Bike Across Portugal Plus! the Coast

Enjoying all the sights and sounds on this guided bike tour in Portugal
  • Length 12 days
  • From USD$5550
  • Style/Level Classic 2.5
  • Countries Portugal
  • Begin/End Elvas / Algarve
See related tours

Explore Portugal’s south-central lands and west coast with undulating wheat fields, cork and eucalyptus trees, olive orchards and vineyards. As the western outpost of continental Europe, this region harmonizes centuries of ancient, Roman, Arabic, Medieval and Renaissance influences, delicately framed by stunning beaches and endless blue sky. Highlights include:
  • Beautiful, serene historic hotels
  • Roman ruins, rural paradise
  • Alqueva reservoir, one of the world’s best places for stargazing
  • Artisan centers of pottery, winemaking and marble work
  • Rugged coastline, surfing and the continent’s most southwestern point
***Sound like a great tour but you don’t have enough time to do the entire ride? Check out Bike Across Portugal tour which includes the first 8-days of this itinerary.***

Highlights

  • Roman cities

  • Undiscovered roads

  • A stay at one of Portugal’s historic Pousada hotels

  • Active marble quarry

  • Star-gazing

  • The ceramics of São Pedro do Corval

  • Medieval town of Evora

  • Costa Vincentina National Park

  • Algarve

  • Bicycle to the “end of the world”

Includes

  • 11 nights accommodation

  • meals as noted in itinerary

  • shuttle from and back to Lisbon

  • 1 unique olive oil tasting

  • All Classic tour inclusions

Keep in mind

We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

This is a rural region and on some days there will be fewer towns along the ride than other regions in Europe.


Date Price Private room fee Note
Apr 13-24, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Contact us for availability!
May 11-22, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Departure confirmed to go!  Filling fast!
May 25-Jun 5, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Private departure. Not available to the public. Re-Cycle discounts no longer available.
Sep 7-18, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650
Sep 21-Oct 2, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Departure confirmed to go! Filling fast! 
Oct 7-18, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Private Departure. Not available to the public. No will shares.
Oct 19-30, 2024 USD$5550 USD$650 Filling fast! Only 1 Recycle discount available.   
DateApr 13-24, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteContact us for availability!
DateMay 11-22, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteDeparture confirmed to go!  Filling fast!
DateMay 25-Jun 5, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NotePrivate departure. Not available to the public. Re-Cycle discounts no longer available.
DateSep 7-18, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
Note
DateSep 21-Oct 2, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteDeparture confirmed to go! Filling fast! 
DateOct 7-18, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NotePrivate Departure. Not available to the public. No will shares.
DateOct 19-30, 2024
PriceUSD$5550
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteFilling fast! Only 1 Recycle discount available.   

Download Itinerary

We’ll send you a link to a full day by day tour itinerary that can be downloaded and printed so you can review all the details online and offline. This packet also includes details about what to expect on tour and arrival and departure details.
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  • Total distance 573 km (356 miles)
  • Average daily distance 57 km (35 miles)
  • Tour style Classic
  • Tour level 2.5

Highlights: Elvas and its medieval walls

After arriving in Lisbon, you’ll take our morning shuttle east to Elvas, a fortified city just a stone’s throw from the Spanish border. After a light lunch together, the tour leaders will fit bicycles, and lead a safety briefing, then it’s off on a short loop ride around Elvas’ impressive Roman Aqueduct, its well preserved 16th century walls, and its other fortifications. Tonight’s hotel is built into the city’s walls, and has a beautiful pool-a great spot to relax before or after your sumptuous welcome dinner.

Meals : Lunch, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel São João de Deus

Highlights: Historic hotel

Consider today’s short ride down to the river a warm-up for the excitement of the days ahead! You’ll pedal with views into Spain before turning west, riding toward Vila Vicosa through wheat fields and olive orchard dotted with cork-oak trees. This semi-arid region is one of the country’s least populated, and is known for its agricultural production, though today’s short climb ends at a town famed for its marble. The beautiful rose-colored Vila Vicosa marble can be seen everywhere in town-including the street pavers! This afternoon, you can log extra mileage, visit the marble museum where we learn about the history of production and extraction, or give yourself in to poolside relaxation at tonight’s hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Pousada de Vila Vicosa

Highlights: Alqueva reservoir, castles and fortified town of Monsaraz, marble area

Departing the rose-colored city, we’ll stop to visit an active marble quarry to learn more about its properties, history and extraction process. Our ride heads south to the castle town of Monsaraz, which overlooks the Alqueva reservoir. The largest reservoir in Europe, this body of water straddles the Spanish-Portuguese border, and was designated in 2012 as one of the first Starlight Tourism Destinations for its ideal star-gazing conditions and exceptionally low light pollution. Enjoy dinner together tonight, then bask in the inky night sky.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Vila Planicie

Highlights: Ceramic town, medieval Evora, wine tasting

Today’s ride to Evora includes a pleasant stop in São Pedro do Corval, a well-known pottery town where you’ll have the opportunity to browse several workshops and visit with the artists who run them. Upon your arrival in beautiful Evora, notice how its Roman aqueducts and ruins blend with the Medieval walls and Renaissance churches. Inhabited for more than 2000 years, Evora is on the roster of most ancient towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll spend two-nights here which will allow you to take in some of its most notable sights.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : M’AR de AR Aqueduto

Highlights: Visit Evora, or take a loop ride to Azaruja

Today’s optional ride leaves Evora along a towering aqueduct into the heart of the Portuguese cork industry. We’ll visit the factory where cork is transformed beyond bottle stoppers; you’ll see purses, dresses, and business cards created from this amazing bark. This evening you’ll enjoy a guided walk through the old part of Evora.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : M’AR de AR Aqueduto

Highlights: Rolling hills of the Alentejo, cheese tasting

As you leave the city you’ll pass through several small towns and the ancient castles that safeguarded them during the 13th century. Your rural destination for tonight is an expansive farm, raising goats and cork. As we get closer to the coast, the wide-open spaces become dotted with sea pines revealing the varied character of the Alentejo. Get ready for a hearty Alentejo dinner.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Monte das Faias

Highlights: Coastal Alentejo

We leave rural Alentejo for coastal Alentejo today. As you get to the coast, you’ll see signs of more recent Portuguese development including Sines and its modern harbor which was once famed as the birthplace of Portugal’s most famous sailor – Vasco da Gama. A gentle sea breeze will be your first indicator that you are getting close to the beach and the Rio Mira confluence to the sea.

The Oct. 7, 2022 departure will stay at the HS Milfontes Beach.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Quinta Do Moinho De Vento

Highlights: Rest Day

Stroll, relax, cycle, or shop today – or all of the above. It’s up to you! Those who want to get on the bike can enjoy an exhilarating loop ride towards tiny Sao Luis and Porto das Barcas. We’ll recommend a spot for a delicious seafood lunch on the water.

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Quinta Do Moinho De Vento

Highlights: Costa Vicentina National Park

Coastal hills separate the central Alentejo from the North Atlantic Ocean, and you’ll pedal through this rugged area today. A majority of this area, including its beautiful beaches and sheer cliffs, is designated as Costa Vicentina National Park, so there are just a few roads that take you to the coast. We’ll loop towards secluded beaches so there are opportunities for picnics and swimming. Or wait and hit the hotel pool, or take the walk from the hotel to the ocean.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Herdade do Touril , Enigma Nature & Water Hotel

Highlights: Beaches, sand dunes, and surfers

Despite the attention given the Algarve in southern Portugal, many surfers would argue that the Costa Vicentina boasts some of the best surfing in Europe – and one of the most beautiful beaches on earth. Today you’ll ride south, weaving across the main road, through little farm villages and larger towns. Our secluded hotel is surrounded by green hillsides and is located at the gateway of a serene valley. It’s about a kilometer from the beach to the hotel and about 800 meters are unpaved so you might prefer to walk the last bit.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Aldeia Pedralva

Highlights: Cabo San Vicente lighthouse, Sagres fortress, bicycle Algarve

A short ride today allows for plenty of time for one last walk on the beach, or an extra-leisurely ride to Cabo San Vicente – the famed “end of the world,” when the world was thought to be flat. Europe’s most southwestern point still features a lighthouse and a fortress. From there, it’s just a few kilometers to the town of Sagres, the final destination of your cycling adventure in Portugal. Celebrate the spirit of the Alentejo and the Algarve with a lively group dinner and a restful night in another luxurious Pousada hotel, built on Sagres’ promontory with a memorable view of the fortress and the beach.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Baleeira Hotel

Highlights: Shuttle to Lisbon

Stick around and enjoy another day (or two) at the beach, or if you must head home we wish you boa viagem! We’ll offer a shuttle to Lisbon this morning for anyone flying out or heading back to the capital.

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.



Pre-trip planning checklist



  • Loved the landscape, quiet roads and wild flowers…. very pastoral… good variety of riding.

    Marilyn H., Vancouver, BC
  • Yet another great ExperiencePlus! tour. What did I enjoy most? The final dinner as it reflected the culmination of great cycling in an historic country, an experience shared by a collegial group and the great food and wine consumed en route.

    Diane C., Gabriola Island, BC
  • As my first experience I can only say that the trip was wonderful. The people I met and the support given for me to achieve each day”s ride was so encouraging. The bikes and support were outstanding the hotels mostly luxurious and the additional cultural aspects additional bonuses.

    Jan R., Mt Waverly Victoria