Start and end in Porto! With the Self Guided Cycling Tour of Portugal – From Mountains to Sea, you have an 8 days tour package taking you through Porto, Portugal and 7 other destinations in Portugal. This Self Guided Cycling Tour of Portugal – From Mountains to Sea includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
Additional Information:
Tour Operator: Exodus Travels
Max group size: 14
Age range: 14 to 99
Operated in: English
Tour id: 88661
Itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer from Porto to Moncao
An airport transfer is included to pick you up from Porto airport (please ensure you arrive before 2.10 pm). By the time you reach Moncao, the fortified town on the River Minho, you will come to understand why the Portuguese are so proud of the fact that the Spanish were never able to conquer them. Upon arrival, there is time to sample some of the local wine.
Day 2: Moncao to Caminha (breakfast)
At this stage, you pedal westwards, along the River Minho to the Atlantic Ocean. Your journey takes you through extensive vineyards dedicated to the production of Vinho Verde (translates as young wine) which is a slightly carbonated, lower-alcohol wine; the perfect drink for a warm afternoon! You can pick up a bottle at the elegant Brejoeira Palace, which is a leading producer of top-quality Vinho Verde. Along today’s route, you will cycle past landmarks of the battles between Portugal and Spain, such as the 17th Century stronghold at Valencia and the Vila Nova de Cerveira fort. That evening arrives in the elegant town of Caminha, located on the estuary of the River Minho, with a history dating back to pre-Roman times.
Day 3: Caminha to Ponte de Lima (breakfast)
Today you spend the morning cycling along the dramatic Atlantic Ocean coastline, through fishing villages that appear unchanged for centuries. Arriving in Viana do Castelo the peace and quiet are replaced by the buzz of this lively city, situated on the estuary of the River Lima. Viana has an impressive maritime history and the wealth created by this is demonstrated in the narrow lanes, crowded with Manueline manors and Rococo palaces. A must-see is the 19th Century Byzantine Santa Lucia Church on the hilltop overlooking the city, worth the steep climb for the breathtaking view. From here you cycle inland until you arrive in Ponte de Lima, the oldest village in Portugal. Your accommodation tonight is in a delightfully rural setting, and there is time to taste some of the wine and honey made on the estate itself.
Day 4: Ponte de Lima – Ponte da Barca – Arcos de Valdevez loop (breakfast)
Cycle along the Lima river to Ponte da Barca. The town’s historical centre has a number of manor houses (some of which have been adapted to provide accommodation for tourists), as well as some beautiful monuments dating from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. The route continues to Arcos de Valdevez, a town is situated in the valley of the River Vez and still retains much of the typical charm of the Alto Minho province – luxuriant green landscapes and the traditional architecture of its buildings, amongst which the most impressive are the manor houses. The municipality of Arcos de Valdevez is located inside the boundaries of the Peneda Geres National Park, where nature still conserves all of its original charms.
Day 5: Ponte de Lima to Barcelos (breakfast)
The ride today follows the ancient Portuguese route towards Santiago de Compostela, and whether you are religious or not, is a really special experience. It is a route that those who have walked it for centuries, do so knowing they will meet challenges, experience great joy, and learn the lesson of life. The pleasant route today is through cornfields and vineyards to the pretty town of Barcelos on the River Cavado. Barcelos is the centre of the pottery industry in Portugal. There are markets held in the town on most days and a visit to one of these is highly recommended.
Day 6: Barcelos to Vila do Conde (breakfast)
The ride back to the Atlantic today is a short stage, so why not take some extra time to enjoy a great lunch the Portuguese way: a leisurely, several-course meal that reminds you again why the Portuguese people are so proud of their cuisine. You arrive in Vila do Conde where you can enjoy a walk around the manors and palaces within the town centre, and take a leisurely stroll along the beach before dinner.
Day 7: Vila do Conde to Porto (breakfast)
The last stage of your holiday takes you on quiet cycle paths along the coast; along sand dunes, and passing through fishing villages and a seabird reserve. You approach Porto and enter via the estuary of the River Douro. A UNESCO World Heritage City and best European City destination for 2013, 2014, and again for 2017, Porto is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The old centre boasts more than 1500 listed monuments, and the history of the traditional Port Wine can be explored by visiting many of the Port cellars which are open to the public and can be appreciated during the included Port tasting.
Day 8: End Porto (breakfast)
The trip ends after breakfast in Porto.
Included:
Accommodation
7 nights spent in an array of diverse and comfortable accommodations, chosen for their character and/or location. Highlights include an eco-friendly design hotel, a traditional seafront hotel in Porto with great views from the roof-top pool terrace and an ultra-modern design boutique hotel with a rustic-style restaurant featuring local produce.
Guide
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain a 24hr emergency assistance telephone number. In an emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Meals
A typical hotel breakfast consists of: toast/bread with jam,or honey, cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt. Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region – there are up to 365 recipes to cook it! Caldo Verde (green soup) is made with potatoes, olive oil and salt, sometimes with garlic and onion, and is typical in the northern region of Portugal. For meat lovers, the barrosã meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to its naturally delicious flavour. There are also several stew dishes to sample, delicacies being Tripas à Moda do Porto (tripe & white bean stew) and Rojões à Minhota (chunks of pork usually cooked with potatoes). ‘Francesinha’ is an iconic dish originating from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguiça (smoke-cured pork sausage) and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer & tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint-hearted! To drink you will find plenty of the local Sagres and Superbock beer. Vinho Verde is available from the supermarket and directly from the producers. It is a young, medium-alcohol white wine with an almost carbonated quality. Port needs no introduction and a glass (or two) of the fortified wine will generally follow a hearty Portuguese meal!
This tour offers Vegetarian and Vegan food options on request. Simply let know the food option that you prefer.
Additional Services
Luggage transfers
Local bike hire
Transport
Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you. Airport transfers will either be in a minibus or a taxi.
A shared airport transfer (arrival and departure) is included in the trip cost. Please book a flight that arrives at Porto airport before 2.20 pm in order to take advantage of this transfer. (Please meet at the ‘meeting point’ area in the airport). If you arrive at the airport earlier than the shared transfer time, Porto airport has luggage storage facilities if you need to use these. If you arrive after 2.20 pm (or if you would prefer not to wait) we can offer a private transfer to take you to the start accommodation at a supplement. All those taking advantage of the free airport transfers must provide full flight details for both arrival and departure in advance. Unless specified otherwise, the return transfer will be from the end hotel at 3 pm (transfers from other hotels in the same city may attract an extra charge). Air prices include our standard flights/transfers out: TAP Air Portugal Gatwick to Porto 12:00/14:20 then transfer to hotel 1 hour 45 mins. Return: Transfer to the airport in 20 mins then TAP Air Portugal Porto to Gatwick 17:50/20:05. Alternative Air TravelAlternative flights, onward rail to your holiday area, and connecting private transfers can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many ‘low-cost airlines, we can book these on your behalf. We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices.
Not Included:
Insurance
This tour does not include travel insurance. Please make sure you are adequately covered. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred provider, or check here to see what our Travel Experts recommend.
Additional Services
— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request – compulsory supplement) — Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date) — Visas or vaccinations — Flights from London (available on request)
Voucher Info:
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity. What's this?
Local
Operator Information:
Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.