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- Leader: Janet Whitehead 604-516-9455
- Tour Contractor: Sitnica Tourist Agency
- Trip Dates: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 -- Thu, 2 May 2024
- Trip Classification: Intermediate/Advanced
- Trip Fee: $100 CAD
- Trip Numbers: minimum 14 , maximum 18
- Trip Registration Opens: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 8:00 AM (pacific time)
- Registration Lottery Ends: Thu, 2 Nov 2023 6:00 PM (pacific time)
- Trip Registration Closes: Sun, 17 Mar 2024 3:00 PM (pacific time)
REGISTRATION: 100 CAD Will be refunded to those not selected and to those selected if funds are not used for the tour.
TOUR FEE: 2850 EUR SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: 900 EUR
Enjoy early season cycling on quiet country roads bordered by cork, olive, lemon and orange groves in the sunniest part of Europe, the Alentejo and neighboring Algarve regions of southern Portugal.
This 15-day tour has everything you could ask for in a ride! Its mild climate, quiet country roads, a unique cultural heritage and hearty cuisine makes Portugal a popular cycling destination.
Our tour starts in historic Evora, east of Lisbon and the heart of the Alentejo region, Portugal’s agricultural breadbasket. We spend 6 days exploring this sunny, dry rolling tableland of olives orchards and cork forests. We'll cycle by hillside vineyards of Touriga and Aragones grapes grown for the production of red wines and the heat loving workhorse white wine grape Arinto .
We’ll make our way south and west towards the towering cliffs and windswept beaches of the remote Alentejo coast then will follow the Atlantic coastline south for several days until we enter the Algarve.
With azure skies and surf pounded rugged Atlantic shores, the Algarve boasts more shades of blue than you can imagine. We'll pedal past ever-changing ocean views: tiny fishing villages, colorful harbors, towering sea cliffs, and golden sand dunes. Along the way, we'll take time to savor the Algarve's treasures, from seafood specialties to Moorish history - not to mention some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe! Perhaps you'll extend your stay to enjoy the Moorish and medieval monuments and gardens the sidewalk bistros and inviting ocean waters of Tavira.
About the tour company: Alen Augustin is the owner/operator of Sitnica Tourist Agency and lives in Croatia. He has offered many tours for CCCTS members over the last several years including Croatia, Munich to Venice, Portugal, Spain and Prague to Budapest. Alen and those working with him have done a fantastic job with every tour they have led for our club and our club members. When we tour, Alen is on the bike!
This is a supported tour and there is flexibility in the pace and number of stops along the way. In order to enjoy this flexibility, each cyclist or group of cyclists should be able to navigate the route. Alen is most often leading the group and the support vehicle is at designated refreshment stops along the way. Janet rides at a relaxed pace and is often one of the last to arrive at the refreshment stop or hotel.
Accommodation Reservations:
This tour includes 15 nights of lodging at 3 and 4 star hotels, B & B's or historical inns (Pousadas). Cost is based on two people sharing a double/twin room. There were rave reviews about last year's lodgings!
If you wish to have your own room the single supplement fee is 900 EUR and this option may be limited due to hotel room constraints. If you are traveling solo and would like a roommate, we will attempt to find one for you after the lottery closes. Please note at the time of registration if you want a single room or are looking for a roommate.
Riding Conditions:We cycle for 12 days, primarily on paved roads. Daily distances range from 43 to 79 km with one long day of riding (96 km). The average distance is 67 km with an average elevation gain of 500 m (total amount climbed on a ride). Daily mileage and elevation gain are listed in the itinerary.
According to the Tour Contractor’s rating system, this tour has a Grade 3 rating and defined as suitable for those who cycle regularly, comfortable with some steep climbs and longer distances. This trip is early in the cycling season and a good level of fitness is required.
Historically, the weather in southern Portugal in April is warm and sunny with daily temperatures averaging between 18 and 25c. The tour starts in Evora, east of Lisbon and finishes in Tavira, a small town on the Mediterranean coast.
Fee Includes:
⦁ Accommodation for 15 nights.
⦁ Meals as noted in the itinerary as B/L/D and includes all breakfasts (15), 4 lunches and 8 group dinners.
⦁ Support vehicle and luggage transport.
⦁ Water, fruit, and snacks on cycling days.
⦁ English speaking cycling guide and driver, GPS data through Ride with GPS (Routes to be downloaded on smartphones or other devices).
⦁ All tour companies contracted to CCCTS have General Liability Insurance.
⦁ Technical assistance to a certain level.
⦁ Tour Coordinator's fee subsidy of 50% (1425 EUR).
⦁ Credit card transaction charges associated registration payment.
⦁ Trip Cancellation and Medical Insurance.
⦁ Rental bikes. GALACIO BIKES of Evora rents pedal and e-bikes. All arrangements for bike rentals are between the participant and the bike shop. galacio-bike@hotmail.com They provide delivery and pick-up services.
⦁ Arrival transfers to Evora and departure transfers from Tavira. These towns are well served by train and/or bus. Major airports are located in Lisbon, Seville and Faro.
⦁ All other meals as stated in the itinerary.
⦁ Transportation on free days.
Day 1
17/04
_/_/D
Arrive in Evora, the city where we begin the tour. Use the afternoon to familiarize yourself with the bike you've rented and get organized for the tour. There is a group meeting later in the day followed by a welcome dinner that includes Portuguese delicacies. You'll have plenty of time on Day 6 to explore this UNESCO World Heritage City.
Day 2
8/04 Evora loop ride
B/L/_
60.8km (distance) 555m (elevation gain) 9.8% (max. grade)
Cycle through pastures, vineyards, and oak groves, where the only sounds you'll hear are the chirping of birds and the jangling bells of sheep. Our destination for lunch is Arraiolos, revered for its colorful, precious hand-stitched woolen floor tapestries. Enjoy a light lunch of local tapas before returning to Evora.
Back in Evora, our guide can happily suggest a few favorite restaurants.
Day 3
19/04 Evora to Estremoz
B/L/_
77.3km +843m ∆13.3%
In the spring the rich colors of the Alentejo are at their brightest. Our route winds past hillsides carpeted in wildflowers and poppies, groves of cork and olives, and whitewashed villages accented by blue and white azulejo tiles - a Portuguese classic. Our goal today is Estremoz, where we take a short climb to the citadel and a marble castle that surveys the countryside.
Day 4
20/04 Estremoz to Vila Vicosa
B/_/_
57.8km +581m ∆4.9%
With its brilliant fields of poppies, medieval hilltop castles, and charming villages, one might think of the Alentejo as the Provence of Portugal! Our pastoral route winds through countryside filled with the wildflowers of spring, cork forests, groves of olive trees and whitewashed villages that sparkle in the sun.
Vila Viçosa means shaded town in Portuguese. It is named for its tree lined avenues and public squares. Local white marble adorns every building from simple homes to the Paço Ducal, a 15th century palace.
Day 5
21/04 Vila Vicosa to Evora
B/_/D
67km +712m +6.7%
Enjoy cycling with just the rolling hills of gold and green with cork forests, hundred-year-old olive groves, and flocks of sheep to keep you company. In the small, charming town of Redondo visit an artisan potter at work in their studio before enjoying a lunch. We cycle back to Evora in the afternoon.
Day 6
22/04 Evora FREE DAY
B/_/_
Enjoy your day in this UNESCO World Heritage city. Sites to see include the ancient Roman Temple of Évora (Temple of Diana), Cathedral of Évora, a massive Gothic structure begun in the 12th century and the Igreja de São Francisco, known for its Museolocigal Nucleus, collection of Nativity Scenes and Chapel of Bones.
Day 7
23/04 Evora to Grandola
B/L/D
96km +770m ∆9.2%
We make our way to the south today with a big climb and the longest distance of the tour. Grândola is a typical sleepy Alentejan town, surrounded by crops and cork forests. This town was put on the map when a folk ballad about what agrarian life was like during the Salazar régime. The song "Grandola, Vila Morena" was used as the definitive signal for action in the 1974 bloodless coup d’état. This song's role in bringing democracy is well known to the Portuguese.
Day 8
24/04 Grandola to Porto Covo
B/_/_
74km +760m ∆6.1%
It is time to get to know the Atlantic Coastline as we cycle past Santiago do Cacém, whose Moorish past can be sensed in its steep winding streets and commanding castle views. We continue on a ridgetop road through groves of olive and cork trees, then descend to the coast for the crescent beach coves of Porto Covo.
Day 9
25/04 Porto Covo to Sao Teotonio
B/L/D
63km +560m +6%
Rice fields and traditional villages highlight our ride as we make our way towards the Algarve. This area is home to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste which is rarely more than 6 km wide and is 120 km long, covering nearly the entire western Algarve and Alentejo shoreline. This protected area is home to 200 species of birds, including storks and ospreys. Lots to see along the way, including sea stacks and the crashing Atlantic and part of the route includes an off-road path high above the coastline. We overnight in a small village on the border between the Algarve and Alentejo .
Welcome to the Algarve
Day 10
26/04 Sao Teotonio to Sagres
B/_/D
71km +680m ∆8%
We cycle through vineyards and farmland towards Aljezur, the last town to be reclaimed from the Moors. This tranquil village has two nearby surf beaches. Picnic at the Carrapateira headlands, then cycle down the coast to Sagres, where Prince Henry the Navigator founded his 15th century navigation school.
Day 11
27/04 Sagres FREE DAY
B/_/_
Enjoy the day as you wish. Hop on your bike for an easy ride to the towering cliffs of Cabo de Săo Vicente, the southwestern-most point in Europe and once known as the end of the known world. Other options include relaxing at one of the nearby beaches, a dolphin cruise, or perhaps a surfing lesson.
Day 12
28/04 Sagres to Monchique
B/_/D
78.8km +1,085m +11.2%
We follow the Algarve coast past tiny fishing villages, then head inland through orchards of carob, almond, and oranges towards Lagos as we start the climb towards the highest mountains (900 m) in the Algarve, the Monchique range. Our destination is a medieval town with narrow steep streets and is well worth the climb.
Day 13
29/04 Monchique to Silves
B/_/_
42.8km +587m ∆8.9%
A short day on the bikes, which gives us time to enjoy the medieval town of Sagres with orange coloured rooftops. This walled town with narrow winding streets is located on the banks of Arade River and has two well preserved castles. Enjoy exploring the town with its open-air cafes, cobbled streets and relaxed pace of life.
Day 14
30/04 Silves to Vilamoura
B/_/D
56.5km +754m ∆9.2%
Descend through cool forests of chestnut and pine to the Mediterranean lowlands of oak, palmetto, and grasses. We still have some climbing to do as we cycle through the tiny white villages of Alte, Barranco Velho, and Querença, with their castle ruins and pretty squares. We stay in a the Pestana Vila Sol Golf & Spa Resort.
Day 15
01/05 Vilamoura to Tavira
B/_/D
57.7km +645m ∆7,9%
Pedal through hill towns of the Serra de Monte Figo, then descend to the coast at Fuzeta Harbour with its colorful fishing boats, nets, and octopus pots. The Ecovia bike path leads through the Ria Formosa reserve with views of marshlands, salt pans, and nesting waterfowl. The tour ends in one of the most charming towns in the Algarve; Tavira. Enjoy your stay at the Pousada Convento da Graça, a former monastery. You may want to extend your stay to enjoy all that Tavira has to offer. We end this adventure with an amazing farewell dinner.
02/05 Departures
B/_/_
Enjoy breakfast at the Pousada with your friends, both old and new before you head out to start your next adventure or return home. 
IT'S IMPORTANT TO READ THE SMALL PRINT
COMMUNICABLE ILLNESS PLAN
The CCCTS Communicable Illness Plan takes into consideration regulations and recommendations from Public Health Agency of Canada, BC Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Ontario. See the CCCTS website regarding the plan.
TOUR OPERATOR'S CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations must be made in writing to Sitnica Tourist Agency: info@sitnica.t-cloud.hr and Tour Coordinator and the following charges apply:
• 60 – 46 days before departure 10% (17/02 – 02/03)
• 45 – 29 days before departure 30% (03/03 – 19/03)
• 28 – 15 days before departure 60% (03 – 02/04)
• less than 15 days before departure 100% (03/04 – arrival)
AIR TRAVEL EMISSIONS
A return flight from Toronto to the start of this tour (Lisbon) is 10,550 km or more and will produce about 2.52 tonnes of total emissions per person. A return flight from Vancouver to Lisbon is 16,620 km or more and will produce about 3.24 tonnes of total emissions per person. One year of driving a gasoline powered car will produce about 2.0 tonnes of total emissions. See https://cccts.org/club-document/air-travel-emissions-from-cccts-tours for more information on the impact of those emissions that will contribute to climate change and extreme weather events.
Registration and Participant Selection:
Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be used in the event that the ride is over-subscribed. A $100 CAD payment is required at the time of registration. The lottery signup will run for 4 days, after which the Ride Coordinator will review the results.
The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:
⦁ fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour,
⦁ a history of demonstrating safe riding practices,
⦁ acceptable social behavior.
The Tour Coordinator may interview tour applicants or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour. The Tour Coordinator will have the ultimate decision on whether someone is accepted for a tour and may reject applicants after discussion with the Tour Director.
⦁ The Coordinator will notify registrants of their selection status. If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates shown.
⦁ After you have been notified you are selected for the tour, you will be given the instructions to make the following payments to Sitnica Tourist Agency:
| DATE | AMOUNT | NOTES |
| January 03, 2024 | 600 EUR | Single Supplement of 900 EUR due |
| March 29, 2024 | 1700 EUR | |
| Day 1 of Tour: April 17, 2024 | 550 EUR | Cash upon arrival |
Fay Baker, Robert Baker, Jim Cilek, Chris Cotaras, Fred Cotaras, Dave Danforth, Patricia Danforth, Margaret Lerhe, Maryanne Mackinnon, Mary McKelvie, Gord McNeil, Linda Parsons, Annemieke Quinn, Eamonn Ryan, Rhonda Ryan, Phil Valois, Janet Whitehead, Monica Zack