Beaches, seaside villages, and an exhilarating ride to the Algarve.

Ride along Portugal's Atlantic Coast

May 22-29, 2010

The Costa Azul, also known as the Blue Coast, is a long and beautiful stretch in southwest Portugal. The pristine countryside follows the Atlantic coast where caravels sailed off to make the greatest of the 15th and 16th century New World discoveries. The remarkable history of the area is just one of the charms of this stunning corner of the world. There is the quiet beauty of the uninterrupted beaches, lagoons and fishing villages. For a week we will ride through the virgin landscape across vast valleys and along the Atlantic shore, staying at remarkable inns, manors and a castle. Along with the sumptuous accommodations will be culinary feasts and a chance to sample the best port wines in the world. Portugal, often overlooked by travelers, is being discovered and celebrated by visitors, but it still retains its off-the-beaten-track charm. A fun and moderately challenging bike trip, fine food, and comfortable, unique accommodations make this a trip of a lifetime.

Highlights:

• Enjoy a night in Lisbon with a welcome dinner and live Fado music.
  
• Cycle the headlands of Portugal's rugged Atlantic shores.
  
• Explore the footsteps of the world's most famous explorers such as Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator.
  
• Travel through the charming, sleepy villages of the Alentejo coast.
  
• Feast on the freshest catch of the day at quaint seaside fishing villages.
  
• Spend two nights in a lovely castle set on an Atlantic headland, complete with a moat.
  
• Enjoy a boat ride featuring panoramic views of the rugged Algarve coast.
  

Dates and Price:
May 22 to 29, 2010: $3,495: A trip for gay men, lesbians & friends.

Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.

Location: Starts in Lisbon and ends in Lagos, Portugal

Price includes: Comfortable and interesting hotels each night, including a posada and a castle; All breakfasts, and 5 dinners, including wine or soft drinks; Services of two tour guides; Van support to get luggage (and tired riders!) to destination; Use of bike; Map and detailed route instructions; Guided tours of historic sites; Transfer from Lagos, Portugal to Faro Airport on last morning of tour to meet mid-morning flights (guides can assist in reserving earlier transfers if need be).

Not included: Transportation to Lisbon and from Lagos or Faro; Transfer from Lisbon Airport or train station to hotel at start of tour; Transportation from Lagos if not traveling with group on last morning of tour; 2 Dinners and 6 lunches; Personal items such as souvenirs, snacks, faxes, telephone calls and alcohol other than at the Welcome and Farewell Dinners; Admissions not described as included in the itinerary; Gratuities for guides.

We invite you to arrive two days early to explore Lisbon and the beautiful towns, hills and coastline just north and west of the city. The pre-tour extension starts with dinner in Lisbon two days before the tour starts. Then on the following day, we will have a full-day tour to visit an ancient tower and monastery along Lisbon's harbor, both of which are among the "Seven Modern Wonders of Portugal.". We then drive to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage village set among densely wooded hills, with their own microclimate. The kings and queens of Portugal built their summer palaces in Sintra, as did the Moorish caliphs before them. During our visit, we will explore one of the three remaining royal residences here.

From Sintra, we will head further west to Cabo da Roca, a windy headland which is the westernmost point of Europe. As we head back toward Lisbon along the coast, we'll stop in the bustling coastal town of Cascais (frequently the home of sailing regattas), and we'll stop for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the sea. After dinner we return to Lisbon, so you can get a good rest to prepare for the biking ahead.

1: Lisbon

Our tour starts as we meet at our hotel for an afternoon taste of Lisbon: ride the colorful trams and walk with your guide to explore the heart of the old city, including the Alfama district, Lisbon's most scenic quarter. It was first settled by the Romans and Visigoths, and it was an important Jewish quarter in the 15th century, but it was the Moors who gave the district its distinctive atmosphere. We will also visit the Chiado with Siza Vieira's renovations, and the Rossio and Baixa quarters. An early evening reception is followed by our welcome dinner in a tasca, with live Fado music.

2: Exploring the Blue Coast

After a buffet breakfast, we depart by van across the bridge to the south from Lisbon, to the Arrábida Peninsula, known for its lush Mediterranean vegetation including olive and cork trees. We'll spend a leisurely day exploring the region known at the Costa Azul, or the Blue Coast. Our first stop will be to tour a local tile factory where they carry on the ancient Portuguese tradition of painting azulejos (square tiles) by hand. This factory has provided many of the tiles for the grand entrance hall of the new MGM casino in Macau, a former Portuguese colony (now part of China) that has kept some of its Portuguese traditions.

We'll continue to the fishing town of Sesimbra, with free time to wander and have lunch. Our next stop is the quaint small town of Azeitão, where we will enjoy a hosted visit to a local adega/winery, followed by a tasting.

Our lodging will be at a country inn on a hillside near Azeitão that features a pool and views of the Serra Arrábida hills over the vineyards. In the early evening we'll fit out our bikes and have an orientation to the riding ahead. The evening is free to wander Azeitão independently. Dinner is on your own, with several restaurant suggestions from our Portuguese guides.

3: Santiago de Cacem (94 km ride)

After breakfast, set off for your morning ride over the undulating terrain of the Natural Park of Arrábida, with breathtaking sea views, working your way down to sea level at the seaport city of Sétubal.

At Sétubal, cross on a ferry to the Troia Peninsula. After the boat ride, the flat road (and a new bike path for part of the ride) down the long, narrow peninsula follows the beach and there are a number of seaside restaurants to choose from for lunch. There will also be time to stop for a swim on the beautiful white sand beaches.

Our accommodation for the night is a posada built in 1947, a small gem that is part of the national network of historic hotels (and featured in the August 2007 CondeNast Traveler Magazine). Enjoy dinner at the inn, a chance to try regional specialties.

4: Following Sir Francis Drake (50 km ride)

Today's ride includes a stop at the most extensive Roman ruins south of Lisbon, at Mirobriga. We continue on to the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, named for its many sources of water. This perfect white-washed, blue-trimmed fishing village is typical of the Alentejo region that hugs the sparsely populated coast south of Lisbon. We'll stay in a fortress castle that was once ransacked by Sir Francis Drake.

In season, Vila Nova is a popular water sports center, but it still retains its quiet village charm. There's so much to see and appreciate that we will spend two nights here. You'll find beautiful coastal walks, unspoiled beaches, and many tascas and cafes where you can enjoy drinks and local cuisine. Dinner is on your own this evening.

5: Vila Nova de Milfontes (optional 37 km loop)

After breakfast we'll set out on a loop ride that will take us past fields of wildflowers, and include a stop at a working windmill. This afternoon is free to relax on the beach or explore the town. This evening we will enjoy a special dinner of local cuisine.

6: Moor Riding! (70 km ride)

Today we depart for the rugged headland of Zumbujeira do Mar and beyond. The route follows a line of old fortifications of the Moors.

After a strenuous ride, we'll arrive in the medieval town of Aljezur, our first stop in the Algarve region. (All towns and regions starting with "Al" were named by the Moors.) Lying along a narrow river, the town was founded by the Arabs, conquered by the Portuguese in 1246, and is dominated by a hilltop fortress. Relax at our atmospheric hotel for the night. Dinner is at a lovely restaurant with a view of the coastline.

7: Prince Henry and the Algarve Coast (40 km ride)

Depart after breakfast for your last ride, parallel to the coast to the southwesternmost peninsula of Europe. Our cycling ends at Sagres, site of Prince Henry the Navigator's School of Navigation. You'll have a short time to explore the fort and have a packed lunch, before continuing by van into the white town of Lagos.

Lagos was the last stop for the Africa-bound caravels in the 16th-18th centuries. The town preserves remains of that trade in the old slave market and many churches funded by the wealth that poured into Portugal during the Age of Discovery.

On an afternoon cruise off the coast of Lagos, you'll appreciate the beauty of this gleaming Algarve town built on the wealth from Africa. This is a great walking town and there will be some time to explore before our Farewell Dinner at a special local restaurant.

8: Departure Day

Our tour ends in Lagos, but a morning transfer will be provided to the Faro Airport in time to meet flights departing at 9:45 am or later. (If you need to catch an earlier flight, our guides can help arrange for a transfer for the 40-mile ride to Faro.) There are also express buses directly from Lagos to Lisbon (about 4 hours) if you have time for an extra night in Lisbon. We hope you will have a safe journey home!