No Rush Bike Tour

The No Rush Bike Tour is the Alentejo at a slower rhythm. Instead of moving every day, you spend two or three nights in each of three bases, so you can ride when you want and pause when you don't. Stays are in hand-picked boutique hotels and historic convents, palaces and pousadas.

From Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city, you ride the wine and cork route and visit Europe's oldest megalithic sites. The tour then moves to the hilltop fortress of Monsaraz above the Alqueva Lake, with pottery villages and prehistoric monuments, before finishing among the marble towns of Vila Viçosa and Estremoz.

Along the way you meet artisans, taste award-winning wines and gourmet regional food, and enjoy spas and sunsets. Guided versions add special treats and exquisite wines from your guide, making this the operator's most indulgent Alentejo tour.

Highlights

• Two- and three-night stays in historic convents, palaces and pousadas
• Évora's UNESCO-listed centre, Chapel of Bones and cathedral
• Almendres Cromlech and Zambujeiro Dolmen megalithic sites
• Hilltop Monsaraz, the Alqueva Lake and the pottery village of São Pedro do Corval
• Marble towns of Vila Viçosa and Estremoz, and the Ducal Palace
• Wine tastings at Fita Preta and the clay-pot winery José de Sousa

Surface and terrain
Mostly quiet, rolling to undulating secondary roads and cycle lanes, with some dirt roads near the megalithic sites. Daily ascent is 290 to 535 m, with short climbs to Monsaraz and Estremoz castles. Some traffic at the start of day 2.

Weather
The Alentejo is hot and dry in July and August, so rides are best in the morning. Spring and autumn are mild and ideal for cycling, and winters are cool with some rain.

Suitable for
Leisure riders wanting a relaxed, comfortable tour with plenty of time off the bike for spas, food and wine. Suits couples and small groups who value premium accommodation. E-bikes are available.