BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Biking in Portugal: Serras & Sea

The route passes through some of the most beautiful and beloved towns in Portugal. The hand-hewn granite walls of Marvão and Elvas, originally built as defensive fortifications, remain as artistic masterpieces. Castelo de Vide captivates with its winding cobbled streets, Renaissance fountains, and ancient Judiaria. Roman ruins peek out between majestic rows of cypress in Miróbriga. Arronches and Alvito are perfectly-preserved white villages of Gothic arches and Manueline bell towers; Moura and Mourão reveal Moorish traces; tiny Monsaraz rules from its mountaintop perch. Along the coast, sparkling white fishing villages are trimmed in yellow and blue, reflecting the hues of the sun and sea.

One-of-a-kind accommodations include the 15th-century Moorish castle of Alvito, a gracious country quinta, and an elegant pousada overlooking the cliffs of Sagres. The cuisine along the way offers the best of both the heartland and the coast, with specialties such as açorda à Alentejana, a rich garlic and cilantro-infused soup; ensopado de Borrego, a traditional lamb stew; and arroz de mariscos, a rice dish brimming with seafood delicacies. No Portuguese repast is complete without vinho, and the Alentejo region has gained international recognition for its vintages — perfect for toasting both serras and sea.

Tour Details

Day 1:
Morning transfer from Lisbon Airport to Marvão, a medieval mountain village perched high above the Spanish border. A warm-up ride begins with a three-mile descent to Castelo de Vide; return through picturesque olive groves and dramatic granite outcroppings. (9 or 21 mi.)

Day 2:
Pedal through rolling hills of oak and chestnut forest in the Serra de São Mamede Nature Park. Brake for panoramic castle views in tiny Alegrete, prehistoric cave paintings in Esperança, and the quadruple-tiered Aqueducto de Amoreira. The long option crosses the border into Spain. Your historic inn is built into the walls of the Old Quarter of Elvas. (51, 62, or 66 mi.)

Day 3:
A four-castle day! A ridgetop route leads to royal Vila Viçosa, where the castle of Dom Dinis presides over broad avenues lined with orange trees. Continue past the region’s famed vineyards, marble quarries, and the castle of Terena, with a longer option to the pottery center of São Pedro do Corval. Olive groves and cactus line our ascent to Monsaraz, a walled village also known as “Ninho das Aguias” (“Eagles’ Nest”) for its dramatic location. (53 or 60 mi.)

Day 4:
Cross the Alqueva Reservoir, the largest in Europe, en route to the embattled castle ruins of Mourão and winding Moorish streets in Moura. Overnight at the Castelo de Alvito. (73 mi.)

Day 5:
Rolling plains of cork and olive groves give way to coastal pines as you approach the Atlantic. A final climb over the Serra de Grândola leads to your first glimpse of the sea and a celebratory ocean dip. Overnight in Santiago do Cacém, whose Moorish past can be sensed in its steep winding streets and impressive castle walls overlooking the Serra. (63 or 69 mi.)

Day 6:
Morning visit to the Roman ruins of Miróbriga. Afternoon coastal ride reveals ever-changing Atlantic views: the pretty village of Porto Covo, dramatic strata formations at Cabo Sardão, and the beach dunes of Almograve and Zambujeira do Mar. (59 mi.)

Day 7:
Coast to the land’s end at Cabo de São Vincente, where Prince Henry founded his 15th-century navigational school. Additional options loop to high cliffs at Ponta da Atalaia, or an extreme add-on across the Serra de Monchique! Two-night stay at the Pousada do Infante in Sagres, where every room has a balcony with an ocean view. (53, 63, or 103 mi.)

Day 8:
Free day on the Algarve coast for shopping, beachcombing, or a boat trip through the sea grottoes. An optional ride visits Salema and the historic city of Lagos. Farewell dinner celebration. (0, 23, or 31 mi.)

Day 9:
Transfer to Lisbon Airport for early afternoon flights.