Touring Alentejo Wine Country
This is an easy to moderate bike touring experience by the historical and UNESCO world sites of Évora, Monsaraz and Vila Viçosa, exploring the vineyards of one of the world's best wine countries. A bike tour in the sunny Alentejo plains, suited for every type of rider, where you'll explore the natural beauty of the vineyards and olive fields, admire the Alqueva lake and its Dark Sky reserve as well as trying the delicious local gastronomy.
After a transfer from Lisbon, your tour starts in Évora, capital of Alentejo, being received by our guides for a private briefing and bike fit that will take place at your hotel, placed inside the fortified walls of the Évora city center, UNESCO world heritage site. For the following days, you'll be riding by the backroads of Alentejo, visiting the monuments of the region like the Almendres Cromlech or the Diana temple, tasting the beautiful wines of Cartuxa and Esporão and enjoying the rural landscape of the Alentejo "Montado". After exploring Évora in a series of loop rides that can take you as far or as close as you wish, you'll ride towards Monsaraz, to explore the margins of the Alqueva Lake and the fortified village atop the lake. From your hotel in Monsaraz, you can choose to explore the region's vineyards in several loop rides. Leaving Monsaraz, you'll ride north, towards Vila Viçosa, in te middle of the marble region, to explore the marble quarries, Ducal Palace and castle and, in a series of loop rides from your hotel, ride up to Estremoz, Serra D'Ossa, Borba, and more. After a weeklong of riding and experiencing the wine country of Alentejo, get transfered back to Lisbon.
Rolling hills and mixed terrain: Enjoy Central Alentejo's typical rolling hills, tackling no big climbs along the way, as you ride by the backroads of this Wine Country.
Optional rest days, for hiking or relaxing: Staying two nights at each hotel, you'll be able to trade riding for other activities like hiking, wine tasting or going on a boat ride by the Douro.
Landscape: Ride from one fortified village to another, on the backroads of Alentejo, as you experience the "Montado" ecosystem, never ending vineyards and olive tree fields.
Check-in, private briefing and bike fit at your hotel, Mar D’ar Aqueduto Hotel & SPA (Premium option) or Mar D’ar Muralhas. Free day to visit Évora’s city Center (walking tour included in the Premium option).
Night in Mar D’ar Aqueduto (included in the "Premium" option) or Mar D’ar Muralhas
Breakfast at your hotel. Start of today’s loop ride, towards the fortified village of Arraiolos, to get to know it’s castle and textile traditions (45km). Optionally, visit the Almendres Cromelech, a 6000 year old menhir site, on a 38km loop. Visit to Cartuxa winery for wine tasting, late in the afternoon (included in the Premium option).
Night in Mar D’ar Aqueduto (included in the "Premium" option) or Mar D’ar Muralhas
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Start of the ride, by some of the quietest roads of this region, through Montoito village and endless vineyards and farmland almost to the edge of the Reguengos, home of Herdade do Esporão, one of the iconic wine and olive oil producers in Alentejo. On the arrival at Monsaraz, check in at the hotel São Lourenço do Barrocal, a former “Herdade” now converted into a charming luxury hotel (included in the “Premium” option) or Horta da Moura, a 4 star rural resort, both near the fortified village of Monsaraz. Relax at your hotel for the rest of the day and take your time to gaze at the stars in this Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve.
Night in São Lourenço do Barrocal (included in the "Premium" option) or Horta da Moura
Breakfast at the hotel. Start of the ride, towards Herdade do Esporão, to visit the vineyards – visit and learn how the wine is produced, from grape to bottle, and then sample it on a wine tasting (included in the Premium option). Ride back to your hotel and take a late afternoon hike to the top of Monsaraz village to enjoy the sunset before heading to a restaurant to taste the local gastronomy.
Night in São Lourenço do Barrocal (included in the "Premium" option) or Horta da Moura
Breakfast and check-out of your hotel. Start of the ride, going North, towards Vila Viçosa, in the heart of the marble region of the Alentejo. In the Alentejo backroads, you’ll ride along the Alqueva, marble quarries until you reach Vila Viçosa’s quaint center, where your hotel is located: Marmoris hotel, built around the marble theme (included in the Premium option) or Pousada Vila Viçosa.
Night in Marmoris (included in the "Premium" option) or Pousada de Vila Viçosa
Breakfast at yout hotel. Start of the ride, going North, towards the quaint village of Borba, alongside the marble quarries, until you reach the fortified city of Estremoz. From Estremoz, visit Dona Maria vineyards (included in the Premium option) after lunch in Estremoz’s city center. Ride back to Vila Viçosa by the backroads, or by climbing to Serra D’Ossa, a beautiful Sierra with some great climbs and descents.
Night in Marmoris (included in the "Premium" option) or Pousada de Vila Viçosa
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and, at the scheduled time, private transfer to Porto Airport/ train station. End of the tour.
/ I ride my bike on a regular basis, for fitness, commuting or out with friends. I prefer rolling terrain but enjoy reaching my goals and enjoy an active lifestyle. I like to overcome some challenges on my bike, but mostly enjoy the landscapes and atmosphere during group rides.
You will get to ride at your own pace, in moderate distances and hop on our premium van if you so desire or, you can challenge yourself when you feel comfortable! You’ll get to ride in a peloton with like-minded people and always accompanied by our guides. If you want an extra "help" on your rides, you can also request an e-bike.
Pedro is passionate about touring and slowing down to experience all the little details that you can only appreciate while on a bike. Off or on the road, gravel or trails, he designed this tour in order for it to show off the best of the region, pairing it with other experiences that boast the local culture.
We had a wonderful week of cycling with friends in a private tour of the Douro Valley. The guys from Live Love Ride (Ricardo, Luis & Daniel) were excellent-they couldn't do enough to ensure that we had a great time including directing us to some fabulous restaurants for lunches. The bikes were first class and the accommodation outstanding. We can thoroughly recommend Live Love Ride.
