PortugalBike are the latest specialist activity holiday provider to join Inspiring Holidays. They have been organising Guided Bicycle Tours in Portugal under the name of BTTour since 1995 and have organized more than 200 Bicycle Tours with over 800 people riding with them.
They are a Portuguese-owned Company so they know their country better than anybody else. This means customers are exposed to people, to places and curiosities about Portugal that only the Portuguese know!
On PortugalBike Tours you have the opportunity to visit historical, cultural and landscape heritage in Natural Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner. You can taste famous wines, amazing cheeses and lovely desserts, and sample typical dishes of each region of Portugal. They always choose 4-star quality hotels whenever possible and try to offer the best of each region.
In 2006 they were Finalists in the PUBLITURIS Travel Trade & Hotel Guide 2005 Awards for the "Best Company of Active and Animation Tourism in Portugal".
There are three types of PortugalBike Tours
1. Road Bike Tours are on asphalt roads (100%). They always try to avoid roads with a lot of traffic, preferring secondary roads. On these tours, you ride more km/day than on a Hybrid Bike Tour. These tours can be Guided or Self-Guided (with a GPS device on the handlebar), so that you are completely free to ride at your own pace, but there is always a backup car to give you any assistance you may need. You use a Road Bike (700x23 wheels with carbon frame). Participants are usually 25-65 years old.
2. Hybrid Bike Tours are mainly on asphalt/tarmac (more than 60%) with some off-road rolling trails. Usually the tours are a little bit longer than the Mountain Bike version tours. It is the best and most relaxing way to know a country by bicycle while also having fun. These tours can be Guided or Self-Guided also. You use a Hybrid Bike (700x38 wheels with a little front suspension). Participants are usually 45-65 years old.
3. Mountain Bike Tours are mainly on off-road rough trails (more than 60%), sometimes technical, with very little asphalt. You need some biking skills and you need to be in good shape. Usually, these tours are a little bit shorter than the Hybrid Bike tours. It is the best way to know a country and feel the challenge of nature. These tours are always Guided; you will only have to follow your guide through wonderful single-tracks in nature. You use a Mountain Bike (26x2.1 wheels with front suspension and hydraulic disc brakes). Participants are usually 25-45 years old.
DIFFICULTY LEVELS
Each PortugalBike Tour is classified according to its difficulty level, from 1 to 5; level 1 is the easiest and level 5 is the most difficult.
- Levels 1 and 2 are for Beginners (You are not in a good shape)
- Level 3 is for Intermediate Bikers (You must be in a good shape)
- Level 4 is for Advanced Bikers (You are fit and in a good shape)
- Level 5 is for Expert Bikers (You are in a very good shape! You are a winner!)
Besides the classification for overall difficulty level of each PortugalBike Tour, each day is also classified from 1 to 5. When the trails are difficult, you ride less km/day and when the trails are easy, you ride more km/day. Please note that the purpose of PortugalBike Tours is not to train, but only to enjoy your bicycle, nature and environment.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT ON PORTUGALBIKE TOUR?
PortugalBike Tours are designed so that you begin at a certain point and end elsewhere. You do not start and end at the same place. Read the specific information about each ride to learn more details.
PortugalBike Tours can be Guided (with a Guide) or Self-Guided (with a GPS device with all tracks recorded). The big difference between the prices for Guided and Self-Guided Tours is that the Self-Guided Tours do not include dinners, picnics, energy bars and water during the day. There is always a backup car to provide any assistance you may need.
If you want to take a Self-Guided Tour with dinners included, this can be arranged. PortugalBike Tours have a maximum of 16 participants, and a minimum of two. Larger groups are also possible upon request and according to our availability.
Their Bike Tours are generally for one week (7 days / Saturday to Friday). You can choose to join a scheduled PortugalBike Tour or they can arrange a tour on request subject to availability and with a small extra fee. The prices are for the scheduled PortugalBike Tours. If you would like a different date, ask for prices and availability.
Here are some samples of PortugalBike tours:
- The Sea And Mystical Sintra (Hybrid Bike Tour) With PortugalBike
- The Medieval Town And The Silver Coast (Hybrid Bike Tour) With PortugalBike
- Riding Down To The Historical Villages (Hybrid Bike Tour) With PortugalBike
- The Megalithics Heritage in Alentejo (Hybrid Bike Tour) with PortugalBike
- The Beautiful Alentejo Beaches hybrid bike tour with PortugalBike (Guided or Self-Guided)
