Biking the Rota Vicentina

This tour is suitable for relatively fit and regular cyclists, seeking an active holiday. You'll spend much of the day in the saddle, experiencing two regions of Portugal.

There is approx. 60% paved (Asphalt or cobblestones) and 40% unpaved (hard-packed gravel paths with some short shady stretches).

The terrain is rolling, with some longer ascents and descents on quiet country roads, forest tracks and coastal trails, with the occasional short stretch on busier roads as you approach towns. The terrain on this tour is mainly off-road on gravel tracks, with small sections of rugged path as you go inland, or sandy tracks by the coast, though the hired are robust with fabulous suspension, providing a comfortable ride.

Please note that during wet weather, the tracks can become muddy with puddles in places, and extra care must be taken here.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty, with some rides a little tougher or easier than the overall grade suggests.

Accommodation on this tour is in boutique hotels and casa-style guesthouses, many with a swimming pool or located near a beach, giving you a welcome place to cool off after a day's ride. These properties are subject to availability, and alternatives of an equal standard may be offered if needed.

Unfortunately, this is not available to solo travelers. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included each day. Lunch isn't included, but you can pick up a packed lunch locally from markets or cafés along the way. Dinner can be enjoyed at your accommodation or in nearby towns and villages, many of which serve delicious local cuisine.

This tour runs from September to June - we don't operate it in July and August, when temperatures get extremely high. The most pleasant months tend to be March through June and September through November.

Spring brings mild weather and inland landscapes covered in wildflowers, while autumn is similarly gentle with ideal cycling conditions. If you're into birdwatching, late August to mid-November is autumn migration season, and spring is a good time to spot nesting species like the Alpine Swift. Winter is wetter, which can make some off-road sections muddy, so extra care is needed if you're not comfortable cycling in wet terrain.

Most accommodations have a pool or are close to the beach for cooling off after your ride, though some pools may be closed over the winter months.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

For much of the way, you'll follow the official Rota Vicentina waymarking.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the start
This tour starts near Lisbon Airport, which is 7km from the city centre. From the airport, take the Aerobus into the city centre (around 5 euros), then another bus on to Setubal (around 45 minutes, around 6 euros). Lisbon's metro also connects the city centre and the airport, and taxis from the airport to the city centre cost around 25 euros. There's also a direct train from Lisbon to Setubal, taking around 1 hour. A private taxi transfer from Lisbon to Setubal can be arranged by Macs Adventure for an extra cost, taking around 40 minutes and costing approximately 30-40 euros.

Getting from the end
This tour ends in Sagres. To get to the airport from Sagres, take a taxi or bus to Lagos, then a train to the centre of Faro, followed by a shuttle bus to Faro Airport (around 15 minutes). If you need to return to Lisbon Airport, travel first from Sagres to Lagos by taxi or bus, then take a bus (operated by Rede Expressos) on to Lisbon, around 4 hours. Macs Adventure can arrange a private transfer from your hotel in Sagres to Faro or Lisbon Airport at an additional cost.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The included bike is a Cube Nature One Allroad hybrid, with an aluminum superlite trekking-cross frame, Shimano drivetrain and disc brakes. An e-bike upgrade is also available: a Trek Allant+ 7 Stagger, with a high-performance hydroformed alloy frame, a removable Bosch PowerTube 625Wh battery and Bosch Performance Line CX motor, and hydraulic disc brakes.

Gravel bikes are available on this tour, though tandems aren't. Brand and model may vary depending on availability, and the minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

On booking, please let us know your height for bike sizing, and your head circumference if you'd like to hire a helmet.

Bike hire includes a repair kit, a helmet (though we recommend bringing your own), a pannier bag, a handlebar bag, a lock, a water bottle holder, a phone mount and a battery charger for e-bikes.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation