An ancient land experiencing a renaissance. Rich in history and Mediterranean beauty. Linger in stylish Lisbon. Cool coastal breezes. A hot new restaurant scene. Ride through peaceful Alentejo. Whitewashed villages and Moorish palaces. Olive groves and vineyards. Escape the crowds and explore southern Portugal's paradise. You too will be transformed.
Day 1 Discover the allure of Lisbon, where old-world charm meets cosmopolitan culture | Bike through picturesque Mediterranean countryside at the heart of southern Portugal | Enjoy a quiet landscape peppered with olive and cork trees | Admire endless vineyards and taste exquisite wines | Relish a Michelin-starred dinner and luxury accommodations in beautiful Montemor-o-Novo.
Days 2-3 Visit a traditional family-run herdade (farmhouse) for a lunch from the garden | Tour the vineyards of an estate in Portugal's wine country | Explore medieval Évora, a World Heritage site and a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.
Day 4 Majestic castle ruins and white-washed villages with terra-cotta roofs are just part of today's scenery | Relax at Casa Agrícola winery and enjoy a picnic lunch amid a sea of olive groves | Take in the views from the village of Monsaraz.
Days 5-6 Learn about the production of terra-cotta in Corval, Portugal's pottery capital | Up for a challenge? Tackle the climb up to Monsaraz with sweeping views of Alqueva Dam, Europe's largest man-made lake | Savor the flavors of the region at our farewell dinner.
Portugal is one of my favorite destinations. It's incredibly beautiful and welcoming yet feels so authentic and undiscovered. The landscape, Old World villages and long sunny days make for excellent biking and fascinating stopovers. And I love the mix of hotels here—from a working farm to a modern design boutique hotel, you really get a full sense of Portuguese culture and style. The region is changing quickly, but maintains this incredible sense of history and character. Lisbon and the Alentejo countryside have captivated me, and I think you'll feel the same way!- Berkeley, CA
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Surrounded by vineyards and a sparkling lake, this Small Luxury Hotels of the World resort is an extraordinary escape that blends modern design with elegance and simplicity. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Located in the heart of Évora's World Heritage-designated town center, this boutique hotel is housed in a historic building styled with chic contemporary details. (pool, spa)
A luxuriously restored 200-year-old agrarian estate that offers stylish rooms, rustic charm, lush gardens and farm-to-table dining. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Reviewed by 1 customer
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Comments about Portugal Bike Tour:
Portugal is one of my favorite destinations. It's incredibly beautiful and welcoming yet feels so authentic and undiscovered. The landscape, Old World villages and long sunny days make for excellent biking and fascinating stopovers. And I love the mix of hotels here—from a working farm to a modern design boutique hotel, you really get a full sense of Portuguese culture and style. The region is changing quickly, but maintains this incredible sense of history and character. Lisbon and the Alentejo countryside have captivated me, and I think you'll feel the same way!
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 15 | 900 | 28 | 1500 | ||||||
| 2 | 23* | 1400 | 36 | 2300 | 43 | 2900 | ||||
| 3 | 24* | 1200 | 29* | 1500 | 48 | 2300 | ||||
| Walking Tour of Évora (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 23* | 900 | 37 | 1400 | ||||||
| 5 | 21* | 1200 | 26* | 1200 | 44 | 2400 | ||||
| 6 | 15 | 700 | 27 | 1200 | ||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
We design and support our Portugal trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
On our Portugal trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Portugal. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings Portugal has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Portugal—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
