Portugal Self Guided Bike Tour in the Duoro Valley
The Douro wine region is the oldest demarked zone for production of grapes in the whole entire world. Apart from its legacy, the region is also one of extreme beauty and stunning landscapes, making for one amazing ride! You will start off by cycling through the immense Douro valleys, headed to a spectacular display of vineyard terraces. Once you have arrived here, you will find yourself surrounded by wine producing villages with stunning and endless views over all the wine terraces. As the sun sets, and the day comes to an end, you will have the pleasure of resting on a wine farm. The Douro region is a reflection of its proud people who live a traditional lifestyle, dedicating their time and will to producing the highest quality wine.
2024 Price: From €1990 Euros per person double occupancy High Season supplement (Easter week and July through September): €420 Euros
Price Includes:
- Transfers Porto airport at the beginning and end of the tour
- Ride With GPS routes for your phone
- 7 nights lodging with breakfast
- 3 dinners
- luggage transfers
- maps and route directions
- Mobil telephone number local cell phone support
Price Does Not Include:
International flights, bike rentals, lunches and 4 dinners, beverages
Tour Difficulty
Daily distances are not very long but it is a hilly ride. The route is on all paved roads with an optional gravel section on Day 2.
- Difficulty: Moderately challenging as there are quite a few steep hill climbs
Tour Highlights
- Incredible landscapes classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Old, typical villages on the mountains of the Douro Valley
- Traditional gastronomy and wines from the region
- Charming hotels and wine-producing estates
Itinerary
While we strive to create the most accurate itinerary possible, the nature of international travel demands that participants remain flexible to any changes. We will do our best to substitute activities and services of equal quality for those listed.
Day 1 – Arrival in Porto and transfer to Vildago
Upon your arrival, our guide will welcome and receive you at the Porto Airport. From here, you will be driven to the hotel in Vidago. This is a very special little town, which was known for an interesting reason! In the late 19th century, Vidago was a center for treatment of mineral waters. It was believed that some minerals contained in this “special” Vidago water had some healing properties that helped with digestive issues. You will have the pleasure of staying at the famous Vidago Palace, which was a popular retreat for some Portuguese monarch’s back in the early 20th century, due to the popularity of the waters.
Day 2 – Vidago to Vila Real 55 km, Elevation gain: 600 meters
A day of beautiful landscapes and typical northern villages awaits you! The majority of this spectacular ride will be along an old railway. This will take you through some old and abandoned train stations, creating a nostalgic feeling like no other! Halfway through the route in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the railway joins the Corgo River, which has its source here and is one of the tributaries of the Douro River. After following the railway until Vila Real, you will arrive at a charming, eco-friendly country estate. This will be your resting spot for the night.
Day 3 – Bike from Vila Real to Vilarinho de São Romão 32 km, Elevation gain: 700 meters
Today, you will be riding through the mountains of the Douro region. During your journey, you will find some small, isolated and rustic villages, hidden in the middle of the douro mountains seeming as if they were lost in time. After this, you will pass by the Mamoa de Madorras, an old tumulus dating back to the Bronze Age and also a pretty chapel, known as the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Azinheira. Following this, you will then arrive at São Martinho da Anta. This little iconic town is the birthplace of Miguel Torga, one of the greatest Portuguese writers of the 20th century. Lastly, but not the least; you will be arriving in Sabrosa, the hometown of the ever-famous Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first person (along with his crew) to circumnavigate the earth! A few kms ahead you willarrive to Vilarinho de São Romão, your home for the night. Dinner is included at the hotel (beverages are not included).
Day 4 – Bike Vilarinho de São Romão to Pinhão 30 km, Elevation gain: 400 meters
Today, you will be swooped and mesmerized once more by the unique Douro landscapes and what we consider to be its true beauty. This starts halfway through the route, during a long and scenic descent, in which you will find yourself surrounded by growing vines and have clear views with interesting angles of the Douro River. You will also pass by extremely characterful villages, such as Covas do Douro; villages like these depend entirely on the wine production in the region and have so for many years. As the ride comes to and end, you will arrive at the picturesque town of Pinhão, famous for its immersing landscapes and views and home to the historic Pinhão train station. The sights of today are guaranteed to fill your senses and remain in all of your memories for a long time to come!
Day 5 – Pinhão Loop 20 – 40 km, Elevation gain: 400 – 800 meters
This day is reserved to explore the surroundings of Pinhão and its gorgeous landscapes… Landscapes that have been given the classification of UNESCO World Heritage site. We will present you with two different possible routes with a varying difficulty, both of which will pass through wine estates and typical Douro villages. On the lounger route, you will encounter Favaios Village, known for its Moscatel wine, but also for its archeological marks, stately homes, religious monuments and absolutely mouth watering cuisine. As you return and descend to Pinhão along the river, you will realize why this is one of the most beautiful wine growing regions.
Day 6 – Pinhão to Peso da Régua 27 – 47 km, Elevation gain: 600 – 1000 meters
Today you can cycle direct from Pinhão or take an immersive train journey from to Covelinhas. As the day before, you will have different options in terms of routes. A moment of absolute serenity and peace. Once you arrive to Covelinhas, you will start riding on a panoramic route that follows the river and its scenery. The longer one has a hard elevation gain in between valleys. The short track runs upstream through the Corgo Valley alongside the Corgo River. Both of the routes end with an easy descent towards Peso da Régua where we recommend that you visit the Douro Museum, before crossing the river on an old and charming bridge and arriving at your accommodation, a wine-producing estate. What better way could there be to end day of ride than a wonderful session of wine tasting? Dinner is included at the hotel (beverages are not included).
Day 7 – Régua Loop 28 km Elevation gain: 500 meters
This will be your last in the Douro region and it will be an amazing one. You will once again have the option of two different routes, which are pretty similar in terms of difficulty. The first option will be to ride alongside the Douro River on a beautifully paved road and the second will involve heading up the mountain towards Lamego, an old city full of monuments and an interesting history to discover. One the most renowned sites are the chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão (second oldest chapel in Europe) and the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Both of the routes today are prepared to deliver astounding landscapes filled with blue and green of the river and vines, adding one more memory to take back home with you. Dinner is included at the hotel (beverages are not included.)
Day 8 – Departure
As they say, all good things must come to an end and that day has come. Today you have a transfer to Porto airport. However, there is a optional possibility to make your way there on a river cruise, and end your visit to the Douro region on a high note.