7-Day Portugal Évora to Algarve Coast Bike Tour

Welcome to Portugal and the golden hills of the Alentejo. After meeting your leaders, hop on your bike for a scenic loop ride frm Évora into the surrounding countryside, where quiet roads lead past cork oaks, farms and open rural views.

Your destination is a local cork factory, where you’ll get a closer look at one of Portugal’s most important natural resources. Learn how cork is harvested sustainably and why this remarkable material has played such an important role in Portugal’s wine and port industries.
 
After the visit, shuttle or pedal back into Évora. This evening, take time to wander the historic streets, admire the old city walls and enjoy dinner together in one of Portugal’s most atmospheric towns.
Accommodation: Hotel M'Ar de Ar Muralhas. Evora
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Biking: 35.3 miles (56.8 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,427 feet (435 meters) ascent, 1,427 feet (435 meters) descent

Today’s ride brings you deeper into the Alentejo, where rolling hills, quiet roads and open countryside create a beautiful setting for a day on two wheels. Take your time, enjoy the views and settle into the easy rhythm of rural Portugal. 
 
Your destination is Alcácer do Sal, a historic town set along the Sado River. Look for traditional boats along the waterfront, then turn your eyes uphill to the castle above town. Once a Moorish citadel, the castle stands as a reminder of the region’s layered history. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dinner and an evening stroll through town.
Accommodation: Pousada Castelo de Alcacer, Alcacer do Sal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Biking: 43.9 miles (70.6 kilometers)  
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,550 feet (472 meters) ascent, 2,307 feet (703 meters) descent  
Terrain: Easier

A gentle sea breeze gives you the first hint that the Atlantic is getting close. Today’s ride leads you toward Sines, a coastal town with deep maritime roots, rugged headlands and a long connection to Portugal’s seafaring past.
 
Sines is best known as the birthplace of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer whose voyage to India helped open new sea routes between Europe and Asia. The town’s compact 15th-century castle was built to help defend the coast from enemy fleets and pirates, and the area around it has been settled since prehistoric times.
 
After your ride, enjoy time to explore the historic center, take in the ocean views and feel the pace shift from countryside to coast.
Accommodation: Casa do Medico San Rafael, Sines
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Biking: 47.6 miles (76.6 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,721 feet (525 meters) ascent, 1,729 feet (527 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate

Today you follow the Atlantic coast south, with sea air, coastal views and small villages setting the tone for the ride. Along the way, you may want to pause in Porto das Barcas, a tiny seaside village that makes a lovely spot for lunch.
 
Continue to Vila Nova de Milfontes, where the Mira River meets the sea. Once you arrive, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Take a beach walk, go for a swim, relax with a drink facing the water or simply soak up the peaceful coastal atmosphere.
 
Later, the route continues toward Cabo Sardão and your hotel near Zambujeira do Mar. Dinner tonight is at the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation: Herdade do Touril, Zambujeira do Mar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Biking: 28.3 miles (45.5 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,062 feet (324 meters) ascent, 1,039 feet (317 meters) descent
Terrain: Intermediate

Today’s ride brings you alongside the Rota Vicentina, one of Europe’s most celebrated long-distance walking routes. The scenery feels wonderfully wild here, with coastal landscapes, fertile valleys and traditional villages all part of the day’s experience.
 
In Aljezur, take time to climb to the town’s legendary castle. From the top, you’ll have sweeping views over the surrounding lowlands, where the region’s famous sweet potatoes are grown. Below, creeks wind through fields lined with poplars, alders, ash trees, willows and tamarisks.
 
Tonight, settle into your nature resort and enjoy the quieter side of Portugal’s southwestern coast.
Accommodation: Praia do Canal Nature Resort, Aljezur
Meals: Breakfast
 
Biking: 32.9 miles (52.9 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,870 feet (570 meters) ascent, 1,565 feet (477 meters) descent
Terrain: Advanced

Your final ride continues along the coast toward Sagres, with time built in to enjoy the beaches, cliffs and wide-open Atlantic views. Along the way, stop in Carrapateira, a small village surrounded by rugged limestone cliffs and sweeping sand dunes.
 
An optional extra ride takes you to Cape St. Vincent, or Cabo de São Vicente, the southwestern corner of mainland Europe. Once known as the “end of the world,” this dramatic headland is home to a fortress, lighthouse and unforgettable ocean views.
 
From there, it’s just a few kilometers to Sagres, your destination for the night. This afternoon, relax by the pool at your historic pousada, once a 16th-century convent, and toast the end of a beautiful ride from the Alentejo to the Algarve coast.
Accommodation: Pousada do Sagres, Sagres
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Biking: 34.9 miles (56.2 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,638 feet (499 meters) ascent, 2,035 feet (620 meters) descent
Terrain: Intermediate

After breakfast, say farewell to Portugal’s sun-splashed southern coast. One group shuttle is offered to Faro Airport for departing flights. Or, stay a little longer to enjoy the beaches, explore more of the Algarve or continue your travels through Portugal.
Boa viagem!
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast