On arrival at Lisbon Airport you will be met by our local representative and transferred up the coast to the pretty seaside village of São Pedro de Moel (journey time 1hr 45 mins). Settle into your hotel and maybe go for a stroll along the fabulous beach or venture out on the bikes for a warm-up ride.

After breakfast your cycling holiday starts in earnest. Your route leads you south along the coast on a well-maintained, level cycle path. Extensive pine forests give way intermittently to gorgeous beaches of white sand besieged by Atlantic rollers. Stop in Nazaré to explore its network of cobbled streets and perhaps cycle out to the point to admire the beach and sea views. It was here in January 2013 that big wave surfer Garret McNamara rode the biggest wave ever ridden. The route carries on along the coast for a while longer before diverting inland to Óbidos, one of Portugal’s best-preserved villages. You’ll enjoy exploring the narrow, cobbled lanes of this pretty hill-top village before retiring for the night.

After breakfast you leave Óbidos and head back to the coast via the stunning Óbidos Lagoon, a tidal inlet flanked by gorgeous sandy beaches. Your route south flirts with the coast, providing plenty of opportunities for swim breaks along the way. You’re heading for the charming fishing village of Peniche, however before then we also recommend a visit to the peninsula village of Baleal – accessible only when the tide is out via a short causeway. Peniche, also a peninsula town, is a bustling little port, perfect for an overnight stop. The harbour shelters a substantial fishing fleet and if you are a fan of seafood then this is the place to satisfy your craving. It’s worth taking a stroll out to the point where an old lighthouse has withstood Atlantic storms for decades.

Today’s route leads you inland first through beautiful countryside, dotted with tiny villages of red-roofed, white-washed houses. Later you return to the coast via a fertile valley and head south along cliff-top roads offering fabulous sea views. After a short detour inland again you return to the coast to Ericeira, your overnight stop. This beautiful little fishing village makes for a charming overnight stop and being close to some of Europe’s top surf beaches attracts surfers from all over the world.

The last two days of this tour are the toughest as the route heads up into the hills of the Sintra Natural Park, but your legs should be conditioned by now and ready for the challenge. You first cycle south along the coast through some coastal towns and villages interspersed with more wonderful beaches. Then you head inland and begin to climb. The scenery becomes greener and soon you are on a winding lane through a thick pine forest. Stop at Monserrate Palace to catch your breath and admire the elegant and finely detailed palace. The rambling, partly wild, botanical gardens that surround the palace are quite extraordinary and worthy of exploration. A little further on you reach the beautiful village of Sintra, your home for the night. If you can stand a little more climbing we highly recommend a visit to the nearby Moorish Castle that dates back to the 8th Century. Also worth a visit is the Pena Palace, a wild fantasy of colourful domes, towers and ramparts.

Leaving Sintra you’ll head back down towards the coast. On the way you’ll pass the hobbit-like Capuchin monastery, where an order of ascetic monks once lived in very cramped conditions. An exhilarating descent brings you to Cape Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. After contemplating this significant spot and admiring the view you turn south and follow the coast road to Guincho, a wide beach popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. From here it’s just a few kilometers to Cascais, a cosmopolitan suburb of Lisbon, where you spend the last night of your holiday. Whether you just wander the narrow lanes of this atmospheric little place or brave the cool Atlantic waves for a last dip, Cascais is a fitting finale to your Portuguese cycling holiday.

After breakfast you will be transferred from your hotel in Cascais to nearby Lisbon Airport.