Bem vindo a Portugal!

You will be met at Faro airport, for a transfer with your luggage to Loulé, a 20 minute drive away. Loulé is a typical Portuguese town with a great vibe in the centre of the Algarve.

If you have booked bike hire, we will ensure that these are set up for you at your hotel. On the first day you might have the time for an easy afternoon spin to check the bikes and discover the area before enjoying a meal in town in one of the many great restaurants Loulé has to offer.

This beautiful hotel is perfectly situated on a quiet square in the centre of town. The interior is airy and green, and the rooftop pool is a real highlight.

Restaurant in town - TBC

Today you will immediately  feel the spirit of the Alentejo – beautiful small villages of white and blue, typical Alentejano cows in the fields, and that hot, peaceful atmosphere. The riding will consist of around 20% gravel, the rest very small back roads.

Mertola, situated near the Spanish border, is a sight to behold. A fortified town overlooking the Rio Guardiana. Make some time in the evening to wander around the historic streets and visit the castle.

Duration

110km, 2232m+

44km - Alcaria do Cume

83km - Pereiro

This modern hotel enjoys sweeping views of the Gaudiana River, which you can soak up from the pool on the terrace. Next to the reception is a archeological museum!

Its also just a 5 minute walk to the historic centre of Mertola, with its medeival mosque.

Local restaurant - TBC

This day you will cycle north, through the typical Alentejo landscape with miles of fabulous gravel tracks. The day will begin with a climb away from Mertola, and finish by crossing the largest reservoir in Portugal – Alqueva. The sparse population, combined with low air and light pollution makes it a paradise for stargazers. You will finish at one of my personal favourite places in Portugal – the magical Monsaraz, a fortified hilltop town overlooking the Alentejo landscape below.

Duration

128km, 1675m+

46km - Aldeia do Pinto

78km - Mourao

63km - Pias

This gorgeous, traditional guesthouse is the perfect place to enjoy Monsaraz. It retains all its Alentejo character, with all its crooked walls and wooden beams.

Local restaurant - TBC

From Monsaraz you will cycle through ancient olive groves and neolithic menhirs, before joining the edge of the Alqueva reservoir on easy rolling gravel.

Vidigueira is famous for its vineyards – we highly recommend you make the most of this wine region by sampling some of the local produce!

Duration

80km, 918m+

22km - Campinho

35km - Ameira

50km - Alqueva

This charming Portuguese hotel in the centre of town offers very comfortable rooms and super-friendly staff, along with a courtyard of orange trees, and private terraces for each room.

TBC

Today’s riding will consist of some really typical Alentejo riding – small white and blue villages (especially Torrão and Alcácovas) and finish in the flat rice fields near Alcácer do Sal.

Duration

94km, 899m+

22km - Alvito

35km - Torrão

50km - Alcáçovas

Situated within the castle walls, staying here is a truly unique experience. The original features, hilltop location and majestic views create a wonderful ambience. Rooms are spacious and the service excellent.

Local restaurant

Today you will ride to the other side of Portugal, and the Atlantic coast. Here you will get a taste of the coastal life  great seafood, fishing villages and rugged cliffs overlooking the sea. The coastline is spectacular and very unspoilt – and perfect for exploring on a gravel bike as many paths next to the coast are not paved.

Duration

130km, 976m+

36km - Comporta 36km

87km - Santiago de Caçem

113km - Porto Covo

With bright and vibrant decor, Milfontes Beach Hotel is stylish and comfortable. It overlooks the estuary, so you might catch a beautiful sunset! Each room comes with a private terrace.

TBC

From Vila Nova de Milfontes the route switches between gravel tracks and small roads through the small coastal villages to Cabo Sardão. Here begins a truly spectacular cliff-top path that looks over the Atlantic below.

After this, you will follow the winding Seixe river valley until a long and winding ascent through the eucalyptus forests of the Serra do Monchique. If you have time, you can cycle right to the very highest point, at 900m! The accommodation we have for this night is truly stunning, right amongst the cork oak trees of the ‘Serra de Monchique’ with amazing views.

Duration

88km, 1326m+

32km - Zambujeira do Mar

48km - Odeceixe

This eco-friendly bed-and-breakfast makes for a very memorable stay. The mountain-top setting is sublime, the staff are wonderful and the homemade breakfast bufffet will keep you coming back for more!

TBC

Your final day of cycling will take you back into the Algarve countryside, along small roads and tracks to the historic fortified town of Silves. After a bite of lunch here by the river, we will make our way through the orange groves and avocado fields to Alte and a mandatory stop for a celebratory beer at our local bike café, Germano!

Duration

78km, 706m+

16km - Rasmalho

31km - Silves

62km - Paderne

This boutique guesthouse is stylish and luxuriously comfortable. An evening in the hot tub as the sun sets over the whitewashed walls of the village is one you will not forget!

TBC

We will be sad to see you leave!

We will take you to Faro Airport in time for your flight.

Até a proxima...

Temperatures in the Alentejo during the summer can be very hot. We recommend doing this tour in Spring or Autumn where temperatures are between 25-30 degrees celcius, but Winter can also be fabulous and very quiet too. Southern Portugal is exposed to the Atlantic weather, so expect some wind too, especially on day 5 as we make our way down the west coast!

This trip suits strong riders who are used to riding back to back long days and being in the saddle for up to 6hrs at a time. Each day will consist of between 30-50% gravel track sections (imagine a 4x4 gravel track suitable for vehicles as well) and the rest small quiet tarmac roads.

There might be the odd technical section or river crossing at certain times of year, but I have done my very best to ensure there is no hike-a-bike in this tour!

Evening meals are not included in this trip, but we will recommend restaurants for you to enjoy.

We support small, local cafes and restaurants, and we recommend eating where you can ‘how the locals do’. The food in interior Portugal is often more simple than on the Algarve coast, with menus regularly changing with the region and season.

All dietary requirements will be happily catered for – just let us know what you require, or what your likes or dislikes are.

If you book a self-guided tour, we are always on the end of the phone. This means that if you need mechanical support, want to change a booking, or anything else which may crop up on the road, our friendly (bilingual!) team are here to help.

Please note that due to availability, accommodation may vary from the hotels listed above.

Depending on your group size, we may be able to offer you a choice of hotels. Where possible we will do our best to accommodate you in small, traditional hotels and guesthouses where you will enjoy a truly unique experience each night.

• Bike*

• Inner tube, hand pump, levers, multitool*

• Pedals

• Helmet

• Cycling shoes

• Powermeter/Di2/Sram batteries/Garmin chargers as appropriate*

• Sunglasses (including clear lenses if you have them)

• Cycling gloves (depending on season)

• Cycling rain jacket

• Saddle (All of our hire bikes are equipped with a saddle, of course. However, we recommend that you bring your own if it is comfortable for you rather than spending a week sitting on a saddle that may not be suitable for you.)

• Suitcase (see below)

• Bib shorts, jersey, gilet, socks- minimum 4 sets.

• Arm/leg warmers

• Rain/wind vest

• Base-layer (depending on season)

• Chamois Cream

• Rear bike light + chargers

• Water bottles x 2 (we have bottles available to purchase).

• Garmin/Wahoo and mount

• Energy bars/snacks that you particularly like!

• Regular clothes and light jacket or jumper for evening

• Swimsuit (many of the hotels have pools or spa)

• Evening shoes / sandals

• Passport (Check expiry date)

• Travel Insurance

• Sun protection

• USB charger

• First aid kit

• Toiletries

• Cellphone and charger

• Id or passport

• Credit/debit card

• Medications and prescriptions

• Power adapter

• Ear plugs / eye mask

• Powerbank

• Airport transfers from Faro

• 8 nights accommodation in handpicked, bike-friendly hotels

• Buffet breakfast each day

• Restaurant reservations each evening

• Detailed route planning (suited to group), GPX files given in advance plus itinerary

• Large luggage storage (bike boxes for example) throughout

• Civil Liability Insurance

• Telephone support whenever you should need it.

• 5 star Service – our promise

• Dinner, lunch and coffees bought at cafes en route.

• Flights

• Transfers from airports other than Faro

• Other costs not listed above

• Luggage transfers + mechanical support vehicle (€360/group per riding day)

• Luggage transfers (€150/group per riding day for groups up to 5)

• Luggage transfers (€200/group per riding day for groups 6+)

• Guide (€260 per guide per riding day)

We have a range of rental bikes to suit different styles and budgets, including e-bikes. Below are a few examples. For full details and prices, see our website.

• Megamo. SRAM APEX AXS. 12 speed.

• Megamo. SRAM Apex Eagle. 12 speed.

• Megamo Lande Premium e-Gravel. Bosch Performance Line.

• Megamo e-Gravel. Bosch 600wh.

Our bike rental partners are scaled to support large group, of 40+ riders.

Paradise Cycling Tours Unipessoal LDA

Bairro da Boavista 6
8100-016 Alte
Portugal
NIPC 517913704
RNVAT 11760

Contact:
Fiona Hunter Johnston +351 931325694

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