Bike 3 Regions of Portugal

Bike 3 Regions is designed for travellers wanting a balanced mix of nature, heritage and local cuisine, with a dramatic change of scenery from limestone mountains to the Atlantic coast. The week starts in the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, staying at a design hotel hidden in a 300 m deep valley, with a visit to the Santo António limestone caves and the Gothic monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça.

From there the tour moves to the operator's farm near Évora for two days on the Alentejo's wine and cork route, the Arraiolos carpet trail and Évora's UNESCO-listed centre. It finishes on the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentina Coast, riding from Santiago do Cacém past Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Evenings bring dinners, cooking classes and the chance of a massage. The mountain days are the hardest the operator offers, so e-bikes are recommended for less fit riders.

Highlights

• Santo António limestone caves in the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park
• UNESCO-listed Monastery of Batalha and the Alcobaça Monastery
• Wine, cork and prickly pear producers around Évora
• Arraiolos castle and tapestry museum
• Évora's Roman Temple, cathedral and Chapel of Bones
• Atlantic coast from Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes, plus Alentejo cooking classes

Surface and terrain
Mostly asphalt with some ecotrail and dirt roads. Days 2 and 3 in the mountains have long, steep climbs (560 to 800 m), described as the operator's hardest riding. The Alentejo days are gently rolling, and the coast is mostly flat after two climbs.

Weather
The limestone mountains are cooler and can be wet outside summer. The Alentejo interior is hot and dry in July and August, and the coast stays mild with sea breezes. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for riding.

Suitable for
Reasonably fit riders who enjoy food, culture and varied scenery. The mountain stages are challenging on a standard bike, so the operator recommends an e-bike for less fit riders. Suits couples and small groups.