- Day 0 – Arrival and welcome dinner
- Day 1 – Training Day
- Day 2 – Santarem to Vila de rei (140Km)
- Day 3 – V.Rei to Fatima (160Km)
- Day 4 – Fátima to Peniche (140Km)
- Day 5 – Peniche to Santarém (130Km)
From the Atlantic shores to sweeping mountain views, the “Winter Sun Tour” is a 650 km off-road adventure through Portugal — with a special focus on the peaceful, picturesque coastline that truly shines in the cooler months.
This 5-day experience (including a training day + 4 days riding) is a compact but unforgettable way to discover Portugal’s trails, landscapes, and local flavors. Expect a mix of dirt, culture, and coastline — from Santarém to Vila de Rei, Fátima, Nazaré, Peniche, and back again.
Logistics:
We’ll carry what we need for the 3 overnight stays on our bikes (If the group gets large enough, a support vehicle will join us to transport luggage, tools, and a spare bike).
Day 0 : Arrival Day
Riders should arrive in Santarém the day before the tour date so they can enjoy the welcome dinner. This first night in hotel is included and so is the welcome dinner (around 7h30pm), an awesome opportunity for all of us to get to know each other and to savour some typical Portuguese delicacies as we talk about the details of the upcoming tour.
Check the FAQ to get instructions on how to get to Santarem (from Lisbon)
Day 1 : The training day
We’ll spend the day training essential skills like understanding traction, body positioning, emergency stops, hill climbing (and descending), etc. Everything we will need to make the best out of the upcoming tour. The difficulty and complexity of the exercises will be adjusted to the level of the participants, so you will certainly learn lots!
At the end of the day we return to Santarém for another dinner together and a good night’s rest
Day 2 : Santarém-Vila de Rei (~140 Km)
We’ll gather in the morning, prep the bikes, and embark on our first riding day through Alentejo (South-central region in Portugal), following its picturesque “rally roads” bordered by cork trees, eucalyptus trees and grazing cattle. The day concludes in the heart of Portugal, quite literally, as Vila de Rei stands as the geodesic center of the country!
This is the perfect track for a first day, as it start off easy and gets progressively harder as we cross the Tejo river and enter the first mountains on our way North.
Day 3: Vila de Rei – Fatima (~160 Km)
We kick off today’s ride weaving through winding forest trails that gradually climb toward the high ridgelines, where rocky paths and gravel tracks run alongside endless rows of wind turbines spinning above the valleys below. Midway through the journey, we skirt the edge of a vast dam and its shimmering reservoir — a calm stretch of water that offers a peaceful contrast to the rugged terrain under our wheels.
Our day ends as we descend into the iconic town of Fátima — Portugal’s most famous pilgrimage site and a place where even the dustiest riders might feel a touch of the divine. But first things first: we park the bikes and head to one of my absolute favorite local restaurants, where great food, laughter, and a well-earned meal await. A heavenly end to a day well ridden
Day 4: Fatima – Nazare – Peniche (~140 Km)
We leave Fátima behind and make our way west, with a quick cultural pit stop at the awe-inspiring Batalha Monastery — a true jewel of Portuguese Gothic architecture, built to commemorate a legendary battle and standing proud as one of the most beautiful historical monuments in the country. After soaking in the history and snapping a few photos, we head for the coast.
We’ll stop for lunch in the legendary town of Nazaré, known worldwide for hosting the biggest surfable waves on Earth — 30m tall…the kind that make jet skis and life insurance policies mandatory. Even if we’re not here to ride the swell, we’ll soak in the surf-town vibe and grab a delicious meal before continuing south.
The rest of the day is pure riding bliss, tracing the rugged Atlantic coastline with the ocean on one side and the wind in our faces. We finish the day in Peniche, a charming fishing town perched on a peninsula, where a cold beer by the sea tastes even better after a full day of adventure.
Day 5 – Peniche – Santarem (~130 Km):
We kick off our final day with a relaxed loop around the Peniche peninsula — the perfect chance to soak up the salty breeze, snap a few last ocean-view photos, and let the morning sun bouncing off the Atlantic burn itself into your memory.
From there, we wave goodbye to the coast and head inland toward Santarém, swapping crashing waves for sweeping hills and quiet countryside. This final stretch brings yet another change of scenery — from rugged cliffs to open valleys — keeping the riding fun and full of variety to the very end.
Back in Santarém, we wrap things up with that familiar mix of tired muscles and satisfied grins. If you’re staying an extra night, I’ll sort out a transfer to your hotel (note: the last night isn’t included). If you’re heading straight out, no worries — there’s a hot shower waiting for you at HQ before you hit the road home.
