The Ancient Medieval Villages
6 days
total: 252km (157mi)
100% asphalt
level 3 (3.4)
daily average: 63km (39mi)
Day 1
Arrival
Welcome at Lisbon airport. 3-hour drive to Marvão followed by a briefing about your cycling tour in Portugal.
Day 2
The beautiful village of Marvão and its castle
You begin this beautiful bicycle tour from the top of one of the highest medieval villages in Portugal. From here you start to come down on a very smooth road, sometimes winding road. There are about of 7km of decent with 5% of grade. This first day on a bicycle is not a long day, to balance with the climbs on this region. After km 24 you have the longest and the steepest climb of the day. The climb is 3km long with 6% grade. So, courage! When you reach the top you will have a great view from there! 🙂 You still have a short but steep climb and after this everything seems easier until you get to the next hotel.
49km (30mi)
level 3 (3.1)
830m (2720ft)
Day 3
The Natural Park landscape of S. Mamede Hills
The cycling day of today is not easy because it is a long day and you finish it with a smooth climb to the center of the small town where you will stay. However, it is a very rolling day, with some empty roads and vast views over the fields and the Natural Park. Please manage your water and your energy because the day is long.
76km (47mi)
level 4 (3.9)
1030m (3380ft)
Day 4
The capital of marble and the vineyards
The longest and the hardest cycling day. Today you cannot waist time. You will have several ups and downs on the first half of the day. After km 23 you have a climb with about 7km that is not too steep (3% grade), but because you are near lunch time, the heat doesn’t make thinks easier. To complete your day on a bicycle you still have a long but smooth climb to reach the beautiful hotel that is in the midle of a cork tree forest.
79km (49mi)
level 4 (4.1)
1210m (3970ft)
Day 5
Towards Évora
After the longest and hardest day, today you will have the shortest and the easiest day of the whole bicycle tour, here in Alentejo. The day of today is a very rolling day. And it is like this because you need time to visit the last city, Évora. Of course, closer your are from Évora, more trafic you will find, but it is OK. Évora is the capital of Alentejo region.
48km (30mi)
level 3 (2.6)
510m (1670ft)
Day 6
Departure
After breakfast we leave to Lisbon airport – 2-hour drive