Cycling in Portugal: From the Mountains to the Sea
Starting from the Geres National Park, you cycle downhill through small villages and extensive vineyards, following the River Minho towards the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is a stunning combination of high mountains, rolling river scenes, historic towns and dramatic coastal landscape.
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Reviews 2 Reviews4/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Cycling
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Self Guided
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Activity Level Moderate
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In the far north of Portugal, on the border with Spain, lies the Minho region: a wild, rugged area of historical and cultural significance. Starting from the Geres National Park, you cycle downhill through small villages and extensive vineyards, following the River Minho towards the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is a stunning combination of high mountains, rolling river scenes, historic towns and dramatic coastal landscape. You will stay in authentic accommodation offering friendly Portuguese hospitality and delicious regional cuisine. There is plenty of opportunity to relax and enjoy the golden stretches of beach you cycle past, maybe accompanied by a glass of the local Vinho Verde (white wine) for which the region is well known. The ride finishes in Porto, named best European City Destination in 2013, 2014, and again for 2017.
Eating and Drinking
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 barrosa meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to it’s naturally delicious flavour. There are also several stew dishes to sample, delicacies being Tripas a Moda do Porto (tripe white bean stew) and Rojoes a 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, linguica (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!
Weather
Porto has a temperate maritime climate with a strong Mediterranean influence. The climate here is long, warm summers and mild winters, with most rain falling in the winter months, but possible in all other months. Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, in the summer and in the autumn. Heat waves can push up temperatures occasionally. Summers are warmer and drier in the interior and moderated by the sea, as winters are cooler inland and mild by the sea. At Porto, the average maximum temperatures in August -the hottest month – is 25 degrees Celsius, and the average maximum temperatures in January -the coolest month – is 14 degrees Celsius. May and October have an average midday temperatures of 20 Celsius, and even April and November have an average midday temperatures around 17 and 18 Celsius.
- 7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodations in 3 and 4-star hotels and guesthouses (see accommodation section)
- Luggage transfers
- Route notes and maps
- High quality hybrid bikes
- All breakfasts and 3 wine tastings
- Flights
- Arrival & departure transfers (available on request, inquire for supplement)
- Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels (inquire for prices and details)
- Single Supplement (available on request – inquire for supplement)
- E-Bike (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Highlights
- Cycle through rugged scenery and mountain villages
- Enjoy mouthwateringly fresh fish and seafood
- Taste the local Vinho Verde directly from the vineyards
- Relax on miles of golden sand along the Atlantic Ocean
- Stay in delightful, handpicked accommodation
- Day 1 Day 1 Arrive Castro Laboreiro
- Day 2 Day 2 To Moncao 46km/28mi
- Day 3 Day 3 Caminha 48km/30mi
- Day 4 Day 4 To Ponte de Lima 53km/33mi
- Day 5 Day 5 Cycle the tracks of the ancient Santiago de Compostela route and on to Barcelos 33km/20mi
- Day 6 Day 6 To Vila do Conde 36km/22mi
- Day 7 Day 7 To Porto 34km/21mi
- Day 8 Day 8 Leave Porto
Hotels & Guesthouses
7 nights spent in an array of diverse comfortable accommodations, handpicked for their character and location. Highlights include a 18th Century manor house set in extensive vineyards, a luxurious modern hotel with individually decorated rooms set in the middle of town, and a rustic locally owned heritage property where all food is farmed by the charismatic owner.
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 it’s 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!
Cycling conditions
This is a self-guided cycling trip for those who like to cycle independently, but with back up to take out the hard work and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading.
Average daily ride: 42km (26 miles).
No. of days cycling: 6
Terrain & route: Mostly on cycle paths or roads. Whilst the majority of the cycling is on paved roads there will also be times you are cycling on cycle paths – these can be of mixed terrain and are sometimes affected by adverse weather conditions (i.e. they can get muddy). You will be warned at the introductory briefing if there are any sections of the route where you need to take extra care because of this. We would also like to point out that cobbled roads are included in our description of ‘paved roads’; something you should take into consideration when booking.The route is mainly flat or downhill with the occasional small climb.
Vehicle Support: A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.
It is very common to keep pet dogs in Northern Portugal for guarding rural properties. Whilst on the cycle route, you may encounter dogs barking or running alongside your bike. In most cases, dogs are confined to properties for this trip.
It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 14 years is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. On this trip, children should be expected to ride on roads with traffic. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 3, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
April 10, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
April 17, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
April 24, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
May 1, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
May 8, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
May 15, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
May 22, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
May 29, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
June 5, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
June 12, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
June 19, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
June 26, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
July 3, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
July 10, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
July 17, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
July 24, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
July 31, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
August 7, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
August 14, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
August 21, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
August 28, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
September 4, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
September 11, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
September 18, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
September 25, 2021
|
Available |
$2,249.00 |
N/A |
|
October 2, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
October 9, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
October 16, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
October 23, 2021
|
Available |
$1,979.00 |
N/A |
|
June 4, 2021
|
Available |
$2,279.00 |
N/A |
Mrs Hoare
Good varied cycling both inland and by the coast. Lovely countryside, good wine and food
Mrs Campbell
This area of Portugal is beautiful. We had Ebikes (mountain) which was great as they were needed due to the terrain in some places. The cycle routes varied from cycle paths, brilliant, cobbles roads, okay, and forest/ river tracks, not the easiest but manageable as long as you didn’t want to see the scenery. The hotel in Monção is slightly out of the town and no food was available in the hotel. Plus no air conditioning and the beds were very hard. The bikes were fine but the panniers provided were very small so unless you wanted to carry a backpack there was little room for water and valuables. Mostly the directions were great, only minor detours! One bridge we had to cross was closed which the agent had not informed us of. Warning about crossing the bridge at Viana do Castelo would be good. The pedestrian foot path is too narrow for bikes. On whole the holiday was good as the food in the region is excellent. We enjoyed the wine and beer but the first 2 wine tastings were not great.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your recent review, it is lovely to read that overall you enjoyed your holiday with us and discovered a beautiful part of Portugal. We would like to apologise for the difficulties encountered due to a bridge closure unfortunately this can happen on occasion and should our local agent be aware of possible detours required we have asked that this is highlighted in the holiday briefing. We look forward to welcoming you on a future Headwater holiday again soon.
Kindest Regards
Customer Service