Portugal Bike - Towards the Algarve

	Guided	Unguide	Notes
Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec	1,900 Euro	1,460 Euro	per person/week
May	1,970 Euro	1,530 Euro	per person/week
Jun, Oct	2,010 Euro	1,570 Euro	per person/week

*Please contact advertiser for rates & availability for your travel dates.

Active Adventure

Tour Highlights

1. The amazing blue coast of Natural Park of
Arrábida
2. Crossing the river Sado
3. The Natural Park of SW Alentejo and Vicentine Coast
4. Stunning landscapes of Alentejo beaches
5. Tasty fresh fish of the Atlantic Coast
6. Visit to the winery and wine tasting
7. Lagos - the cosmopolitan and oldest town in the Algarve
8. Sagres - the south-westernmost town of Continental Europe
9. Paradise-like beaches and the beautiful coast of Algarve
10. Cape S. Vicente - the birds and the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean


Summary

Starting in Sesimbra, you will ride to a winery where you will learn about the famous Moscatel wine and also taste it. Then you will enter one of the lushest areas south of Lisbon - the Natural Park of Arrabida. On one side of the park, you’ll admire beautiful Mediterranean landscapes and at the other side, the gorgeous coast with accessible beaches where the fine sand and clear sea waters provide a strong contrast of unusual colours. You will ride along the coast to Setubal and after crossing the Sado river, you’ll reach Troia and then Sines where the Natural Park of SW Alentejo and Vicentine Coast begins. It extends itself along the Portuguese coast and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. This SW landscape is 300 million years old and it is one of the most preserved landscapes all over Europe; human intervention is less visible throughout the area’s long history. Once submerged (about 2 million years ago), this is a vast area with many different coastal habitats and countless beaches and cliffs. Daily tours include going to the wonderful beaches of this Natural Park and taking a swim in the limpid and clear sea. Numerous cliffs and isolated islets complete this beautiful and unique scenery. This area boasts a diversity of rare botanical species, with very interesting flora and a variety of maritime birds that nest here. Cape S. Vicente is a passing area for thousands of birds of prey. This tour also goes to Sagres, which is the south-westernmost point in continental Europe, the place from where our brave forefathers sailed on their caravels seeking new peoples and continents. Finally, you have the opportunity to visit some of the beaches of our famous Algarve and the cosmopolitan city of Lagos. This is one of the oldest towns in the Algarve. You can still see evidence of the wall surrounding the town for protection.

Typical Day

Programme

Day 1: Arrival. Welcome at Lisbon airport, transfer to Sesimbra and briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with sophisticated amenities in an idyllic setting where Nature and Sea come together in true happiness.

Day 2: Riding along the wonderful coast of Arrábida Natural Park. - 41km (25mi), level 3 ( Beach), or 51km (32mi), level 4 ( Beach).
After breakfast we start riding in the amazing Arrábida Natural Park, where the Mediterranean vegetation mixes with the maritime views. Visit to a winery and wine tasting. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with a romantic environment and an amazing view over Setubal.

Day 3: Crossing the river Sado to Troia , 80km (50mi), level 3 ( Beach).
After breakfast we cross the river by boat; we have our picnic in a pine grove and we ride on towards Sines. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* charming Hotel where you can find numerous references to Portugal’s greatest navigator “Vasco da Gama”.

Day 4: The beautiful beaches of the Natural Park , 101km (63mi), level 4 ( Beach).
After breakfast we ride into the SW Alentejo Natural Park; this is the most well preserved coast all over Europe. The landscape is amazing! We have our picnic and we end our day in the typical village of Odeceixe. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with swimming-pool.

Day 5: Riding towards South to Sagres, 70km (43mi), level 3 ( Beach).
After breakfast we continue riding along beautiful beaches. We have our picnic and later we get to Sagres after visiting Cape S. Vicente, the place where “the land ends and the sea begins”. This is the south-westernmost point in Continental Europe. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* new hotel with swimming-pool, surrounded by stunning deserted beaches and the wild nature of an unforgettable beauty.

Day 6: The coast of Algarve , 43km (27mi), level 3 ( Beach).
After breakfast we ride along the south coast of the Algarve where we can see the contrast between the Natural Park and the Algarve that is developed in terms of tourism. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* hotel with swimming-pool, that epitomises the Algarve culture, with blue and white corridors which link the rooms, patios, restaurants and bar.

Day 7: Departure. Farewell at Lisbon airport. 3H00 drive to airport.

Age range, type of group

Technical Data

Type: Road Race Bike Tours
Class: LANDSCAPE TOUR
Version: Guided or Self-Guided
Regions of Portugal: Lisbon Region (south), Alentejo (coast) and Algarve (coast)
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling
Begin: Sesimbra (Natural Park of Arrábida)
End: Lagos (Algarve)
Difficulty level (1-5): 1 2 3 4 5
= Intermediate. You must be in good shape.
Distance: 335km (208mi)
Average: 67km/day (42mi/day)

Sleeping and meals

The price includes:

- 7-day Road Bike Tour with a Guide (*)
- Transfers from and to Lisbon Airport
- Accommodations (6 nights): 5 four*-Hotels (one Hotel & SPA front to the ocean, one 19th century Mansion, one charming Hotel, one Design Hotel front to the ocean and one cosy Hotel), 1 B&B/Rural Tourism. Double bedroom occupancy.
- 6 Breakfasts
- 3 nourishing and energetic picnics (*)
- 6 Dinners (including our famous wines, our amazing cheeses and lovely desserts) (*)
- Daily energy-bars and water (*)
- Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel
- Documentation about PortugalBike Tour
- Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Techno-Mechanical Assistance
- First-Aid assistance on location
- Permanent Backup Vehicle (*)
- Visit to the winery and wine tasting (*)
(*) Not included in Self-Guided Tours

Rates

Dates and Prices for 2012:

January 08 - 14:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)

January 22 - 28:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)

February 05 �" 11:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)

February 26�" 03 March:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)

April 15 - 21:
Guided: Euro 2000 (Single Suppl. + € 240)
Self-Guided: Euro 1570 (Single Suppl. + € 240)

May 20 �" 26:
Guided: Euro 1970 (Single Suppl. + € 230)
Self-Guided: Euro 1530 (Single Suppl. + € 230)

June 10 - 16:
Guided: Euro 2010 (Single Suppl. + € 240)
Self-Guided: Euro 1570 (Single Suppl. + € 240)

October 14 �" 20:
Guided: Euro 2010 (Single Suppl. + € 220)
Self-Guided: Euro 1570 (Single Suppl. + € 220)

November 11 - 17:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)

December 09 - 15:
Guided: Euro 1900 (Single Suppl. + € 210)
Self-Guided: Euro 1460 (Single Suppl. + € 210)


=> Prices per person, double bedroom occupancy, 4* quality Hotel.
=> If you want a different date, ask us about prices and availability.

Other Information

On this tour you will ride with this bicycle:

ROAD RACE BIKE: BH L41 Carbon Spirit Ultegra
DETAILS:

Frame: Carbon fiber
Fork: Carbon fiber
Brakes: Shimano Ultegra
Gears: Shimano Ultegra/105, 30 Speeds
Pedals: Normal (with cages or not), Shimano SPD or Look Keo Classic
Tires: Road, 700x23
Weight: 9,2kg
Other: Man or woman seat, frame triangle bag, seat bag.
(please see the picture #26)



Testimonials

»»»» My experiences with PortugalBike left me behind with a big concern: Where on earth can I experience a cycling trip as excellent as in Portugal? I guess that nowhere I will experience such a warm and generous hospitality, top notch material, professional guidance, delicious food and wine, bright sunshine and a refreshing sea breeze as on the way to the Portuguese Algarve. There is only one option left to me: I definitely have to return next year for another Portuguese cycling holidays with PortugalBike!
= Werner Peerters, Age: 34 (Gent �" Belgium), 2009 =

»»»» In recent years, we have bicycled in France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. On several of these trips, we took our own bicycles and made lodging arrangements ourselves. I guess you can say that we enjoy learning about European countries from pedaling a bicycle. No trip that we have taken has been better planned and executed than the two we did through PortugalBike. We are thrilled we used this fabulous company. Owned and operated by a Portuguese husband and wife team, the care they take before and during the trip is exemplary. The routes are very well chosen, providing a variety of landscapes and terrain. Although Portugal doesn’t have dedicated bike lanes like Holland, every effort was made to choose roads friendly to bicycles. The lodging was very special, and each night we stayed in a hotel different from the evening before, always special in its own way. We especially miss the breakfasts! PortugalBike was never far from us, and if we had a question or a problem, it was resolved before the day was over. We are especially glad that we chose two different trips �" The Ancient Medieval Villages and Towards Algarve �" in two very different areas of the country, as it gave us two contrasting views of the country. We are grateful to PortugalBike for making all this happen, and even more grateful that we now have more of an appreciation for Portuguese life, food, culture, history, and wine!
= Gary Kate, Lynne & Susan Diamond, Ages: 57, 56 & 55 (Claremont, California �" U.S.A.), 2009 =

Cristina Henriques (View My Profile)
Being a Portuguese-owned Company, we know our country better than anybody else and we want to expose people to places and curiosities about Portugal that only a Portuguese knows! Our goal is that you visit Portugal …riding a bicycle!

On PortugalBike Tours you have the opportunity to visit our historical, cultural and landscape heritage in our National Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner. You can taste our famous wines, amazing cheeses and lovely desserts, and sample typical dishes of each region of Portugal.

Travelling with PortugalBike will connect you deeply with the country, becoming part of its everyday life, observing details that typical tourists miss and enjoying spontaneous encounters along the way. You will rest in cosy and charming accommodations. We always choose 4-star quality hotels whenever possible in each region or Bed & Breakfast units. Our accommodations are always the best offer of each region.

PortugalBike Tours are designed so that we begin at a certain point and we end elsewhere. You do not start and end at the same place. We think that is the best way to discover Portugal ...riding a bicycle! Read the specific information about each ride to learn more details.

PortugalBike Tours have a maximum of 16 participants, and a minimum of two. Larger groups are also possible upon request and according to our availability. Our Bike Tours are prepared for one week (7 days / Sunday to Saturday).

The dates of PortugalBike Tours are according to our calendar, or on request, according to our availability. The prices below are for the scheduled PortugalBike Tours. If you wish a different date, ask us for prices and availability.

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