Cycling Centuries

Our Alentejo bike tour has you cycling past castles under dazzling blue skies, rolling through fields of wildflowers, olive and cork trees. This delightful bike tour celebrates the Alentejo wine region, an area of Portugal that many consider to be the last vestige of old Iberia. Medieval walled villages, white-washed and trimmed in blue, dot the hilltops while plains of wheat and oats spread out below, freckled with small flocks of sheep and goats.

The Alentejo was the scene of some of Portugal's bloodiest battles with Romans, Moors and later Spaniards. Now it's slowly building a reputation for its phenomenal wines and exquisite gastronomy. We'll experience the majestic tranquility of Alentejo towns and villages; from the graceful town of Evora with its Roman & Moorish heritage to delightful Castelo de Vide with its picturesque medieval Jewish quarter and tiny synagogue - the oldest in Portugal.

You'll be left with unforgettable memories of this lovely region - its serenity and heart-stopping beauty and, of course, days of idyllic cycling. Our last night finds us in old Lisbon where we'll celebrate and say "goodbye" with a farewell, Fado dinner.

Highlights

• Ride across the rolling Alentejo plains studded with centenial olive trees and ancient cork oak forests.
• Taste the hidden gems of peninsular wines - excellent, full-bodied, luscious reds & whites and be amazed.
• Stay in whitewashed medieval Castle towns and spend a night in a regal Marble Convent.
• Explore the village of Castelo da Vide with its heart-breaking remnant of its pre-Inquisition Jewish quarter.
• Sample the mouthwatering food of the Alentejo, it's unique fusion gastronomy blends arab, jewish and roman traits.
• Relax as you slip into a slower pace of life, where the bells on sheep replace the honking of city traffic.

Andalucia makes the perfect bike tour destination. Spend nine nights under the spell of the ancient Moors in this timeless countryside of wildflowers, olive trees and ancient whitewashed villages.

Seductive Flamenco, flowered patios, twisting 'old town' alleyways and magnificent cathedrals and palaces highlight our stays along the way. We'll visit the timeless monuments to the Moor's magnificent culture including the breathtaking medieval mosque in Córdoba and the ethereal Alhambra Palace in Granada.

Accommodation includes comfortable 4-star hotels, a monastery, a palace and a charming family run hotel in a tiny whitewashed Andalusian village. Note: The tour in April takes in Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrated like no where else in the world.

A dramatic combination of the sacred and profane - Andalucía at its most colorful. May is the traditional Fiesta month in Andalucía so that tour takes in the Fiesta de los Patios in Córdoba where all of the houses in Córdoba's old center vie for the most beautiful patio!

Highlights

• Ride Washington Irving’s trail through the old Moorish towns of Al-Andalus, following the historic Guadalquivir river.
• Taste the scrumptious tapas that have made the nation famous.
• Wander the medieval streets of Cordoba and stroll through its ancient Mosque with its endless maze of marble and jasper pillars.
• Feel the vibrancy and see color of a genuine peña Flamenco.
• Visit one of the worlds most famous olive oil mills – every bottle is numbered!
• Visit the breathtakingly exquisite Alhambra palace - home of Spain’s last Moorish caliphate.

Our Rota Vicentina bike tour explores the beautiful and rugged Atlantic west coast of Portugal, cycling through white washed villages and cork forests along the way.

We first ran our popular Blue Coast bike tour back in 1986, when the Rota Vicentina did not even exist. Now, as all those years ago, this classic tour has you coasting along quiet back roads from Lisbon to Lagos and the brilliant beaches of the Algarve.

You'll experience a memorable montage on this sea side bike tour of Portugal: magnificent coastal seascapes, pastoral farmlands, working windmills, tiny fishing villages and historical monuments such as Henry the Navigator's Navigational School perched on a wild headland over the blue waters of the Algarve.

Highlights

• Cycle the headlands of the wild Atlantic shores.
• Explore the footsteps of the world’s most famous explorers, such as Vasco da Gama and Magellan.
• Travel through the charming, sleepy villages of Portugal’s Costa Vincentina, still largely undiscovered as if time had stood still.
• Feast on the freshest catch of the day grilled to perfection and washed down with one of Portugal’s incomparable wines.
• Visit the ruins of Henry the Navigtor's School for Mariners on the wind-swept headland of Europe’s furthermost south-western corner.

Our epic Catalan bike tour will take you from the shimmering Costa Brava, through the little known Volcanic region of the Garrotxa and back to the coast again before you head back inland into the ancient undiscovered Languedoc wine region in France.

The ancient kingdom of Catalonia once straddled the lofty Pyrennes between northeastern Spain and southwestern France all the way from Valencia in Spain to Carcassonne in France. Nowadays, it is better known as the autonomous region of Catalunya in Spain and the Languedoc-Roussillon province of France.

Catalonia offers outstanding cycling, food and wine, but it was also home to some of the greatest creative geniuses of our time such as Dali, Miro, Gaudi and Picasso, as well as, the powerful medieval religious sect, the Cathars. You’ll spend 11 days following in their footsteps exploring artistic, breathtaking Catalunya and the vine-covered hills of Languedoc-Roussillon - areas of extraordinary contrasts, both culturally and scenic, unmatched in their romantic associations.

From the stunning pine clad cliffs of the Costa Brava to enchanting seaside villages, artist Mecca's, eye-popping austere castles of the doomed Cathars and riding through the largest wine producing area of France, while in the evenings sampling some of their produce accompanied by the incomparable Catalan cuisine before finally arriving at the greatest Cathar fortification of all – fairytale Carcassonne with its perfectly preserved walls.

Highlights

• Enjoy spectacular rides fuelled by unforgettable meals from 2 culinary giants – Spain & France!
• Ride Spain’s stunning trails-for-rails through the lush volcanic Garrotxa region.
• Enjoy one of the most memorable, imaginative and unique culinary experiences at a Michelin starred restaurant.
• Sample the rich art of Catalonia’s favourite son when we visit Salvador Dali’s museum and, later, his whimsical home in a tiny cove.
• Spend a day in the seaside town that was home to Matisse, Derain and Picasso. Follow the path that shows where they painted many of their views of the town.
• Take in breathtaking views of the castles - perched high above the Languedoc vineyards - of the doomed Cathar knights.
• Spend the night in France’s fairy-tale citadel of Carcassonne.

Our Picos de Europa bike tour offers some of the finest cycling & scenery of any of our cycling tours. The pristine peaks of Cantabria and Asturias are the remarkable backdrop to your daily rides.

This 'hideaways' tour takes us on a remarkable journey through remote, timeless and virtually unknown northern Spain. Never conquered by the Moors and seemingly untouched since the Middle Ages, the Picos de Europa mountains lie only 15 kilometres from the sparkling beaches of the Bay of Biscay. This is cycling paradise: lofty snow-capped mountains and magnificent stretches of beach all wrapped up in one unforgettable tour.

The journey begins with a visit to the world famous Guggenheim Museum of modern art in Bilbao. Then, a couple of days pedalling along the Bay of Biscay before we head south, riding through the Picos rather than over them. We wend our way through breathtaking gorges carved between massive peaks by fast rivers full of trout and salmon.

Your cycling tour also includes 2 days of walks along some of the Picos most magnificent paths and one morning spent canoeing along the Deva River. Accommodations include boutique hotels, a manor house and a restored village in the woods.

Highlights

• Loop through Europe’s smallest, and considered by many, most beautiful mountain range.
• Kayak the Picos de Europa’s pristine, crystal-clear rivers.
• Cycle through gorgeous gorges and experience a fabulous, winding 30 km downhill ride!
• Walk one of the top ten most beautiful walks in the world, the Cares Gorge.
• Stay a night in the perfectly preserved medieval village of Santilliana del Mar, near the Altamira Caves famous for their pre-historic paintings.
• Visit the stunning Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao – Frank Gerhy’s architectural masterpiece on the banks of the Nervión River.

Our Croatia bike tour in Southern Dalmatia will take you through charming towns and beautiful islands. You'll experience the historic island of Korcula with its picturesquely situated old township. You will tour through the towns of Split, Hvar, Stari Grad and Korcula, towns that include two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so named for their impeccable preservation, historic value, and stunning beauty. Each evening you make your way back to your private boat, which is outfitted with all the necessary comforts, and begin your journey to the next stunning vista, perhaps stopping en route for a dip in the sparkling clear water.

Experiencing Croatia by bike and boat is absolutely the only way to find the heart of this diverse and poetic country and to really experience "Fjaka". We look forward to sharing it with you.

Highlights

• Your own private chartered boat with ensuite bathrooms and lovely sun deck.
• A special visit to a very unusual beekeeper.
• Swimming in the crystaline waters of the Dalmatian coast.
• Visiting the historic islands of Korcula (once home to Marco Polo) and Hvar.
• Lunching at a local vineyard.
• The dramatic UNESCO World Heritage city of Split built into a Roman Emprerors palace.
• Enjoy the lovely Venetian architecture.
• Delight in cycling on traffic free roads hugging the coastline of the different islands.

Our Minho Vinho Verde bike tour explores the verdant valleys and vineyards of northern Portugal's Minho Green Wine region and the spectacular coast of Galician Spain. It is in fact our first and oldest trip!

You will start cycling in northern Portugal at Bom Jesus with its lovely sanctuary and wend your way north up into Spain's Galicia - famous for its Gaelic resemblance to Ireland and its fabulous seafood. Breathtaking coastal cycling will bring you to the seaside town of Baiona where you'll spend a night at the romantic Parador de Baiona situated in a medieval fortress overlooking the sea.

The next day brings you back to Portugal where ox carts still ply the ancient country lanes. Beautiful landscapes, medieval villages, hillsides terraced with vineyards and valleys laced with lazy rivers await us at every bend. Grand hotels, Paradors and gracious manor houses highlight the tour and make it one of our classics.

Highlights

• Cycle through the ancient villages of Celtic Portugal unique in their granite architecture.
• Sample the light, fresh Minho valley green wine - only produced in Portugal - served chilled with fresh grilled fish on a warm summer evening. Spectacular!
• Wind down the gentle Lima River valley with it’s crystal clear waters inviting you in for a cooling swim.
• Stay in lovely old family manor houses with their luscious gardens and classic decor.
• Stroll through colourful folk festivals and maybe pick up something useful like a wool spindle or a butter churn.

Our Morocco guided bike tour allows you to discover the beauty and exoticism of North Africa on this wonderful journey from Marrakesh into the foothills of the magnificent High Atlas. Sweeping valleys & stunning gorges offer you a glimpse of this special country and it's imposing landscapes.

This bike tour is full of unforgettable experiences from a night under the stars to trekking through lost villages and abandoned Kasbahs. Experience the delicious food of Morocco and enjoy mouth watering meals filled with sweet spices and soothing mint tea at the end of a long ride. This is an epic trip with memories and flavours that will linger long after the journey is over.

Highlights

• Discover the unique ambiance of Marrakesh, one of the most thriving market towns in the world.
• Soak up the beauty of the snow capped Atlas Mountains.
• Experience Morocco’s exceptional hospitality from the singular Riads to the magnificent Kasbahs.
• Sample the spices of life from one of the most flavourful cuisines.
• Explore the maze like Medinas and haggle your way from medieval crafts to the latest tech or why not trade your iPhone for a museum piece?

The Azores Isalnd hopping guided bike tour is a multi sport adventure taking us back to the land of the ancient mariners, we will spend 6 nights hopping these Atlantic islands of staggering beauty once claimed to be the peaks of Atlantis. Bicycle, foot and kayak are the modes of transport to make the most of the sea, hikes and beautiful cycling on offer.

For centuries, sailors crossed half of the Atlantic to reach the Azores Islands, bringing wine, oranges and whale products to mainland Europe. They were an important center of trade between Europe, the Americas and India creating a rich cultural heritage. These islands unfold a complex combination of Portuguese traditions mixed with Flemish and French influences all visible throughout our trip.

This non-stop fun adventure in the westernmost point of Europe includes whale and dolphin watching from Faial island, hopping to São Jorge for a glorious hike and cycling by the crater lakes and thermal water springs that dot our route across these islands whose natural beauty is only comparable to New Zealand.

Highlights

• Loop the Pico island along the coast.
• Island hopping in the central group.
• Elected by National Geographic the 2nd best islands in the world for sustainable tourism.
• Whale watching, swim with the dolphins and learn about the whaling at the whalers museum.
• See the longest lava tube in Europe.
• Explore the Unesco World Heritage Site of Protected Wine country in Madalena and taste the wines.
• Hike in São Jorge Island and learn how the spicy cheese the island is famous for is made.

This part of Southern Portugal gets around 300 days of sunshine a year and offers some of the finest cycling conditions in Europe.

You will ride through country lanes dotted with olive, fig, almond and orange groves rooted in stunning red earth, passing countless villages and the occasional Moorish Castle along the way.

We will not stray too far from the sparkling coastline though, and you will be able to dip in the warm waters of the Algarve, as well as see a unique show of the Portuguese water dog in action!

In many ways the landscape and the people of the Algarve feel much closer to North Africa than Europe. This warm, sunny bike tour offers on top of great rides, the unbeatable Portuguese hospitality, superb food (particularly fresh grilled fish!) beautiful beaches and unique accommodation including converted monasteries and boutique hotels.

Highlights

• Explore the interior of the ancient Algarve, stronghold of the Lusitanian Moors.
• Take a scenic coastal train over the gleaming salt pans and marshes of the Portuguese south.
• Travel along tiny country lanes to old whitewashed villages, along orchards of fragrant orange trees.
• Feast on the freshest catch of the day grilled to perfection and washed down with some of Portugal’s world class wines.
• Enjoy some of the Algarve's finest accommodation, far from the madding beach crowds.
• Visit a working cork factory and workshop to find out all about this fascinating natural product.