Enjoy wine in a World Heritage area on this 8 day self-guided Douro Valley cycling holiday in Portugal.
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Embark on an unforgettable 8-day Douro Valley guided cycling holiday in Portugal!
Admire one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world and the Douro Valley, one of the most authentic landscapes in Europe, where man has adapted wine production to the arid terrain and harsh climate, guaranteeing the authenticity of the Port wine flavour, the region’s trademark.
To accompany this famous wine, you’ll find a gastronomy rich in the essence of the region, with local products and producers. Take the opportunity to get closer to nature and cycle through the striking landscapes of the International Douro Valley, which marks the border with Spain. Here, more than 170 species of birds nest on cliffs over 200 metres high, and you can see them up close on one of our tours. Continue your walk along the Douro River and be dazzled by the serene green landscapes, along old railway lines, where vast forests, almond trees and vineyards dominate the panoramic views. Relax and enjoy the scenery on board a typical rabelo boat or on a train journey, always with the Douro as your companion. Extend your experience in this region by staying in renowned spaces linked to wine production, which have been adapted to the needs of the guests, while guaranteeing their identity in structure and decoration and preserving the genesis of their origin. In a cosy way, you can stay in a hotel overlooking the river, in a traditional olive oil estate or in an elegant town house, or even in a family manor house – a Quinta.
8-day Douro Valley guided cycling holiday in Portugal: Itinerary.
Day 1 - Miranda do Douro
Standard starting day: Saturday*
Welcome to Portugal and enjoy an authentic adventure through the oldest demarcated wine region in the world - the Douro. Once you arrive at Porto airport, you will be transferred to Miranda do Douro, the starting point for this tour. Take advantage of the appetiser that this trip will give you to get to know some of the region's most emblematic landscapes, the same ones that will frame your days in the Douro region. You certainly won't be indifferent to the Douro River Gorge, over 200 metres high. Once you've arrived in Miranda do Douro, a town in the region, take the opportunity to relax in this town with its very own characteristics, whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled streets.
Day 2 - Stage 1- Miranda do Douro to Sendim
Your cycling experience through the Douro region begins in the direction of the Douro International Nature Reserve, where wildlife combined with exhilarating landscapes will guarantee you a memorable start to your tour. There are many animals that populate this plateau: wild boar, goats and cattle, and even the occasional Iberian wolf that wanders through the tranquillity of this reserve. Let yourself be accompanied by the flight of more than 170 species of birds, among the most striking being the golden eagle or the Egyptian vulture.
Picnic included
Day 3 - Stage 2 – Sendim to Torre de Moncorvo
In maintaining the authenticity of your experience, part of today's stage will take you along a disused railway line. Here, at your own rhythm, you'll be able to enjoy an ecological trail, which will be divided by woods, forests and some fields that favour the typical produce of the region. On your way to Torre do Moncorvo, where you will be hosted at the end of the day, you will be accompanied by extensive fields with olive and almond trees (which, depending on the time of year, colour this region with white). As you pass through the various villages, take the opportunity to socialise with the shepherds, who, in keeping with the image of the region, warmly welcome each one of their visitors. Your experiences for today will only end at the place where you will be staying, a guest house, where you will be welcomed like another member of the family. Take the opportunity to sample the locally produced liqueurs.
Picnic included
Day 4 - Stage 3 – Torre de Moncorvo to Vila Flor
You're now halfway through your adventure in the Douro region and today you'll finally have the company of the Douro on your ride. The region's escarpments will present you with breath-taking landscapes, but the pure air of these areas will "force" you to take a deeper breath. This region known as the "Terra Quente" (hot land) owes this adjective to its very fertile lands, which combine a unique soil and climate and have an excellent production of fruit, wine and olives, which allow for the production of one of the best olive oils in the world. The gastronomic authenticity that you can enjoy during your journey today will be on offer at dinner. Savour the region's delicacies, especially the cheeses, sausages, baked bread and olive oil, homemade oranges and wine. In addition to the richness of the land, the night sky is one of the clearest you're ever likely to see, so don't miss out on a night walk, which will help you digest the region's delicacies sheltered by the stars that dazzle the Transmontano sky.
Picnic included
1 Olive oil visit and tasting at an olive oil producer included
Dinner included
Day 5 - Stage 4 – Vila Flôr to Sabrosa
The experience we have in store for you today will allow you to enter the heart of the Alto Douro Wine Region. The landscape changes with every kilometre. Here, man's efforts to adapt to the region's aridity are imprinted on the land. The famous Douro terraces, where the vines of the oldest demarcated region in the world are cultivated, give this region its name and flavour - the Douro wine, and its ex-libris, the famous Port wine. This UNESCO World Heritage region is home to the production of one of Portugal's greatest ambassadors around the world. But don't stop at the fortified wine, the other DOC varieties will guarantee you a unique experience and a journey through your senses. Here, there are several Quintas (wine-producing estates) overlooking and carefully preserved and painting the green and ochre slopes of the vineyards white, all of them proudly displaying their names. It's now time to cross the River Douro and reliving the experience of the ancient transport of wine between the Douro and Porto, board a rabelo boat (a typical boat that is part of the history and landscape of this region). You will disembark in Pinhão, where you can visit the railway station, a real postcard of the region, with its walls covered in tiles (the typical Portuguese tiles), each panel of which tells the story of the region and depicts its main economic activities. To further ensure your experience, today your accommodation will be in a 17th century manor house, situated on a hillside with a fantastic view over the village.
Picnic included
Rabelo boat cruise and transfer from the final spot (Pinhão) to the accommodation included
Wine Taste included
Dinner at a typical manor house, three courses menu & wine in Sabrosa Included
Day 6 - Stage 5 – Sabrosa to Peso da Régua
To finish your adventure in this region, we've reserved for you a tour of the Douro valleys and the cycle path that will take you down to the river. Maintaining the image of the previous day, with the vineyards cooling the air, the landscape grabs holds of you for another unique experience. Now continue on to the town of Peso da Régua, where you can deepen your knowledge of this emblematic wine, without neglecting the tastings you can do here - we bet you'll have a hard time choosing the best among the white, red and liqueur wines. Enjoy your last day in the Douro Valley and make sure you capture all the images of this authentic experience. We have arranged for you to be hosted in a rural accommodation space, where in addition to a breathtaking view of the Douro valleys, you'll be treated to the best flavours of the region: jams, hams and the best wines.
Picnic included
Visit and tasting at a local olive oil producer
Day 7 – Porto
Like the wine, which owes its name to this region, your trip along the Douro ends in the city of Porto, where you can explore one of Portugal's most emblematic cities in peace and quiet, where you'll find a must-see on every street corner. Living up to its title as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here you'll find more than 150 classified monuments, in which you'll find memories of the history of a region and its people. Lose yourself in the city's typical neighbourhoods, which retain their authenticity, with the traces of the medieval period. The River Douro awaits you and the Ribeira welcomes you with open arms, inviting you to cross over to the famous Port wine cellars, where you can travel back in time and stand next to the oldest barrels in which the famous wine was transported. To say goodbye to this adventure, don't forget to enjoy a soiree in one of the city's famous restaurants, well known for its gastronomy and the graciousness with which it welcomes its visitors.
Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 8 - Transfer Out
Transfer to Porto airport.
End of the programme.
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