2012 Imagine the memories you’ll bring home!
CTTC Bike Tours
Biking at its best... Portugal, Spain, France and more... Our Story... CTTC began as a far-fetched suggestion in 1986 when few companies were in the field of cycle touring. Founder Maggie Deffense, took that suggestion and ran with it, creating Cycling Through The Centuries, a unique and specialized company offering in-depth cycling trips off-the-beaten tourist paths throughout the Iberian Peninsula
and France.
Why ride with CTTC Bike Tours? The Routes Savvy travelers tell us that our routes are the very best in each of the regions that we cycle. They are constantly upgraded to take advantage of improved roads or to avoid roads that have become too busy. At Cycling through the Centuries we know that really enjoyable cycling is a combination of great scenery, good roads and interesting sights. Accommodation The “Three C’s” - Charm, Comfort and Convenience – our accommodations range from small family-run country inns to monasteries, manor houses, castles and luxury hotels. We always aim to offer the best in the area and we look for that extra quality above the competition as well as convenient location to sights and events. Cuisine Good food – so important to the cyclist! Our restaurants are chosen for their ambiance and superb regional dishes. Tasty tapas in Andalucia, mouthwatering fish dishes in Portugal and the finest Spanish & French cuisine in Catalunya. Mediterranean feasts - washed down with the best local wines – which are always included with the meals in generous amounts. This is a vacation, remember!
US Telephone: 1-866-819-4122 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Why ride with CTTC Bike Tours? Guides Our guides are top-notch - excellent mechanics and bi or tri lingual with English being a pre-requisite. Most of them are natives of Portugal, Spain or France. They’re dedicated to ensuring not only the welfare of each of our participants but also their enjoyment on tour – i.e. being informative, keeping the fun level high and the cycling safe! We pride ourselves on lots of personal touches. Your comfort and enjoyment are of paramount importance to us and we will do all we can to ensure it at no extra cost - from booking pre and post tour accommodations to arranging train tickets or car rentals, or to helping you plan an itinerary to follow before or after your cycling tour. We’re more than happy to assist you with absolutely anything we can do to make your vacation the best ever. Over the past 18 years, we have worked hard to generate hundreds of satisfied customers.
See what just some of them have to say. Give us a call at (+351) 212 424 604 or email info@cycling-centuries.com and we would be glad to put you in touch with a happy customer in your area whom you could talk to or email.
What bikes does CTTC offer on its tours? Premium bikes As part and parcel of our exceptional bike tours, CTTC offers
Hybrid touring bikes
you the very best bikes for your cycle tour. We have teamed up with BH bikes, the legendary Basque label with over 100 years of bicycle making heritage. At no additional cost, our strong and lightweight hybrid touring bikes give you the comfort and gear range you need to comfortably ride all day if you want. For the sportier cyclists, CTTC offers at no extra cost, our fast shifting and light Carbon / Aluminium race bikes. For the no compromise road cyclist, we offer for a small extra, ultra-light, full carbon racing bikes that will simply tear up the tarmac - the ideal choice for our Race Series bike tours. When bicycle touring is your idea of the best way to travel, but pedal pushing is not your thing, our E Bikes are your ticket to ride. Road bike
E bike
US Telephone: 1-866-819-4122 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal
“Will and I did the Portugal - Lisbon to Algarve - ride ... and it was a delight. Yes, we’d be glad to talk to anyone who wanted more info and I’ll answer any question or just heartily recommend the trip! Will is an avid bicyclist and I am a more casual biker and this trip was great for us both. Of course, the castle was a definite hi-light but we brought home many wonderful stories to tell Loved it.” Linda & Will Deboer, MN, usa
Lisbon
Setubal
Portugal’s Blue Coast
Milfontes
Coasting along quiet back roads from Lisbon to the brilliant beaches of the Algarve, we’ll experience a memorable montage of Portugal: magnificent coastal seascapes, pastoral farmlands, working windmills, tiny fishing villages and historical monuments such as Henry the Navigator’s Navigational School perched on a wild headland over the Algarve’s blue waters. Lodgings include a 16th century manor house, a luxurious country farm and
Lagos
two nights in our favorite little castle overlooking a lovely estuary.
Trip Details Dates: 5-5-2012 to 12-5-2012 9-6-2012 to 16-6-2012 15-9-2012 to 22-9-2012 Price: €2690 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 8 nights/9 days Included: (Accommodation & meal bookings handled by our agents for this tour) all breakfasts, one seaside lunch & 6 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Restored mannor houses, Small Hotels, a stunning 16th Century fort Daily Mileage: 46 km / 28 miles daily average Activity Level: Easy to Moderate Tour Interests: Grilled Fish!, Wines, European Discoveries
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Cycle the headlands of the wild Atlantic shores. ● Explore the footsteps of the world’s most famous explorers, such as Vasco da Gama and Magellan. ● Travel through the charming, sleepy villages of Portugal’s Costa Azul, still largely undiscovered as if time had stood still. ● Feast on the freshest catch of the day grilled to perfection and washed down with one of Portugal’s incomparable wines.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal
“We had a wonderful experience in Portugal. Each place we stayed was unique and charming, the food and wine outstanding and the sights and experiences memorable. This confirms, once again, the value of the services like yours. We would never have found many of these places on our own. We hope to return someday and explore places in a little more detail. Thank you very much for setting up a great trip. I could highly recommend it to anyone.� Mary, David & Zach Reardon, FL, USA
To Lisbon
Castelo deVide
Castles & Cork Trees
Estremoz
Cycling through rolling fields of wildflowers and olive trees, we’ll celebrate an area of Portugal that many consider to be the last vestige of old Iberia. Medieval walled villages, white-washed and trimmed in blue, dot the hilltops while plains of wheat and oats spread out below, freckled with small
Évora
flocks of sheep and goats. You’ll be left with unforgettable memories of this lovely region - its serenity and heart-stopping beauty and, of course, days of idyllic cycling. Our
Monsaraz
last night finds us in old Lisbon where we’ll celebrate with a farewell, Fado dinner. ...Some of the Trip Highlights Trip Details Dates: 14-4-2012 to 21-4-2012 22-9-2012 to 29-9-2012 Price: €2690 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 7 nights/8 days Included: (Accommodation & meal bookings handled by our agents for this tour) all breakfasts, 5 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Luxury B&B, Restored Convent & Castle Daily Mileage: 50 km / 31 miles average Activity Level: Easy to Moderate Tour Interests: Gourmet Foods, Wines, Photography, Architecture
● Ride across the rolling Alentejo plains studded with centenial olive trees and ancient cork forests. ● Stay in whitewashed medieval walled villages and spend a night in a marbled convent. ● Explore the village of Castelo da Vide with its heart-breaking remnant of its preInquisition Jewish quarter. ● Sample the mouthwatering food of the Alentejo, it’s unique fusion gastronomy blends arab, jewish and roman traits.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal
Thank you so much for making my first cycling trip such an enjoyable one. Your impeccable organization with the hotels and restaurants ensured that everything went smoothly. I felt totally spoilt... The food was always irresistible and the scenery spectacular. Martin is a superb guide. He was always patient,encouraging and flexible, making sure that I was safe... He varied the ride so that it was interesting and challenging for me - particularly the last day. I look forward to many future trips with you and I hope Catherine can join us next time. Elaine Li, VA, Canada
Pinhão
Porto
Douro River
São João da Pesqueira
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
NEW 2012! Dipping in the Douro Enjoy six delectable nights in the valley of the Douro,
sampling Vintage Ports, fine wines, peppery olive oils and spectacular scenery so spectacular that the whole valley was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our tour will take us through the most stunning landscapes with breathtaking views of this unique valley. We will have the opportunity to visit the most acclaimed wineries and to meet the oenologists, tour the largest array of outdoor Palaeolithic rock art, visit a traditional olive oil cooperative and soak in the river views from our leisurely river boat cruise. ...Some of the Trip Highlights Trip Details Dates: 20-5-2012 to 26-5-2012 30-6-2012 to 6-7-2012 6-10-2012 to 12-10-2012 Price: €2590 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 6 nights / 7 days Included: (Accommodation & meal bookings handled by our agents for this tour) all breakfasts, picnics, 4 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Luxury B&B, Mannor House, Port lodges Daily Mileage: 65 km / 40 miles daily average Activity Level: Moderate + Tour Interests: Wines, Gourmet Cuisine, History
● Sample some of the rarest & most sought after wines in the world. ● Explore a spectacular UNESCO world heritage site. ● Experience a leisurely river cruise along the beautiful Douro river. ● See the birthplace of the famous navigator Magellan. ● Visit a remarkable array of outdoor Palaeolithic rock art.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal
Aside from the spectacular riding, the highlight of the trip was riding along the dirt road on the coast and that last GREAT meal in Lagos! After such a great trip, I didn't want to go home. It was a blast and I hope to see each of you in the future! John P. Brooks, Dallas, TX
Alcoutim Cachoupo
Tavira
Faro
Sweet Oranges
The Algarvian interior has beautiful weather all year round and the cycling is through country lanes dotted with olive, fig, almond and orange groves rooted in stunning red earth. In many ways the landscape and the people feel much closer to North Africa than Europe. This warm, sunny trip offers on top of great rides the unbeatable Portuguese hospitality, superb food (particularly fresh grilled fish!) beautiful beaches and unique accommodation.
Trip Details
MAKINGCORRECT MAP
Dates: 24-3-2012 to 30-3-2012 3-11-2012 to 9-11-2012 Price: €2690 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 6 nights / 7 days Included: all breakfasts, picnic, 4 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Restored monastery & palace, boutique hotels Daily Mileage: 50 km / 31 miles daily average Activity Level: Easy to moderate Tour Interests: Moorish culture, photography, birding, gastronomy
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Explore the unknown interior of the ancient Al-gharb, stronghold of the Lusitanian moors. ● Take a scenic coastal train over the gleaming salt pans and marshes of the Portuguese south. ● Travel along tiny country lanes to old whitewashed villages, along orchards of fragrant orange trees. ● Top the trip off with an al-fresco, seaside barbeque with our incomparable chef, Paulo Corte-Real.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal
In 1998 my wife and I joined a bicycle tour led by Maggie Deffense. She did both essential jobs extremely well. However, we expect that of any competent tour outfit. But we got more: Maggie's friendly, out-going personality, which made us feel like we really "belonged", that we were part of her gang of adventurers. We felt her warmth at the dinner table or "on the road", a quality that made our tour all the more memorable and leaving us with the desire for more? Ted Hamaan, Cambridge, MA
Sintra
Cabo da Roca Lisbon Cascais
Castles and Coastline
Experience the mystical beauty of Sintra and it’s majestic Palaces and ancient Moorish Castle; the sparkling coastline of Cascais and the singular charm of old Lisbon. Along the way, you’ll sample some of the culinary treats that are making headlines around the world, while enjoying first class accomodation to the the very most of your bite sized break.
MAKINGCORRECT MAP Trip Details 3 Day Mini Break Dates: Available on request Price: €980 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days Included: all transfers, breakfasts, picnic & 3 dinners & w/ wine + more Accommodation: Restored monastery & palace, boutique hotel Daily Mileage: 30 km / 18 miles daily average Activity Level: Moderate to Challenging Tour Interests: History, Food, Wine, Hiking, Seaside, Coastline
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Explore the remarkable UNESCO heritage site of Sintra and stay in a 17th century Palace. ● Hike the westernmost trail in Europe, with breathtaking views over the crashing waves below. ● Spend the night in a restored Monastery, nestled in a valley above the wide Atlanic ocean. ● Enjoy the freshest catch, right over the sea in the charming coastal town of Cascais.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Portugal & Spain
Barb and I very much enjoyed making a connection with you and Martin. It provided a welcome glimpse inside Portugal that we would not otherwise have had... Spencer & Barbara Knapp, Vemont, USA
Baiona Monção
Caminha
Valleys & Vineyards
Braga
Explore the verdant countryside of northern Portugal’s Minho wine-country and the spectacular coast of Galician Spain. Beautiful landscapes - hillsides terraced with vineyards and valleys laced with lazy rivers await us at every bend. Truly grand hotels, paradors and gracious manor houses highlight the tour and make it one of our most popular. Porto
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Cycle through the ancient villages of Celtic Portugal unique in their granite architecture.
Trip Details Dates: 23-8-2012 to 2-9-2012 Price: €2780 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 10 nights/11 days Included: (Accommodation & meal bookings handled by our agents for this tour) all breakfasts, 8 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Luxury B&B, Boutique Hotels, Restored Monastery Daily Mileage: 50 km / 31 miles Activity Level: East to Moderate Tour Interests: River swimming, Folklore, Picnics, Celtic & Iberian History
● Sample the light, fresh Minho valley green wine - only produced in Portugal - served chilled with fresh grilled fish on a warm summer evening. Spectacular! ● Wind down the gentle Lima River valley with it’s crystal clear waters inviting you in for a cooling swim ● Stroll through colourful folk festivals and maybe pick up something useful like a wool spindle or a butter churn.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Spain & France I can't say enough about how good a trip we had and it gave us great inspiration to make the DVD. I wanted to send one to Gordon and Maggie to show them what an excellent job you did. We can't stop talking about the trip you took us on, it left us with great memories that we hope to re-create at some point. Tom & Rosemary Blainey, Toronto, Canada
Carcassonne
Lagrasse
Catalan Adventure
Cadaqués
From the stunning pine clad cliffs of the Costa Brava to enchanting seaside villages, artist Mecca’s, eye-popping austere castles of the doomed Cathars and riding through the largest wine producing
Olot Girona
area of France, while in the evenings sampling some of their produce accompanied by the incomparable Catalan cuisine before finally arriving
Sant Feliude Guixols
at the greatest Cathar fortification of all – fairytale-ish Carcassonne with its perfectly preserved walls - this trip truly has it all! Barcelona
Trip Details
MAKINGCORRECT MAP
Dates: 30-5-2012 to 9-6-2012 5-9-2012 to 15-9-2012 Price: €3290 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 10 nights/ 11 days Included: all breakfasts, 8 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Converted palaces, Luxury B&B, Small country Hotels Daily Mileage: 57 km / 35 miles daily average Activity Level: Moderate to Challenging Tour Interests: Gourmet Foods, Wines, Art
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Enjoy spectacular rides fueled by unforgettable meals from 2 culinary giants – Spain & France! ● Ride Spain’s stunning trails-for-rails through the lush volcanic Garrotxa region. ● Sample the rich art of Catalonia’s favorite son when we visit Salvador Dali’s museum and, later, his whimsical home in a tiny cove. ● Spend a day in the seaside town that was home to Matisse, Derain and Picasso. Follow the path that shows where they painted many of their views of the town.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Spain
I went on the Andalusia and the Coasting to the Algarve trips. The Andalusia was one of the best trips of my life. I was happy the whole time. The cities, the country and the towns each held something special. Maggie was very attentive and generous to everyone, and provided sites and restaurants well beyond what the trip description called for. She never stopped working for us! Biking to the Algarve was fun. The country and the towns are beautiful, the grilled fish is wonderful, and Maggie arranged hotels and meals so wonderful that only her personal friendship with the providers could have accomplished it. Bob Hausman, Washington DC, USA
Córdoba Palma del Rio
Sevilla
Baena
Carmona Granada
Andaluciam Affair
Spend nine nights under the spell of the ancient Moors in this timeless countryside of wildflowers, olive trees and ancient whitewashed villages. Seductive Flamenco, flowered patios, twisting ‘old town’ alleyways and magnificent cathedrals and palaces highlight our stays along the way. We’ll visit the timeless monuments to the Moors magnificent culture including the breathtaking medieval mosque in Córdoba and the ethereal Alhambra Palace in Granada.
Trip Details Dates: 1-4-2012 to 8-4-2012 12-5-2012 to 19-5-2012 1-9-2012 to 8-9-2012 Price: €2990 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 8 nights/ 9 days Included: all breakfasts, a tapa Feast & 6 dinners & w/ wine + more Accommodation: Restored monastery & palaces, whitewashed village, boutique hotels Daily Mileage: 50 km / 31 miles daily average Activity Level: Easy to Moderate Tour Interests: Tapas culture, Flamenco, Olive oil, Moorish history
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Ride Washington Irving’s trail through the old Moorish towns of Al-Andalus. ● Taste the scrumptious tapas that have made the nation famous. ● Wander the medieval streets of Cordoba and stroll through its ancient Mosque with its endless maze of marble and jasper pillars. ● Visit the breathtakingly exquisite Alhambra palace - home of Spain’s last Moorish caliphate.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Spain “Of all my experiences I cannot remember enjoying myself as well as the last week with you three. A true highlight of my life of which I will not forget.� Cevin Wyatt, Dallas, TX
Roncesvalles O Cebreiro Santiago
Astorga
León Burgos Laguardia
Camino Santiago – 14 Days
‘...a pilgrimage across northern Spain to the sanctuary at Santiago de Compostela, is the finest journey in Spain and one of the two or three best in the world.’ So wrote James Michner in his monumental book on Spain, Iberia. For a thousand years since the bones of St. James were reputedly discovered in Santiago, common people, bishops, priests, kings, popes and saints have made this famous pilgrimage. Our tour will echo their footsteps following the first guide book ever written by a monk in the 12th century - the Codex Calixtinus.
Trip Details Dates: 16-6-2012 to 30-6-2012 1-9-2012 to 1-9-2012 Price: €3790 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 14 nights/15 days (Pick up in Pamplona) Included: all breakfasts, 8 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Mountain lodge, Luxury B&B, Paradors, Small Hotels Daily Mileage: 70 km / 42 miles daily average Activity Level: Moderate Tour Interests: St James, Pilgrimage, Romanesque architecture, Wine
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Join pilgrims from all over the world to ride one of the oldest pilgrimage paths in history. ● Visit the remarkable cathedral of Leon with its astounding stained glass windows. ● Take part in a “queimada” in the misty heights of the Camino in the ancient village of O Cebreiro. ● Reward your challenge with a triumphal arrival at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
We have just experienced the trip of a lifetime – what a fantastic way to explore a country and to appreciate its beauty, people, food and wine. We were made to feel very welcome, stayed in amazing accommodation, had the best wines and a lot of laughs. Catherine and Ben went out of their way to make us feel special and nothing was ever too much trouble. This was a trip to remember and one to tell everyone about. We now have wonderful memories to share with our family and friends. Greg and Shirley Robertson, Melbourne Australia
Spain
Santiago O Cebreiro
León Astorga
Camino Santiago – 8 Days
‘...a pilgrimage across northern Spain to the sanctuary at Santiago de Compostela, is the finest journey in Spain and one of the two or three best in the world.’ So wrote James Michner in his monumental book on Spain, Iberia. For a thousand years since the bones of St. James were reputedly discovered in Santiago, common people, bishops, priests, kings, popes and saints have made this famous pilgrimage. Our tour will echo their footsteps following the first guide book ever written by a monk in the 12th century - the Codex Calixtinus.
Trip Details Dates: 23-6-2012 to 30-6-2012 8-9-2012 to 15-9-2012 Price: €2890 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 7 nights/8 days (Pick up in Léon) Included: all breakfasts, 5 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Mountain lodge, Luxury B&B, Rural Hotels Daily Mileage: 60 km / 37 miles daily average Activity Level: Moderate Tour Interests: St James, Pilgrimage, Romanesque architecture, Wine
...Some of the Trip Highlights ● Join pilgrims from all over the world to ride one of the oldest pilgrimage paths in history. ● Visit the remarkable cathedral of Leon with its astounding stained glass windows. ● Visit countless ancient monuments that date back to the beginning of Christian times. ● Stay in luxurious monasteries & village inns.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Spain Many thanks to you and Martin for organising a great holiday for us. ...the bikes were great and the route was very well researched. ...So many of the towns had processions, so we were kept busy following them around. All quite spectacular! ...you certainly know how to look after cyclists. If we ever get over that way again, we will do another tour with you. Wendy & Neil Austen, NSW, Australia
Cangas de Onis
Santillana Comillas Potes
Bilbao
Verde España
This ‘hideaways’ tour takes us on a remarkable journey through remote, timeless and virtually unknown northern Spain. Never conquered by the Moors and seemingly untouched since the Middle Ages the Picos de Europa mountains lie only 15 kilometers from the sparkling beaches of the Bay of Biscay. This is cycling paradise: lofty snow-capped mountains and magnificent stretches of beach all wrapped up in one unforgettable tour. ...Some of the Trip Highlights
Trip Details Dates: 6-7-2012 to 14-7-2012 Price: €2750 Single Supplement: €500 Duration: 9 nights/ 10 days Included: all breakfasts, 7 dinners w/ wine + more Accommodation: Luxury B&B, Boutique Hotels Daily Mileage: 51 km / 32 miles daily average Activity Level: Easy Tour Interests: Hiking, Kayaking, Outdoors, Bilbao
● Loop through Europe’s smallest, and considered by many, most beautiful mountain range ● Visit the stunning Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao – Frank Gerhy’s architectural masterpiece on the banks of the Nervion River. ● Kayak the Picos de Europa’s pristine, crystal-clear rivers. ● Walk one of the top ten most beautiful walks in the world, the Cares Gorge.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Official CTTC Riding Gear CTTC Tour Jerseys and Racing Gear are 100% Made in Portugal from lightweight closed or open mesh fabric. They are highly breathable and have an excellent touch. They come in 5 sizes and feature a half-length zipper with tapered collar for superior fit; Soft-tension elastic hem at the waist and three rear pockets to keep your stuff handy - but best of all, we think they look really great! With an amazing record of 19 class victories, CTTC Racing is becoming a serious contender on the national racing scene. We have been happy to pedal in the CTTC tour jerseys, but the time has come to suit up for the race. Our new jerseys feature an all Cosmo material build - 135 gram Micro-Polyester designed to wick away sweat and dry fast and is effective in a wide range of temperatures and works well as either your first or second layer.
US Telephone: 1-970-672-0116 | EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 | info@cycling-centuries.com
Imagine the memories you’ll bring home!
www.Cycling-Centuries.com Contact us Quinta de São José, Rua Alto da Bonita Chão de Meninos, Sintra 2710 - 185 Portugal US Telephone: 1-866-819-4122 EU Tel & Fax: (+351) 21 242 4604 Cell Phone 2: (+351) 918 816434 info@cycling-centuries.com Skype: cyclingcenturies