Portugal
2020 was the 10th anniversary of the incorporation of Fresh Eire Adventures. And then Covid happened. Notwithstanding the events of 2020 and 2021, to celebrate this landmark, we will be offering special tours throughout 2022 and 2023 and places are extremely limited. To register your interest in this destination please send us an email today.
Update May 3 2021: Our 2022 trip for ALENTEJO is filling fast. We have 6 places remaining. Dates are: Sunday July 10 - Friday July 15 2022.
Our bike tours in Portugal feature gourmet cuisine & outstanding local wines and, here in Alentejo, you will ride through olive groves steeped in history. Our cycling vacations in Europe bring you up close and personal with local characters and authentic experiences. Visit Alentejo with Fresh Eire Adventures: Wine, Gourmet Restaurants, Olive Groves, Vineyards and...You! #pedalon
On this trip, both our Classic and Deluxe packages feature the same hotels. The only difference between the packages is room category.
For your pre-trip (Saturday night) hotel we strongly recommend Hotel M’Ar de Ar Aqueduto in Évora. Your bike trip will commence from this hotel the next morning; in Alentejo during the summer months (June, July and August) we ride early each morning to escape the warmest parts of the day. It is easy to get to Évora from Lisbon by train and the hotel is a short taxi ride from the station. The tour will also end in Évora allowing an easy return to Lisbon, or further afield, after your memorable bike trip in the region.
Welcome to Alentejo!
Itinerary
Day 0 (Arrival Day in Évora)
You’ll check into your hotel in Évora and a Welcome Pack from our guides will be awaiting you. This will include your complimentary Fresh Eire Adventures cycle kit by Marcello Bergamo, and some personal amenities for your week ahead (expect tissues, hand sanitizer, some sunscreen etc.). Your hotel will be able to make a reservation for you for dinner this evening. It is important to have an early night as tomorrow morning, we’ll meet after an early breakfast to begin our bike tour of the region.
Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage town with many noteworthy attractions and is the Capital of the Alentejo region. One of the monuments, the Prata Aqueduct, can be seen from your hotel swimming pool and the centre of town boasts a well preserved Roman Temple from the 2nd Century. The city of Évora is marked by the historic square in the Praça do Geraldo, where King Duarte constructed the Estaus Palace. The square is marked by the Henriquina fountain, dating to 1570, which includes eight jets symbolizing the eight streets that lead to the square. At the northern end of the square is the Church of Saint Andrew was built by Manuel Pires, in the 16th century. A rather large church three-nave church includes a valuable altar antependium from the 13th century in bas relief. In 1483, Fernando II, was executed in the square, in the presence of his brother-in-law King John II. This square also witnessed thousands of public punishments (or “autos-da-fé”) during the Insquisition; there were 22,000 condemnations during the course of 200 years.
Day 1
We’ll meet you after an early breakfast at your city centre hotel where you’ll be fitted to your bikes and enjoy a briefing on the plan for the day ahead. We’re starting early today so we can return to Évora to explore the town in the late afternoon. It is important to be mindful of the potential for high summer temperatures in the region.
Today’s ride is an introductory loop ride of approximately 50km covering all the usual types of routes typical of a first day with Fresh Eire Adventures; expect lots of quiet secondary roads, some town riding, a few busier roads with traffic and of course a few hills. We design all of our first day “warm up” rides this way so you can become familiar with your bike, the local traffic customs and the general terrain. Our destination today is Juromenha, a small village on the river which makes the border frontier with Spain. We’ll visit the ruins of the fortress here and enjoy some refreshments in the tiny village before returning to Évora.
Upon our return to Évora we’ll have an opportunity to change out of our cycling gear, before meeting to take a stroll to lunch in town. You may opt to take a nap after lunch and we’ll arrange to meet again for pre-dinner drinks.
Tonight we’ll dine in a local bistro where we’ll enjoy typical Portuguese fayre before returning to our hotel beside the ancient Aqueduct.
Included meals: lunch, dinner
Classic hotel: Hotel M’Ar de Ar Aquducto (4 star)
Deluxe hotel: Hotel M’Ar de Ar Aquducto (4 star)