Overview

Welcome to Portugal! After a two-hour shuttle ride, you'll arrive at your luxurious retreat in the Alentejo Region. Enjoy a light lunch on the hotel terrace, featuring local specialties such as soft, light sheep cheeses and black ham. Your guides will fit and familiarize you with your Trek bike, and provide riding tips before embarking on your first adventure through the Alentejo countryside. As you head south, you'll pass through the charming village of Alandroal, where you can admire the beautiful oleander flowers, shrubs, and trees that have been used as motifs by local artisans. In the evening, you'll gather for a welcome drink of rich Alentejo wines before enjoying dinner at our guide's favorite restaurant. This restaurant offers a contemporary take on classic Portuguese dishes, using locally sourced ingredients to create a unique and hospitable culinary experience.

Overview

Today you'll peer out over the Alentejo plains of twisted cork trees, fields of wheat, and olive trees as you ride to a rural estate whose land has been dedicated to cork oak forestry for five generations. Following a delicious lunch with all your favourite Portuguese flavors, you'll join our local guide, Joana, who will explain all the details of cork extraction. Raised in the area, she has an insider's perspective and passion for the land and the people. While cruising in a jeep into the surrounding hills and forest, she will share with us all that she knows about this important and fascinating renewable resource that historically has been a huge part of the economy in this region. After our cork forest visit, we'll shuttle back to Vila Viçosa to enjoy some down time in the afternoon. This evening you can explore the town and enjoy dinner of your choice.

Overview

Begin your day cycling to Redondo for a visit to a pottery shop, where traditional wheel-thrown and hand-painted wares highlight the region’s craftsmanship. From here, continue on to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for an expert-led walking tour with our local guide. Discover the impressive 16th-century aqueduct, a 1st-century Roman temple, and the fascinating bone chapel, an impactful highlight of the tour. After enjoying lunch on your own, take time to explore Évora’s charming cobbled streets and narrow houses. Later, we’ll shuttle back to the hotel for some down time before heading to Estremoz. This evening, experience Alentejo cuisine at Casa do Gadanha, where chef Michele combines tradition with a contemporary twist. Savor several courses paired with celebrated local wines—a perfect way to enjoy the evening with new friends.

Overview

After breakfast and your daily route talk, set out on one of the week’s most scenic rides, passing small towns, olive groves, and rivers along the Spanish border before a climb to the charming hilltop village of Monsaraz. With its whitewashed walls, cobbled streets, and many artisanal shops, Monsaraz is a perfect stop for exploring or picking up a keepsake. Visit the town’s castle for stunning views over the Alentejo and beyond. Lunch awaits at the locals' (and guide’s) favorite, Taverna Os Templarios, where you’ll enjoy fresh Portuguese cuisine and a terrace with views across the Guadiana River to Spain. Afterward, shuttle back to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon—perhaps a luxurious spa treatment at the Stone Spa or a quiet afternoon by the pool. This evening, we’ll gather for dinner at Primavera, the hotel’s restaurant, to enjoy traditional Alentejo cuisine in an inviting outdoor setting.

Overview

Today, you’ll ride along quiet country roads lined with vineyards to the charming village of Juromenha, overlooking the border of Spain and Portugal and historically a significant defensive position. The fortress here stands as a proud symbol of the area’s rich past. After taking in the views, shuttle back to Vila Viçosa for a relaxed lunch on your own, or choose to ride back for extra miles. This afternoon, unwind by the pool or join an optional guided tour of one of the region’s impressive marble quarries with our friend Luis. This evening, we’ll shuttle to a quinta, a former palace built by King João V for his beloved Dona Maria, where you’ll stroll through lavish gardens and 18th-century tile-adorned rooms on your way to the dining room. Our gracious host Isabel will share her passion for Portuguese history as you sample the estate’s finest wines and savor a thoughtfully prepared meal. This elegant evening will be a memorable highlight, offering a true taste of Portugal’s rich heritage.

Overview

It’s sadly time to bid farewell today. Join your guides for a last spin or enjoy a leisurely breakfast and relax morning by the hotel pool. A private Trek Travel shuttle will depart from the hotel at 11:00 AM. You’ll say farewell to your guides before the two-hour shuttle to the Lisbon Portola Airport to arrive around 1:00 PM (with a second drop off option downtown). Please do not schedule a flight out before 3:00 PM on the last day of the trip to allow plenty of time for any unforeseen delays.