Guided Road Tour
Historical Villages of Portugal Intermediate level – 4 - 16 people
Discover the best kept secrets of Portugal on this unique trip. Travel back in time while visiting amazing villages like Marvão, Monsanto or Belmonte, on a bike tour that combines history with great riding.
You will discover a fantastic unspoilt landscape steeped in history and we guarantee around every corner there will be something new to marvel and wonder at.
The level of this tour is ‘intermediate’ covering a total distance of 437km.
Included in this Holiday
• 8 night’s accommodation in a twin room with en-suite facilities with breakfast
• 7 dinners
• 1 picnic
• transfers to and from Lisbon
• transfer of luggage throughout the week
• 2 Guides 7 leaders
• van support
• cycle hire (please bring your own helmet or you can hire one from us for the week)
Not Included
• flights to and from Portugal
• holiday insurance
• 6 lunches
Cost Per Person and Dates
Value option - £1,100.00 (all accommodation 3 – 4 stars)
October 4 - 12 2008
Luxury option - £1,560 (all accommodation 4 - 5 stars including 4 nights in Pousadas)
May 10 – 18 2008
Itinerary
Day 1 – meet at the airport in Lisbon and transfer to Tomar. After lunch we will go for a short warm-up ride around the beautiful city of Tomar. Overnight Tomar.
Day 2 – enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Alentejo, with its rolling hills covered with cork trees on the way to our hotel – close to a medieval monastery, 78km. Overnight Crato.
Day 3 – Castelo de Vide´s 15th century former Jewish district and its tiny synagogue, the oldest in Portugal, as well as the breathtaking views along the Serra de São Mamede natural park are the highlights of today´s ride. We will also see a bridge that was crossed by thousands of Jews as they escaped the Spanish inquisition. And then there is the final 5km climb to the walled village of Marvão, 68km. Overnight Marvão.
Day 4 – a short transfer as our ride starts in Nisa. We will cross the bridge over the Tejo river in Vila Velha de Rodão and enter the Tejo International Natural Park, a protected area of extreme beauty, 80km. Overnight Ladoeiro.
Day 5 – Monsanto, our destination of the day, is a medieval fortress village and was once considered the most typical village in Portugal. At an elevation of 600m it offers extraordinary views of the surrounding landscape. In Monsanto you feel like you have traveled back in time, 45km. Overnight Monsanto.
Day 6 – today our route takes us to Belmonte, where Pedro Álvares Cabral, who discovered Brazil, was born. On the way to Belmonte, Sortelha, one of Portugal´s Historical Villages, is worth visiting, 81km. Overnight Belmonte.
Day 7 – Get ready for a challenging ride on back roads with amazing views of the nearby Serra da Estrela mountain range. In Trancoso, we will have a guided tour of the old quarters, inside the walled town, 64km. Overnight Belmonte.
Day 8 – morning transfer to Lisbon with a free afternoon to visit the city. Farewell dinner in one of Lisbon’s typical restaurants. Overnight Lisbon.
Day 9 – early morning transfer to the airport.