From 990€/per person
Trip to Portugal
Mountain Bike Tours: Alentejo and Costa Vicentina
A Mountain Bike trip in Portugal that runs from Lisbon through the whole of the Alentejo to Sagres, passing among the most beautiful European beaches, coastal villages and verdant mountains.
From the Portugals capital Lisbon to Lagos at the Western Algarve: A journey to remote beaches, through picturesque villages and a unique nature.
Lisbon to Lagos might be the most classic of all bike journeys through Portugal. And there’s a reason why. The views from the cliffs, the paths along the coast, Mediterranean climate and the quickly changing ecosystems and landscapes provide perfect conditions for bike touring.
Over the last 10 years Simon , our guide, cycled the way from Lisbon to Lagos at least yearly, most years more than once, most times on a different way. The result are two routes for different fitness levels, always keeping in mind the balance between costs and benefits of every effort we do or don’t on the way.
With many off road sections, some deeper sand roads and stages with an average of 65km this is journey recommended to intermediate cyclists or ambitious beginners with good base condition. On both options, but specially on the longer one safe cycling, even on more difficult terrain is required.
Total distance: 340 – 390 km (Ø 55km)
Total elevation gain: 3400 – 3800m (Ø 520m)
Start day: Saturday
Duration: 9 day tours (Sunday – Saturday)
Duration: 8 nights (2 Guesthouses, 5 Glampings)
Min. Participants: 2 guests guided
1 guest self guided or individual
Requirements: good base conditions safe bike handling, off-road cycling (no mountain bike skills needed)
Target Group: intermediate cyclists or ambitious beginners with good base condition
DURATION
9 days / 8 nights
On request you can extend or shorten the schedule of the bike trip in Portugal.
TYPE OF TRAVEL
Mountain bike trip (7 days – moderate) with luggage transport and English accompaniment by Simon Angerer, local guide.
SUITABLE FOR
Mountain bikers of all levels in good health, trained and with a spirit of adaptation.
RECOMMENDED PERIOD
April to November
PRIVATE TRAVEL
Mountain biking in Portugal can be arranged as Guided Tour, for private groups of 2 or more people,
or for 1person as a Self-Guide Tour or Individual Tour (without the baggage transfer)
Contact us to receive a personalized quote.
GROUP TRIP
For pre-established or accompanying groups (hiking guides, mountain guides, etc.) we can organize the trip with itinerary and bespoke services.
Contact us to receive a personalized quote.
NEXT GROUP TRIP
GUIDED TOURS:
10/04/2021; 8/05/2021; 5/06/2021; 3/07/2021; 31/07/2021; 28/08/2021; 25/09/2021; 23/10/2021;
SELF-GUIDED TOURS:
27/03/2021; 10/04/2021; 24/04/2021; 8/05/2021; 22/05/2021; 5/06/2021; 19/06/2021; 3/07/2021; 17/07/2021; 31/07/2021; 14/08/2021; 28/08/2021; 11/09/2021; 25/09/2021; 9/10/2021; 23/10/2021; 6/11/2021;
INDIVIDUALS
Daily available
Highlights
- A spectacular mountain bike tour in Portugal to discover the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast.
- Discovering the Alentejo, among endless plains, ancient fortified villages and castles and vast olive groves.
- Taste the scents and flavors of Portugal: from herbs to fish and seafood and other regional specialties to combine with excellent local wines. In Alentejo you live to the rhythm of the earth.
- The Costa Vicentina Nature Park: discover the unspoiled, lush and wild nature that manifests itself in fascinating landscapes.
- With the accompaniment of an expert local mountain-bike guide, to conquer the most impressive routes in the region.
- Ability to tailor the program of the mountain bike tour in Portugal, with other activities or visits.
PROGRAM – MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIP IN PORTUGAL
1th day : Arrival in Lisbon
2th giorno : Lisboa – Parco Naturale Serra da Arrabida – Setubal
3th giorno : Setubal – penisola di Troia – Alcacer do Sal- Comporta
4th giorno : Comporta – Santiago do Cacém – Porto Covo – Ilha do Pessegueiro
5th giorno : Ilha do Pessegueiro – Parco Nazionale Costa Vicentina – Cabo Sardão- Zambujeira do Mar- Carvalhal
6th giorno : Carvalhal – Odeceixe – Amoreira – Aljezur – Arrifana
7th giorno : Arrifana -Carrapateira – Cabo São Vicente – Ponte da Piedade – Vila do Bispo – BUdens
8th giorno : Budens- Barranco- Ponta da Piedade – Lagos
9th Departures from Lagos
BEGINNING AND FINISH
We will welcome you Saturday evening at your hotel in Lisbon. We adjust your bike for you and clarify all final details to be ready to start the next morning.
Our time together ends Saturday afternoon with your arrival in Lagos. Your bike will be picked up from your hotel in Lagos, which is booked for the night from Saturday to Sunday in Lagos.
BIKES
the price includes modern 29” mountain bikes with a comfortable touring set up Equipped with details just as a rear rack, bell, ergonomic grips, lifted handlebars, bottle holder, integrated lock and many more.
E-Bikes are available on request.
PERSONAL TRANSFERS
During the bike ride from Lisbon to Lagos we will need 2 ferry crossings and 1 train ride. The tickets for this are included and you will receive the tickets together with your bike.
Airport transfers or any other transfers before or after our travel is explicitly not included.
BAGGAGE TRANSFER
We transfer 2 of your bags daily to your accommodation. Furthermore we can carry more luggage to your final destination on request.
EXPECTED ACCOMMODATIONS
Nature experiences maybe the most existential of a bike trip. This is why we created our unique glamping concept: All the comfort of an hotel with a bed under the stars.
Spacious 4x4m tents, with more than 2m of height, won‘t make you miss the comfort of an hotel. When the windows are open it offers a 360° view, when the windows are closed it‘s fully darkened thanks to the patented BlackOut-System.
This concept helps us to bring you away from the beaten track. We mount our tents in some of the most unique places: Remote winerys, rural farmhouses or campsites high over or directly at the ocean.
Only when we stop in the lively cites of Lisbon and Lagos we opted for hotel stays. Therefore we carefully choose cozy guesthouses in the heart of the town for you to enjoy your trip the most.
Lisbona – Lisbon Calling – twin room
Setubal – Glamping on the River
Comporta – Glamping in a Vineyard and dinner in a vinery
Ilha do Pessegueiro – Glamping in a horse farm
Carvalhal – Glamping in a old farm house
Aljezur- Glamping in a private campsite between the wood and the ocean
Budens – Glamping in an sustainable Rural Tourism
Lagos – Taghostel – twin ou shared room
Guests can stay overnight in higher-class facilities during the MTB trip to Portugal.
Contact us for more information.
FOOD
Many of our accommodations are quite remote in the nature and about two or three kilometers away from the villages. This limits the number of restaurants nearby, but we make sure there is a recommendable local restaurant near.
Only our second stay is so isolated in the wine yards that no restaurant is around. For this day and this night we organized a typical 3-course-menu with meat, fish and vegetarian option. You will also receive breakfast at the wine yard.
All other meals is explicitly not included. Vegetarian diet is possible, but betterto announce in advance to make sure that your hunger can be satisfied everyday
SUPPLEMENTS ON DEMAND
- Individual Acomodation 80€/pp.
- Single Tent Glamping and Camping 170€/pp.
- Single Tent Camping and Camping 120€/pp.
- E-Bike 100€/p.p
- Airport Transfer to Faro 80€/p.p.
- Airport Transfer to Lisbon 120€/p.p.
- Travel insurance
- Tour extension
Tour Plan
1
Day 1-Arrival day: Portugal – Lisbon – Cais do Sodré
Arrival in Lisbon During the first evening we will have dinner and a little get-together, to give you a better impression what you have to expect for the next days. We will have the possibility to do some bike fitting and all early arrivers receive a first impression of Lisbon on a short bike ride though the city.
- Arrival in Lisbon and transfer to the hotel
- Distribution of bicycles for departure of the next day.
- Overnight at Lisbon Calling, Cais do Sodré
2
Day 2 -National Park Serra da Arrabida Lisbon – Setubal
Version A: 43km – 850m elevation gain60% paved roads, 40% unpaved roadsVersion B: 45km – 720m elevation gain60% paved roads, 40% unpaved roads Already from Lisbon is visible the mountain crest of Serra da Arrabida. This Natural Park south of Lisbon is our first stage. By ferry and train we reach Palmela, an historic old town crowned by a massive castle. From here we start north side along the mountain through shady cork forests and wine yards. On a mix out of paved and unpaved side roads we reach the west end of the hill. On a steadily uphill vegetation changes for the dense green bushes of the Natural Park until suddenly the view opens to the endless ocean. This is where our two options divide today. Left we continua uphill on a tough but impressive panorama road almost to the top of Serra da Arrabida with stunning view up to 100km all along the coast. Right we roll down to the famous Praias da Arrabida: Portinho da Arrabida, Praia de Galapos and Praia da Figueirinha. Shortly before we reach Setubal both ways meet each other again on our first campsite directly on the ocean. 3
Day 3- Ecosystem Estuario do Rio Sado Setubal – Alcacer do Sal – Comporta
Version A: 75km – 480m elevation gain60% unpaved roads, 15%sandy roads, 25% asphaltVersion B: 45km – 260m elevation gain30% unpaved roads, 70% asphalt The second day starts with a ferry to cross Rio Sado to the dunes of Troia and the Natural Park Estuario do Rio Sado. The Troia dunes is one of the best preserved areas along the Portuguese coast in terms of sand dunes and native flora. At the peninsula of Troia and along the river delta several rare species are home. Crabs, shells and frogs create a paradise for storks, hawks and ducks and hundreds of species of birds. On dirt roads we cross the fertil rice fields and after the maybe most photographed stilt piers in the world our two routes divide again. The easy version returns to the charming village of Comporta and follows on the road along the coast to our second campsite. The long version follows all the way up to the old trader town at the beginning of the delta. From here we leave Rio Sado and start to head southwards through the wine yards of Comporta. Thematically suitable a remote winery opens the door for us this night. A visit of the winery and distillery and a traditional Portuguese three course menu of your choice round up this day.4
Day 4- Alentejo Countryside Comporta – Porto Covo
Version A: 65km – 860m elevation gain60% asphalt, 35% dirt road, 10% sand roadsVersion A: 70km – 700m elevation gain80% asphalt, 15% dirt road, 5% sand roads The third day leads us along some more and less busy roads to the province town Santiago de Cacem. We should reach Santiago for lunch and can decide again for an easier and a tougher option. Both routes lead us from the hilly region around Santiago de Cacem to an artificial lake near the coast. On the easier option this is a complete day on asphalt and we follow a similar road as as in the morning we continua through cork forests and farms. The tougher option leads us on an unpaved road directly through the pastures of horses, cows and goats. Both routes get back together at the pretty artificial lake Barragem Morgavel. The white dunes around the lake indicate that the coast isn’t far anymore. And so we reach the ocean shortly near the cozy blue-white beach town Porto Covo. Behind Porto Covo is waiting one last uphill for us before our third stage ends at the property of a horse farm in walking distance to the sea near the island Ilha do Pesseguero. 5
Day 5 – Costa Vicentina North Porto Covo – Zambujeira do Mar
51km – 450m elevation gain50% asphalt, 40% easy sand roads, 5% difficult sand roads, 5% cycling lane In Porto Covo we reached the rightly well-known Costa Vicentina. This stage is relatively short and absolutely worth to do, what’s why there is no short option for this day. The morning leads us on dirt and sand and asphalted roads through the typical fruit plantations of the region. After about 20km we reach Vila Nova de Milfontes at the bay of Rio Mira, which may invite for a first stop on this day. Another 10km later we reach the lonesome lighthouse of Cabo Sardao. From here leads a spectacular sand road along the cliffs almost all the way to the coastal town Zambujeiro do Mar. South of Zambujeira our way still leads us down to the beaches of Zambujeira and Carvalhal before we find our next campsite. An old farm house high over the ocean which today offers all touristic comfort without loosing the rural origin.6
Day 6 -Costa Vicentina South Zambujeira do Mar – Arrifana
Version A: 50km – 500m elevation gain50% asphalt, 25% unpaved roads, 15% sand roads, 10% flat single trailsVersion B: 44km – 460m elevation gain70% asphalt, 20% unpaved roads, 10% sand roads Also the fifth stage is quite short and allows to enjoy some time on the beaches or in the historic town Aljezur. We start this day easy on mix of paved and unpaved side roads through fields. Soon we reach another natural highlight. The river Seixe is the natural border between the provinces of Alentejo and Algarve. At the deep valley at the river mouth forms one of the prettiest and most famous beaches of the region. South of the river we have to climb to the other side of the river valley before the route options divide. The longer option goes all the way out to the next river delta and the remote beach of Praia de Amoreira before it follows up the river to the historic old town of Aljezur crowned by a massive castle and full of inviting shops and bars. The shorter option meanwhile goes more straight to Aljezur to spare some time and energy, as this day ends with a tough last uphill. Near the surfer beach of Arrifana and in walking distance to a laidback village we find the well deserved finish of this day: A remote owner-managed private campsite between the woods and the ocean.7
Day 7 -Cabo Sao Vicente & Europe’s West End Arrifana – Vila do Bispo
Version A: 75km – 650m elevation gain40% asphalt, 40% unpaved roads, 20% sand roadsVersion B: 72km – 570m elevation gain70% asphalt, 25% unpaved roads, 5% sand roads Our second last day is packed with highlights. The effort of the sharp uphill the evening before, allows us to roll down to the ocean on an unpaved road for several kilometer. At Carrapateira we reach the coast again. The old fisher village nowadays is an eldorado for surfers and disposes of a round way on the nearby cliffs that provides one of the best ocean views all over the country. In the afternoon we arrive at Cabo Sao Vicente, the south-west end of Europe. The wild cliffs and the rough Atlantic waives are breathtaking, just as much as the wind. The wind is a massive factor on this stage and might decide if you choose the easier option to the end of the stage near the road, or the extended one through the hills and villages. About an hour later we reach the village Vila do Bispo and shortly later our last campsite: A beautiful and carefully maintained sustainable camping near the beaches of Figueira and Salema. 8
8° Day : Western Algarve Vila do Bispo – Lagos
Version A: 30km – 420m elevation gain60% asphalt, 40% unpaved roads and sand roadsVersion B: 23km – 260m elevation gain90% asphalt, 10% unpaved roads and sand roads Our last stage is a very easy one. On the way from the west we pass by the most beautiful sides of Lagos such as the pretty beaches of Barranco and the famous rock formations of Ponta da Piedade. Our way leads us directly through the old town to the port of Lagos, our finish line after almost 400km on the bike! For our last night we got a cosy pension in the city center of Lagos to enjoy the last night of this journey. Time to take a shower and get lost in the alleys of the historic city center The beaches along the Algarve are significant warmer and more calm and invite for a stay. Coming from the west the road automatically pass by all the famous beaches and sand stone cliffs of Lagos before we reach our final hotel high over the port of Lagos. Leave your bike in the hotel, take a shower and enjoy the pretty city of Lagos. Congratulation, tonight’s dinner is well deserved!9
8° Day : Lagos – Lisbona
Departure from Lagos Breakfast and transfer by coach at 7.45am for return to Lisbon to central station or alternatively transfer to Faro airport on request.