3-Day Tour · Beginner & Intermediate
Welcome to the Learn & Ride tour — join me (Diogo Guerra: self-proclaimed instructor extraordinaire and national treasure) and a small group of riders to learn and train the most must-have off-roading skills, tackle the most common obstacles, and make new riding buddies while traversing the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Portugal. A perfect mix of learning and leisure.
| Start / Finish | Santarém, Portugal (45 min from Lisbon airport) |
| Duration | 1 training day + 2 riding days (~350km total) |
| Surface | 40% Gravel & dirt · 30% Rocky & compact sand · 30% Scenic back roads |
| Level | Ideal for beginner and average riders. No prior off-road experience required. |
| Logistics | Local tour — loops back to Santarém every night. No luggage transfers needed. |
| Highlights | The training session that changes everything; golden trails through cork forests; Serra de Aire mountain views |
We believe the best friendships are forged at the table, so this tour starts with a welcome dinner the night before. Arrive in Santarém, check in to your hotel, and join us for a feast of typical Portuguese delicacies as we brief you on the days ahead and get to know each other.
Riders should arrive the day before the tour begins. Check the FAQ for step-by-step directions from Lisbon airport.
We spend the full day training essential skills: understanding traction, body positioning, emergency stops, hill climbing and descending. Everything needed to make the best of the upcoming riding days.
The difficulty and complexity of exercises is always adapted to the level and bikes of the participants — you will learn an enormous amount regardless of where you start. At the end of the day we return to Santarém for dinner and a good night's rest.
Today we ride East. Within 10km of Santarém we're already on the trails — forests and the zig-zaggy golden tracks of Alentejo, riding along endless cork trees. Expect free-roaming cows, sheep, goats, Iberian pigs and the occasional bull. Keep your eyes open.
Lunch happens in a village near Montargil. In the afternoon the tracks get slightly more challenging — and you'll be ready for them. Back to Santarém in the evening.
The final day brings a slightly more challenging track — the perfect opportunity to apply everything learned. We choose one of three possible routes based on weather and group energy:
Either way, expect to have the ride of your life. The tour ends back in Santarém. You're welcome to book an extra night, or use our shower before heading home if you're leaving right after.
