Embark on Cycling Holidays in Alentejo to Discover Unspoiled Portugal
An immensely popular holiday destination, Portugal draws countless tourists with its sunny climes and amazing attractions. However, if you're eager to explore areas of the country far away from the tourist throng, why not select cycling holidays in Alentejo?
This gorgeous region receives some 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a wonderful spot for cycling in Portugal. Alentejo has plenty more to appeal to visitors than its fantastic climate alone, however, with a splendid coastline, exciting sights and manageable cycling terrain.
Indeed, the routes here are really gentle, meaning that this destination is suitable for family cycling holidays. And unlike many Portuguese locations, you'll discover this is one that most tourists do not find. So, you can expect the trails you follow to be quiet and peaceful, as well as picturesque.
Pedalling independently from hotel to hotel, you'll also be able to explore the largest coastal national park to be found anywhere in Europe - Parque Natural Sudoueste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina - which is home to excellent landscapes.
Your cycling adventure will start with an enjoyable circular route around the local market towns. As you pedal, you'll stop off at a number of locations and soak up ways of life that have been in place for hundreds of years. You can even buy delicious homemade cheese from a shop that's been open since 1876, as well as visit the busy market town of Cercal.
The following morning, you will start by pedalling through paddy fields of rice - something that may well take you by surprise considering you are in Portugal! Travelling along the River Campilhas, you'll be able to choose between a longer or shorter route at this point. Whichever you choose, you can enjoy the occasional stop at a cafe for some tasty refreshments, before riding through pretty white villages to Sao Domingos and beginning your return leg.
Trading the cork oak meadows for wheat fields brimming with poppies the next day, you will follow a trail that'll allow you to lay eyes on the ocean gleaming in the distance - the first time you'll see the water during your trip. This will also mark your entry into the stunning national park. A short, fun freewheel downhill will take you to your next hotel, which you'll find is just 2 km from the beach.
And it is this lovely coastline that you'll get to explore the next day, when you pedal past picturesque vineyards and lemon trees to reach Forte da Ilha. This 16th century fortress sits on the coast, surrounded by miles of deserted beach.
After lunch, you can continue your route along a great coastal track to Porto Covo Harbour. Bright boats and palm trees aplenty can be spotted here, before you start to cycle back to the hotel.
Exploring the national park further the next day, you will head south, enjoying some amazing coastal cycling, and pay a visit to the Cabo Sardao Lighthouse. Once you've finished admiring the view, you will continue on to the village of Zambujeira.
Your final route will take you to the gorgeous Odeceixe Valley, with its pretty river, vine terraces and wheat fields. En route, you'll travel through strawberry fields before following the river to an absolutely stunning beach. And it's not the beach alone that is impressive - the view, which allows you to catch a glimpse of the corner of Europe, is particularly superb.
When you've finished admiring the spectacular vista, you can start the route back to the hotel to prepare for travelling home the following day.
This gorgeous region receives some 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a wonderful spot for cycling in Portugal. Alentejo has plenty more to appeal to visitors than its fantastic climate alone, however, with a splendid coastline, exciting sights and manageable cycling terrain.
Indeed, the routes here are really gentle, meaning that this destination is suitable for family cycling holidays. And unlike many Portuguese locations, you'll discover this is one that most tourists do not find. So, you can expect the trails you follow to be quiet and peaceful, as well as picturesque.
Pedalling independently from hotel to hotel, you'll also be able to explore the largest coastal national park to be found anywhere in Europe - Parque Natural Sudoueste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina - which is home to excellent landscapes.
Your cycling adventure will start with an enjoyable circular route around the local market towns. As you pedal, you'll stop off at a number of locations and soak up ways of life that have been in place for hundreds of years. You can even buy delicious homemade cheese from a shop that's been open since 1876, as well as visit the busy market town of Cercal.
The following morning, you will start by pedalling through paddy fields of rice - something that may well take you by surprise considering you are in Portugal! Travelling along the River Campilhas, you'll be able to choose between a longer or shorter route at this point. Whichever you choose, you can enjoy the occasional stop at a cafe for some tasty refreshments, before riding through pretty white villages to Sao Domingos and beginning your return leg.
Trading the cork oak meadows for wheat fields brimming with poppies the next day, you will follow a trail that'll allow you to lay eyes on the ocean gleaming in the distance - the first time you'll see the water during your trip. This will also mark your entry into the stunning national park. A short, fun freewheel downhill will take you to your next hotel, which you'll find is just 2 km from the beach.
And it is this lovely coastline that you'll get to explore the next day, when you pedal past picturesque vineyards and lemon trees to reach Forte da Ilha. This 16th century fortress sits on the coast, surrounded by miles of deserted beach.
After lunch, you can continue your route along a great coastal track to Porto Covo Harbour. Bright boats and palm trees aplenty can be spotted here, before you start to cycle back to the hotel.
Exploring the national park further the next day, you will head south, enjoying some amazing coastal cycling, and pay a visit to the Cabo Sardao Lighthouse. Once you've finished admiring the view, you will continue on to the village of Zambujeira.
Your final route will take you to the gorgeous Odeceixe Valley, with its pretty river, vine terraces and wheat fields. En route, you'll travel through strawberry fields before following the river to an absolutely stunning beach. And it's not the beach alone that is impressive - the view, which allows you to catch a glimpse of the corner of Europe, is particularly superb.
When you've finished admiring the spectacular vista, you can start the route back to the hotel to prepare for travelling home the following day.
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