Self guided cycling holidays in Portugal
| country: | Portugal |
| location: | Alentejo |
| trip type: | Self guided cycling holidays |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you (except Jul-Aug) and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary (minimum 2 people) |
| price: | From €599 (8 days) excluding flights, Self guided cycling - Discover the unexplored (min 2 people). Self guided cycling - Charming hotels from €799 (8 days) ex flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
We have 2 cycling tours on offer: Self guided cycling – Discover the unexplored (minimum 2 people) Self guided cycling – Charming hotels (minimum 2 people)
Self guided cycling – Discover the unexplored
From €599 (8 days) ex flights
Here, in the southwest coast of Portugal, still little visited, are some of the Iberian Peninsula's most preserved and dramatic landscapes. This is a perfect place to explore on two wheels.
As well as unspoilt landscapes, there are small villages where the pace of life is relaxed, sparsely populated countryside, country roads where farm animals and horse drawn carts are still a common sight and above all else hospitable and friendly local people. This program is an invitation to discover the unexplored and ideal for leisurely cycling due to its topography and stunning scenery.
The level is easy to moderate and this itinerary is suitable for 10 months of the year (not July or August). Price includes 7 nights accommodation in a twin/double room with en suite facilities, bike hire, 1 welcoming dinner, airport transfers, luggage transfers, trip dossier (maps and routes), mobile phone, personal insurance and 24-hour assistance. To see our location, please click on the map on the right.
Highlights include: Sparsely populated region Spectacular views: cliffs, deserted beaches, valleys & river Diversity of landscape Diversity of fauna and flora Traditional villages Interaction with local people and habits Typical gastronomy: fresh fish (monkfish, squid, sea bass, codfish),
black pig and delicious Alentejo wines
Included:
7 nights’ accommodation in a twin/double room with en suite facilities Bike hire (hybrid bicycle with 21 gears, panniers, punch kit… ) Trip dossier: maps, routes, contents and notes Daily luggage transfers 1 welcoming traditional dinner Mobile phone 24-hour assistance Personal Insurance
Self guided cycling – Discover the unexplored
From €599 (8 days) ex flights
Here, in the southwest coast of Portugal, still little visited, are some of the Iberian Peninsula's most preserved and dramatic landscapes. This is a perfect place to explore on two wheels.
As well as unspoilt landscapes, there are small villages where the pace of life is relaxed, sparsely populated countryside, country roads where farm animals and horse drawn carts are still a common sight and above all else hospitable and friendly local people. This program is an invitation to discover the unexplored and ideal for leisurely cycling due to its topography and stunning scenery.
The level is easy to moderate and this itinerary is suitable for 10 months of the year (not July or August). Price includes 7 nights accommodation in a twin/double room with en suite facilities, bike hire, 1 welcoming dinner, airport transfers, luggage transfers, trip dossier (maps and routes), mobile phone, personal insurance and 24-hour assistance. To see our location, please click on the map on the right.
Highlights include: black pig and delicious Alentejo wines
Included:
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Transfer from Faro/Lisbon airport to the guesthouse at Vila Nova de Milfontes. This beautiful town on the Mira estuary will be your start and finish point and is well worth exploring. |
| Day 2: | 20m miles. After breakfast cycle equipment will be distributed and the tour started to Zambujeira via coastal tracks passing by the unique cliff-nesting storks at Cavaleiro lighthouse en route. The night will be spent in a Pensão (Guesthouse) on the cliffs of this fishing village. |
| Day 3: | 24 miles. The route continues south along the coast over the border of the Alentejo into the 1st algarvian town of Odeceixe. A good place to explore the estuary and eat fresh fish for lunch! The tour then goes through traditional farmland to the castle town of Aljezur where we will stay overnight. |
| Day 4: | 22 miles. From Aljezur back roads over the wooded hills will lead to the Algarvian spa town of Monchique where clients can take the waters. The night will be spent in a traditional Guest House. |
| Day 5: | 23 miles. Leaving Monchique we will return to the Alentejo through the rolling hills of pines, eucalyptus and rock roses to the lake of Santa Clara. The night will be spent at a lakeside Guesthouse. |
| Day 6: | 19 miles. From Santa Clara we will make the longest ride of the tour (40 km) riding through the gentle hills of Sabóia and onto the county town of Odemira nestling on the tidal Mira River. Overnight in a Guesthouse in Odemira. |
| Day 7: | 24 miles. Our last days ride will take us along the eastern banks of the river Mira past the wind milled villages back to the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes where we will spend the night in the hotel. |
| Day 8: | After returning cycling equipment, transfers to Faro/Lisbon airport by taxi or public transport. |
the amazing things you'll be doing - itineray option 2
Self guided cycling – Charming hotels From €799 (7 days) ex flights, departs from 15 Sep - 15 Jun 2009.
This cycling holiday takes you to some of the most unexplored places along SW Europe's coastline and countryside. Alentejo is calm, quiet and exciting. The cycling routes are very varied; they can be amusing, romantic, aromatic, astounding, adventurous and rewarding. They offer you remarkable and unexpected experiences.
You will enjoy the friendly almost homely atmosphere in some old world traditional guest houses. The Portuguese are open minded, appreciate other cultures and are friendly, easy going and shy at times. You will be pleasantly surprised with the cuisine: all very fresh and flavorsome, very Mediterranean, but also hinting of spices.
You will cycle through beautiful countryside, nostalgic endless golden wheat fields undulating in the hot breeze, shapely multi colored cork oak trees, lush river galleries, warm starry nights, white washed small buildings.
All this will greatly contrast with the magnificent, breathtaking and fierce coastline which is part of the PNSACV (SW Portugal's Natural Park) and because of its uniqueness it harbors many unusual animal and plant species.
Highlights: 
Included: Group size: Minimum 2 people.
Level of cycling: Easy to moderate.
Accommodation: 3 charming hotels.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive. Transfers from Faro/Lisbon airport or Funcheira railway station. |
| Day 2: | The ride today heads to the south on a loop through the eucalyptus woods and pasture flanked with lavender. Shepherds wearing sheepskin coats and chaps (even in summer!) tend their flocks keeping the grass verges of the roads well trimmed. Visit Dona Mariana’s cheese shop for home produced soft cream cheese or mature goat and sheep cheese or visit Cercal to see Senhor Godinho’s leather products. Meander back to Verdemar Hotel in time for a relaxing dinner – al fresco on a balmy evening. |
| Day 3: | Today you can choose from a short route through the Alentejo rice fields to the Campilhas stream or a longer circular tour through the cork montado, olive and orange groves past white washed villages to São Domingos and back. |
| Day 4: | head west to the coast. Leaving the cork oaks of the interior behind today you head west to the coast. Drop of the plane aiming directly at the Atlantic ocean and into the fragrant maqui covered natural park of the St. Vincent Coast. Your hotel for this night is the 3 Mary’s – just to 2km from the beach where the owners Balz and Cláudia and their menagerie will take care of your every need in their boutique styled residence. |
| Day 5: | Cycle down to Peach Tree Island to see the 16th century fortress perched over the wild Atlantic beaches. Sample the fish in the beach restaurant or carry on to the picturesque village of Porto Côvo where fisherman’s still head out to sea in small wooden painted boats. Return on tracks passing between ancient windmills back to 3 Mary’s and the hospitality of the hosts. |
| Day 6: | Cavaleiro. The route today leads you southwards on deserted winding roads within the national park towards the village of Cavaleiro where you will find the unusual lighthouse of Cape Sardão which was built back to front! Cycle along the towering cliffs admiring the uplifted rock formations and looking down into the nests of the only cliff nesting storks in Europe. The track joins the road and leads on into the pretty fishing village of Zambujeira do Mar where a well earned drink can be enjoyed overlooking the spectacular beach. A short pedal away are the cottages of Rita and Miguel where you will stay, eating out in the village for 2 nights. |
| Day 7: | Pass by Azenha do Mar Harbour where the fisherman supplement their income by harvesting blue green algae from the sea for the cosmetics industry and on through the vegetable and fruit growing fields to the river Ceixe. Follow the sweeping bends of the river with the rich alluvial soil supporting vines and cereal crops on to the golden sands of Odeceixe beach to make a great end to the week. |
| Day 8: | Transfers to Faro/Lisbon airport or Funcheira railway station. |
travellers' tales
Beautiful and sparsely populated part of Portugal with a really well designed route and places to stay over. Wonderful. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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One of the most positive differences you will find in this trip is the extremely friendly people you will meet in a traditionally Portuguese environment. We are focused on offering a unique experience, as we can provide a high degree of flexibility and personal care.
Responsible tourism is a core differentiator for our business and the Alentejo region generally. The unspoilt, natural surroundings are what attract people as a contrast to the intensive, mass tourism of the Algarve. We know the importance of maintaining this environment for the sustainability of both the locality and our livelihood. We work directly with ICN. We are based within a Natural Park, so we pay an annual fee to ICN (Institute for the Conservation of Nature) in order to protect and develop initiatives inside the Park. Our leaders take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner such as sticking to established trails, not leaving anything behind or removing any plants whilst doing the activities through the park.  We have solar panels to heat the water. We recycle the garbage and our employees are local. We're in a very rural environment so our business represents a very important alternative regarding local employment opportunities. Most of our leaders were born in the region and others have lived in this region for a long time. They're all part of our community and share the same values and culture. This trip allows our guests to be in contact with all our traditions and way of living, and allows them to get closer to the reality of rural Portugal. This region is known for preserving the traditional way of life. You will not find big hotels as they're all locally owned. We only work with small groups of not more than 16 people. Tourism has a very important role in this region and contributes to the sustainable development of our community. The human intervention on the environment is very controlled by the ICN (Institute for the Conservation of Nature). |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |