 September: Euro 1720 (Single Suppl. + € 240)
12 ~ 18 September: Euro 1710 (Single Suppl. + € 220)
=> Prices per person, double bedroom occupancy, 4* quality Hotel.
=> If you want a different date, ask us about prices and availability.
PROGRAMME:
1st day: Arrival – Welcome at Lisbon airport. 1H30 drive to S. Escoural followed by dinner. Lodging in a typical farmhouse in Alentejo (Rural Tourism) that includes all the modern facilities and gives you all the comfort and cosiness.
2nd day: On the trails of the Dolmens and the Cromlech – 64km (40mi), level 3. Lodging in a 4* Hotel located in the middle of the historical centre of Evora, next to the 14th century city wall.
3rd day: FREE. Visit to Evora, Classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Lodging in a 4* Hotel located in the middle of the historical centre of Evora, next to the 14th century city wall.
4th day: Alentejo Fortresses and the quarries – 45km (28mi), level 3. Lodging in a 15th century village whose small houses were converted into lodgings after being deserted (Village Tourism) maintaining its original architecture and layout.
5th day: The pure and beautiful marble of Alentejo – 75km (47mi), level 3. Lodging in a restored 18th century building in the historic centre of Terena, 50 meters from the castle (Rural Tourism).
6th day: Monsaraz, the white sentinel – 48km (30mi), level 3. Lodging in a historic building (4* Estalagem) that benefits from a privileged view over the plains.
7th day: Departure – Farewell at Lisbon airport. 2H30 drive to airport.
TESTIMONIALS:
»»»» The Megalithic Heritage in Alentejo tour was an excellent adventure for a family of 4 (including 2 teenage boys). We truly wished that we could have extended our journey. The hybrid cycling exceeded our expectations… great landscape, quiet roads and paths, charming villages, peaceful vinyards… all which allowed us to explore remote areas of Portugal that would normally be inaccessible. The accommodation, meals, and travel route were superb. Combining this with the hospitality and personal touch of our guide and host from Portugal Bike Tours, I’d strongly recommend this tour for anybody interested in cycling within Portugal.
= Tom Trottier (Toronto – Canada), 2008 =
»»»» 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 =
- 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».
-
Road Cycling -
Offroad Biking -
Downhill
-
Urban Terrain
-
Cross-country
-
FreeStyle
-
Lap Racing
-
Hill Climb
-
Dirt Jumping
Book your Tour. After you receive confirmation from BTTour/PortugalBike that your booking is possible, you have to pay a deposit in the amount of Euro 300/person by Bank Transfer to our bank account or via PayPal within five business days.
Final Payment
The final payment for your PortugalBike Tour is due until 45 days before the Tour begins.
According to Portuguese Law our company had to establish a partnership with a Travel Agency to deal with the Accommodations for our Tours. Therefore, Final Payment is divided into the amount referring to the Tour and the amount referring to Accommodations. You will receive 2 PayPal Invoices with the respective amounts. The Invoice referring to the Tour will be sent by BTTour-PortugalBike and the Invoice referring to Accommodations will be sent by CITUR (the Travel Agency that works with us). If we do not receive a Final Payment until the above deadline, we will assume it is a cancellation.
Mountain Biking Travel Directory
Name: (required)
Email Address: (will not be published) (required)
Website:
Comment: