Relaxed Alentejo Cycling Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Évora
You will arrive in Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and settle into a restored convent. The afternoon is yours: relax by the pool, enjoy the spa or wander the picturesque streets, before a welcome drink and briefing.

Day 2: The Wine and Cork Route, Évora round trip (52 or 70 km; +290 m)
You will ride toward Igrejinha, one of the most picturesque villages in the Alentejo, with bright white houses painted with colorful stripes, through peaceful countryside where you will hardly meet any cars. The day is rich in local producers: Fita Preta winery, set in a 14th-century palace, the family estates of Comenda and Coelheiros, a prickly pear plantation and a farm of aromatic herbs, teas, honey and olive oil. At the cork factory you will discover how cork is harvested, sorted and transformed. The round route is 70 km; with a morning transfer it is 52 km.

Day 3: The Megalithic Route around Évora (52 km; +450 m)
You will explore Évora, with the Bones Chapel and its 13th-century cathedral, and enjoy a wine tasting at the Ervideira Wine Shop. Then you will ride through holm oak forests and open meadows with grazing cattle to some of Europe's most impressive megalithic sites: Zambujeiros' Dolmen, the Almendres Cromelech and Menhir, and Mitras' Church. The terrain is flat with some dirt roads and one more demanding climb.

Day 4: Évora – Monsaraz (69 km; +300 m)
A peaceful cycling lane will take you through the quiet countryside to Nossa Srª de Machede, where a local leather artisan works, and on to Valongo Castle, rich with Roman history. Wine lovers can stop at Adega José de Sousa, where wine is aged in clay pots, before São Pedro do Corval, the capital village of pottery. Secondary roads lead to the final climb up to Monsaraz and its castle, where you will spend two nights.

Day 5: Monsaraz loop (40 to 65 km; +460 m)
The ride stays close to the Spanish border. You will visit the pottery community of São Pedro do Corval, the Menir da Bulhoa and Outeiro and the Cromeleque of Xerez, and enjoy a relaxing lunch by Alqueva Lake. In the afternoon you will cycle back up to the hilltop fortified village, in time to watch the sunset.

Day 6: Monsaraz – Vila Viçosa (60 km; +535 m)
You will ride to Vila Viçosa, the marble capital of Portugal, where the so-called "white gold" shapes the landscape. After a picnic lunch you will visit the fortified sanctuary and castle of Terena and see the distinctively colored lagoons, before reaching your accommodation in a historic convent with a swimming pool.

Day 7: The Marble Route, Vila Viçosa – Estremoz (46 km; +340 m)
An easy ride from tavern to tavern will leave time to sample local snacks and to visit the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, the marble museum and the village of Borba. Through vineyards and marble quarries you will reach Estremoz, where you can climb the castle's marble tower for wide views.

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast your relaxed Alentejo journey comes to an end. A transfer to the airport can be booked as a supplement.