The historic city of Évora serves as an ideal access point to the beautiful sloping Alentejan landscape situated halfway between Lisbon and the Spanish Border. A beautiful region, while sparsely populated, still has a vast amount of cork-oaks, olive tree yards and (pre)historic monuments. Scattered across lie the villages and cities like white stains in a sunlit region. It is especially in the early and late season that you can cycle across the quiet roads, with a brief moment of shadow as storks fly across. As world heritage Évora itself has a lot to offer. And naturally you will also visit Lisbon, one of the oldest cities of the world, and therefore you’re sure to be mesmerized by Lisbon’s wonderful mix of antiquated and trendy.
Highlights
- Unique combination of a UNESCO world heritage and scenic tours
- Several wine tasting possibilities in Evora
- enjoy a short or longer stay in Lisbon (You can extend this trip with additional nights in Lisbon after the tour)
- visit ‘Cromeleque dos Almendres’ the Portugese equal of Stonehenge
Travel schedule
| Day 1 | Arrival in Évora
|
| Day 2 to 5 | Choice out of the following day trips: |
| Round trip Surroundings Évora, 35 km |
| Round trip Graça do Divor – Arraiolos, 42 / 66 / 76 km |
| Round trip Serra de Monfurado, 55 km |
| Round trip Nossa Senhora de Machede, 73 km |
| Round trip Igrejinha, 73 km |
| Round trip Santiago do Escoural, 73 km |
| Day 6 | Transfer Évora - Lisbon |
| Day 7 | Lisbon |
| Day 8 | Departure |
Level 2, Relaxed
Travel Dates
Daily from 7 February to 12 December 2015
Day by Day
Day 1 Arrival in Évora
Just outside the city of Évora is your property, a working classical Portuguese farm with pool. The former workman's houses were transformed into apartments, an ideal base for the UNESCO World Heritage Evora and to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Day 2 - 5 Round trips from 35 to 79 km
Day tour Surroundings of Évora, 30 / 35 km
This route is a short trip across the undulating roads in the immediate vicinity of Évora, a route with an urban and landscape character. That way you still have ample time to explore the town.
Day tour Graça do Divor – Arraiolos, 42 / 66 / 76 km
A former railway track takes you to the white town of Arraiolos, known for the eponymous carpets. This historic walled town is dominated by an imposing castle on top of the hill. The town itself is a maze of streets and alleys posted against the hill. Take time to wander the squares, sense the hospitality and enjoy the view from the castle over the city and its surroundings.
Day tour Serra de Monfurado, 55 km
This round trip takes you from Evora to Tourega and along the hills of the Serra de Monfurado. The route is dominated by extensive olive groves and cork oak forests. The rural route is interspersed with a number of prehistoric monuments that you can visit. The "Cromeleque dos Almendres" is a group of 95 granite monoliths placed in a circle, the Portuguese equivalent of the "Stonehenge".
Day tour Nossa Senhora de Machede, 73 km
So now and then this round trip needs a bit of climbing. You will cycle to the isolated Nossa Senhora de Machede and follow the road through a rural area with "Montes" and a some forgotten train station. To be followed by on one of the many dams built to preserve the precious water in the Alentejo. Through an open countryside draped with some stone or cork oaks hither and thither, the route takes you along Torre de Coelheiros back again to Évora.
Day tour Igrejinha, 73 km
The widely spread cork oaks are a distinct Alentejo appearance. Portugal takes more than half of the worlds cork production. Most of it comes from the Alentejo. After the photogenic Igrejinha you wheel through the cornfields with giant boulders and isolated groups of cork oaks back to Évora.
Day tour Viana do Alentejo, 79 km
This tour is characterized by large fields, quietly grazing cows between cork oaks and cornfields with giant boulders and loose groups of cork oaks. In the south Viana do Alentejo entices you to visit its pentagonal castle. Be sure to visit the 16th-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aires, Santuário da Nssa Sra d'Aires.
Day tour Santiago do Escoural, 73 km
From Évora, the ronud trip runs through Valverde through the foothills of the Serra de Monfurado. A rural part of Portugal which is dominated by olive groves and cork oaks. Along the way you can visit one or more of the prehistoric monuments. This stage takes you along a huge dolmen and the "Anta do Zambujeiro” in Valverde. A nice details form the chapel with megalithic elements, the "Anta Capela" near the village of São Brissos and Escoural cave where 10,000 year old cave drawings were found.
Day 6 Evora, transfer to Lisbon
Today you will have a transfer to Lisbon. In the afternoon you can already start with your discovery of Lisbon.
Day 7 Lisbon
Today you will have a full day of exploring Lisbon. Observe a breathtaking view from the walls of a millennium-old castle or visit a diversity of sea creatures in a state-of-the-art aquarium. Discover a seemingly endless modern bridge and tiny turn-of-the-century trams. Climb picturesque hills by day and go bar-hopping through vibrant cobbled lanes at night. Lisbon is full of legendary cafés, art nouveau shops, World Heritage monuments, museum treasures and fairytale palaces. Lisbon is a captivating city!
Day 8 Departure
Prices and Dates
Dates
Daily from 7 February till 12 December 2015
Prices per person based on a double room with breakfast own transport, own bicycle |
| double room | single room |
| 7 - 13 Februariy/td> | € 795.- | € 980.- |
| 14 - 22 February | € 855.- | € 995.- |
| 23 February - 20 March | € 795.- | € 980.- |
| 21 March - 30 June | € 855.- | € 995.- |
| 1 July - 31 August | € 855.- | € 1020.- |
| 1 September - 31 October | € 855.- | € 995.- |
| 1 November - 12 December | € 795.- | € 980.- |
| |
| Surcharges and Discounts per persoon |
| Aluminium Gazelle / Batavus bike with 24 gears and panniers | € 56.00 | |
| Aluminium kindsebike 24 gears with panniers | € 38.00 | |
| Child seat rear | € 8.00 | |
| Bike helmet | € 5.50 | |
Included
- 7 nights
- Detailed road book with drawn map and altimeters
Not included
- Transfers proprietary bike(optional)
- Prolongation
- Breakfast Évora(optioneel)
- Other meals and refresments
- Flights
- Entrance fees and public transport
Accommodation
Évora, Monte da Serralheira
Just outside Evora is your accommodation, a working classical Portugues farm on 130 hecatare where grapes, wheat and olives are produced. The former workman's houses were transformed into apartments furnished with a living and a well equipped kitchenette and where every bedroom has its own private bathroom. Next to your privat terrace next to the beautiful garden, this Agroturismo disposes of a swimmingpool as well.
Lisbon
In the center of Lisbon you'll stay in a recent renovated century old charming hotel. It allows you to reach the historic center and emblematic areas like Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama, 500 m away in a few minutes.
Thank you very much for your interest, we shall contact you soon