ALENTEJO GRAVEL BIKEPACKING HOLIDAY
An incredible self-supported 600km gravel bikepacking tour
Explore the best of Portugals gravel routes on our gravel bikepacking adventure through the Algarve and Alentejo!
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Recommended times of year:
Winter, Spring and Autumn
Bike Type: Gravel, MTB
Number of riding days: 6
Tour Type: Guided
Airport Faro
Km / day: 80-120km
Elevation gain / day: 800-2500m
Overall Difficulty: Medium - Advanced
Accommodation: Rural Hotels
An 7 night Portuguese Gravel Bikepacking Adventure
Are you ready for a next level cycling experience? Maybe our Portugal gravel bikepacking holiday is for you!
Our Portugal gravel bikepacking holiday is the perfect mix of road and gravel. Technically it is not too difficult (most tracks are for 4×4 vehicles) but the off-road sections give the riders a chance to reach villages and other hidden gems inaccessible with a road bike.
You will carry your own luggage with you (self supported), staying at small hotels / BnB’s en route. It is a guided cycling trip however, so you are not completely without our help and assistance. We will eat as together at the end of each day a group at local restaurants giving you a chance to experience the best of Portuguese culture and gastronomy, whilst reliving the experiences of the day over a glass of wine!
Difficulty Level
This gravel bikepacking holiday is for medium – advanced level riders. You don’t need to have prior experience in bikepacking, but experience in having done around 100km on back to back days will make the tour more enjoyable for you! You will encounter challenges, both physically and mentally – but that’s the aim 😉
Don’t forget! There are no support vehicles on this bikepacking trip, however you will have the company of our lovely guides who will be there to assist you if needed!
Portugal Gravel Bikepacking Holiday Itinerary
This trip consists of 2 travel days, 6 cycling days bikepacking and 7 nights. Scroll down look below at the itinerary below for a more detailed overview of the route and number of km each day!
Accommodation
You will be staying in different local rural hotels each night. We hand pick the accommodation to suit our cyclists, both in terms of comfort and location, as well as having an authentic Portuguese feel. There will be no hotel chains, as we love to support Portuguese business owners.
Cuisine
We pledge to support local restaurants, so you will eat in different nearby restaurants each night, all within walking distance of your hotels. By the end of your gravel bikepacking tour you will have had a taste of the many traditional dishes of Portugal and in particular the Algarve and Alentejo. All meals plus house wine, beer or soft drinks are all included in the price of your holiday. Allergies or dietary requirements? No problem, we can take care of everything.
Heritage and Culture
This adventure is not just about the bike… as you ride, you will also experience the culture and heritage of the Algarve and the Alentejo – the local cuisine, music, wine and liquor making, the agriculture, historic monuments and the ancient creative traditions.
Gravel – what bike do I need?
Our gravel bikepacking holiday is designed specifically for gravel riding and gravel bikepacking so we would highly recommend a gravel bike, or a sturdy road bike with gravel tyres. This Portugal gravel bikepacking adventure is predominantly on small roads, but will dive off onto gravel paths (usually 4×4 tracks) so having tyres that can stand up to that is paramount! We can hire gravel bikes for you – just get in touch.
Self-Guided – What’s Included?
Airport transfers
6 spectacular days of bikepacking
7 nights high quality accommodation (based on 2 people sharing a room)
Buffet breakfast
GPX files of all stages in advance
Mechanical assistance
Professional drone and GoPro photos of your trip
Civil liability Insurance
5* service – our promise!
Guided Option – all of the above, plus..
Knowledgable and friendly guides with you every pedalstroke of the way
All staff first aid qualified
Not Included
Flights
Lunches
Dinner (although we can make recommendations and make bookings should you wish!)
Extras, e.g. Bike Hire, Cycling Jersey, Single Room Supplement
Alentejo Bikepacking Holiday Example Itinerary
Please note this is only an indication as external factors such as available hotels might impact which exact routes are followed. You will receive a detailed itinerary once you have booked.
Arrival into Faro Airport, transfer to hotel in Loulé
We will arrange for you to be taken (with any bikes and luggage you have of course!) from Faro Airport to Loulé.
Should you be arriving into a different airport, we can also arrange transport for you for an extra charge – just get in touch.
In Loulé you will be staying in a lovely hotel in the historic centre of this traditional Portuguese town.
Loulé to Mértola
Small roads and tracks out of Loulé will take riders east, through Santa Catarina (and past the small traditional terracotta factories), through Tavira for a fish lunch, before turning left up towards Alcoutim and Mértola
Mertola is a striking fortified town on the River Guardiana, with wonderful views over the river. Make sure you leave enough time to explore the old cobbled streets and castle before the light goes in the evening.
Mértola to Monseraz
This day we will cycle north, through the typical Alentejo landscape with miles of fabulous gravel tracks. The day will begin with a climb away from Mertola, and finish by crossing the largest reservoir in Portugal – Alqueva. The sparse population, combined with low air and light pollution makes it a paradise for stargazers. The middle of the day will include many beautiful miles of some of the best gravel cycling you could wish for through vineyards and cork oak forests.
You will end the day in Monsaraz – a wonderful fortified hilltop village with fantastic views for miles in every direction.
Monseraz to Vila Ruiva
This day is designed as a lighter day, time enough to get up a little later and have a look around Monsaraz prior to leaving. Making your way westwards, today is all about enjoying the local landscapes, vineyards and traditional villages.
You will stay in a wonderful family-run winery in Vila Ruiva. With a infinity swimming pool overlooking the vines, you won’t be disappointed!
Vila Ruiva to Vila Nova de Milefontes
On leaving Vila Ruiva, todays route is through the heart of the flat Alentejo countryside, heading west. Passing olive groves and wheat fields, we will go through only very small villages until our final destination, the beautiful seaside town of Vila Nova de Milefontes.
Vila Nova de Milefontes – Monchique
The penultimate day! You will set off from Vila Nova de Milefontes and head south along the rugged Atlantic coast, through Odeceixe and Aljezur. Then we turn away from the west coast, back into the Algarve and into the hills of the Serra de Monchique and up to your hotel for the night in Monchique.
Monchique – Loulé
The final day is a fabulous undulating day of small winding tracks and trails through central Algarve. You will pass the historic town of Silves, and the small villages of Alte and Salir before dropping down into Loulé.
Congratulations! You have completed your 6 day bikepacking adventure!
Here you will be reunited with any equipment you have left with us or at the hotel (e.g. bikeboxes), ready for your easy transfer (20 minutes) back to Faro airport in the morning.
Departure from Faro Airport
Your transfer will drive you from your hotel in Loule to Faro airport, where you will take your flight. We hope you return with great memories of your time cycling in Portugal with us!
GUIDED - 2 - 5 people
Including GuideAlentejo Bikepacking Adventure – Fully Guided Groups of 2 to 5 people
- A guide will accompany you every pedalstroke of the way, leaving you to enjoy the landscapes as you traverse Portugal. They will take care of everything – from choosing the best cafe for lunch, to helping you repair a puncture and ensuring every part of the day runs perfectly.
- Accommodation, breakfast, guides, support vehicle are all included. We can also organise lunch, dinner, bike hire and more for an extra fee – just get in touch. Please note that this price is based on 2 people sharing a room – you can request a single room for an extra fee.
- This is a great choice for large groups, when the organisation and logistics is more complicated.
- Remember – this is a self-supported trip so there is no luggage transfer option! You will transport all of your things in your bags on your bike.
GUIDED - 6-11 people
Including GuideAlentejo Bikepacking Adventure – Fully Guided Groups of 6 to 11 people
- A guide will accompany you every pedalstroke of the way, leaving you to enjoy the landscapes as you traverse Portugal. They will take care of everything – from choosing the best cafe for lunch, to helping you repair a puncture and ensuring every part of the day runs perfectly.
- Accommodation, breakfast, guides, support vehicle and luggage transfer are all included. We can also organise lunch, dinner, bike hire and more for an extra fee – just get in touch. Please note that this price is based on 2 people sharing a room – you can request a single room for an extra fee.
- This is a great choice for large groups, when the organisation and logistics is more complicated.
- Remember – this is a self-supported trip so there is no luggage transfer option! You will transport all of your things in your bags on your bike.
SELF-GUIDED - 2-5 people
Accommodation, Airport transfers, GPX routes and more...Alentejo Bikepacking Adventure – Self Guided Groups of 2 to 5 people
- Prefer a little more autonomy? This is the right choice for you.
- Leave us to organise everything including the accommodation, airport transfers, route planning. You will receive kit list, GPX files and day-day logistical organisation (hotel bookings, restaurant recommendations etc) in advance, meaning you can simply get your cycling shoes on and enjoy the ride!
- Please note that this price is based on 2 people sharing a room – you can request a single room for an extra fee.
SELF-GUIDED - 6-11 people
Accommodation, Airport transfers, GPX routes and more...Alentejo Bikepacking Adventure – Self Guided Groups of 6 to 11 people
- Prefer a little more autonomy? This is the right choice for you.
- Leave us to organise everything including the accommodation, airport transfers, route planning. You will receive kit list, GPX files and day-day logistical organisation (hotel bookings, restaurant recommendations etc) in advance, meaning you can simply get your cycling shoes on and enjoy the ride!
- Please note that this price is based on 2 people sharing a room – you can request a single room for an extra fee.
More than 12 people?
We are highly experienced at organising large group challenges and events. We can offer unbeatable pricing for the group trip you have in mind.
SEND A RESERVATION or QUOTE REQUEST
Send us a reservation request below for the Alentejo Bikepacking Adventure and one of our friendly team will get back to you within 1 working day to help finalise and plan your trip.
Don’t forget! We create bespoke trips too – anything you would like to add, please don’t hesitate to ask us and we will do our best to make your ideas a reality.
Do you like the sound of our Alentejo gravel bikepacking holiday? You might also be interested in our other cycling holidays…
Authentic Algarve Gravel Cycling Holiday
For the gravel riders. Enjoy an off road / gravel cycling holiday in the Algarve! Let us introduce you to the best tracks and trails in the beautiful Algarve, both along the coast and inland.
€925,00 – €1.275,00
Alentejo Self-Guided Gravel Bikepacking Tour
For the bikepackers. An adventure is on the horizon! Escape your normal routine and join us for a truly new and exciting gravel bikepacking experience into the Alentejo.
Faro to Lisbon Self-Guided Gravel Tour
For the gravel tourers. This is a fantastic gravel trip for anyone wanting to experience a wide range of landscapes – west coast, rolling Alentejo plains and the beautiful Algarve backroads.
€795,00 – €1.295,00
Authentic Algarve Road Cycling Holiday
For the roadies. An unforgettable week of road riding in the Algarve. Not just bikes – this cycling holiday is also about enjoying the Portuguese culture, gastronomy and incredible landscapes too!
€875,00 – €1.275,00
738km North to South N2 Cycling Tour
For the challenge-seekers. A stunning road cycling holiday with a goal to achieve! Put your cycling legs to the test during this 6-day Challenge. A total of 738km, along Europes longest road.
€1.450,00 – €1.800,00
FAQ’s
Can I hire a gravel bike?
Yes. Just get in touch to let us know exactly what you would like and we will give you a quotation.
How difficult is the Alentejo Bikepacking Holiday?
This bikepacking trip is designed to be challenging – both mentally and physically, for most riders.
If you are looking for a slightly easier bikepacking trip you might be interested in our TRAVERSE ALGARVE bikepacking trip, which is designed for beginners in mind too.
We can also design a bespoke trip, just for you – just get in touch!
Where can I get my bikepacking bags from?
We can highly reccommend Restrap for your bikepacking luggage – they are all made in the UK, and also ship Europe wide from within Europe, which means there are no added taxes or fees to ship into the EU.
What is your cancellation policy?
We strongly recommend that you travel with adequate travel insurance to cover the cost of flight cancellation and holiday cancellation.
I would like to create my own bespoke holiday - can you help?
Of course! We would love to help you put together the perfect cycling holiday for you and your group.
We can assist with:
- Booking hotels, villas or BnB’s
- Hiring bikes
- Plotting cycling routes (road or off-road)
- Hiring guides
- Car Hire
- Booking restaurants
- Recommending cafes
- Airport transfers
We charge really reasonable prices for all of the above, making your life as the organiser really easy. Let us know what you have planned and we will help you plan an unforgettable week of cycling in Portugal for you!
@echappee.portugal
