Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve

Depart home for Portugal. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed in your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Upon arrival at Lisbon’s International Airport, proceed through immigration; claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill out a PIR form before leaving the customs area; VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain that your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative holding a VBT sign. He or she will help you transfer to your Lisbon hotel in the city center. Transfer time is approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

VBT provides you with City Information that includes information and recommendations on what to see and do in Lisbon.

Accommodation: Pousada de Lisboa, Lisbon

Please have your luggage outside your room by 8:15 a.m. Make sure you have your VBT luggage tags on your bags. After breakfast, meet your VBT representative in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 a.m. Please be dressed in your riding attire.

Your VBT representative will escort you by shuttle (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes) to join your VBT trip leaders. You depart Lisbon via the expansive Vasco de Gama Bridge, the longest bridge in Western Europe, spanning the mighty Tagus River. Heading east, you arrive on the scenic plains of the Alentejo region, known for its stunning vistas and abundant cork and olive groves. Meet your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting and safety session. Afterwards, get to know your fellow travelers over lunch before departing on what is arguably the finest among Portugal bike tours. A warm-up ride traverses this scenic region of rustic farmland and gentle hills, delivering you to your hotel outside of the historic medieval town of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is in the historic Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa. Many important noble figures have met here throughout the centuries to shape Portugal’s history, earning this 15th-century convent a place as a national monument.

This evening, join the hotel’s sommelier in the Convent’s wine cellar to sample some of the region’s wines before enjoying a sumptuous welcome dinner in the historic dining room.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 17 km (10 miles)
Afternoon
Évora Warm-up: 17 km (10 miles)

What to Expect: After meeting your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting, safety session and lunch, you become accustomed to riding your bike on an easy afternoon warm-up ride. The scenic ride on quiet, well-maintained two-lane roads winds through the scenic plains of the Alentejo region with its patchwork of cork and olive groves and stunning vistas. As you near the outskirts of Évora, you pass through neighborhoods before arriving at your hotel.

Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle from your hotel to the whitewashed town of Redondo, home to a 500-year-old Portuguese pottery tradition. From here you begin with a picturesque ride across the plains of Alentejo, following scenic country roads bordered by cork forests. Our destination looms in the distance: hilltop Monsaraz, one of Portugal’s oldest settlements, and its imposing castle. Enthusiastic riders may enjoy the climb into town; the VBT support vehicle will be available to shuttle you from Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz if you need assistance or would like more time to explore Monsaraz.

With its lofty locale, Monsaraz enjoys endless vistas of the Alentejo and neighboring Spain. It has been occupied by various civilizations from Romans, Visigoths and Arabs to Mozarabs, Jews and Christians. As you explore its narrow warrens and admire its whitewashed, red-roofed houses, there’ll be time to marvel at the remarkable view of the Alqueva Dam and the second-largest artificial lake in Europe. Enjoy lunch at a local café before shuttling back to your hotel.

Later, you venture into Évora to meet a local guide for an enriching walking tour of this magnificently preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Stop by the São Francisco Church to view its eerie Chapel of Bones, constructed by 16th-century Franciscan monks. Wandering atmospheric alleyways past old patrician mansions and whitewashed houses with bright yellow trim. Enjoy dinner on your own in Évora this evening.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 37 km (23 miles)
Morning
Redondo to Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz: 37 km (23 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride begins in the town of Redondo, a 45-minute shuttle from your hotel. From Redondo, begin riding towards the hilltop village of Monsaraz. Our ride consists of some short inclines and rolling hills, but the VBT support vehicle will be nearby if you opt to shuttle at any point. At the end of the short option in the town of Aldeia de Venda, our shuttle transfers you to the historic village of Monsaraz, where you have ample time to explore prior to lunch. Today’s long option continues from Aldeia de Pais through the scenic Alentejo countryside and finishes with a challenging 1.5 km (just under a mile) climb into Monsaraz.

Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, shuttle south to the small town of Castro Verde in the lower Alentejo region, or Baixo Alentejo. Today’s rides introduce you to the arid, beautiful landscapes of the Campo Branco, or White Plains territory. As you cycle, you may pass shepherds grazing their herds on wide-open spaces. For lunch, you stop at a typical Portuguese rural café for a farm-fresh meal with warm, welcoming hosts. After, shuttle or ride to the remarkable fortified hilltop town of Mértola and your hotel.

After settling into your accommodations, join a local guide for a fascinating exploration of Mértola. This town’s rich history dates all the way back to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. Its most important remnant from the 500-year Moorish occupation is the medieval mosque, the only mosque from this period to have survived in Portugal. Today it is Mértola’s main church, though it boasts many of its original Moorish features. This evening, dine at your leisure in one of the town’s inviting restaurants.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 45 km (15 – 28 miles)
Morning
Geraldos to Pinilhos: 24 km (15 miles)
Afternoon
Pinilhos to Mértola: 21 km (13 miles)

What to Expect: After a two-hour morning shuttle south, those preferring a leisurely pace will bike from the short-option starting point in Penilhos. Those looking for a longer ride will begin in Geraldos, pedaling into the arid and beautiful landscape of the Campo Branco. The ride across the Campo Branco, or White Plains, is on narrow, paved country roads with very little traffic and mostly level, easy riding, but promises an excellent workout if there is a breeze. All riders will stop to enjoy lunch in a farm café in Sao João dos Caldeiros. Following your meal, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle short-option riders back to the hotel and long option riders will continue onto the main road to Mértola where the traffic increases as we near our destination.

Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, set out directly from your hotel. (Those preferring a shorter option shuttle 15 minutes to the starting point of their ride instead.) Your morning cycling leads you into the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, one of 30 natural areas in Portugal officially protected by the government. Wind your way through small towns of beautifully preserved traditional architecture and coast down to the banks of the Guadiana River. The river’s small port village of Pomarão was specially constructed for nearby mining operations. Here you may straddle the Portugal/Spain border with a foot in each country and half your body in Spain’s later time zone!

Savor lunch in a riverside café overlooking the marina. Then embark a privately chartered boat for a relaxing afternoon on the Guadiana River. Your cruise delivers you right to your hotel dock in Mértola. Those seeking a longer ride and more challenging option after lunch may forfeit the boat excursion and cycle back to the hotel.

This evening, enjoy an al fresco dinner at your hotel overlooking the Guadiana River, weather permitting.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 16 – 44 km (10 – 27 miles)
Morning
Corvos to Pomarao: 16 km (10 miles)
Mértola to Pomarao: 25 km (15 miles)
Afternoon
Pomarao to Hotel Museu (no river cruise): 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Choose the longer ride option from the hotel or shuttle approximately 15 minutes where your trip leaders will have your bikes ready. The morning ride takes you on small paved country roads through the less-traveled Guadiana Valley Natural Park. Although this morning’s ride is shorter than those on other days, you will have some rolling hills to challenge you and a rather steep decline for the last two kilometers to the Guadiana River. The longer ride begins with a steady climb on a national road with some potentially fast-moving traffic and trucks. After lunch, if you opt to ride back to the hotel and forfeit the boat excursion, the ride begins with a challenging two-kilometer climb that will reward you with bragging rights and stunning views. The last five kilometers into Mértola are on a national road that you share with fast-moving traffic and trucks. The VBT support vehicle is available throughout the day.

Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle southward into the Algarve to the Guadiana River. The Guadiana is the fourth longest river on the Iberian Peninsula and serves as the natural border between Spain’s Andalusia region and Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions. Today’s lovely ride traces the scenic banks on the Portugal side while providing stunning views across the river into Spain. Those looking for more mileage today may extend their morning ride, leaving the river behind for a hilly loop ride with more splendid vistas. Your morning on the saddle concludes with a delicious lunch.

After, you shuttle approximately one hour to your lovely accommodations in the Algarve, the Vila Monte Farm House, and settle in to one of its breezy, elegant suites. Enjoy an authentic Algarvian countryside experience, removed from the bustle of coastal resorts and embraced by a distinctly Portuguese beauty and tranquility.

Enjoy delicious regional Algarve cuisine made with the freshest of ingredients during your dinner here this evening.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 23 – 44 km (14 – 27 miles)
Morning
Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite: 23 km (14 miles)
Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite Loop: 44 km (27 miles)

What to Expect: Our ride in the Algarve follows undulating hills that offer beautiful vistas of the Guadiana River Valley and Spain’s Andalusia region in the distance. Enjoy a brief stop in the port of Alcoutim before continuing on a quiet country road along the Guadiana River. Double your mileage and challenge yourself on a hilly, inland loop ride with more scenic views of the Guadiana River.

Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a sumptuous breakfast, enjoy a leisurely reel through the surrounding Algarve countryside with vistas of the sea in the distance. Along the way we will stop to visit the Monterosa olive groves for some olive tasting and learn more about the production of olive oil. Next we cycle to the small Algarve city of Tavira with its medieval castle. Spend time exploring the sites and enjoy lunch in one of the many lively cafés at your leisure. After lunch continue pedaling to the lovely whitewashed village of Cacela-a-Velha, perched on top of a hill with a view to the easternmost lagoon of the Formosa River. The village is home to the Fortaleza de Cacela located on the site of the original castle constructed during the Muslim period. Spend time exploring the village before shuttling to your resort for a late afternoon at leisure, taking advantage of the property’s pools or spa.

This evening, join your fellow travelers and trip leaders to reminisce about your Portugal bike tour and adventures during a fireside farewell reception, followed by a delightful dinner with local wines.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 41 km (25 miles)
Morning
Vila Monte to Cacela a Velha with Monterosa: 41 km (25 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts from our hotel. You will cycle on less-traveled lanes through the Algarve countryside past lovely citrus, olive and avocado groves. There will be some city riding with heavier traffic within the city of Tavira. As we near the Algarve coast you will see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance before arriving at the seaside village of Cacela-a-Velha. Today’s ride is less challenging with slightly rolling hills.

Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Your morning journey to Cascais will take approximately four hours. You have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to explore this delightful seaside town. Spend tonight at the Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District Hotel, overlooking the marina and Atlantic Ocean. The city is a pleasure to explore by foot. City Information is provided in this Final Travel Booklet, with recommendations for transportation options, cafés, museums, and restaurants.

Air Package Accommodation: Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District, Cascais
Post-trip Extension Accommodation: Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District, Cascais
Included Meals: Breakfast

Begin your day with a Portuguese breakfast, and perhaps a sip of coffee at a nearby café.

After breakfast,* transfer to the Lisbon International airport (approximately 45-60 minutes) for your departing flight.** Please note: Ensure that you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.

* Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

** Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Included Meals: Breakfast

All you have to do is get to the airport. On our Air Packages, we’ll take care of the rest, handling all the logistics, so you can travel with peace of mind. Spend your first night aloft and arrive refreshed for an unforgettable trip.

Start off your first day in Lisbon right by having a VBT representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

Accommodation: Pousada de Lisboa, Lisbon

Please have your luggage outside your room by 8:15 a.m. Make sure you have your VBT luggage tags on your bags. After an included breakfast, meet your VBT representative in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 a.m. Please be dressed in your riding attire.

Your VBT representative will accompany you by shuttle (approximately 1.25 minutes) to join your VBT trip leaders. You depart Lisbon via the expansive Vasco de Gama Bridge, the longest bridge in Western Europe, spanning the mighty Tagus River. Heading east, you arrive on the scenic plains of the Alentejo region, known for its stunning vistas and abundant cork and olive groves. Meet your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting and safety session. Afterwards, get to know your fellow travelers over lunch before departing on what is arguably the finest among Portugal bike tours. A warm-up ride traverses this scenic region of rustic farmland and gentle hills, delivering you to your hotel outside of the historic medieval town of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is in the historic Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa. Many important noble figures have met here throughout the centuries to shape Portugal’s history, earning this 15th-century convent a place as a national monument.

This evening, join the hotel’s sommelier in the Convent’s wine cellar to sample some of the region’s wines before enjoying a sumptuous welcome dinner in the historic dining room.

Today’s Ride Choice

Afternoon: Évora Warm-up — 17 km (10 miles)

What to Expect: After meeting your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting, safety session and lunch, you become accustomed to riding your bike on an easy afternoon warm-up ride. The scenic ride on quiet, well-maintained two-lane roads winds through the scenic plains of the Alentejo region with its patchwork of cork and olive groves and stunning vistas. As you near the outskirts of Évora, you pass through neighborhoods before arriving at your hotel.

Cumulative Distance Range: 17 km (10 miles)
Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle from your hotel to the whitewashed town of Redondo, home to a 500-year-old Portuguese pottery tradition. From here you begin with a picturesque ride across the plains of Alentejo, following scenic country roads bordered by cork forests. Our destination looms in the distance: hilltop Monsaraz, one of Portugal’s oldest settlements, and its imposing castle. Enthusiastic riders may enjoy the climb into town; the VBT support vehicle will be available to shuttle you from Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz if you need assistance or would like more time to explore Monsaraz.

With its lofty locale, Monsaraz enjoys endless vistas of the Alentejo and neighboring Spain. It has been occupied by various civilizations from Romans, Visigoths and Arabs to Mozarabs, Jews and Christians. As you explore its narrow warrens and admire its whitewashed, red-roofed houses, there’ll be time to marvel at the remarkable view of the Alqueva Dam and the second-largest artificial lake in Europe. Enjoy lunch at a local café before shuttling back to your hotel.

Later, you venture into Évora to meet a local guide for an enriching walking tour of this magnificently preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Stop by the São Francisco Church to view its eerie Chapel of Bones, constructed by 16th-century Franciscan monks. Wandering atmospheric alleyways past old patrician mansions and whitewashed houses with bright yellow trim. Enjoy dinner on your own in Évora this evening.

Today’s Ride Choice

Morning: Redondo to Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz — 37 km (23 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride begins in the town of Redondo, a 45-minute shuttle from your hotel. From Redondo, begin riding towards the hilltop village of Monsaraz. Our ride consists of some short inclines and rolling hills, but the VBT support vehicle will be nearby if you opt to shuttle at any point. At the end of the short option in the town of Aldeia de Venda, our shuttle provides transportation to the historic village of Monsaraz, where you have ample time to explore prior to lunch. Today’s long option continues from Aldeia de Pais through the scenic Alentejo countryside and finishes with a challenging 1.5 km (just under a mile) climb into Monsaraz.

Cumulative Distance Range: 37 km (23 miles)
Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, shuttle south to the small town of Castro Verde in the lower Alentejo region, or Baixo Alentejo. Today’s rides introduce you to the arid, beautiful landscapes of the Campo Branco, or White Plains territory. As you cycle, you may pass shepherds grazing their herds on wide-open spaces. For lunch, you stop at a typical Portuguese rural café for a farm-fresh meal with warm, welcoming hosts. After, shuttle or ride to the remarkable fortified hilltop town of Mértola and your hotel.

After settling into your accommodations, join a local guide for a fascinating exploration of Mértola. This town’s rich history dates all the way back to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. Its most important remnant from the 500-year Moorish occupation is the medieval mosque, the only mosque from this period to have survived in Portugal. Today it is Mértola’s main church, though it boasts many of its original Moorish features. This evening, dine at your leisure in one of the town’s inviting restaurants.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Geraldos to Pinilhos — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Pinilhos to Mértola — 21 km (13 miles)

What to Expect: After a two-hour morning shuttle south, those preferring a leisurely pace will bike from the short-option starting point in Penilhos. Those looking for a longer ride will begin in Geraldos, pedaling into the arid and beautiful landscape of the Campo Branco. The ride across the Campo Branco, or White Plains, is on narrow, paved country roads with very little traffic and mostly level, easy riding, but promises an excellent workout if there is a breeze. All riders will stop to enjoy lunch in a farm café in Sao João dos Caldeiros. Following your meal, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle short-option riders back to the hotel and long option riders will continue onto the main road to Mértola where the traffic increases as we near our destination.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 — 45 km (15 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, set out directly from your hotel. (Those preferring a shorter option shuttle 15 minutes to the starting point of their ride instead.) Your morning cycling leads you into the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, one of 30 natural areas in Portugal officially protected by the government. Wind your way through small towns of beautifully preserved traditional architecture and coast down to the banks of the Guadiana River. The river’s small port village of Pomarão was specially constructed for nearby mining operations. Here you may straddle the Portugal/Spain border with a foot in each country and half your body in Spain’s later time zone!

Savor lunch in a riverside café overlooking the marina. Then embark a privately chartered boat for a relaxing afternoon on the Guadiana River. Your cruise delivers you right to your hotel dock in Mértola. Those seeking a longer ride and more challenging option after lunch may forfeit the boat excursion and cycle back to the hotel.

This evening, enjoy an al fresco dinner at your hotel overlooking the Guadiana River, weather permitting.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Corvos to Pomarao — 16 km (10 miles) | Mértola to Pomarao — 25 km (15 miles)
Afternoon: Pomarao to Hotel Museu (no river cruise) — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Choose the longer ride option from the hotel or shuttle approximately 15 minutes where your trip leaders will have your bikes ready. The morning ride takes you on small paved country roads through the less-traveled Guadiana Valley Natural Park. Although this morning’s ride is shorter than those on other days, you will have some rolling hills to challenge you and a rather steep decline for the last two kilometers to the Guadiana River. The longer ride begins with a steady climb on a national road with some potentially fast-moving traffic and trucks. After lunch, if you opt to ride back to the hotel and forfeit the boat excursion, the ride begins with a challenging two-kilometer climb that will reward you with bragging rights and stunning views. The last five kilometers into Mértola are on a national road that you share with fast-moving traffic and trucks. The VBT support vehicle is available throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 16 — 44 km (10 – 27 miles)
Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle southward into the Algarve to the Guadiana River. The Guadiana is the fourth longest river on the Iberian Peninsula and serves as the natural border between Spain’s Andalusia region and Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions. Today’s lovely ride traces the scenic banks on the Portugal side while providing stunning views across the river into Spain. Those looking for more mileage today may extend their morning ride, leaving the river behind for a hilly loop ride with more splendid vistas. Your morning on the saddle concludes with a delicious lunch.

After, you shuttle approximately one hour to your lovely accommodations in the Algarve, the Vila Monte Farm House, and settle in to one of its breezy, elegant suites. Enjoy an authentic Algarvian countryside experience, removed from the bustle of coastal resorts and embraced by a distinctly Portuguese beauty and tranquility.

Enjoy delicious regional Algarve cuisine made with the freshest of ingredients during your dinner here this evening.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite — 23 km (14 miles) | Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite Loop — 44 km (27 miles)

What to Expect: Our ride in the Algarve follows undulating hills that offer beautiful vistas of the Guadiana River Valley and Spain’s Andalusia region in the distance. Enjoy a brief stop in the port of Alcoutim before continuing on a quiet country road along the Guadiana River. Double your mileage and challenge yourself on a hilly, inland loop ride with more scenic views of the Guadiana River.

Cumulative Distance Range: 23 — 44 km (14 – 27 miles)
Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a sumptuous breakfast, enjoy a leisurely reel through the surrounding Algarve countryside with vistas of the sea in the distance. Along the way we will stop to visit the Monterosa olive groves for some olive tasting and learn more about the production of olive oil. Next we cycle to the small Algarve city of Tavira with its medieval castle. Spend time exploring the sites and enjoy lunch in one of the many lively cafés at your leisure. After lunch continue pedaling to the lovely whitewashed village of Cacela-a-Velha, perched on top of a hill with a view to the easternmost lagoon of the Formosa River. The village is home to the Fortaleza de Cacela located on the site of the original castle constructed during the Muslim period. Spend time exploring the village before shuttling to your resort for a late afternoon at leisure, taking advantage of the property’s pools or spa.

This evening, join your fellow travelers and trip leaders to reminisce about your Portugal bike tour and adventures during a fireside farewell reception, followed by a delightful dinner with local wines.

Today’s Ride Choice

Morning: Vila Monte to Cacela a Velha with Monterosa — 41 km (25 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts from our hotel. You will cycle on less-traveled lanes through the Algarve countryside past lovely citrus, olive and avocado groves. There will be some city riding with heavier traffic within the city of Tavira. As we near the Algarve coast you will see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance before arriving at the seaside village of Cacela-a-Velha. Today’s ride is less challenging with slightly rolling hills.

Cumulative Distance Range: 41 km (25 miles)
Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Your morning journey to Cascais will take approximately four hours. You have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to explore this delightful seaside town. Spend tonight at the Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District Hotel, overlooking the marina and Atlantic Ocean. The city is a pleasure to explore by foot. City information is provided with recommendations for transportation options, cafés, museums, and restaurants.

Accommodation: Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District, Cascais
Included Meals: Breakfast

Begin your day with a Portuguese breakfast, and perhaps a sip of coffee at a nearby café.

After breakfast, complimentary transportation to the Lisbon International airport (an approximately 45-60 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Meet your VBT representative at the Pousada de Lisboa at 9:00 a.m. The hotel is located at Praça do Comércio, 31-34, 1100-148 Lisbon and the phone number is +351 21 040 7640 (Alternate hotel – Fontecruz Lisboa Autograph Collection). Please be dressed in your riding attire. If you are so delayed that you will miss the morning transfer from here; we strongly recommend that you take a train to Évora at your own expense. There are direct trains departing from Lisbon’s Estação do Oriente train station and the cost is approximately 13 euros – journey time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. From the Évora train station you may take a taxi (approximately 20 minutes) to your hotel outside of Évora. Cost of the taxi is approximately 20 euros. Please contact the Lisbon hotel to advise them of any travel delays or changes so the staff can pass the message on to your VBT trip leaders.

Your VBT representative will escort you by shuttle (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes) to join your VBT trip leaders. You depart Lisbon via the expansive Vasco de Gama Bridge, the longest bridge in Western Europe, spanning the mighty Tagus River. Heading east, you arrive on the scenic plains of the Alentejo region, known for its stunning vistas and abundant cork and olive groves. Meet your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting and safety session. Afterwards, get to know your fellow travelers over lunch before departing on what is arguably the finest among Portugal bike tours. A warm-up ride traverses this scenic region of rustic farmland and gentle hills, delivering you to your hotel outside of the historic medieval town of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is in the historic Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa. Many important noble figures have met here throughout the centuries to shape Portugal’s history, earning this 15th-century convent a place as a national monument.

This evening, join the hotel’s sommelier in the Convent’s wine cellar to sample some of the region’s wines before enjoying a sumptuous welcome dinner in the historic dining room.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 17 km (10 miles)
Afternoon
Évora Warm-up: 17 km (10 miles)

What to Expect: After meeting your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting, safety session and lunch, you become accustomed to riding your bike on an easy afternoon warm-up ride. The scenic ride on quiet, well-maintained two-lane roads winds through the scenic plains of the Alentejo region with its patchwork of cork and olive groves and stunning vistas. As you near the outskirts of Évora, you pass through neighborhoods before arriving at your hotel.

Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle from your hotel to the whitewashed town of Redondo, home to a 500-year-old Portuguese pottery tradition. From here you begin with a picturesque ride across the plains of Alentejo, following scenic country roads bordered by cork forests. Our destination looms in the distance: hilltop Monsaraz, one of Portugal’s oldest settlements, and its imposing castle. Enthusiastic riders may enjoy the climb into town; the VBT support vehicle will be available to shuttle you from Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz if you need assistance or would like more time to explore Monsaraz.

With its lofty locale, Monsaraz enjoys endless vistas of the Alentejo and neighboring Spain. It has been occupied by various civilizations from Romans, Visigoths and Arabs to Mozarabs, Jews and Christians. As you explore its narrow warrens and admire its whitewashed, red-roofed houses, there’ll be time to marvel at the remarkable view of the Alqueva Dam and the second-largest artificial lake in Europe. Enjoy lunch at a local café before shuttling back to your hotel.

Later, you venture into Évora to meet a local guide for an enriching walking tour of this magnificently preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Stop by the São Francisco Church to view its eerie Chapel of Bones, constructed by 16th-century Franciscan monks. Wandering atmospheric alleyways past old patrician mansions and whitewashed houses with bright yellow trim. Enjoy dinner on your own in Évora this evening.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 37 km (23 miles)
Morning
Redondo to Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz: 37 km (23 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride begins in the town of Redondo, a 45-minute shuttle from your hotel. From Redondo, begin riding towards the hilltop village of Monsaraz. Our ride consists of some short inclines and rolling hills, but the VBT support vehicle will be nearby if you opt to shuttle at any point. At the end of the short option in the town of Aldeia de Venda, our shuttle transfers you to the historic village of Monsaraz, where you have ample time to explore prior to lunch. Today’s long option continues from Aldeia de Pais through the scenic Alentejo countryside and finishes with a challenging 1.5 km (just under a mile) climb into Monsaraz.

Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, shuttle south to the small town of Castro Verde in the lower Alentejo region, or Baixo Alentejo. Today’s rides introduce you to the arid, beautiful landscapes of the Campo Branco, or White Plains territory. As you cycle, you may pass shepherds grazing their herds on wide-open spaces. For lunch, you stop at a typical Portuguese rural café for a farm-fresh meal with warm, welcoming hosts. After, shuttle or ride to the remarkable fortified hilltop town of Mértola and your hotel.

After settling into your accommodations, join a local guide for a fascinating exploration of Mértola. This town’s rich history dates all the way back to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. Its most important remnant from the 500-year Moorish occupation is the medieval mosque, the only mosque from this period to have survived in Portugal. Today it is Mértola’s main church, though it boasts many of its original Moorish features. This evening, dine at your leisure in one of the town’s inviting restaurants.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 45 km (15 – 28 miles)
Morning
Geraldos to Pinilhos: 24 km (15 miles)
Afternoon
Pinilhos to Mértola: 21 km (13 miles)

What to Expect: After a two-hour morning shuttle south, those preferring a leisurely pace will bike from the short-option starting point in Penilhos. Those looking for a longer ride will begin in Geraldos, pedaling into the arid and beautiful landscape of the Campo Branco. The ride across the Campo Branco, or White Plains, is on narrow, paved country roads with very little traffic and mostly level, easy riding, but promises an excellent workout if there is a breeze. All riders will stop to enjoy lunch in a farm café in Sao João dos Caldeiros. Following your meal, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle short-option riders back to the hotel and long option riders will continue onto the main road to Mértola where the traffic increases as we near our destination.

Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, set out directly from your hotel. (Those preferring a shorter option shuttle 15 minutes to the starting point of their ride instead.) Your morning cycling leads you into the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, one of 30 natural areas in Portugal officially protected by the government. Wind your way through small towns of beautifully preserved traditional architecture and coast down to the banks of the Guadiana River. The river’s small port village of Pomarão was specially constructed for nearby mining operations. Here you may straddle the Portugal/Spain border with a foot in each country and half your body in Spain’s later time zone!

Savor lunch in a riverside café overlooking the marina. Then embark a privately chartered boat for a relaxing afternoon on the Guadiana River. Your cruise delivers you right to your hotel dock in Mértola. Those seeking a longer ride and more challenging option after lunch may forfeit the boat excursion and cycle back to the hotel.

This evening, enjoy an al fresco dinner at your hotel overlooking the Guadiana River, weather permitting.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 16 – 44 km (10 – 27 miles)
Morning
Corvos to Pomarao: 16 km (10 miles)
Mértola to Pomarao: 25 km (15 miles)
Afternoon
Pomarao to Hotel Museu (no river cruise): 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Choose the longer ride option from the hotel or shuttle approximately 15 minutes where your trip leaders will have your bikes ready. The morning ride takes you on small paved country roads through the less-traveled Guadiana Valley Natural Park. Although this morning’s ride is shorter than those on other days, you will have some rolling hills to challenge you and a rather steep decline for the last two kilometers to the Guadiana River. The longer ride begins with a steady climb on a national road with some potentially fast-moving traffic and trucks. After lunch, if you opt to ride back to the hotel and forfeit the boat excursion, the ride begins with a challenging two-kilometer climb that will reward you with bragging rights and stunning views. The last five kilometers into Mértola are on a national road that you share with fast-moving traffic and trucks. The VBT support vehicle is available throughout the day.

Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle southward into the Algarve to the Guadiana River. The Guadiana is the fourth longest river on the Iberian Peninsula and serves as the natural border between Spain’s Andalusia region and Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions. Today’s lovely ride traces the scenic banks on the Portugal side while providing stunning views across the river into Spain. Those looking for more mileage today may extend their morning ride, leaving the river behind for a hilly loop ride with more splendid vistas. Your morning on the saddle concludes with a delicious lunch.

After, you shuttle approximately one hour to your lovely accommodations in the Algarve, the Vila Monte Farm House, and settle in to one of its breezy, elegant suites. Enjoy an authentic Algarvian countryside experience, removed from the bustle of coastal resorts and embraced by a distinctly Portuguese beauty and tranquility.

Enjoy delicious regional Algarve cuisine made with the freshest of ingredients during your dinner here this evening.

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 23 – 44 km (14 – 27 miles)
Morning
Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite: 23 km (14 miles)
Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite Loop: 44 km (27 miles)

What to Expect: Our ride in the Algarve follows undulating hills that offer beautiful vistas of the Guadiana River Valley and Spain’s Andalusia region in the distance. Enjoy a brief stop in the port of Alcoutim before continuing on a quiet country road along the Guadiana River. Double your mileage and challenge yourself on a hilly, inland loop ride with more scenic views of the Guadiana River.

Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a sumptuous breakfast, enjoy a leisurely reel through the surrounding Algarve countryside with vistas of the sea in the distance. Along the way we will stop to visit the Monterosa olive groves for some olive tasting and learn more about the production of olive oil. Next we cycle to the small Algarve city of Tavira with its medieval castle. Spend time exploring the sites and enjoy lunch in one of the many lively cafés at your leisure. After lunch continue pedaling to the lovely whitewashed village of Cacela-a-Velha, perched on top of a hill with a view to the easternmost lagoon of the Formosa River. The village is home to the Fortaleza de Cacela located on the site of the original castle constructed during the Muslim period. Spend time exploring the village before shuttling to your resort for a late afternoon at leisure, taking advantage of the property’s pools or spa.

This evening, join your fellow travelers and trip leaders to reminisce about your Portugal bike tour and adventures during a fireside farewell reception, followed by a delightful dinner with local wines.

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 41 km (25 miles)
Morning
Vila Monte to Cacela a Velha with Monterosa: 41 km (25 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts from our hotel. You will cycle on less-traveled lanes through the Algarve countryside past lovely citrus, olive and avocado groves. There will be some city riding with heavier traffic within the city of Tavira. As we near the Algarve coast you will see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance before arriving at the seaside village of Cacela-a-Velha. Today’s ride is less challenging with slightly rolling hills.

Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast before your transfer to Cascais (approximately four hours). Your tour concludes at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District Hotel in Cascais. Taxis are available at the Cascais hotel to take you to central Lisbon hotels, the Lisbon train station, or to the Lisbon airport – approximately 30-45 minutes depending upon traffic.

Important: Flight departures from Lisbon prior to 4:00 p.m. are not recommended. If you depart earlier, you are responsible for your own transfer arrangements from the last hotel in the Algarve to Lisbon’s airport.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Meet your VBT representative at the Pousada de Lisboa at 9:00 a.m. The hotel is located at Praça do Comércio, 31-34, 1100-148 Lisbon and the phone number is +351 21 040 7640. Please be dressed in your riding attire. If you are so delayed that you will miss transportation from here; we strongly recommend that you take a train to Évora at your own expense. There are direct trains departing from Lisbon’s Estação do Oriente train station and the cost is approximately €13 – journey time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. From the Évora train station you may take a taxi (approximately 20 minutes) to your hotel outside of Évora. Cost of the taxi is approximately €20. Please contact the Lisbon hotel to advise them of any travel delays or changes so the staff can pass the message on to your VBT trip leaders.

Your VBT representative will accompany you by shuttle (approximately 1.25 minutes) to join your VBT trip leaders. You depart Lisbon via the expansive Vasco de Gama Bridge, the longest bridge in Western Europe, spanning the mighty Tagus River. Heading east, you arrive on the scenic plains of the Alentejo region, known for its stunning vistas and abundant cork and olive groves. Meet your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting and safety session. Afterwards, get to know your fellow travelers over lunch before departing on what is arguably the finest among Portugal bike tours. A warm-up ride traverses this scenic region of rustic farmland and gentle hills, delivering you to your hotel outside of the historic medieval town of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is in the historic Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa. Many important noble figures have met here throughout the centuries to shape Portugal’s history, earning this 15th-century convent a place as a national monument.

This evening, join the hotel’s sommelier in the Convent’s wine cellar to sample some of the region’s wines before enjoying a sumptuous welcome dinner in the historic dining room.

Today’s Ride Choice

Afternoon: Évora Warm-up — 17 km (10 miles)

What to Expect: After meeting your VBT trip leaders for a bike-fitting, safety session and lunch, you become accustomed to riding your bike on an easy afternoon warm-up ride. The scenic ride on quiet, well-maintained two-lane roads winds through the scenic plains of the Alentejo region with its patchwork of cork and olive groves and stunning vistas. As you near the outskirts of Évora, you pass through neighborhoods before arriving at your hotel.

Cumulative Distance Range: 17 km (10 miles)
Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle from your hotel to the whitewashed town of Redondo, home to a 500-year-old Portuguese pottery tradition. From here you begin with a picturesque ride across the plains of Alentejo, following scenic country roads bordered by cork forests. Our destination looms in the distance: hilltop Monsaraz, one of Portugal’s oldest settlements, and its imposing castle. Enthusiastic riders may enjoy the climb into town; the VBT support vehicle will be available to shuttle you from Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz if you need assistance or would like more time to explore Monsaraz.

With its lofty locale, Monsaraz enjoys endless vistas of the Alentejo and neighboring Spain. It has been occupied by various civilizations from Romans, Visigoths and Arabs to Mozarabs, Jews and Christians. As you explore its narrow warrens and admire its whitewashed, red-roofed houses, there’ll be time to marvel at the remarkable view of the Alqueva Dam and the second-largest artificial lake in Europe. Enjoy lunch at a local café before shuttling back to your hotel.

Later, you venture into Évora to meet a local guide for an enriching walking tour of this magnificently preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Stop by the São Francisco Church to view its eerie Chapel of Bones, constructed by 16th-century Franciscan monks. Wandering atmospheric alleyways past old patrician mansions and whitewashed houses with bright yellow trim. Enjoy dinner on your own in Évora this evening.

Today’s Ride Choice

Morning: Redondo to Aldeia de Venda to Monsaraz — 37 km (23 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride begins in the town of Redondo, a 45-minute shuttle from your hotel. From Redondo, begin riding towards the hilltop village of Monsaraz. Our ride consists of some short inclines and rolling hills, but the VBT support vehicle will be nearby if you opt to shuttle at any point. At the end of the short option in the town of Aldeia de Venda, our shuttle provides transportation to the historic village of Monsaraz, where you have ample time to explore prior to lunch. Today’s long option continues from Aldeia de Pais through the scenic Alentejo countryside and finishes with a challenging 1.5 km (just under a mile) climb into Monsaraz.

Cumulative Distance Range: 37 km (23 miles)
Accommodation: Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa, Évora
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, shuttle south to the small town of Castro Verde in the lower Alentejo region, or Baixo Alentejo. Today’s rides introduce you to the arid, beautiful landscapes of the Campo Branco, or White Plains territory. As you cycle, you may pass shepherds grazing their herds on wide-open spaces. For lunch, you stop at a typical Portuguese rural café for a farm-fresh meal with warm, welcoming hosts. After, shuttle or ride to the remarkable fortified hilltop town of Mértola and your hotel.

After settling into your accommodations, join a local guide for a fascinating exploration of Mértola. This town’s rich history dates all the way back to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. Its most important remnant from the 500-year Moorish occupation is the medieval mosque, the only mosque from this period to have survived in Portugal. Today it is Mértola’s main church, though it boasts many of its original Moorish features. This evening, dine at your leisure in one of the town’s inviting restaurants.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Geraldos to Pinilhos — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Pinilhos to Mértola — 21 km (13 miles)

What to Expect: After a two-hour morning shuttle south, those preferring a leisurely pace will bike from the short-option starting point in Penilhos. Those looking for a longer ride will begin in Geraldos, pedaling into the arid and beautiful landscape of the Campo Branco. The ride across the Campo Branco, or White Plains, is on narrow, paved country roads with very little traffic and mostly level, easy riding, but promises an excellent workout if there is a breeze. All riders will stop to enjoy lunch in a farm café in Sao João dos Caldeiros. Following your meal, the VBT support vehicle will shuttle short-option riders back to the hotel and long option riders will continue onto the main road to Mértola where the traffic increases as we near our destination.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 — 45 km (15 – 28 miles)
Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, set out directly from your hotel. (Those preferring a shorter option shuttle 15 minutes to the starting point of their ride instead.) Your morning cycling leads you into the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, one of 30 natural areas in Portugal officially protected by the government. Wind your way through small towns of beautifully preserved traditional architecture and coast down to the banks of the Guadiana River. The river’s small port village of Pomarão was specially constructed for nearby mining operations. Here you may straddle the Portugal/Spain border with a foot in each country and half your body in Spain’s later time zone!

Savor lunch in a riverside café overlooking the marina. Then embark a privately chartered boat for a relaxing afternoon on the Guadiana River. Your cruise delivers you right to your hotel dock in Mértola. Those seeking a longer ride and more challenging option after lunch may forfeit the boat excursion and cycle back to the hotel.

This evening, enjoy an al fresco dinner at your hotel overlooking the Guadiana River, weather permitting.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Corvos to Pomarao — 16 km (10 miles) | Mértola to Pomarao — 25 km (15 miles)
Afternoon: Pomarao to Hotel Museu (no river cruise) — 20 km (12 miles)

What to Expect: Choose the longer ride option from the hotel or shuttle approximately 15 minutes where your trip leaders will have your bikes ready. The morning ride takes you on small paved country roads through the less-traveled Guadiana Valley Natural Park. Although this morning’s ride is shorter than those on other days, you will have some rolling hills to challenge you and a rather steep decline for the last two kilometers to the Guadiana River. The longer ride begins with a steady climb on a national road with some potentially fast-moving traffic and trucks. After lunch, if you opt to ride back to the hotel and forfeit the boat excursion, the ride begins with a challenging two-kilometer climb that will reward you with bragging rights and stunning views. The last five kilometers into Mértola are on a national road that you share with fast-moving traffic and trucks. The VBT support vehicle is available throughout the day.

Cumulative Distance Range: 16 — 44 km (10 – 27 miles)
Accommodation: Hotel Museu, Mértola
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, shuttle southward into the Algarve to the Guadiana River. The Guadiana is the fourth longest river on the Iberian Peninsula and serves as the natural border between Spain’s Andalusia region and Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions. Today’s lovely ride traces the scenic banks on the Portugal side while providing stunning views across the river into Spain. Those looking for more mileage today may extend their morning ride, leaving the river behind for a hilly loop ride with more splendid vistas. Your morning on the saddle concludes with a delicious lunch.

After, you shuttle approximately one hour to your lovely accommodations in the Algarve, the Vila Monte Farm House, and settle in to one of its breezy, elegant suites. Enjoy an authentic Algarvian countryside experience, removed from the bustle of coastal resorts and embraced by a distinctly Portuguese beauty and tranquility.

Enjoy delicious regional Algarve cuisine made with the freshest of ingredients during your dinner here this evening.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite — 23 km (14 miles) | Corte Tabelão to Foz de Odeleite Loop — 44 km (27 miles)

What to Expect: Our ride in the Algarve follows undulating hills that offer beautiful vistas of the Guadiana River Valley and Spain’s Andalusia region in the distance. Enjoy a brief stop in the port of Alcoutim before continuing on a quiet country road along the Guadiana River. Double your mileage and challenge yourself on a hilly, inland loop ride with more scenic views of the Guadiana River.

Cumulative Distance Range: 23 — 44 km (14 – 27 miles)
Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a sumptuous breakfast, enjoy a leisurely reel through the surrounding Algarve countryside with vistas of the sea in the distance. Along the way we will stop to visit the Monterosa olive groves for some olive tasting and learn more about the production of olive oil. Next we cycle to the small Algarve city of Tavira with its medieval castle. Spend time exploring the sites and enjoy lunch in one of the many lively cafés at your leisure. After lunch continue pedaling to the lovely whitewashed village of Cacela-a-Velha, perched on top of a hill with a view to the easternmost lagoon of the Formosa River. The village is home to the Fortaleza de Cacela located on the site of the original castle constructed during the Muslim period. Spend time exploring the village before shuttling to your resort for a late afternoon at leisure, taking advantage of the property’s pools or spa.

This evening, join your fellow travelers and trip leaders to reminisce about your Portugal bike tour and adventures during a fireside farewell reception, followed by a delightful dinner with local wines.

Today’s Ride Choice

Morning: Vila Monte to Cacela a Velha with Monterosa — 41 km (25 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s ride starts from our hotel. You will cycle on less-traveled lanes through the Algarve countryside past lovely citrus, olive and avocado groves. There will be some city riding with heavier traffic within the city of Tavira. As we near the Algarve coast you will see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance before arriving at the seaside village of Cacela-a-Velha. Today’s ride is less challenging with slightly rolling hills.

Cumulative Distance Range: 41 km (25 miles)
Accommodation: Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast before your drive to Cascais (approximately four hours). Your tour concludes at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Cidadela Cascais Pousada & Art District Hotel in Cascais. Taxis are available at the Cascais hotel to take you to central Lisbon hotels, the Lisbon train station, or to the Lisbon airport – approximately 30-45 minutes depending upon traffic.

Included Meals: Breakfast