Tour Highlights: - Vast vineyards in Alentejo - Visit to four wineries with wine tasting - The state of the art to produce the good Alentejo wine - Dinners with the selected and tasted wines - The secret of various Grape Varieties - Cork oak trees and Olive trees - Évora, a World Heritage town classified by UNESCO - Arraiolos, famous for its tapestries - Dolmens and Menhirs more than 10.000 years old - A collection of coach harnesses and coach styles. Alentejo is one of the most famous wine regions in Portugal and is the perfect set for this Eno-tourism programme. It is perfect for riding a bicycle and experiencing an unforgettable adventure. This tour starts in Arcos (Estremoz), and the winery visits will start in Estremoz, a beautiful walled town surrounded by vast vineyards. This is a spectacular tour where you will have the opportunity to visit some vineyards and also four different wineries, members of Selected Wineries, where you can taste several types of wine. We will ride along the vineyards and learn a lot about the wine industry. One of the most typical sights in this region is a vast field with some cork oak trees here and there (the so-called Montado) and the herds (sometimes sheep, sometimes pigs or cows) usually enjoying the shade of the trees. The villages with their whitewashed one-floor houses are a picturesque landscape in Alentejo. You will have the opportunity to visit some towns and villages, such as Arraiolos, famous for its rugs. The people here are very proud of their heritage and they preserve the ancient buildings and also the ancient practices. You will visit a beautiful 18th century chapel whose walls are covered by glazed tiles and a fantastic family collection of coaches. This is a region that has a very rich handicraft tradition – pottery, embroideries, hand-painted furniture, wrought-iron works, etc. The local gastronomy is varied and quite tasty and perfectly matches the famous local wines. The tour will end in Évora which is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Technical Data: - Type: Hybrid Bike Tour - Class: Historical Tour - Version: Guided - Region of Portugal: Alentejo (inland) - Duration: 7 days/6 nights/5 days cycling - Begin: Estremoz (Alentejo) - End: Évora (Alentejo) - Overall difficulty level: 2 - Level: Beginner - Distance: 122km (76 miles) - Average: 24km/day (15 miles/day) - Trails: 67% asphalt/33% dirt-roads. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival – Welcome at Lisbon airport. 1H30 drive to Arcos, briefing about the tour followed by dinner. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with swimming-pool. Day 2: Cork oak trees and olive trees. The land of cork and herds – 21km (13mi), level 1. After breakfast we visit a winery and taste the wine. This winery is part of a wonderful estate dated from the 18th century. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Bed & Breakfast unit with swimming-pool. Day 3: The town of Estremoz and the vineyards – 17km (11mi), level 1. After breakfast we ride along the quiet fields in Alentejo. Visit to a winery and wine tasting. FREE afternoon. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a Palace which was converted into a Pousada and where you can admire a superb view over the city of Estremoz and the vast Alentejo plain. Day 4: Cycling to the small town of Arraiolos – 23km (14mi), level 1. After breakfast we ride towards Arraiolos where we visit a rug workshop. Then we visit another winery and taste the wine, we have our picnic and then we visit a private collection of coach harnesses and coach styles. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 16th century convent converted into a Pousada where you find the perfect harmony between the traditional and modern concepts of Portuguese architecture. Day 5: Towards Evora, the town of Alentejo classified as World Heritage by UNESCO – 29km (18mi), level 1. After breakfast we ride towards Évora where we visit the last winery on this program; we taste the wine. FREE afternoon to wander around Évora. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with swimming-pool, located in the middle of the historical center of Évora, next to the 14th century city wall. Day 6: On the trails of the Dolmens and the Cromlech – 32km (20mi), level 2. After breakfast we follow the route of the pre-historic monuments located in this Alentejo region; these monuments are dated from 5000 to 10000 years ago. Picnic on the way. Dinner with the group. Lodging in a 4* Hotel with swimming-pool, located in the middle of the historical center of Évora, next to the 14th century city wall. Day 7: Departure. After breakfast transfer to Lisbon airport. 1:30 hours drive to airport. This tour is not scheduled for 2012 but we can schedule it upon request. Ask us about availability. Member discount: Notes: - Upgrade wine tasting is possible (paying an extra fee). 
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